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Less: A Visual Guide to Minimalism
Simplify life and amplify living with influencer Rachel Aust's visual guide to mastering the minimalist lifestyle .
Declutter and reorganize! Living with less contributes to a greater sense of fulfillment, contentment, and a more meaningful life. The minimalist lifestyle--focusing on scaling back your possessions and simplifying your life to just the essentials--helps you to achieve peace and purpose. Indulgences and excess often lead to discontentment and depression, but adopt minimal living, and you'll find that less is
Using decision trees, flow charts, icons, and other graphics, Less shows how minimalism can be applied to any area of life--including home, wardrobe, decor, cooking, cleaning, finances, and time. Rachel Aust shows you that minimalism can be adapted to suit your own goals to help you achieve the joy of less!
Declutter and reorganize! Living with less contributes to a greater sense of fulfillment, contentment, and a more meaningful life. The minimalist lifestyle--focusing on scaling back your possessions and simplifying your life to just the essentials--helps you to achieve peace and purpose. Indulgences and excess often lead to discontentment and depression, but adopt minimal living, and you'll find that less is
Using decision trees, flow charts, icons, and other graphics, Less shows how minimalism can be applied to any area of life--including home, wardrobe, decor, cooking, cleaning, finances, and time. Rachel Aust shows you that minimalism can be adapted to suit your own goals to help you achieve the joy of less!
144 pages, Hardcover
First published June 12, 2018
285 people are currently reading
1131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
March 16, 2018
This is a non-fiction book about adopting a minimalist lifestyle and I loved it.
Years ago when I was in my twenties I picked up a suitcase, placed a few items of clothing and moved very far away. Since then, I have tried to live with the bare essentials and that is why the concept of a minimalist living resonates with me.
The book introduces the basics and serves as a guide to those who want to declutter their homes as well as their digital environments (i.e. unsubscribe from all those marketing emails and newsletters). it also includes organizing and self-care tips.
Overall, I highly recommend it to those who are looking into decluttering and living more organized.
Received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss.
Years ago when I was in my twenties I picked up a suitcase, placed a few items of clothing and moved very far away. Since then, I have tried to live with the bare essentials and that is why the concept of a minimalist living resonates with me.
The book introduces the basics and serves as a guide to those who want to declutter their homes as well as their digital environments (i.e. unsubscribe from all those marketing emails and newsletters). it also includes organizing and self-care tips.
Overall, I highly recommend it to those who are looking into decluttering and living more organized.
Received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss.
November 12, 2020
Dema min dest bi xwendina vê kitêbê kir, ez di nav otubusê de bûm û diçûm zanîngehê. Min wê rojê ezmûnek hebû û ez ne baş bûm, çend pirsgirêkên min hebûn û ...
Ez wêran bûm û hişê min tevlihev bû, min biryarda ko bibime Minimalistek. Ez li pirtûkek geriyam ko kurt be, zêdetir alîkarîya ruh û derûnê mirov bike, û alîkarîya min bike ko bi hişek vekirî, tuj û tena bifikrim û biryarbidim.
Min destpêka pirtûkê xwend û min zanî ko ev ew pirtûk e ko ez lêdigeriyam. Pirtûkek gelek kurt e, dikarî di rûniştinekê de bixwînî, lê min demek dirêj pêre borand, ji ber ko min dixwest li ser wan tiştên ko daxwaz dike baş bifikrim û bisekinim ko di hişê min de bimînin.
Pirtûk bixwe jî bi awayek Minimalistî hatiye nivîsîn, loma jî dema tu dixwînî tu nawestî, herçend carna gelek beredayî dinivîsîne jî. Erê gelek tiştên beredayî û bê mantiq têde hene, lê dîsa bi giştî gelek baş e. Her kesek ko bi tevlihevî û qelebalix û helehela jiyana modern re aciz dibe û nikare baş karên xwe bike û hay ji xwe hebe divê bibe Minimalistek. Minimalism bi rastî jî pêwîstîyek e ji bo jiyana îro, gelek kes hene ko jiyanek Minimalistî dijîn lê nizanin. dîsa ya giring ne Minimalism bixwe ye, ya giring ev e ko mirov xwedî hişek tena û vehewîyayî be.
Mînîmalîsm dikare ji gelek alîyan ve alîkar û rêber be ji bo jiyana me. Nivîsera pirtûkê li youtube dikarin bibînin, belkî ciwantirîn nivîser e ko ta niha min pirtûkek jê xwendiye.
Min di çend rojên pêşî de bandora Mînîmalîsmê li ser jiyana xwe his kir, belkî ji ber ko mirov ji jiyanek tevlihev re bi yek car tê ser jiyanek diyar û zelal, derûnê mirov hestiyar bibe û mirov bi alozîyek kurt-dem de derbas bibe. Lê encam dê bê dawî baş û xweş bin.
Bê ko bifikrî, biryar bide ko bibî mînîmalîst û li pirtûkek bigere an her vê pirtûkê ji wê nivîsera ciwan bixwîne
Ez wêran bûm û hişê min tevlihev bû, min biryarda ko bibime Minimalistek. Ez li pirtûkek geriyam ko kurt be, zêdetir alîkarîya ruh û derûnê mirov bike, û alîkarîya min bike ko bi hişek vekirî, tuj û tena bifikrim û biryarbidim.
Min destpêka pirtûkê xwend û min zanî ko ev ew pirtûk e ko ez lêdigeriyam. Pirtûkek gelek kurt e, dikarî di rûniştinekê de bixwînî, lê min demek dirêj pêre borand, ji ber ko min dixwest li ser wan tiştên ko daxwaz dike baş bifikrim û bisekinim ko di hişê min de bimînin.
Pirtûk bixwe jî bi awayek Minimalistî hatiye nivîsîn, loma jî dema tu dixwînî tu nawestî, herçend carna gelek beredayî dinivîsîne jî. Erê gelek tiştên beredayî û bê mantiq têde hene, lê dîsa bi giştî gelek baş e. Her kesek ko bi tevlihevî û qelebalix û helehela jiyana modern re aciz dibe û nikare baş karên xwe bike û hay ji xwe hebe divê bibe Minimalistek. Minimalism bi rastî jî pêwîstîyek e ji bo jiyana îro, gelek kes hene ko jiyanek Minimalistî dijîn lê nizanin. dîsa ya giring ne Minimalism bixwe ye, ya giring ev e ko mirov xwedî hişek tena û vehewîyayî be.
Mînîmalîsm dikare ji gelek alîyan ve alîkar û rêber be ji bo jiyana me. Nivîsera pirtûkê li youtube dikarin bibînin, belkî ciwantirîn nivîser e ko ta niha min pirtûkek jê xwendiye.
Min di çend rojên pêşî de bandora Mînîmalîsmê li ser jiyana xwe his kir, belkî ji ber ko mirov ji jiyanek tevlihev re bi yek car tê ser jiyanek diyar û zelal, derûnê mirov hestiyar bibe û mirov bi alozîyek kurt-dem de derbas bibe. Lê encam dê bê dawî baş û xweş bin.
Bê ko bifikrî, biryar bide ko bibî mînîmalîst û li pirtûkek bigere an her vê pirtûkê ji wê nivîsera ciwan bixwîne
June 22, 2018
I'm usually a sucker for organizing and decluttering books, but I honestly hated most of this book. I found it to be visually unappealing, dull and overwhelming -- exactly the opposite of what I want in a book like this.
The book has photos, but they're this depressing gray. They're color, but muted so they come off as black and white with grayish-green. Even the photos with plants looked nearly gray.
The entire book is designed to have a visual minimalist style, which may appeal to some people. There are few paragraphs on the page with lots of white space. There are also copious amounts of flow charts. They all are the standard "Have I used this in the past two months?" and "Do I love this?" kind of thing, just for all different things.
Much of the book is common sense or things that you've probably read a million times. This is basic stuff that my teenagers already know (even though they may not practice it). There was literally not a single new idea or helpful tip that I found in the whole book.
It also frequently depressed and overwhelmed me. The lists of things we're supposed to do to minimalize our homes, workdays, computers, smart phones, wardrobes, etc. is way more than I have any interest in doing. Put on every item of clothing I own and take a picture of myself to see how it looks? Just no. I often declutter my wardrobe and there are quite a few items that I only have to pick up to know that I never really reach for them and they can go bless someone else (to use a concept from that famous magic of tidying up book, which I did find helpful in many places). And her lists gave me far MORE that I felt compelled to do that I never felt any need for. Day one of the 30 day minimalist challenge is to define my personal style in my wardrobe and interior. A lot of that stuff just felt like homework or additional trouble, not something that ultimately helps me streamline my life.
Her example of a minimalist daily schedule involved getting up at 5 a.m., taking an hour for breakfast and cleaning, then an hour and a half for the gym, then a half hour for free time or commuting, then 4 hours of work, then an hour for lunch and social media, then four more hours of work, then an hour and a half of free time, commuting, dinner and/or walking, then two more hours of work, then relaxing from 7:30 to 10:30 and getting 6 1/2 hours of sleep to start again. Yuck.
I also took issue with how wasteful and non-budget-friendly some of the suggestions were. The section on "25 items you can trash without even thinking" had items on it like socks with holes in them. How about buying fewer socks and spending a few minutes mending them? Must we trash everything? And I really wish she had pointed out that many of the things on that list could be recycled or donated to charities that could still use them. That may not be the minimalist use of your time, but things like clothes that don't fit, unused DVDs and CDs, toys that the kids or pets don't use and unused craft supplies are examples of things on that list that can be donated and kept out of landfills. Also, I can pay someone to do lots of my responsibilities but I don't want to. One of the ways we live well on little money is because we don't farm out our household chores and such. I still have a desire to apply minimalism, but not by having to work much harder to afford to pay other people to do things for me.
The book just seemed endless and boring. I realize that some people probably really like the black, white and gray look and the never-ending flow charts and lists of things to do, but I just wanted to declutter first by erasing this book from my e-reader.
I did bookmark two pages that I found helpful -- the homemade household cleaner page was nothing new but I liked the use of illustrations to make a simple cheat sheet, and the daily/monthly/yearly cleaning list was helpful (though extremely incomplete and unrealistic for me-- no way am I cleaning the outside of all the windows of my house every month, for instance, and to be honest there is very little hope that I'll ever clean under my couches and refrigerator every month either).
The author of this book seems to be young, upper middle class and single (her bio says she "began her you-tube career in 2015"). I'm guessing that this book would be a good fit for that audience.
I received a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.
The book has photos, but they're this depressing gray. They're color, but muted so they come off as black and white with grayish-green. Even the photos with plants looked nearly gray.
The entire book is designed to have a visual minimalist style, which may appeal to some people. There are few paragraphs on the page with lots of white space. There are also copious amounts of flow charts. They all are the standard "Have I used this in the past two months?" and "Do I love this?" kind of thing, just for all different things.
Much of the book is common sense or things that you've probably read a million times. This is basic stuff that my teenagers already know (even though they may not practice it). There was literally not a single new idea or helpful tip that I found in the whole book.
It also frequently depressed and overwhelmed me. The lists of things we're supposed to do to minimalize our homes, workdays, computers, smart phones, wardrobes, etc. is way more than I have any interest in doing. Put on every item of clothing I own and take a picture of myself to see how it looks? Just no. I often declutter my wardrobe and there are quite a few items that I only have to pick up to know that I never really reach for them and they can go bless someone else (to use a concept from that famous magic of tidying up book, which I did find helpful in many places). And her lists gave me far MORE that I felt compelled to do that I never felt any need for. Day one of the 30 day minimalist challenge is to define my personal style in my wardrobe and interior. A lot of that stuff just felt like homework or additional trouble, not something that ultimately helps me streamline my life.
Her example of a minimalist daily schedule involved getting up at 5 a.m., taking an hour for breakfast and cleaning, then an hour and a half for the gym, then a half hour for free time or commuting, then 4 hours of work, then an hour for lunch and social media, then four more hours of work, then an hour and a half of free time, commuting, dinner and/or walking, then two more hours of work, then relaxing from 7:30 to 10:30 and getting 6 1/2 hours of sleep to start again. Yuck.
I also took issue with how wasteful and non-budget-friendly some of the suggestions were. The section on "25 items you can trash without even thinking" had items on it like socks with holes in them. How about buying fewer socks and spending a few minutes mending them? Must we trash everything? And I really wish she had pointed out that many of the things on that list could be recycled or donated to charities that could still use them. That may not be the minimalist use of your time, but things like clothes that don't fit, unused DVDs and CDs, toys that the kids or pets don't use and unused craft supplies are examples of things on that list that can be donated and kept out of landfills. Also, I can pay someone to do lots of my responsibilities but I don't want to. One of the ways we live well on little money is because we don't farm out our household chores and such. I still have a desire to apply minimalism, but not by having to work much harder to afford to pay other people to do things for me.
The book just seemed endless and boring. I realize that some people probably really like the black, white and gray look and the never-ending flow charts and lists of things to do, but I just wanted to declutter first by erasing this book from my e-reader.
I did bookmark two pages that I found helpful -- the homemade household cleaner page was nothing new but I liked the use of illustrations to make a simple cheat sheet, and the daily/monthly/yearly cleaning list was helpful (though extremely incomplete and unrealistic for me-- no way am I cleaning the outside of all the windows of my house every month, for instance, and to be honest there is very little hope that I'll ever clean under my couches and refrigerator every month either).
The author of this book seems to be young, upper middle class and single (her bio says she "began her you-tube career in 2015"). I'm guessing that this book would be a good fit for that audience.
I received a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.
April 24, 2019
3.5 stars. Not too lightweight, but I've found more elsewhere. That said, this was a decent read. The author is a Youtuber and a fitness brand owner. The text was sparse but not too much; some ideas I already knew, but there was still plenty new for me to use.
This is another book on minimalism, covering various areas, and not just the decluttering and minimising possessions stuff. The subject were: paring down in general, home stuff, clothes stuff, life things (fe. goals, money, time using, digital breaks, work station), and minimalism in long term (like not regaining stuff, living with a non-minimalist).
Some notes: the author does say that minimalism doesn't always mean limiting to certain colors on your clothes or at home - though she then does show examples only in these colors. And only owning certain amount of clothes: sometimes you do need more than 10 shirts, in my opinion - easier to do laundry, and not so often be hand-washing, or something. And that categorising of women/men clothes... some of us don't really do the must-items of the feminine stuff though we may be women, but *shrug*
The best parts were the page for finding your style, and the methods of getting rid of stuff. Some of the home-example pictures were good, too. I would've liked more talk on minimalism philosophy, but I have already enough of that in my other minimalism reads (like one of JF Millburn's books). So not necessarily essential, but has more to it than it seems.
This is another book on minimalism, covering various areas, and not just the decluttering and minimising possessions stuff. The subject were: paring down in general, home stuff, clothes stuff, life things (fe. goals, money, time using, digital breaks, work station), and minimalism in long term (like not regaining stuff, living with a non-minimalist).
Some notes: the author does say that minimalism doesn't always mean limiting to certain colors on your clothes or at home - though she then does show examples only in these colors. And only owning certain amount of clothes: sometimes you do need more than 10 shirts, in my opinion - easier to do laundry, and not so often be hand-washing, or something. And that categorising of women/men clothes... some of us don't really do the must-items of the feminine stuff though we may be women, but *shrug*
The best parts were the page for finding your style, and the methods of getting rid of stuff. Some of the home-example pictures were good, too. I would've liked more talk on minimalism philosophy, but I have already enough of that in my other minimalism reads (like one of JF Millburn's books). So not necessarily essential, but has more to it than it seems.
May 28, 2018
It's not a bad book but there is nothing new in this book. I don't think I learned anything from this book and definitely not anything worth sounding $16 bucks on. Save yourself the time and read a few minimalist blogs and you'll get the same and better information.
This book was provided to me for no charge through Edelweiss for a fair and unbiased review.
This book was provided to me for no charge through Edelweiss for a fair and unbiased review.
January 24, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
I really wanted to love this. I have read quite a few books on adopting the minimalist lifestyle over the last few years and this seems more of the same. But the problem is this is just a regurgitation of all the basic adages of, "have you used this in the last two months, do you love it?" It isn't groundbreaking, but it isn't bad. Also, I had some issues with some of her suggestions. They aren't practical, but I just may not be her target audience. All in all not a bad book, but just not for me.
I really wanted to love this. I have read quite a few books on adopting the minimalist lifestyle over the last few years and this seems more of the same. But the problem is this is just a regurgitation of all the basic adages of, "have you used this in the last two months, do you love it?" It isn't groundbreaking, but it isn't bad. Also, I had some issues with some of her suggestions. They aren't practical, but I just may not be her target audience. All in all not a bad book, but just not for me.
June 14, 2018
Good content but bad ebook set up
I bought this as an ebook to be more “minimal” and take up less space in my home. This book wasn’t designed for ebook at all which was very disappointing. There were weird breaks all throughout and other issues. I enjoyed the content but I wish there had been more effort in the ebook.
I bought this as an ebook to be more “minimal” and take up less space in my home. This book wasn’t designed for ebook at all which was very disappointing. There were weird breaks all throughout and other issues. I enjoyed the content but I wish there had been more effort in the ebook.
June 22, 2018
Nothing new. Lots of blank space.
I was very disappointed. Author tried to cover every subject, but really didn't provide cover much on any one. Information was basic and common sense. There was nothing new unique or inspiring.
I was very disappointed. Author tried to cover every subject, but really didn't provide cover much on any one. Information was basic and common sense. There was nothing new unique or inspiring.
September 27, 2018
3.5-4 stars I really liked this book; a few issues keep it from being a solid 4-star book.
Font size: I know that this is a minimalism visual guide (book) from the queen of aesthetics, but sweet hell... the bulk of the text is 8 point type! Break out the reading glasses, the magnifying glass, and all of the patience you have for dealing with the nonsense of a "writer" and a publisher who favor form over function.
Content: At least 80% of the content can be read or heard elsewhere, and it is all very 20,000 feet. In the introduction, Aust recommends ditching fast fashion because it "helps create a cycle of boredom with your wardrobe." It also helps create a cycle of humanitarian and environmental exploitation, but that may be a deeper dive than Aust is willing to take.
[SIDE RANT Aust uses the word "actually" throughout. I am starting a campaign against the following words: actually, literally, and so.]
Contradictory: Aust recommends that the reader use the book as a guide, not a directive. She encourages rethinking what we have been taught about stuff and spaces (a living room needs a TV), yet, some of her lists are squarely in the basic box: every home needs a bedside table, a dining table & chair(s), a couch, and a microwave; a whisk is one of 20 essential kitchen items; a white tee is a wardrobe basic. NOPE!
What I liked
* Layout - Teeny font size aside, the layout is revolutionary in this genre. It is coffee table quality.
* Visuals - The flow charts, color palettes, and pictures/pictograms are slick and inspiring.
* Unique content - The house plants and other decor information is oft neglected in similar books.
Who might like it
* Rachel Aust fans
* Someone who hates to read.
* Someone who is impatient and wants to start now!
Font size: I know that this is a minimalism visual guide (book) from the queen of aesthetics, but sweet hell... the bulk of the text is 8 point type! Break out the reading glasses, the magnifying glass, and all of the patience you have for dealing with the nonsense of a "writer" and a publisher who favor form over function.
Content: At least 80% of the content can be read or heard elsewhere, and it is all very 20,000 feet. In the introduction, Aust recommends ditching fast fashion because it "helps create a cycle of boredom with your wardrobe." It also helps create a cycle of humanitarian and environmental exploitation, but that may be a deeper dive than Aust is willing to take.
[SIDE RANT Aust uses the word "actually" throughout. I am starting a campaign against the following words: actually, literally, and so.]
Contradictory: Aust recommends that the reader use the book as a guide, not a directive. She encourages rethinking what we have been taught about stuff and spaces (a living room needs a TV), yet, some of her lists are squarely in the basic box: every home needs a bedside table, a dining table & chair(s), a couch, and a microwave; a whisk is one of 20 essential kitchen items; a white tee is a wardrobe basic. NOPE!
What I liked
* Layout - Teeny font size aside, the layout is revolutionary in this genre. It is coffee table quality.
* Visuals - The flow charts, color palettes, and pictures/pictograms are slick and inspiring.
* Unique content - The house plants and other decor information is oft neglected in similar books.
Who might like it
* Rachel Aust fans
* Someone who hates to read.
* Someone who is impatient and wants to start now!
July 31, 2018
I just accept I'm not a minimalist. I was kind of intrigued by this book until I'm being told that I should pare down my pantry to a short list which includes psyllium husks! What? Who? While the suggestions are a bit more realistic (other than getting rid of things that have sentimental value and just keeping a photograph of those objects) than Marie Kondo's insane book, I'm just never going to live with six pieces of clothing, 2 pairs of shoes and no books.
September 8, 2018
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add,but when there is nothing left to take away."I stumbled upon Rachel Aust's Youtube channel when I first got interested in minimalism. After watching few of her videos, she announced that she will be publishing a book really soon about minimalist living. Of course I'm really eager to read it because I enjoyed watching her videos and really liked her simple lifestyle. When I got this book, I did not know what to expect from this book and just decided to dive right into it. Thankfully, this book is really easy to read! The diagrams and simplistic illustrations in this book made the reading experience even better 😊.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900–1944), author of The Little Prince
To start off this book, Rachel Aust guides the reader to have the right way of thinking about minimalism—because some people seems to have the wrong idea about it. There's a section in this book called Common Misconceptions About Minimalism that includes thinking that if you're a minimalist you can't own nice things, or you have to know the exact number of the things you own, etc. Thankfully, I did not have these misconceptions when I started and have already decided that I'm going to find a way that works for me personally. But I believe there are people who have these misconceptions and are hesitant to lead a minimalist lifestyle.
"A serene, quiet mind is often a pleasant side effect that results from living in a minimalist environment. With fewer visual interruptions, your thinking can become more focused. Decluttering your mind is a great way to reduce stress and make the rest of your day more productive."
"Simplifying your home doesn’t mean having to get rid of everything. You set the rules."Decluttering is one of the most essential elements of minimalism—and I have embraced it since I read Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The image above is one of the pages in this book that included a diagram of the basic process of decluttering. If you're new to these things, the diagram above will help you decide what to keep, what to set aside temporarily, or what to throw away, sell, or donate. The next few pages also has practical tips to help make decluttering easier to do. Some of my favorite tips about decluttering is not to compare ourselves with other people and not to worry too much if our space doesn't look minimal enough. I think those are some important reminders when we started minimalism.
"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."Another thing I love about this book is the various lists that are available for us as guidance to start minimalist living. I really love the essentials list for certain areas like in the kitchen, essential items that you need in a home, necessary cleaning products, minimalist makeup, and many more. There are also various ideas to decorate your space, color palette inspiration, and even houseplants ideas (including how to take care of them)! I personally think these lists are incredibly helpful especially when you're moving into a new space and don't know what are the essentials to have in a home.
—William Morris (1834–1896), textile designer, poet, and socialist activist
Overall, this book is really practical and straightforward. The presentation of this book is very simple and I think it portrays the general idea of this book, which is minimalism. For those of you who are interested in minimalism like me, I think you can try reading this book and see if you can find anything useful in it. Even though Rachel Aust gives out so many ideas and inspiration in this book, I feel like in the end it all comes back to our own personal preferences. The most important thing is having the right mindset about minimalism and gain the benefit out of it 💖.
Read the full review here:
http://www.thebookielooker.com/2018/0...
February 4, 2018
In Less: A Visual Guide to Minimalism, Rachel Aust gives us multiple ways to reduce our clutter and make our living space more... livable.
This includes reducing clothes and accessories that we don't wear or use; daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules; how to set reasonable goals and actually achieve them; and so much more. She uses graphic organizers with multiple questions to show us how we can determine whether we TRULY need something, even those sentimental items that just seem to collect themselves in the corners. She even shows us how we can organize our goals and set reasonable short-term and long-term ones, as well as how to take care of ourselves with a 21 day self-care challenge (they say it takes 21 days to create a habit).
Great read for those who are looking to reduce their clutter and get their homes together in a way that will be helpful to our daily living. No more buying items because you can't seem to find the ones you already have! Your home will be a much cleaner, welcoming space if you follow the tips that are discussed in this book, which will in turn provide you with a little bit more mental clarity! (We all know that can be hard to find, sometimes...)
This includes reducing clothes and accessories that we don't wear or use; daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules; how to set reasonable goals and actually achieve them; and so much more. She uses graphic organizers with multiple questions to show us how we can determine whether we TRULY need something, even those sentimental items that just seem to collect themselves in the corners. She even shows us how we can organize our goals and set reasonable short-term and long-term ones, as well as how to take care of ourselves with a 21 day self-care challenge (they say it takes 21 days to create a habit).
Great read for those who are looking to reduce their clutter and get their homes together in a way that will be helpful to our daily living. No more buying items because you can't seem to find the ones you already have! Your home will be a much cleaner, welcoming space if you follow the tips that are discussed in this book, which will in turn provide you with a little bit more mental clarity! (We all know that can be hard to find, sometimes...)
July 17, 2019
I’ve found that cleaning out closets and decluttering anything seem to make “space” for a new, more creative phase of life. LESS: A VISUAL GUIDE TO MINIMALISM shares the process of making that happen, with decision trees, flow charts, icons, and other graphics that can be applied to any life area ... home, time, decor, wardrobe, decor, cooking, cleaning, and finances. This instructive book teaches how living with less actually adds a richness to life not otherwise achievable.
While the content of this book is highly effective, I did not like the design. The cover did not attract me, the text was hard to read, lack of color drained energy, as did the grayish photos. Those elements reduce my approval from five to three stars. Sometimes “less” is actually “less.”
Thanks to DK and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#Less #NetGalley
While the content of this book is highly effective, I did not like the design. The cover did not attract me, the text was hard to read, lack of color drained energy, as did the grayish photos. Those elements reduce my approval from five to three stars. Sometimes “less” is actually “less.”
Thanks to DK and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#Less #NetGalley
September 19, 2020
Das Thema "Minimalismus" ist in diesem Buch Programm! Insbesondere die Aufmachung fällt absolut unter den Vegriff "minimal". Interessante Schaubilder, Entscheidungskarten. So wenig Text wie möglich, so viel Inhalt wie eben nötig. Ein bejahendes Buch für das Weniger ohne erhobenen Zeigefinger und Schlechted Gewissen-Spruch. Hat mir sehr gut gefallen, insbesondere die Challenge-Anregungen. Ein eingefleischter Minimalist wird hier aber womöglich wenig Neues für sich entdecken, es wäre aber bspw. ein prima Geschenk für all jene, die ihr Leben besser, klarer, minimaler strukturieren wollen.
November 5, 2020
With beautiful visuals, no more than a paragraph on some pages, and very basic advice, this worked way better as an example of minimalism than a guide.
March 15, 2019
If you’ve seen the writer’s youtube videos, you’ve read the book. There’s nothing new in it
July 23, 2018
Ever since I read Elaine St. James' SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE 24 years ago, I have been an avid follower of anything touting how to make life more simple. So far it has worked for me as we've been able to stay in our little house without ever feeling the need to upgrade to a larger residence, and no, we aren't paying for a storage unit filled with stuff.
So, of course, I had to take the newest entry on the topic for a spin and determined that Aust's LESS is worth reading. It doesn't hold a lot of new information but the format is nicely laid out with nifty and succinct lists of life's necessities, plus the author also includes suggestions for decluttering your mind, simplifying cooking, keeping the budget simple, and even includes recipes for ecologically friendly cleaning solutions.
If there are any shortcomings, it's that the illustrations of decor and display ideas aren't particularly appealing, but perhaps others may find the style attractive.
If a reader is determined to declutter and simplify, this is a good start, but also try Marie Kondo's sometimes silly THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP, Jeff Yeager's Ultimate Cheapskate series, Levin's NOT BUYING IT, and the book that started it for me years ago, Elaine St. James' SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Also, a book that helped me tame my "digital" and paper clutter was Fay Wolf's NEW ORDER. For those who want to go to extreme minimalism, check out Sasaki's GOODBYE THINGS. Also, check the GoodReads lists for "Simple Living & Minimalism."
Thanks to the publisher for the early digital reading copy.
So, of course, I had to take the newest entry on the topic for a spin and determined that Aust's LESS is worth reading. It doesn't hold a lot of new information but the format is nicely laid out with nifty and succinct lists of life's necessities, plus the author also includes suggestions for decluttering your mind, simplifying cooking, keeping the budget simple, and even includes recipes for ecologically friendly cleaning solutions.
If there are any shortcomings, it's that the illustrations of decor and display ideas aren't particularly appealing, but perhaps others may find the style attractive.
If a reader is determined to declutter and simplify, this is a good start, but also try Marie Kondo's sometimes silly THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP, Jeff Yeager's Ultimate Cheapskate series, Levin's NOT BUYING IT, and the book that started it for me years ago, Elaine St. James' SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Also, a book that helped me tame my "digital" and paper clutter was Fay Wolf's NEW ORDER. For those who want to go to extreme minimalism, check out Sasaki's GOODBYE THINGS. Also, check the GoodReads lists for "Simple Living & Minimalism."
Thanks to the publisher for the early digital reading copy.
July 5, 2018
I got this book as a bargain book. It was cheap and I am interested in minimalism so I gave it a shot. It’s not a bad book and it’s very easy to read. It teaches you the basics of minimalism and gives very easy, practical, basic steps to follow, which is actually useful and valuable. The charts are great and I really liked them; they are miniature roadmaps to minimalism that are drawn out as decision-trees. There is more to minimalism than this book and it reads like a long internet article and left me feeling like I need further research on the subject but this book is a good crash course on basic minimalism. If you’re interested in minimalism at all, you can read this and get something out of it. I read it piece meal between other books but it can easily be read in one sitting.
December 5, 2018
In a world of literature and how-to's on minimalism here is another one. For all intents and purposes I think it's pretty interesting. But in the end - the best approach to minimalism and coming up roses with it is probably the one that works for you. As an individual.
That aside - I liked the flow charts. Makes ya think. Do I want this stuff? Do I *really* want this stuff. xD
Also this title is probably not as effective in ebook form. Haha.
First finished: 5dec2018
Source: Overdrive, Sabah State Library (another random loan from overdrive, sigh)
That aside - I liked the flow charts. Makes ya think. Do I want this stuff? Do I *really* want this stuff. xD
Also this title is probably not as effective in ebook form. Haha.
First finished: 5dec2018
Source: Overdrive, Sabah State Library (another random loan from overdrive, sigh)
June 29, 2018
Less is a clean overview of Minimalism with decision tree graphics and lists to help you decide which path or items are best for you. Rachel covers all the key things important to living a more intentional life. She's clear and concise in her writing style and her tips are most helpful. Worth a read!
July 13, 2018
Minimalism, declutter, capsule wardrobe, intentional shopping, intentional living, streamlined healthy cooking, digital detox, gratitude journaling ... all the hot topic items and more, presented in a beautiful book layout and organized presentation. The only missing thing is a magnifying glass or prescription reading cheaters, because the print is just too small.
July 27, 2018
This is a wonderful beginners guide to the minimalist lifestyle, or simply a great way to open your mind to the idea that maybe we don't need so many "things" cluttering up our homes, closets, and thoughts.
Not as strict as Marie Kondo's brutal KonMari style of letting go, this is a more gentle and elegant step into paring down and living more.
Not as strict as Marie Kondo's brutal KonMari style of letting go, this is a more gentle and elegant step into paring down and living more.
April 11, 2018
Just like what it exhorts, this slim book delivers in a pinch. What I like about it is that the information is broken up in tiny pieces and with lots of visuals to break it up even more. Not overwhelming at all and very succinct.
Access to review copy provided by the publisher.
Access to review copy provided by the publisher.
June 26, 2018
Minimalism is happiness.
For those who are interested in minimalist life, this book sums it all for you. Clear explanations with examples and pictures make this book even more fun to read and easier for you to apply in real life.
For those who are interested in minimalist life, this book sums it all for you. Clear explanations with examples and pictures make this book even more fun to read and easier for you to apply in real life.
August 2, 2018
Easy read
Concisely written, good advice and ideas for eliminating the extraneous in every part of life. Pictures and decision trees help illuminate and simplify concepts discussed in the book.
Concisely written, good advice and ideas for eliminating the extraneous in every part of life. Pictures and decision trees help illuminate and simplify concepts discussed in the book.
March 15, 2023
Simple and that’s the point! Visually I loved the minimalist design to show the space that minimalism can give in your lifestyle. This would be a great book to give someone who is thinking about becoming a minimalist. It’s not about purging everything but rather making better choices.
August 28, 2018
I realized after I was done that this was a DK book ( not actually marked as such ) and it doesn't surprise me. A very well laid out and brief guide to all things minimal.
January 21, 2022
WHEN LESS IS… LESS.
Something really strange started to happen a few years ago (and it already happened a few centuries ago as well). Looking for enlightenment, people started to punish themselves. Set unrealistic expectations. Feel shame or guilt whenever they felt they owned "too much", or that a color was "too bright".
I won’t judge. I can relate.
In a society within which you’re encouraged to always have more, do more, be better, the appeal of less is real, and I’m a firm believer that minimalism can help one embrace the life he or she always wanted for him/herself, focus on what matters, discard what matters not.
BUT. And that’s a huge one.
Used as a way to compete with others, or to punish yourself and take "less space", one will inevitably miss the point, and will start reproduce what’s wrong with owning too much in the pursuit of less.
Minimalism should be about balance.
As another reviewer wrote here, the amount of work suggested by the author can sound daunting. It is. There’s something really depressing about this book, which, at least to me, seems to take joy out of the equation. Even the drawn succulents look depressed.
To me, minimalism should give you the hope and joy of a fresh start, but here, even the goals setting sounds sad, dull… the suggested workplace is uninspiring at best, and you’re highly encouraged to remove symbols that might inspire you and replace them with… well, nothing at all.
I believe that Rachel Aust wrote this book with the best intentions at heart, but there’s one last point that seem important to me to share if you’re not new to the subject: everything written here, you’ve already read on previous books and blog posts. And it’s almost copied/pasted. Even the QUOTES quoted in other books for inspiration are copied/paste. Nothing original here, nothing curated by the author from a personal read on another subject than minimalism. Aside from the visual approach, I’m not sure there’s a lot to gain for someone who had already read ANYTHING on the topic.
Conclusion: even if it might be practical for some with its visual approach, I do not recommend this book because it’s less engaging and inspiring than the ones it takes so much from, and is, in my opinion, a really depressing take on what has the potential to bring so much insight and joy.
Something really strange started to happen a few years ago (and it already happened a few centuries ago as well). Looking for enlightenment, people started to punish themselves. Set unrealistic expectations. Feel shame or guilt whenever they felt they owned "too much", or that a color was "too bright".
I won’t judge. I can relate.
In a society within which you’re encouraged to always have more, do more, be better, the appeal of less is real, and I’m a firm believer that minimalism can help one embrace the life he or she always wanted for him/herself, focus on what matters, discard what matters not.
BUT. And that’s a huge one.
Used as a way to compete with others, or to punish yourself and take "less space", one will inevitably miss the point, and will start reproduce what’s wrong with owning too much in the pursuit of less.
Minimalism should be about balance.
As another reviewer wrote here, the amount of work suggested by the author can sound daunting. It is. There’s something really depressing about this book, which, at least to me, seems to take joy out of the equation. Even the drawn succulents look depressed.
To me, minimalism should give you the hope and joy of a fresh start, but here, even the goals setting sounds sad, dull… the suggested workplace is uninspiring at best, and you’re highly encouraged to remove symbols that might inspire you and replace them with… well, nothing at all.
I believe that Rachel Aust wrote this book with the best intentions at heart, but there’s one last point that seem important to me to share if you’re not new to the subject: everything written here, you’ve already read on previous books and blog posts. And it’s almost copied/pasted. Even the QUOTES quoted in other books for inspiration are copied/paste. Nothing original here, nothing curated by the author from a personal read on another subject than minimalism. Aside from the visual approach, I’m not sure there’s a lot to gain for someone who had already read ANYTHING on the topic.
Conclusion: even if it might be practical for some with its visual approach, I do not recommend this book because it’s less engaging and inspiring than the ones it takes so much from, and is, in my opinion, a really depressing take on what has the potential to bring so much insight and joy.
February 13, 2019
Welp, one of the first spreads is '25 things you can trash without even thinking' and I definitely regret that I did one of them (handbags, because my taste and circumstances changed and I want a few of them back) and two others I disagree with (unfinished projects and unused craft supplies!)
Very few pictures. Charts and diagrams, yes. A very few sketches and photos.
So, the book is a Prescription, instead of an Inspiration.
I do appreciate that it's not just about stuff. One page is tips to declutter your mind. They're all the things we've heard before, like sleep, turn off the computer, do yoga, without any advice about *how* to fit these into your life, but at least they're there.
"The only 45 items you need in your home" includes "Kitchenware" and "Food." Um, wow, are we talking someone who shops daily at the deli, or someone who shops the sales monthly at Costco? Also includes "Couch." Um, we haven't had one for years and don't miss it. We do however have two reading chairs and a side chair, for a conversation grouping.
Her decluttered schedule leaves no time for family, but does include time for social media.
The advice that's not prescribed, that's narrated is, 'do what *you* decide suits you best.' Vague enough for you?
Lots of white and black space in this little book, too. I guess you could say that the design is minimalist? :sarcasm:
Ok, done. I ache for anyone who actually would benefit significantly from this. I can't believe that something this basic is jumping on the bandwagon this late, though.
I'm so sad that my library was conned into buying it. List $15.99.
Very few pictures. Charts and diagrams, yes. A very few sketches and photos.
So, the book is a Prescription, instead of an Inspiration.
I do appreciate that it's not just about stuff. One page is tips to declutter your mind. They're all the things we've heard before, like sleep, turn off the computer, do yoga, without any advice about *how* to fit these into your life, but at least they're there.
"The only 45 items you need in your home" includes "Kitchenware" and "Food." Um, wow, are we talking someone who shops daily at the deli, or someone who shops the sales monthly at Costco? Also includes "Couch." Um, we haven't had one for years and don't miss it. We do however have two reading chairs and a side chair, for a conversation grouping.
Her decluttered schedule leaves no time for family, but does include time for social media.
The advice that's not prescribed, that's narrated is, 'do what *you* decide suits you best.' Vague enough for you?
Lots of white and black space in this little book, too. I guess you could say that the design is minimalist? :sarcasm:
Ok, done. I ache for anyone who actually would benefit significantly from this. I can't believe that something this basic is jumping on the bandwagon this late, though.
I'm so sad that my library was conned into buying it. List $15.99.
October 2, 2018
I've been trying to adapt to the Minimalism lifestyle, and that's my take on Minimalism, it's a lifestyle change not so much a decluttering and organizational guide.
You can declutter and organize until you are exhausted but if you aren't willing to adapt to this way of life you are still going to be overwhelmed.
I liked the way this book covered the whole art of Minimalism, from financial to self-care. I took away a lot of valuable information from this little book, I've bought quite of few books that just left me overwhelmed thinking who can live like this?
I've started slowing adapting to this way of life, and it has cut down on my stress load. I had so much "Stuff" that I couldn't enjoy what matters in life. I like the philosophy of using your good stuff while you can enjoy it. I never understood why I had of China and Crystal in my China Cabinet that was gathering dust, and I was always taught we must not use the good stuff until company comes over. Well, guess what? I've decided to use the good stuff and get rid of a lot of the others things.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this galley in exchange for my honest review.
You can declutter and organize until you are exhausted but if you aren't willing to adapt to this way of life you are still going to be overwhelmed.
I liked the way this book covered the whole art of Minimalism, from financial to self-care. I took away a lot of valuable information from this little book, I've bought quite of few books that just left me overwhelmed thinking who can live like this?
I've started slowing adapting to this way of life, and it has cut down on my stress load. I had so much "Stuff" that I couldn't enjoy what matters in life. I like the philosophy of using your good stuff while you can enjoy it. I never understood why I had of China and Crystal in my China Cabinet that was gathering dust, and I was always taught we must not use the good stuff until company comes over. Well, guess what? I've decided to use the good stuff and get rid of a lot of the others things.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this galley in exchange for my honest review.
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