Less Is Liberation: Finding Freedom from a Life of Overwhelm

by Christine Platt

From lifestyle trailblazer and author of The Afrominimalist's Guide To Living with Less, a practical guide to move beyond decluttering your space and, instead, declutter your life.Less Is Liberation welcomes those who are tired and weary to embark upon a journey of self-discovery. This is an invitation to understand the interconnectedness of overwhelm and our overall wellbeing.

     For years, the constant pursuit of success silently wreaked havoc on Christine Platt’s happiness and health. While taking a personal pause, Christine discovered how her limiting beliefs about selfishness led to self-abandonment and a life of overwhelm. So, she decided to use the same intentional living strategy that helped her reduce choose less.

     With the perfect balance of wit and wisdom, Christine shares the necessities to come into alignment with Self and offers a roadmap for anyone ready to do the same. Less Is Liberation is more than a self-help guide, it is a call-to-action to tap into our most underutilized being intentional with our choices. We do not have to have so many things—we can choose less. We do not have to have so many obligations—we can choose less. We do not have to have so many priorities—we can choose less. We do not have to have so many relationships that feel transactional—we can choose less.  We must simply learn how to be intentional about honoring ourselves.

 Less Is Liberation is an invitation to pause and begin the beautiful work of choosing ourselves over the profit and pleasure of others. It invites us to let go of behaviors that hinder our growth. It is time to embrace less as a gateway to find freedom from our lives of overwhelm, and a pathway to the life we want and deserve. Because we are not here for a life of doing. We are here for a life of being.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Christine Platt is a modern-day Renaissance woman whose work centers on honoring Black voices and lived experiences—past, present, and future. Known as the Afrominimalist, Christine is recognized globally as a teacher and trailblazer on how to live a liberating life with less. She delivers powerful talks and workshops at universities, conferences, and literary festivals, captivating audiences with her unique insights on minimalism and personal transformation. With her forthcoming work, Less Is Liberation, Christine will continue to inspire audiences to find freedom from overwhelm by questioning conventional norms and embracing life with authenticity and intention.

Since the release of her award-winning debut The Truth About Awiti, Christine has written more than two dozen books for readers of all ages; including her most recent influential titles The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living With Less, Rebecca, Not Becky, and the beloved children’s series, Frankie & Friends. A beloved author celebrated for teaching tough history and lasting implications of the transatlantic slave trade, Christine’s writing has established her as a respected figure in K-12 education, literary, and social justice spheres.

For over two decades, Christine has served as an advocate and executive leader in public and private sectors, government, and academia, each role underscoring her unwavering commitment to representation and inclusion. She earned her B.A. in Africana Studies from the University of South Florida, an M.A. in African and African American Studies from The Ohio State University, and a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. Christine is actively involved in several professional organizations including the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Association of Black Women Historians, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History; she also serves as an Ambassador for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Reviews

[Christine (Queen of Books)]

Do you need less in your life?

I declared a new year's resolution to be "do less" to a few close friends, and then... absolutely failed at remotely achieving it. Enter Christine Platt, author of The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less.

LESS IS LIBERATION encourages the reader to consider, "How we choose to spend our time. How we choose to expend our energy. What and who we choose to prioritize. What and who we choose to bear as our responsibilities. What and who we deem deserving of our resources—physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, intellectually, and monetarily." And basically: choose less.

It was interesting to begin to unpack different types of freedom (e.g., mental, physical, social, and time, to name a few). I did want more examples or how these might look in practice -- especially because at times it felt like some of these suggestions are at odds with being in community (maybe a personal problem but I kept finding myself thinking about where I could do less - to make room for more, in other areas). Still, potentially a helpful little book for those who feel overwhelmed.

Thank you to GCP Balance for a free copy of this title for review.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less Is Liberation by Christine Platt didn’t land with the same emotional or conceptual power for me as Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less, which felt sharper and more transformative. That said, this book still works well as a thoughtful reset, especially if you’re feeling pulled in too many directions. Platt’s reflections gently reinforce the value of intentional choices around consumption, time, and boundaries. While it didn’t break new ground for me, it served as a solid, affirming reminder that living with less is ultimately about living with more purpose.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to buy a copy of this book for every single woman I know.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earlier this year, I was absolutely kicking butt on my reading goals—until life threw me a massive curveball. I had 60 days to find a new home in a new town, pack, and move. It’s been a really rough year, and I’m still unpacking—both literally and emotionally.

That’s probably why I was so drawn to Less is Liberation. This book found me at exactly the right time. I’ve been on a simplicity kick for nearly three decades, but life has a way of complicating even the best intentions. Christine Platt’s words reminded me why I started down this path in the first place.

This is a warm, generous, and deeply affirming book—especially for women who give too much to others and too little to themselves. Platt writes with wisdom and compassion, encouraging us to let go of what doesn’t serve us so we can live with more clarity, purpose, and peace.

I also love that she’s such a prolific author, including biographies for young readers—that warms my heart. As someone who works in academia, I often feel the relentless “take” of an institution that doesn’t always give back, and this book was a needed reminder that less can truly be more.

I’m adding this to my “to buy” list so I can return to it again when I need a reset. If you’re craving simplicity, self-kindness, or just a gentler way to live, Less is Liberation is a lovely place to start.

Thank you, Christine Platt, for writing this book exactly when I needed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing/Balance, and Christine Platt for providing me with a digital ARC so that I could read and review this book.

[RebeccaReviewedIt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look what just came in the mail! A new release about… choosing less. I keep reading these books, hoping I can do a super purge of all my things I don’t need. Is this geared towards black women (something I am not)? Yes, but I think you can still find value in it! As always with self-help type books, do I agree with everything in them? Absolutely not. But I also don’t agree 100% with everything my husband says, and I chose to spend my life with him. Sound interesting? This one just published this week, so you can grab your copy today! Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing for my copy!

[Kaylee Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

received a copy of this book via good reads giveaway, thanks to the publisher and author! very good book, easy read, loved the themes in it. author is very good at writing and keeping the reader engaged which can be a common issue i’ve found in self help books. i’d read more by Platt!

[Diana Landistratis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fine, not earth shattering.