Radical Simplicity is a hand-lettered, illustrated book that speaks directly and elegantly to that craving we all have for an authentic life...
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Nov 12, 2007
Ben
rated it: 
Okay, I wrote a REALLY negative review of this below, wherein I was also trying to generate some sardonic humor. I would like to retract my super-negi views on this dude. I don't like his book that much, and I think he has some weird ideas. HOWEVER, he is mainstream enough that he will probably get a bunch of people to look into alternate living styles, sustainability, etc. And I think that's cool. I'm leaving the review up, because I think some of what I said still applies, even if it was
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May 16, 2007
Jessica
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Radical Simplicity is a book written by a man who's decided to follow an extreme path of simple living - living in a field in various extremely small houses he builds for himself and then abandons or destroys when he decides to try out something different. He has a lot of interesting ideas and it's neat to get a peek at his life as he keeps pushing the limits of what kinds of structures humans can inhabit and how simply humans can live. While I definitely can't see myself doing anything similar,
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May 19, 2011
Helen (Helena/Nell)
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I put off reading this book because I disliked some of the page formatting so much.
I bought it because Amazon suggested I might like it. These suggestions are both a pain and rather interesting, because in the end, I did quite like it, but I certainly would never have bought it without Amazon's suggestion.
The front cover is sweet. It is simple, with childlike lettering and pictures. Inside the simple formatting in places just looks twee, and I instantly distrusted the sub More...
I bought it because Amazon suggested I might like it. These suggestions are both a pain and rather interesting, because in the end, I did quite like it, but I certainly would never have bought it without Amazon's suggestion.
The front cover is sweet. It is simple, with childlike lettering and pictures. Inside the simple formatting in places just looks twee, and I instantly distrusted the sub More...
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Jun 29, 2011
Tim
rated it:
Price's zine The Moonlight Chronicles was always a delight. His sketches of encountered trees, buildings, motorcycles, and traffic lights were whimsical but never twee, and celebrated the artistic impulse to wander and draw. But there were always hints dropped that shadow side of the artistic nomad's life was a failure to connect, to drop roots. Here, in Radical Simplicity, Price shows he does indeed have roots, connection to place... but this is a bizarre memoir in which human relationships tak
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Oct 20, 2010
Travis
rated it: 
I am absolutely in love with this book. Dan Price is a man seeking a simpler life, building structures and researching ancient cultures. I was profoundly influenced by this book and as I brainstorm ideas for my new house design, many of Dan's concepts will leach through. Dan is creating a piece for people who desire to break away from our resource intensive culture and try a more human technique of living. I will definitely check out his moonlight chronicles and recommend this book to all pe
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May 25, 2010
Ann
rated it:
I'm currently reading this book simultaneously with Thomas de Zengotita's "Mediated." It's a fascinating juxtaposition, one that I recommend to anyone who's up for a brain trip.
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Now that I've finished it, I have to say I wasn't too impressed. The author framed his argument in terms of how he believes everyone should live -- both on and off the land, so to speak; away from the man-made and artificial, which he abhors -- rather than in terms of how he personally More...
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Now that I've finished it, I have to say I wasn't too impressed. The author framed his argument in terms of how he believes everyone should live -- both on and off the land, so to speak; away from the man-made and artificial, which he abhors -- rather than in terms of how he personally More...
Jun 01, 2011
Matt
rated it:
A guy sells everything, rents some land and builds a hobbit-hole. Bilbo on Walden Pond. I’m not mocking this book, it’s actually pretty cool. The author talks, in generalities, about how he built his numerous shelters before burrowing underground and he provides rough sketches. This is no short term experiment, it’s a lifestyle. He continue to manage living as close to nature as probably anyone can in modern America. I mean, outside of Appalachia.
If you were impressed with Tho More...
If you were impressed with Tho More...
Aug 12, 2010
Daria
rated it: 
I didn't expect too much from this book once I saw all the scribbles and drawings, but I felt really good after I finished reading it. Great for someone who grew up playing in the woods, building forts, going to Russian saunas and swimming in lakes and rivers. If you did those things then it will be easier to understand that intrinsic pull of the land and nature that this writer utterly succumbs too. No great revelations within, mostly an account of his endeavors in hobbit hole building, but I s
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Feb 08, 2012
Eric
rated it:
Not outstanding. I was excited about it for the first quarter of it's length. Price begins strong with valid (though not new) questioning of "the lifestyles that society handed each of us at birth." He says that "important new discoveries are waiting to be made" but I don't think that is what he meant—as the way of living that he extols and explores isn't at all about new discoveries (unless you mean "discovery" in the way that Columbus did).
He says that More...
He says that More...
Feb 06, 2009
carolyn
rated it:
This book was a little heavy on the alternative living structures which kinda got a bit tiresome but it's interesting nonetheless and I do enjoy his line drawings. I dislike the barbs he throws at his ex-wife but I do appreciate his basic tenets of living somewhere you love, living with someone you truly love and working a job you love along with a lifestyle of minimal impact and appreciation of the natural world.
Jan 12, 2010
Erin
rated it:
It grew on me as I read it, and it was a really quick read.
Talk about low-impact ideas. Radical is apt. Simplicity is apt, as well.
This guy's story is worth thinking about. Makes me want to reduce my own impact and go back-packing.
I got this book intentionally because it had the same title as another book I reserved from the library. This one charmed me a bit.
Talk about low-impact ideas. Radical is apt. Simplicity is apt, as well.
This guy's story is worth thinking about. Makes me want to reduce my own impact and go back-packing.
I got this book intentionally because it had the same title as another book I reserved from the library. This one charmed me a bit.
May 12, 2008
Jay
rated it:
I'm not very good at writing reviews, especially after 10:00pm, so I'm going to try something completely different for this one. Rather than try to describe Radical Symplicity's best qualities in "book terms" I think I'll make a short list of completely random visuals where this book could easily blend in.
1. Hobo's along a set of railroad tracks cooking over a fire.
2. A children's picture book.
3. Hobbits working in the garden or tea in a Hobbit hole.
4. You More...
1. Hobo's along a set of railroad tracks cooking over a fire.
2. A children's picture book.
3. Hobbits working in the garden or tea in a Hobbit hole.
4. You More...
Jun 12, 2010
Katie
rated it:
This personal account of a unique individual who rents an acre of land for $100 a year and lives on it in a variety of mini shelters he builds. Most of the book is his personal exploration of extreme simplicity. It is interesting to hear his story but I found little to take away from it into my own life.
Jan 07, 2008
Jeannette
rated it:
I had read Dan Price's zine the Moonlight Chronicals and liked the issues I had read. This book kind of fell into my lap when it arrived in my mailbox as part of a swap, so I was unaware that this guy was the same guy who traveled around America on a trike.
I love reading about do it yourself shelters and hand built homes, and I loved the drawings in this book. I also generally liked Dan's story of how he just decided to live in a tipi and rent himself 2 acres of land for a $100/year. More...
I love reading about do it yourself shelters and hand built homes, and I loved the drawings in this book. I also generally liked Dan's story of how he just decided to live in a tipi and rent himself 2 acres of land for a $100/year. More...
Sep 09, 2011
Kristin
rated it:
More a memoir than a how-to, Price talks about his experiences living in various primitive structures on a small meadow in Oregon. It's a quick and easy read with lots of pictures. It was interesting, but not particularly helpful if you are looking for a simple living how-to.
May 18, 2010
Todd
rated it:
Dan Price has the coolest life! You will be inspired to become more resourceful with the things around you, appreciate the little things, and understand what it means to be a "minimalist." I gave away many things after reading this book.
Mar 17, 2009
Alohadudenyc
rated it:
dan price is a WILD MAN! and i love him. this book is an account of his radical way of life--living extremely "simply." he is crazy and wonderful and i wish i could be more like him!
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Aug 10, 2011
LaDonna
rated it:
He didn't speak my language. I skimmed through it but didn't find anything life changing or worth really stopping for. Some people might enjoy the style and layout but it wasn't for me.
Mar 09, 2011
P.a.
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I'm glad he found peace and freedom for himself but his way extreme of simplicity is not possible for most people to achieve.
Jun 10, 2009
Mahshid
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Very cool book about scrapping the conventional rat race american lifestyle, and heading for sustainable living out in the wild!
Apr 02, 2010
Katrina
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Quirky, intelligent, inspiring. Makes me dream of building a little place for peace and quiet in the woods.
Mar 08, 2010
Natasha
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Quick and fun read. Made me wish I could be a kid again and just live in the woods.
Jan 18, 2010
Lexi
rated it:
Awesome book for people interested in sustainable and extremely simplistic living.
Feb 26, 2009
Erin
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The structures he built are pretty impressive. The writing itself is what's lagging in my opinion, not the content. He's got me wanting to build.
Jan 29, 2009
Jules
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It is good to question conventions. Although most people would not go so far, there are some interesting nuggets throughout this book.
Aug 23, 2008
Audrey
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Interesting to follow Price's journey from one form of sustainable simple living to another. Lots of photos, lots of drawings and sketches, lots of journal excerpts and quotes. Rather than giving the reader lots of tips on how to create his/her own authentic life (which is what I was expecting), this reads more like a journal of Price's own journey. There was a small section of tips at the end for advice on how to lead a greener life, which was useful but didn't really offer anything new.
Aug 27, 2007
Sabiel
rated it:
It was an interesting concept; attempting to live with a minimal environmental impact by confining oneself to a teepee. The problem is that it's obviously not practical, and the book is not even interesting. The prose is difficult to get through, and his self-absorption gets annoying after a while (although I assume this is inevitable when one is completely isolated).
Aug 31, 2010
Genet
rated it:
I skimmed this book. Definitely not a favorite on simplicity -- a favorite topic of late. A little too much for me.
Dec 16, 2009
GoldmanCafe
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Price's style is fun, realistic and inspiring. I'd love to hang out with him.
