Too short

A minimalist book on minimalism. Good points touched on but needs more depth. Still enjoyed the listen.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Useful even if you don't intend to downsize

There are a lot of books on minimalism out there at the moment, but this is easily one of the better (and less annoying) of those I have seen. First, it’s actually interesting. Although this is a non-fiction book, the author has a storyteller’s gift for engaging the reader and drawing you into the narrative she is creating. As I listened, I really wanted to know what came next. It was like listening to a friend recount a story or personal point of view to me.

Also, the information provided is useful and can actually be applied to everyone—including those of us who do not wish to throw away all of our possessions. I mean face it, in many cases, there is a reason we acquired some of these things to begin with, right? Well, these reasons are often scoffed at among the hard core minimalist crowd. For instance, I bought wood glue not because it “brings me joy” (as Marie Kondo would require), but because I sometimes need to glue wood. According to the tenets of some other minimalist gurus, I would be bound to immediately throw my useful glue away.

Not here. Sanderson acknowledges the necessity of some kinds of possessions in a modern world, while at the same time providing insight into the type of clutter we might do without. She discusses the psychology of consumerism in order to explain why humans fall prey to acquiring too many things in the first place. She makes the point that at times, some of buy things not because we need them, but to fill a void of some sort or to make us happy. Yet, studies have shown that people gain the largest dopamine rush from planning to purchase something rather than actually purchasing it, let alone owning it over the long term. Once we have something, it becomes just another possession we need to manage. After all, item we own was once something new.

I think that even if you don’t want or intend to downsize, you could still benefit from this book, if only to prevent the needless acquisition of more useless belongings. For the modest price and the hour or so of listening time, it is totally worth the investment.

The narration was superb. I wouldn't change a single thing about Ms. Phillips' performance.

I was provided this book for free at my request from the author, publisher or narrator and have voluntarily left this review.

6 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

I love the authors take on minimalism

This book is easy to listen to and I pretty much couldn’t stop! I love the 80/20 rule, end it pretty much summed up all the thoughts that I’ve been swirling around in my head.

Great book

This was a great book, very helpful and to the point. Didn’t waste any of my time and I can apply almost everything it talked about

Really Good Advice On Decluttering Your Life

Audiobook: Minimalist Living: Declutter Your Home, Schedule & Digital Life for Simple Living (and Discover Why Less Is More) This was a very uselful and eye-opening audiobook. It really opened my eyes at the things that are clutter in my home and life. I've learned that I'm on the right track each day. I think I heard somewhere that every time you bring in something new, you should toss out two things that are old which will help you to declutter. This audiobook is extremely helpful and I'll listen to it again for moral support as I go through and let go of old things. As for being a minimalist; I was raised a minimalist. My mother could stretch a dollar for a mile even when she didn't have to. Back in those days you couldn't rent movies or buy them and if you wanted books you went to the library. My mother sewed her own clothes and we went out to eat once a week. And we didn't have to do this, but it was how she herself was raised. There was a place in this audiobook that touched briefly on how the Egyptians were buried with all their belongings and without being too blunt I figured it meant that you can't take things with you when you pass. That's my philosophy. I like buying things. What I don't like is wastefulness. I think in some instances too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. As for getting rid of things to later re-purchase them on Amazon, I learned the hard way that if you find something you love then buy more than one as 99% of the time the price will triple at least if not more or the item will be discontinued altogether. As for digital; I try really hard to not sign up for emails or subscriptions. I am very glad that a lot of things touched upon in this book I already do without even realizing it. Overall, I found this book to be very helpful and full of good suggestions that I can work harder on to continue with my quest of de-cluttering. The narration: Corinne Phillips is a splendid reader. She has a perfect voice for anything. She did an exceptional job with this book being a sort of guide. She was upbeat and positive with a subject that may be hard for some people to grasp. Her performance was spot on. I received this audiobook for review and have left an honest and unbiased review.

Helpful!

I highly recommend this audio! This really helped me organize my life!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it.

very helpful

I'm so grateful for this audio book! it helped me fine tune my life even more!!

Encouraging to be happy with what you have

Early on in the book Sanderson redefines minimalism from it's standard meaning of 'living with the minimum you need' to be 'being happy with what you have'. Rather than being about reducing what you have, she writes of stopping chasing the next thing or new things. Not using buying this to fulfill you. It's a good idea, but it's not exactly minimalism.

But if you can get past that redefinition, then the book has a lot of book information presented in a succinct manner.

There is instruction on reducing your possessions (in line with minimalism), and also learning to love what you have. It is simple advice, but useful.

Narration by Corinne Phillips is good. Well paced, clear and easy to listen to. No glaring issues or recording and production faults.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Great Read

Minimalist Living: Devlutter Your Home, Schedule & Digital Life for Simple Living (and Discover Why Less is More) by Aston Sanderson was a great quick read. It is a good guide to purging some things and leading a minimalistic life.

minimal but important

there are so many ways to reduce material burdens and increase happiness and this book teach you how. i just made a trip to the recycling bin. thanks