Plain Living: A Quaker Path to Simplicity

by Catherine Whitmire, Parker J. Palmer (Foreword by)

Must reading for anyone feeling too busy or too stressed and seeking to simplify their life--to listen to the longings of their heart. Most of us living in this complex and time-pressured era have moments when we wish we were living simpler, more meaningful lives. Sometimes these wishes are fleeting desires, but for many today the search for a life of greater simplicity and meaning has developed into a deep longing. There are many routes to simplicity. This book focuses on and provides direction to the gimmick-free spiritual path followed by Quakers. For over three centuries Quakers have been living out of a spiritual center in a way of life they call "plain living." Their accumulated experiences and distilled wisdom have much to offer anyone seeking greater simplicity today. Plain Living is not about sacrifice. It's about choosing the life you really want, a form of inward simplicity that leads us to listen for the "still, small voice" of God. This book goes beyond the merely trendy to make the by now well-worn Quaker path to plain living accessible to everyone.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Christianity, Philosophy, Self Help, Faith

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2001

Reviews

[Chaundra]

an absolutely brilliant, thought provoking book that begs all the relevant questions on all aspects of simplicity. It is organised by theme and consists primarily of short quotes speaking from the experience of a wide body of individuals. Not something to sit down and read cover to cover, but more to use as a tool for reflection and contemplation, remindng us to look to the centre in all aspects of our lives.

[Forrest Jackson]

I wish I could eat this book there were so many fabulously written testimonials that were inspiring to me.

[Keith]

a collection of brief quotations from various Quaker persons recent and long deceased.

um... there's some good stuff here... you pick and choose with this sort of book.

[Tabitha Vohn]

Maybe not quite as inspiring as Practicing Peace, but nevertheless a profound, motivational, and challenging read. Worth the time and meditation.

[Melanie Mauer]

I was surprised how powerful the concepts in this book were - i love how well articulated the topic of spirituality and the connection to simplicity was and saw connections between my faith with a denomination I wasn't that familiar with before.

A good practice for new years...

"Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you." - Parker Palmer

"The simple life is one in which there is always time to remember the divine purpose behind each of our tasks, time to listen for a possible divine amendment to the day's schedule, and time to be thankful for the divine presence at each moment of the day." Lloyd Lee Wilson

"Those of us who are rich in this world's good should not be proud: our riches are not a reward for anything that we have done. But neither should we be crippled by guilty. Paul tells us that our riches give us an opportunity to do good and grow rich in noble actions; that we must be ready to give away and to share. So we must see our riches not as a reward for somehow being good, but as an opportunity for doing good. As Paul writes elsewhere (2 Cor 9:11) - You will always be rich enough to be generous." -Tom and Liz Gates

Simplicity is about mending and caring for things rather than discarding them at the first sign of age or wear and the uplifting implications this ethic has on personal relationships. -Frank Levering and Wanda Urbanska

A single conversation across the table with a wise person is better than ten years mere study of books. - Longfellow

I am convinced it is a great art to know how to grow old gracefully, and I am determined to practice it...I always thought I should love to grow old, and I find it is even more delightful than I thought. It is so delicious to be done with things, and to feel no need any longer to concern myself much about earthly affairs...I am tremendously content to let one activity go after another go, and to await quietly and happily the opening of the door at the end of the passage way, that will let me in to my real abiding place. - Hannah Whitall Smith

To pray is to pay attention to the deepest thing
that we know...
Prayer is a space in which we become truly human.
-Douglas Steere


I don't read Scripture to learn doctrine.
I don't read it to find answers to every question.
I read it to find God. -Carole Spencer

[Holly McIntyre]

I was hoping, I suppose, for a how-to book, how-to find the Quaker path to simplicity and walk it. Of course, I should have known better because no one else can find that path for you. To continue the “path” analogy, this is more like a compendium of road signs, statements by Quaker authors, indicating in what direction the path lies — silence, community, service, and Spirit-led. Organized by topic, the quotes and anecdotes are drawn from Quaker authors old and new. For readers familiar with Quaker thought, it offers little new.

[Charlie Kester]

A collection of inspirational quotations and stories, along with evocative questions (which Quakers call "queries") to engage the reader in reflection on the spiritual and ethical themes.

I'm marking this one as "finished reading" but it's really the kind of book to revisit frequently, like coming back to a spring for a drink of cool, clean water.

[Ruth]

How can you not like the Quakers?
I know Richard Nixon was raised Quaker, but forget that, there is a lot too like here.

This is a lovely collection of quotes that cover the topic.

I returned it to the library, otherwise, I'd have some good quotes.

[Mark]

I find this book very useful when I get lost on my path through life.

[Amy]

Not a book to sit down and read from cover to cover, but a gathering a quotes and passages from other authors with very brief section introductions.

[Sally O'wheel]

One of my favourite Quaker books.

[John Howes]

A beautiful and thought provoking collection of Quaker writings about peace, respect and hope.

[Kate Waddell]

I thought I was reading a book that would motivate me to declutter my house, but instead it decluttered my soul.

[Juliane Roell]

(Reading still in progress. May edit this later. Writing this at 34 %)

This is quite different from what I thought it would be: It is basically a selection of unrelated quotes, some longer, some shorter, by Quakers, arranged by topics. Many of them come from deep wisdom and inspire me (some don't). As they are all unrelated to eachother though, I cannot really "read" this as a book: I come back to it from time to time for a dose of deep breath and inspiration. I like it, but it is a slow read and somewhat dry.

(The "Path" in the title got me I think. I was probably expecting a description of a "path". There is no such thing here. Small bits of wisdom about various topics.)

[Gloria]

Soothing is a good word for this book. Filled with short passages mostly written by other writers that can be used almost as a devotional type of book. In Quaker style, however, each section ends with queries which lead the reader through a meditational moment. Sheds light on Quaker values and is designed to get you thinking about your values. A book that is good for putting down and then just starting again wherever you want to.

[Elise M]

This is a great book though not what I expected. I think I was hoping for more of a traditional theology guidebook, that would go very in depth into the Quaker idea of simplicity and how to practically integrate it into my life. This is more of a collection of short quotes on different topics, from a variety of Quaker writers. Very easy to dip in and out of, and every quote has something valuable in it.

[Don Richardson]

A thoughtful collection of essays and expressions on the Quaker testimony of simplicity. Most are short enough to read in a few minutes, anytime one needs a break from this not-so-simple world. Sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, always thought-provoking. Would also be ideal for group reading and discussion.

[Nesrin]

Excellent quotations, the kind of book you can read cover to cover or dip into for inspiration. Plain living is about looking for the light, in yourself and each and every human being, as well as respecting the earth, from a Quaker perspective that is relevant to anyone of any faith, or no faith...A wonderful book.

[Barry]

I developed an interest in Quakerism last year and picked this up on recommendation. For a beginner in to the Quaker path it provides a good insight, but quite apart from this, it is a stand alone book of quiet practical wisdom that is hard to fault. Go on, dip in and try it.

[Leslie]

This great book is filled with fantastic quotes about various spiritual topics relating to the Quaker faith specifically and to faith in general. This is all quotes though so be prepared for that.

[Kathryn Lee]

I read this to get a better sense of Quaker spirituality. Now that I have read it through once in its entirety, I want to read it again slowly, deliberately, and meditatively to let the small whispers of the Holy Spirit have full voice through the wisdom in these pages.

[Anita]

Not a book to be read all at once, but in bits and pieces. The "queries" at the end of each section are very thought provoking. Definitely a keeper, this book will take it's place in the "reference" section of my library.

[Lisa Nash]

A small volume but very pithy. If you are feeling overwhelmed and like a failure, read this book.

[Mark]

A good collection of quotations and queries. Some really hit the spot when I read them.

[Linda Carmel]

The quotes and poems in this book are a gift to my soul. The wisdom is simple yet profound. I'll refer to this book again and again. I feel peace as I contemplate the writings. .

[CC]

A really beautiful collection of quotes, organized thematically. Quaker history and theology always inspires and comforts me.