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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Wow life changing

I had never read a book on minimalist living before. The main reason was because I thought I would be preached at to pair down everything I enjoy to achieve a life style I was not interested in. Well I was gifted this book with the understanding that I would leave an honest review. I have to say WOW this book is wonderful and not at all what I thought it would be. Oh don't get me wrong the book does want you to think about what you have and remove what is not needed. But!!! they don't preach a holy than tho must do it this way idea. Instead the author shows you how to make the decisions of what is important to YOU and what is not. This book also shows how this can be used in many aspects of your life not just stuff. Corinne Phillips does a wonderful job of narrating this book really keeps you listening. I would love to have all my friends and family read this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A helpful philosophy and how to start

When I listened to "Minimalist Living", I felt as if I were hearing it from a friend who wanted to share life change that was positive for her and she hoped would be positive for me. The author's focus was on sharing what she had discovered in the philosophy of minimalism - making room for the things that matter most by clearing away baggage - and not on proselytizing, aggrandizing, or hyping and marketing, and she acknowledged and welcomed that we would all have different "flavors" of minimalism. I appreciated this tone in the book.

After describing how minimalism has been an improvement in her life, she gives several simple ideas and rules of thumb that can help readers and listeners to get started. It's especially helpful that she understands how monumental and difficult a task decluttering can be and builds some of her methodology for clean-up around that.

The reader was clear and did well making the book nice to listen to.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

I really do have to much stuff

Scary but true, I do have have to much stuff. I am not a hoarder by any means, but I do have a least 25 pairs of shoes.
This book is Very easy to listen to., and at times funny. Its a good listen. Its about minimalism. not throwing away everything you have. or just owning a pair of shoes, a T and jeans - thankfully. It's more realistic which I enjoyed.
snd it even got me to clean out my closet.

This is my first time listening to Miss Phillips. she has a very sweet and soothing voice and I would listen to her again.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who's trying to tidy up.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Get rid of all that clutter!

This is a practical and realistic guide to decluttering your life. It not only tells you how to do it but it gives you some good information on why your life is so cluttered. I found myself shaking my head in agreement and thinking of all the things I need to give away or sell. I was already in the process of decluttering my life and some of the things I was going to hang on to are going out the door with the others. You don't realize how closed in you can become when surrounded by so much "stuff". Memories can still remain without all the material things. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Brooke

Very brief and to the point. Easy to listen to and easy to remember and put in to action.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!