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A review by lizstiverson
The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist
4.0
Everything I'm about to say sounds a little hippy-dippy - I think that's because this book calls on readers to carefully examine beliefs and the power of conception, and to prioritize core values like equality and connection to others. It's not written to read like a call to kumbaya, and I think the ideas are actually important, actionable, and potentially transformative.
Twist makes its thesis - that an overwhelming share of decisions in every life are driven by the pursuit and protection of money, because we believe there isn't enough of it, more of it is better, and that's just the way it is - credible with a lot of examples, including her own. It ties nicely to a lot of other thinking about over-consumption and waste, the most productive ways to spend money charitably, even the potential inherent in a sharing economy where access-when-needed becomes more important than possession-as-status-symbol. And as I was reading, I saw ways that this core idea - that unhappiness comes from a focus on scarcity rather than sufficiency - really applicable in other arenas, like my relationship with time, and even my pursuit of others' approval (Do I dislike being compared to others because I'm afraid there isn't enough approval to go around? If I instead consider that my boss has room to celebrate more than one great employee, does that free me from anxiety?) I got the book from a friend and am excited to pass it on to another to grow the circle of people I can talk to about it - even if no personal change resulted, I would recommend it as a new lens on / new way to gain insight into motivations and choices.
Twist makes its thesis - that an overwhelming share of decisions in every life are driven by the pursuit and protection of money, because we believe there isn't enough of it, more of it is better, and that's just the way it is - credible with a lot of examples, including her own. It ties nicely to a lot of other thinking about over-consumption and waste, the most productive ways to spend money charitably, even the potential inherent in a sharing economy where access-when-needed becomes more important than possession-as-status-symbol. And as I was reading, I saw ways that this core idea - that unhappiness comes from a focus on scarcity rather than sufficiency - really applicable in other arenas, like my relationship with time, and even my pursuit of others' approval (Do I dislike being compared to others because I'm afraid there isn't enough approval to go around? If I instead consider that my boss has room to celebrate more than one great employee, does that free me from anxiety?) I got the book from a friend and am excited to pass it on to another to grow the circle of people I can talk to about it - even if no personal change resulted, I would recommend it as a new lens on / new way to gain insight into motivations and choices.