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festive_fossil's Reviews (173)
In 2017, I watched the Minimalists' documentary on Netflix, and from there was led to their podcast and website. I love these guys, and their work has definitely inspired a lot of positive change in my life (i.e. adding value lol). I also happen to identify a lot with JFM, especially his feeling of discontent with the status quo and his desire to pursue a career as a writer.
That being said, this book was only okay for me. There are a lot of great one-liners, some pieces of advice, a few compelling paragraphs. Essentially if you have already listened to them or perused their website, nothing in this book will really be new. What is new is that this book crystallized what irked me about their podcast that I could never really put my finger on.
JFM is an arrogant, privileged dude. Or at least that is how he comes across in this book, and it's made me realize that I have thought so many times while listening to the Minimalists as well. The later chapters on moving to Montana really sealed the deal for me: his horrendously condescending descriptions of people he'd barely interacted with, his casual dismissal of other human beings - it was honestly disgusting. I'd thought before that the Minimalists' privilege was limited to them being unwilling to acknowledge that they began their journeys in a better spot than most (though you would never think so to hear them tell it), but this made me question that maybe the problem is a little more endemic. I sincerely hope this is not the case.
Overall, I would not recommend this book to someone first getting into minimalism, I do not think it is a very good representation of all the great stuff the Minimalists have to offer. Try the podcast instead.
That being said, this book was only okay for me. There are a lot of great one-liners, some pieces of advice, a few compelling paragraphs. Essentially if you have already listened to them or perused their website, nothing in this book will really be new. What is new is that this book crystallized what irked me about their podcast that I could never really put my finger on.
JFM is an arrogant, privileged dude. Or at least that is how he comes across in this book, and it's made me realize that I have thought so many times while listening to the Minimalists as well. The later chapters on moving to Montana really sealed the deal for me: his horrendously condescending descriptions of people he'd barely interacted with, his casual dismissal of other human beings - it was honestly disgusting. I'd thought before that the Minimalists' privilege was limited to them being unwilling to acknowledge that they began their journeys in a better spot than most (though you would never think so to hear them tell it), but this made me question that maybe the problem is a little more endemic. I sincerely hope this is not the case.
Overall, I would not recommend this book to someone first getting into minimalism, I do not think it is a very good representation of all the great stuff the Minimalists have to offer. Try the podcast instead.
