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Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life
by
Joshua Becker (Goodreads Author)
Two years ago, a typical family of four living in the suburbs made the decision to minimize their possessions, declutter their home, and simplify their life. Since then, they have inspired hundreds of thousands of others to give the new lifestyle a chance.
And now, to help you experience the same freedom, they offer the most important lessons they have learned through the p...more
And now, to help you experience the same freedom, they offer the most important lessons they have learned through the p...more
ebook, 78 pages
Published
2010
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Dang it! I started a review then hit the wrong button & lost it! Anyway, good, basic, quick read regarding the hows & whys of implementing "rational minimalism." Some gems about stuff & clutter that are worth mulling over.
I greatly appreciated Becker's lack of zealotry when stating his case for a change in mentality that would leave a smaller "footprint," as it were. I look at the environmental impact of making such changes as a positive, but far from my primary reason for doing so....more
I greatly appreciated Becker's lack of zealotry when stating his case for a change in mentality that would leave a smaller "footprint," as it were. I look at the environmental impact of making such changes as a positive, but far from my primary reason for doing so....more
This short book is simple, just like it's subject matter. I really liked Becker's thoughts on practical minimalism. When I think of being a minimalist, I normally think of someone who goes to the extreme of selling all their possessions. I think Becker's rational approach to minimalism makes sense and is more "doable" for most people, as he helps you think of ways that you can adapt a minimalistic life while not giving up everything. The advice of keeping only what you use and love is not new, b...more
Nice, quick read. Primer for the blog.
Favorite Quotes:
"Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it."
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." — William Morris
"Clutter is anything that is disorganized. The motto in our house is, “Everything has a home.”"
"Clutter is too much stuff in too small a space. This takes many forms: too many clothes in one drawer, too many items...more
Favorite Quotes:
"Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it."
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." — William Morris
"Clutter is anything that is disorganized. The motto in our house is, “Everything has a home.”"
"Clutter is too much stuff in too small a space. This takes many forms: too many clothes in one drawer, too many items...more
Incredibly fast read that I got for free off of Amazon and loved! This book gives a few of the basic steps needed to simplify your life when it comes to stuff. It's a great starting point if you're considering a minimalist lifestyle and a good refresher if you need more ambition to get rid of the extra stuff cluttering up your life and home. I like that this book isn't sensationalized and the author and his family are in no way extreme in their pursuit of simplicity.
Dec 30, 2011
Brian
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
on-my-kindle
Personally, the tone of this book got a little too preachy for me at times, but that didn't distract from the message. I have always sought to simplify my life, striving for what I call elegant simplicity. The thoughts, ideas and methods described in this book were very helpful and ofttimes even insightful. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a little more simplicity and peace in our cluttered world.
For $.99, if you've never read a book on minimalism, it was worth the time and money. Becker has a smooth and interesting writing style. This is really an introduction to the idea of minimalism and how to incorporate it into your own life. I've read countless articles and a few books on the subject. There wasn't anything groundbreaking in here. However, it was motivating and enjoyable to read.
"The more stuff you own, the more your stuff owns you."
I purchased the 99 cent kindle edition and certainly got my money's worth. Unlike some, the author isn't trying to limit himself to 100 things or any number, but rather eliminating the excess and putting more focus on what's really important. A quick read, this is a good intro to rational minimalism.
I purchased the 99 cent kindle edition and certainly got my money's worth. Unlike some, the author isn't trying to limit himself to 100 things or any number, but rather eliminating the excess and putting more focus on what's really important. A quick read, this is a good intro to rational minimalism.
Oct 05, 2010
Cara
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone with clutter or a complicated life
Shelves:
life,
minimalism
This book is a minimalist manual for rational minimalism. Unlike many minimalists, Joshua Becker doesn't berate you for owning a house or a car. He doesn't scorn anyone with over 100 things, and he doesn't demand that you be ready at a moment's notice to flit off to Borneo. He merely lays out some benefits of simplifying your life, and he suggests ways to make your own form of minimalism work for you, even if you have a regular suburban life with a spouse and kids (he does!). It's not rocket sci...more
Lots of good tips and suggestions about living more simply. I appreciate that the author recognizes that each individual family is unique and that you need to adopt changes that work best for you. I also like the idea of "rational minimalism" and that to be a minimalist you don't have to be extreme.
I appreciated the glimpse into the author's life as a family embracing minimalism and the simplicity of life it can bring. I found their lifestyle very appealing and the author had many helpful and insightful hints and tips. I enjoyed this book and found it useful and quite refreshing!
This is an effective beginner's guide to Rational Minimalism. There's nothing here that isn't freely available on a number of blogs on the same subject, but there's not a lot here for people who are already persuaded a simple life is the way forward.
This was the first book that I ever read about minimalism and it was a great one to start with. The author does a great job laying out his transition into a minimalist lifestyle and gives a guide for how any person can do the same.
I like his approach to minimalism: rational minimalism. He's not someone who tries to convince you to live on 100 things or out of a backpack, but rather encourages a rational approach to simplifying your (family's) life.
I don't know why I read these books, I still believe if I buy them my life will automatically become an organised haven of calm and organisation, at least buying the kindle version means I don't have it lying around
I suppose the content was ok...but it was basically a repeat of everything I've already read on his blog. So I was disappointed that there wasn't any new info. I'm not sure it was worth 99 cents on kindle.
Great way to simplify your life and home. Short read to get you started on very simple principles to ease the mess. If you have a constantly messy house this will give you a method of attack.
Nov 15, 2011
Janet
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in minimalism
Shelves:
non-fiction,
kindle
This book is brief and to the point. It addresses the mindset as well as behaviors needed to acheive a more simple life. I purchased the 99 cent kindle edition and definitely got my money's worth.
A short little book on "rational minimalism" and decluttering physical (and some immaterial) goods. totally worth it if you're looking to reduce the amount of junk you're carrying around.
This wasn't bad, but it's all information easily obtainable on the author's website/blog and thus not worth paying for, especially since it's so short (46 pages).
Short read, quick tips, mostly common sense. Good intro to anyone who hasn't looked into minimalism/decluttering before and wants to begin simplifying their lives.
Short, sweet and to the point on becoming a practical minimalist. Inspires me to clean out my closets and downsize. De-clutter in every area of life and home!
Exactly what I needed to read right now. A different way of looking at simplicity (way less angst and guilt), very effective and inspiring.
Great, practical introduction to rational minimalism. Helps one get started and reminds one why the journey is so beneficial!
meh. Book wasn't great. Don't get me wrong it's a quick read on a great subject, but I felt like all in all it was just fluff.
Inspired me to become a rational minimalist and clean out my crap, sooooo...I guess it was pretty good!
Fast easy read with solid details on how to getstarted with minimalism and why.
A neat idea. I've been trying to start doing this for a while. I have too much stuff.
Some good tips and good thoughts, nothing wildly new but somewhat motivational.
Fast, light read on the basics of getting rid of stuff.
Good reasons to simplify with good ways to start.
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Nov 15, 2012 12:22pm