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165 reviews for:
Everything That Remains: A Memoir by the Minimalists
Ryan Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn
3.62 AVERAGE
165 reviews for:
Everything That Remains: A Memoir by the Minimalists
Ryan Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn
3.62 AVERAGE
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
I'm conflicted with how to rate this. On the one hand, the message is fantastic, and I felt that I could relate to the author at many points. The writing also helped me create a vocabulary around what I've been feeling, and helped me identify places in my life where I can improve myself. From that alone, I give this book 4 stars.
However, there are some points which make this book harder to stomach:
* The irony that, as a Minimalist, the author writes like David Foster Wallace in a baroque stream of consciousness. I love DFW, but it was the wrong choice for a book about minimalism.
* Chapter 10. The author describes a small town and absolutely trashes it with his words. He chose to live there, and he is highly judgemental. I lost a lot of respect for the author here. I'm not even sure what the point was. Why?
* The idea that life needs to be about creating is preached over and over. The book is labeled a memoir, so fair game. But minimalism should be about adding value to your life, and thoughtful introspection and contemplation about what makes you happy. From reading this, I'm led to believe that I should be working towards something 24/7. I don't think that's what everyone needs to be happy.
* The interjections by the... coauthor(?) didn't add anything.
* The author is, at times, self-ingratiating.
However, there are some points which make this book harder to stomach:
* The irony that, as a Minimalist, the author writes like David Foster Wallace in a baroque stream of consciousness. I love DFW, but it was the wrong choice for a book about minimalism.
* Chapter 10. The author describes a small town and absolutely trashes it with his words. He chose to live there, and he is highly judgemental. I lost a lot of respect for the author here. I'm not even sure what the point was. Why?
* The idea that life needs to be about creating is preached over and over. The book is labeled a memoir, so fair game. But minimalism should be about adding value to your life, and thoughtful introspection and contemplation about what makes you happy. From reading this, I'm led to believe that I should be working towards something 24/7. I don't think that's what everyone needs to be happy.
* The interjections by the... coauthor(?) didn't add anything.
* The author is, at times, self-ingratiating.
This was a great introduction to minimalism: there were some very strong points and interesting ideas. It was mostly about the author's personal journey and musings, so don't expect a practical guide to simple living.
I watched a documentary on NetFlix about these two guys and decided to read their book. Finally picked it up from the library all excited to read, but it's basically the same exact script as the documentary! I was very disappointed. The book is really a memoir about his life journey during his 20s, so if you're looking for information about minimalism I'd check out a different book. I enjoy reading people's stories, but this just had too much cursing in it for me. I think if you are trying to appear intellectual, why use foul words? JMO. He seemed overly confident and somewhat arrogant which turned me away as well. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy this at all.
Perhaps I went into this book with my expectations too high because I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted too. The message is still a 5/5 or even higher. Happiness can be found in minimalism and these guys have a great story to tell. There are 2 major issues with the book.
The first is this story has been told before; in their other books, podcast, website, Ted talk, and countless other ways. The books purpose is just to separate me from my money, which ironically is opposite of the message and lifestyle they are trying to sell. Given that they give this advice for free in their just about everywhere, this can easily be forgiven as a way to spread their message to more people. This time the story was presented in a unique way. Joshua is an excellent writer and I enjoyed his story telling method, and but didn't like the constant interruptions by Ryan. It was just a distraction from the story and just doesn't work.
The second issue is getting the message through his ego. Reaching minimalism is somewhat similar to reaching enlightenment, and with it should come humble wisdom. I can see glimpses of wisdom starting to find its way into Joshua's head but his ego is just too big to truly let them in. I would advice he take some of his abundant time and focus it on meditation and self reflection to "Minimalize the Ego" (maybe the title of his next book). When he can do this, he will truly realize what he has found on the other side of capitalism and he can really start to grow as a person and a writer.
The first is this story has been told before; in their other books, podcast, website, Ted talk, and countless other ways. The books purpose is just to separate me from my money, which ironically is opposite of the message and lifestyle they are trying to sell. Given that they give this advice for free in their just about everywhere, this can easily be forgiven as a way to spread their message to more people. This time the story was presented in a unique way. Joshua is an excellent writer and I enjoyed his story telling method, and but didn't like the constant interruptions by Ryan. It was just a distraction from the story and just doesn't work.
The second issue is getting the message through his ego. Reaching minimalism is somewhat similar to reaching enlightenment, and with it should come humble wisdom. I can see glimpses of wisdom starting to find its way into Joshua's head but his ego is just too big to truly let them in. I would advice he take some of his abundant time and focus it on meditation and self reflection to "Minimalize the Ego" (maybe the title of his next book). When he can do this, he will truly realize what he has found on the other side of capitalism and he can really start to grow as a person and a writer.
I've been listening to the Minimalist podcast for years now. They always refer to this book as their favorite thing they've ever written. I enjoyed reading it and found it to be a page turner. I do wish they had included Ryan's parts at the bottom of the pages instead of having to flip to the end. Also, I wish Ryan had written more. I always wish Ryan was more involved. Joshua is a very good writer though, and found the book to be very easy to read in that it flowed nicely. My other criticsm is that I wanted MORE details about the parts that seemed to be skimmed over (the cabine in montana especially) and maybe less about the scenery and the music playing. Overall though, a nice comfortable read, like chatting with an old friend.
Shortly after watching their documentary, I found myself reading this book by The Minimalists, and it was fantastic. While parts of it was identical to the documentary, there were plenty of other nuggets to be found.
The book lost its luster at times like the chapter in the bar in a small rural town (which I can only assume was placed there for creative reasons, but it didn't click with me), but the message resonates strongly with my own principles, so I ended up loving the book nonetheless.
The storytelling is honest, and I admire the way Millburn held nothing back.
The book lost its luster at times like the chapter in the bar in a small rural town (which I can only assume was placed there for creative reasons, but it didn't click with me), but the message resonates strongly with my own principles, so I ended up loving the book nonetheless.
The storytelling is honest, and I admire the way Millburn held nothing back.
I read this shortly after watching the author's documentary on Netflix (Minimalism), and I may possibly be conflating the two. It's always nice to get a shot in the arm against the rampant consumerism that pervades our communities. I do appreciate the non-dogmatic approach, making minimalism work for you rather than conforming to some monastic ideal.
I'm glad I couldn't really read the "footnotes" in my pdf copy until the very end.
I'd recommend this to people who were moved in some way by the documentary or the idea of minimalism and would like to know more about how it has worked for one person.
I'm glad I couldn't really read the "footnotes" in my pdf copy until the very end.
I'd recommend this to people who were moved in some way by the documentary or the idea of minimalism and would like to know more about how it has worked for one person.
Update #1: 20 pages in and I'm put off by what a jerk Joshua/"Millie" is as a narrator. Really negative and scornful towards people. We haven't even started on the minimalism and he's already a self-righteous prick. Bleh.
Also, flipping back constantly to the end of the book to read his co-writer's (mostly irrelevant) comments is ridiculous. Footnotes would have been so much more convenient than endnotes.
Update #2:DNF at 40%: gave up on page 80 when it became a preachy, shitty dialogue-only rant about his ex girlfriend. This was after the chapter that was just a transcript of a TV interview and verbatim text from the website of other minimalists. And after the chapter about what a great writer he is.
The writing in this is awful, it's all long, manufactured conversations as exposition, and tons of padding. There's barely any minimalist theory or practical advice here, just a long memoir about rich white dudes who -- I wish I was joking -- spend a page gushing about how life changing FIGHT CLUB was for them.
Thought I could stick this little book out to the finish, but life is too short.
Also, flipping back constantly to the end of the book to read his co-writer's (mostly irrelevant) comments is ridiculous. Footnotes would have been so much more convenient than endnotes.
Update #2:DNF at 40%: gave up on page 80 when it became a preachy, shitty dialogue-only rant about his ex girlfriend. This was after the chapter that was just a transcript of a TV interview and verbatim text from the website of other minimalists. And after the chapter about what a great writer he is.
The writing in this is awful, it's all long, manufactured conversations as exposition, and tons of padding. There's barely any minimalist theory or practical advice here, just a long memoir about rich white dudes who -- I wish I was joking -- spend a page gushing about how life changing FIGHT CLUB was for them.
Thought I could stick this little book out to the finish, but life is too short.