Living the Simple Life: A Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying More

by Elaine St. James

Following on the heels of St. James's bestselling books, "Simplify Your Life" and "Inner Simplicity, Living the Simple Life" fuses both sides of her liberating philosphy into a powerful synergy of thought-provoking methods for leading a life of well-being and inner peace through simplicity. 19 photos.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Psychology, Lifestyle, Inspirational, Productivity

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulling this book off of my bookshelf the other day reminded me of just how long I have been "meaning" to simplify my life- I bought St. James' book almost FOUR years ago (and a slew of similar ones 8 years before that!). Sadly, until this past December/ January, I had done next to nothing to incorporate the ideas and suggestions the authors in this genre have recommended! Twelve years of accumulating various books in my desire to declutter my life- very sad!

At this point in time, rereading St. James' words are showing me just how ready I am to start accepting the rules of scaling back in ALL areas, and I have very recently taken a huge leap into the middle of doing so (just see my Facebook page for the picture upon picture of things that have been forced from my home by way of Goodwill or trashman in the last 45 days!).

St. James' take on the whole concept of simplifying is worth the time to read. She adds to the genre by doing well to keep her words at a minimum while maximizing the personal and specific nature of her ideas. Running the gambit from removing excess belongings to time management to family life and spending habits, St. James seeks to alter our ideas regarding what constitutes a fulfilling life. Because she is older than the past and current authors I have read in this line, her words have a weight that is deeper and resounds with the maturity of one who has lived a full and very busy life; she's "been there, done that," and it shows. The best part of St. James' writing- she's not preaching at readers. What she is doing, however, is offering a helping hand. From my own experience I will say this book will be a good starting point for readers wanting to simplify, but as with all "self-helps"- only as long as you are truly ready to step into such a life with both feet and eyes wide open.


** On a personal note, chapter 25 was the lightning bolt I needed at this particular moment. It is entitled "Stop Feeding Your Ego." In this poignant section, St. James describes how the opportunity she once had to write book reviews for a major book club went from being an honor and a privilege to being pure drudgery whose payoff wasn't worth the effort. When she finally accepted that is was her ego that kept her writing for the book club more than the joy of doing the column itself, she realized it was time to move on.

I know how she feels. Writing reviews for Meridian started out as an (unpaid) honor and an (unpaid) privilege- after all, I was just marrying two things I love to do: spouting off my opinions, I mean writing, and reading. But as life changed from where I was when I started my book review column, it got to where the love of writing and reading wasn't enough to sustain my efforts.

Last spring, I really thought all I needed was a little break and I would get back to writing soon (I mean it is pretty cool to say, "My column..." or "I write a monthly column for..."). Yet, it has been 9 months since I put My Column on hold, and absence isn't making my heart grow fonder of anything but the time I have to do something other than read out of obligation and pray for the inspiration I need to write well, write quickly, and be witty without being tiresome or repetitive. Maybe you've noticed, even my Goodreads' reviews have gotten pretty slim!

I'm rather liking the time I have to read whatever I want just for the "heckuvit"- or heaven forbid, not reading at all. I like not having write in my head, as I read every word and every chapter, trying to form a column worthy of publication.

Seasons change, but I can't tell if I'm in winter or spring :) Thank you for the confirmation, Elaine!

[Manzoid · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Living the Simple Life" is an expansion on "Simplify Your Life", written 2 years earlier. Compared to that book, which reads like a laundry list of tips on cutting down on laundry, this one is more reflective. It has fewer bite-sized "tips", and more thoughtful, open-ended suggestions. I found its tone still gratingly 'yuppy' in places (e.g., "i can't help having an emotional attachment to my BMW"), still 'Martha Stewarty' in others (e.g., yet more discussion of linens) but these were less frequent than before.

"Living the Simple Life" appears to be aimed at those who simply are over-burdened and want off the rat-wheel to have more time for families and hobbies. This is fine insofar as it goes, but I'd have given 4 stars if there had been any mention of the simple life as a route back to a life of community, how the simplicity movement relates to a larger yearning for a healthy society. Many see the simplification movement as vital to maintaining a healthy human presence on the planet, since our atomized, resource-gobbling, materialistic society is transforming into a less livable place in many ways. Lowering our consumption and getting in touch with each other and our roots seem like a natural, healthy response. However this connection either simply did not occur to the author, or it was edited out. There was a brief passage on having time to volunteer, but the other 340 pages were about personal goal-setting, time management, motivation, self-assertion, and other mechanics of simplifying. Personally I think not mentioning the larger implications of the act of simplification, i.e., beyond one's personal gain, made the book a bit shallow, although it's still much better than its predecessor.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, and a lovely one. I can only assume that I’m enamored with the idea of simplicity because it’s been evading me for so long. Like, my entire life. I am an anxious, hectic person by nature (and probably some nurture…) and I envy those who’ve somehow managed to clear their lives of the extraneous junk we as a society have inanely convinced ourselves is necessary— or admirable, even.

Slow and steady, and with the help of books like this, I am consciously making my way to zen and quiet and simplicity. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there (as if there were a “there” to get to), but I’m at least making some room in my closet along the way. Trust the process, right?

Either way, you should read this short little book and make some room in your life. A bit of clear and quiet is bound to do us all some good.

[dianne b. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple book about living simply. Lots of common sense. Lots of repetition. Lots of suggestions that you do what you already know you should do - not a lot of new info. Maybe i am looking for a bit of analysis - why is it so hard to simplify? Why is it so hard to get down to only what one needs to live? This book is full of stuff i suspect you already know.
Perhaps it warrants 3 stars but i gleaned very little.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
It's an old book, that's for sure (1994). I do like the idea and the concept of living the simple life and I'm definitely changing some things in my life. Some of the advice is pretty good, especially some related to the finances and cleaning, but the rest of the book is basically a rich person telling other rich people "hey, actually, I tried life without a cook/cleaner/boat/mansion, and I preferred it that way!". I mean I love that she lives a way simpler life than before, but here's me, a college student, trying to spend less and she tells me "fire the gardener. You'll feel happier gardening with your family." I don't even have a garden.
Also, I would love to see how the book would look if written recently, because mobile phones didn't exist yet and she talks to how bad it is to spend so much time in front of TV or newspapers.

[Catullus2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and full of sensible advice

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book spoke to me at a moment in time when "stuff" in all of its physical, psychological and emotional manifestations has taken its toll on my soul. With each step I take to simplify and slow down my world, so much more comes back to me. As Ms. St. James says in this book, "An amazing thing happens when we slow down. We start to get flashes of inspiration. We reach a new level of understanding and even wisdom. In a quiet moment we can get an intuitive insight that can change our entire life and the life of the people around us in incredibly positive ways. And those changes can last a lifetime. Living more simply will make it possible to create those quiet moments. Out of those quiet moments miracles happen. Be open to them."

Indeed.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd say the book is slightly dated. I tabbed a few pages to go back to though. Quick read.

[Chris Aldrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing brilliant that I didn't expect. Almost felt like reading six months' worth of a Reddit sub on general advice, productivity, or minimalism.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically, this book is hysterical. Best read as a satire, particularly if you are very, very poor and/or don't give a shit and are a normal person.

Some suggested ways to simplify your life:
Stop making your bed
Stop doing your laundry
Get rid of the car phone (even though the price has dropped below $500!)
Get rid of all phones
Don't answer any phone for any reason
(the Internet is not mentioned once, so no worries about that)
Don't answer the door for any reason
Dump your friends
Hang out alone, doing nothing, silently
You're going to look horrible no matter what you wear, so dress like a man, because it's 1997 and women are still having to choose between "double or single breasted blazers, droopy or puffy shoulders or peplum." (What is peplum?!)
Make a spreadsheet organizing your weekly shopping organized according to the aisle where it's located in the grocery store, print out a couple dozen copies, and use that for your shopping
Instead of houseplants, just go to the Botanic Gardens
Never let your pet outside for any reason
(Maybe just don't go outside at all either)
Live within walking distance of the beach and mountains
Only spend 10 minutes doing your makeup
Stop going out for expensive multi-course dinners every single night
Stop going to any cultural event, including cabaret's
Instead of watching TV read your favorite plays aloud
Take a cold shower instead of going shopping....

Mildly surprised she didn't suggest killing your spouse and children, as prison is ultimately the most clutter free, simplistic lifestyle choice out there.

Elaine St. Jaimes. I don't know what Gibbs does, or how you afford your insane lifestyle where you can afford to cutoff all human contact or sources of information and still live affluently within walking distance to the ocean. It's been 20 years since you wrote this book, and it's aged well. Remarkably well. Like a time capsule of the crazed yupsters of yore. Loved it!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to see that I am already doing many of the ideas presented in the book. I think that the author goes overboard a bit, but I think it's always good to be reminded to simplify! In the future, I would like to have all of my clothes be the same style so I don't spend so much time figuring out what to wear.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's hard to enjoy scaling down unless your significant other does so, too

[Alex Klimkewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book while perusing the shelves of the Goodwill in Pekin, Illinois. I wasn’t really looking for it, but it popped out at me. Being a fan of Marie Kondo and a sort of minimalist idealist I picked it up. It is interesting to read that there were minimalist or simplistic movements in the 1990s as well as today. Heck, I grew up in the 90s but I never knew anything about living the simple life back then. I was a collector: action figures, video games, magazines, VHS tapes, books, etc. Maybe if I’d gotten on the simple life bandwagon at an earlier age I wouldn’t have so much stuff at my current age (and split between states). Oh well.

This little book offers more in the way of philosophy than practicality. St. James espouses upon the benefits of living simply -- having less stuff, devoting more time to yourself, and cutting those things out of your life that don’t bring (spark?) joy. I get it. That’s what attracts me to these types of books. Some suggestions for achieving a simpler life include removing your home phone number from the phone book or getting your mail screened for junk mail. Yes, it’s a little dated, but the sentiment behind the book still stands for our 21st century life dominated by social media and keeping up with the Jones digitally. Interestingly, St. James does briefly touch upon the internet:

“ . . . knowing myself as I do, I will have to exercise a fair amount of discipline in my use of it, just as I do with television. I’ve already met a number of technocrats on the Internet who may never return to the real world.

Obviously that’s their choice. (Or possibly not--there are addictive aspects to being on-line, similar to the addictive habits of sitting in front of a television screen, that we won’t understand the effects of perhaps for some years to come).

But now that I’ve created a wonderfully simple life, I plan not to lose it to the Internet. We can keep abreast of the technology that is appropriate for our lives without losing our souls to it. All it takes is a clear vision of how we want our lives to be, and the discipline not to let them be overrun by so-called progress” (263).

That’s pretty darn prescient for a book published in 1996. Technology can enslave us if we are not careful. Mastering our attention, living purposefully, and following our own rules for a simple life requires forethought, willpower, and consciousness of our habits. That’s as true today as it was 23 years ago.

[Erica Gilliam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. There were some profound moments for me as I read this book for which I continue to reflect on even after completing it. One of the biggest reasons I give 3 stars is due to my inability to relate to her or her lifestyle BEFORE she simplified.

She was career-focused. I've been a stay-at-home momma for almost 3 years. I was under the impression she is older than I when writing this book. Where she was at and where I am at in life is considerably different.

Another big factor for putting 3 stars is the era when this book was written. Internet was just beginning. Cellphones and more advanced devices were not around yet. Television, Call-waiting, Voicemail were all discussed and great advice was given on simplifying around these items. However, with electronics taking over our lives these days, I would love for a more updated version of this book that explains what we are going through in the technological world now and how we can maneuver around it to live more simply. (There may be an updated one! I haven't researched that yet.)

My new years resolution for 2019 is focusing around the words "purge" and "decrease". After reading this book I feel like I should add "simple" to it. Seeking to live my own unique simple life, I found this book very encouraging and that even I - the one who loves to shop, the one who accumulates way too much stuff, the one who feels like I'm living in chaos in my own home and in my life in general - can live more simply and be happy. :)

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you often wonder why there never seem to be enough hours in the day to get all the things done that you need to accomplish? This book instructs us on ways to identify what is really important, and tasks that we can do less often. Do we need to change the sheets on our bed weekly? Must we have a t.v. in every room? Can we spend less time talking on the telephone? Each chapter shares ways in which the author and her family simplified their lives. She talks about the benefits gained by having fewer posessions taking up room in your house. Spending less time at your job will open up more hours to share with your spouse and children. Even though this book was published in 1996 and some of the ideas are a bit dated - like giving away your Walkman and VHS player - it still contains a lot of common sense advice and is worth the time spent on this quick read.

[mmmm · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's dated enough that a lot of it isn't applicable. But the basics are there: think about what you want your life to look like, and here are some practical steps to make that happen.

A few ideas I liked:
-- multiple identical pairs of socks coming out of a mesh bag, then into a mesh "dirty" bag for laundering - all your socks are accounted for at all times
-- being aware of the physiological triggers when the urge to buy something strikes you
-- taking breaks from social engagements and just saying no to everything

[Jo Skeffington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks for this quick read book. Has lots of ideas from which to glean for your life. A few of my favorites:
“Often our very identity depends on our being employed”
“Getting rid of clutter is not about letting go of things that are meaningful to you. It’s about letting go of the things that no longer contribute to your life so you have the time, energy, and space for the things that do.”
“Thirty day list for purchases”
“I am lonely for myself”: losing touch with who we are.
Also love all the book suggestions at the end. Thanks!

[Belle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that promotes simplifying our lives, to enhance are standard of living. It broken down into several sections. Starting out with the why change to a simple lifestyle. The benefits and pluses you can gain from simplicity. Theres sections of how to simplify your life; your possessions, your consumerism, your work, etc.
If your intrigued by simplicity this is a good book to read and get ideas floating to make some changes toward simplicity.

[Myra Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book pre-dates Marie Kondo's "Konmari Method" I still found it very interesting to read and very useful. It compliments what I know and practice from having read "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo a couple years ago. "Living the Simple Life" taught me some things I was not previously familiar with, and I will keep this book and refer back to it for some time to come.

[Kelsey Grissom · Rating 3 out of 5]

My understanding is that this book is the ‘grandmother’ to most of the other books I have read in the simplicity movement genre. Most of the book consisted of pretty surface-level/common sense lists of suggestions about paring down your wardrobe or saying no to social engagements. However, every now and then there was a chapter when the author really wrote from the heart in a compelling way and I understood the real implications for these “small” decisions.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I appreciate about this book is that Ms. St. James offers suggestions and not rules. Some of her suggestions are from her experiences and some are from family members, readers, and participants at conferences and seminars. Some ideas may be a little dated--the book was published in 1996--but since they are suggestions and not rules, they can be tweaked. There is also a reading list at the end of the book.

[JH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read anything else by this author but it seems like she was making capsule wardrobes and Kondo-ing her home decades before this current trend of minimalism! I can’t say I took away much new information from this book, but I am impressed with this little book, and I was definitely inspired to continue on this journey.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, the right book at the right time! The book is a bit dated in some aspects, but I found many ideas and suggestions that supported me in my effort to simplify my life. I have far to go, but I have managed to take several steps in the right direction. I keep this reminder on my refrigerator door: Remember, the smallest step toward your goal is worth more than a marathon of intentions.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in the 90s and so little did the author know just how much the internet would complicate our lives even further! This is filled with lots of great tips and ideas on how a person can simplify their life, though I love clothes too much to follow to much of her suggestions in that regard!

[Tami Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Made me realize how much clutter we have in our lives and motivated me to start downsizing. It’s so freeing! With little one to two page sections, you have the opportunity to embrace each lesson and let it sink in before going to the next.

[Brian Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is worth a read but I feel like it becomes repetitive at some point and loses my attention. There are principals to simplifying that you can apply to any aspect of your life. Those are about the first 2/3 of the book. Then it begins to repeat these for different areas of your life.

[Pug · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a minimalistic book, there sure was a lot of crap to do: "10 says to free up miscellaneous amounts of time over the envy thirty days, so you can start thinking about how to simplify your life"??? Never has a book on simple living been so complicated.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book in the late 90s. It’s interesting to see how much of it is still applicable, and amusing to read of all the things that have changed. I did mark about half a dozen pages with specific ideas I’d like to try.

[Alexandra Hubbard]

This book was written in the 90's, so if you're not ready to give some grace around her discussions of technology, this book is not for you! Generally humorous and thought-provoking, albeit outdated.

[Cheryl Sterling · Rating 3 out of 5]

300+ pages = Get rid of your stuff. Don't do everything.