Simple Pleasures: Soothing Suggestions & Small Comforts for Living Well Year Round

by Susannah Seton, David Greer

An abundant sourcebook of ideas, inspirational quotes, recipes, and activities,  Simple Pleasures  shows you how to appreciate the simple things that make up your daily life. Secrets to happiness.  Happiness in today’s frantic world is to learn how to enjoy less than we can afford. Rediscover the pleasures our grandparents knew when life was quieter and slower. When children without TVs knew how to amuse themselves. When pleasures were made not bought and enjoyed all the more because of it. From the recipe for a homemade herbal bath to quick and easy recommendations for an instant room makeover, the suggestions collected in this book offer a new appreciation for the everyday activities that nurture and comfort you. Self-care made easy.  Organized seasonally and full of touching stories, practical tips, and dozens of satisfying crafts,  Simple Pleasures  is both a guide to and a celebration of the art of living well. Inside, find self-care tips and learn how If you enjoyed other books in the Simple Pleasures series by Susannah Seton such as  365 Simple Pleasures ,  Simple Pleasures of the Home , and  Simple Pleasures for the Holidays  or books like  The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care ,  The Self Care Prescription , or  The Spirit Almanac , you’ll love  365 Simple Pleasures .

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Inspirational, Lifestyle, Summer

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A wonderful sourcebook of ideas, projects, activities, stories, recipes, and inspirational quotations. Simple Pleasures shows us how to better appreciate the sum of our existence through the simple things that make up our daily lives. From the soothing art of taking a bath (including a warm towel), indulging in a homemade herbal facial, and the pleasure of a clean desk, to the miracle journey of a country walk, chess in cages, and the ritual of cooking a good soup, the authors offer a compendium of life's marvels.

Replete with stories, quotes, and dozens of satisfying recipes -- including how to make your own perfume, create old-fashioned satchet, and bake the world's best Christmas cookies -- Simple Pleasures is both a guide to and a celebration of the art of living well."
~~back cover

Well I can't add anything to that description -- it says it all.

[kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This little book is a fantastic collection of ideas, sayings, things to do, recipes, and more to find our way back to the simpler pleasures in life. I read through it one afternoon and I plan on keeping it to reference through the year.

I found it encouraging, challenging, though provoking and just plain charming.

I feel my finding of this book fits with the theme ever so well. I was perusing my local thrift store and I loved the title and cover so I bought it without flipping through at all. What a joy to find it's just what I needed on this rainy Sunday afternoon! ❤️

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how this book was separated into the four seasons. Can't say I found amazing things to do but it was an enjoyable read.

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is going to mean different things to different people. If you are fed up and ready to embrace simplicity, then I feel, you will enjoy this book.

It does not read like a novel. It is a compilation of loosely related bits and bobs.

Some fell flat with me, whilst others made their mark.

Honestly, the quotes scattered throughout are worth the price of admission.

Keep in mind that this edition is from 1997. So, some of it is dated while other parts still ring true today.

It’s just a simple book.
3.75 starts

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small compilation is really amazing. Quotes, recipes from around the world, simple and affordable activities, and personal memories from the authors make this a wonderful journal for anyone. While we are enduring isolation, caused by the COVID pandemic, this gem will help me to dwell on pleasant sayings, soothing suggestions, experiment with recipes, and research new ideas. The book is divided by Seasons, which will bring comfort and enjoyment throughout the year.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect read for these times. This book serves as a reminder of simple joys.

[A3Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A commonplace book that is not particularly meaningful for the reader

[Laura Lane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover is pretty, but I didn't find many useful ideas.

[Ella Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of all time. Such a classic

[Christy Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've owned and read and re-read this book several times in various seasons for years. I find something satisfying about books that have seasonal theme and suggestions; they are like a recurring ritual in their own right to pick up for a moment and browse for a time to re-center or refresh oneself. They remind me of the joys of any moment in the year to be enjoyed and spark my own imagination and attention to joys of the moment. There is a meditative quality, a conscious approach to living that is increased when there is reminder to take a day to feel hot sand between your toes on a beach walk in summer or reads a recipe for a pot of onion soup on a blustery day in fall and in turn is prompted to go a make such and stare for a time at the colored leaves while spooning from pottery bowlfuls as homage to October. I find deep satisfaction, even as a non-gardener, in reading how to force early spring bulbs, which might instead prompt me to recall how long it has been since I visited the botanical gardens and call a friend. A quote or bit of a poem on frost and snow may just re-invigorate my own creativity. That then, is what I love about Simple Pleasures and so many books I own like this. They are prompts and reminders of gratitude, of presence, of engagement with what is current and the best of memory.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting mix of ideas, projects, activities, recipes, inspirational quotations (my favourite is "A little of what you fancy does you good". Book is organized by all four seasons and divided into 4 sections: Home; Garden and Great Outdoors; Body and Soul; and Family and Friends.

Interesting story about Mother Moon and 3 favourite easy comfort food recipes - chocolate chip cookies, Pineapple upside-down cake, Nostalgic Brownies, camping bread.

Most thought about story is one called Mother Moon .

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book when I was going through difficult times: parents ill and then dying while I going through menopause. There are ideas for relaxing...making your own herbal teas, putting on a warm flannel nightgown right out of the dryer and some recipes for comfort food. This one I keep and thumb through every once in a while!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't get to read every tidbit in this book before it had to be back at the library but I think I'll go in buy it. It's broken down into seasons and then in each season there are stories, recipes, suggestions for things to do to enjoy the most of that season - which can be hard in winter which is why I picked this up!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite feel good book! I like this book and the other one about holidays in this series. However, I looked at all of the other ones, and they are too similar to this one. So do yourself a favor and just get this one (and maybe the holidays one).

[Tauni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very relaxing read. It is great to pick up and read if you are having a rough day, and you don't feel compelled to read the whole thing at once. Many of the suggestions deal with enjoying the everyday things that we see to overlook/take for granted.
Very nice book :)

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soothing. Some terrific thoughts. Some less so. Lots of embedded commercials for specific companies. Less resource lists, more go here-buy this. But I appreciate that some people prefer to be told what to do rather than discover pleasures of their own.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of the suggestions I did not find practical or did not think they were something that I would take pleasure in. The suggestions are diverse enough that I think most people (including myself) could find a few that work for them though.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12176701

[Violet · Rating 2 out of 5]

One book divided by the seasons chock full of quaint stories, quotes, tips, and recipes about the art of living well. Unfortunately, I did not get much out of this book.