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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
It was easy enough to skip the preaching (literal), but by the end it was just an endless diatribe of how to be a good person you have to do things for others.
Planting the seed is fine, but it just went on and on and on. Maybe it is because I already donate both my time and money all year long that I didn’t need the “lesson” but it came off as “look what a great person I am” which rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall there was nothing new in this book as far as helping people actually take some first steps into minimalism. Just a lot of examples and antidotes of others who have done it.
Luckily I am already in my journey to minimalism so I checked this book out from the library. I would have been terribly disappointed if I had spent money I could have... donated 😉
Planting the seed is fine, but it just went on and on and on. Maybe it is because I already donate both my time and money all year long that I didn’t need the “lesson” but it came off as “look what a great person I am” which rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall there was nothing new in this book as far as helping people actually take some first steps into minimalism. Just a lot of examples and antidotes of others who have done it.
Luckily I am already in my journey to minimalism so I checked this book out from the library. I would have been terribly disappointed if I had spent money I could have... donated 😉
Joshua Becker is a popular blogger on the minimalist movement. Here he shares his philosophy, and his experiments with downshifting which include both successes and failures. This is not about living in mini-houses with three shirts to your name. Rather he offers paradigm shifts such as focusing on what we gain when we lose our stuff. Easy to read. Has a light Christian tone, but this is not a religious book. It's about living intentionally and authentically.
It was fine. Nothing really new but a good refresher at the start of a new year on focusing your life. And don’t let possessions own you.
informative
Not a whole lot I didn’t know and I wasn’t into the religious part of this, but there were some things I did like, and some good ideas and concepts.
Things I want to remember:
Definition of minimalism: the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them.
About clutter, from William Morris: Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.
Things I want to remember:
Definition of minimalism: the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them.
About clutter, from William Morris: Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.
This is a great beginner guide to minimalism. While the focus is on possessions, the author also discusses relationships and schedules as well. His angle for adopting minimalism or minimalist practices is to free up your resources so you have more to give to others. While I don't think that is what most beginners have in mind when picking up this book, it is what appealed to me as someone who has been reading about this topic for many years. This book definitely written by a Christian author and his faith is mentioned throughout but he is still inclusive to those that are are not. I listened to this one and enjoyed that it was read by the author.
This book is like the doctor who will tell you to just start by walking to the mailbox, or walk up one flight of stairs, or park a little further from the store entrance. It might be motivating for someone who is a complete novice knowing nothing and having tried nothing in regards to minimalism.
I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did.
Reading Marie Kondo's The Magic of Tidying up started me on the road to get rid of things and since then I've read other books on the subject of being more intentional about purchases and just living with less in general.
This book was more faith-based than I would've thought (even after reading some of the reviews about that), so I can see how some could be put off, but since it mostly centered around living with less so that you could have more time/money to help others I didn't mind so much.
I think this is a great book for someone who's intrigued by the concept of minimalism but it's not so hardcore as to turn people off from it. At least I don't think it is. Probably old hat for someone already in the lifestyle.
Reading Marie Kondo's The Magic of Tidying up started me on the road to get rid of things and since then I've read other books on the subject of being more intentional about purchases and just living with less in general.
This book was more faith-based than I would've thought (even after reading some of the reviews about that), so I can see how some could be put off, but since it mostly centered around living with less so that you could have more time/money to help others I didn't mind so much.
I think this is a great book for someone who's intrigued by the concept of minimalism but it's not so hardcore as to turn people off from it. At least I don't think it is. Probably old hat for someone already in the lifestyle.
By all rights, this book should have driven me crazy but I actually enjoyed it and thought there were some good, helpful tips. The author is Christian and it does come up sometimes, but it didn’t bother me. One weird thing was the flip flopping between the author sounding preachy (😏) at times, but also being non-judgmental in a really lovely way, e.g. ‘everyone’s minimalism will and should look different.’
fast-paced
I *really* don't want Jesus discussed in a book about minimalism. The author seems like a good guy, but people are introducing religious material into eveything now and it is kind of an issue and a problem. However well-intentioned, I found it alarming and misplaced. I borrowed the book on Libby to renew my commitment to living with less - and it worked on that level!