Joshua Becker, creator of BecomingMinimalist.com has a new book set to release on May 3rd of this year. If you’re wondering whether this 219 page guide should make it on your top 10 books of 2016, you’ll want to read the next few paragraphs.
I was first introduced to Joshua Becker’s work via Instagram. It seemed like his quotes were everywhere and eventually they trickled down to Facebook in the quintessential white on black image. The quotes weren’t earth shattering, rather they were almost obvious in their point. However, based on the number of reposts, shares, and likes it became clear that the concise and poignant remarks were exactly what tens of thousands of followers were craving: living simply, no longer bound by things. |
In his book The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, Joshua does not disappoint. This time, his words are more than satisfying one-liners you might find on social media or the motivating paragraphs on his blog. Joshua forces his readers to think deeper and ask the harder questions as he guides them to their individualized practices of minimalism.
Minimalism is not a one-size-fits-all way of life, but it does share common characteristics with which every person on earth can relate. Joshua identifies the core motivations of consumerism and our attachment to things as security, acceptance, and contentment. Not sure how those three pieces play into your spending and collecting? Read through personal accounts of those just like you and me. The anecdotes are brief, but highly effective. You don't have to give away all of your stuff to become a minimalist. In fact, Joshua notes the dramatic differences resulting from stages of life and varying passions. Minimalism is a frame of mind, not a number of things.
The first half of the book is spent developing an understanding of why living with less creates a life of more – more freedom, more room to love, more time to enjoy, more lives to influence. What a different experience! What a different world!
The second half focuses on how to execute the work involved – the letting-go-work that so many struggle with. Joshua’s encouragement is basic: start today, start with easy. He presents DOZENS of strategies for letting go of the items that you no longer need, use, or love. (My personal favorite is the 29 Day Experiment!) After you've de-owned, Joshua shares numerous methods for maintaining your edited lifestyle. These include dealing with gift giving, receiving, and passing on.
Joshua's practical suggestions will enable even the most tight-fisted to release, because he brings that grasp on stuff back to its core motivations. When we address and meet our needs for security, acceptance, and contentment, the stuff no longer holds much value. Things will never satisfy. Relationships will. Live on purpose, with arms wide open, running headlong toward the things that matter most!
I would personally like to thank Mr. Becker for sending me (and a select group of professional organizers) an advance reading copy! It's been an honor to read and review his work, and I'm thrilled to be able to share it with you, my fabulous followers.
The second half focuses on how to execute the work involved – the letting-go-work that so many struggle with. Joshua’s encouragement is basic: start today, start with easy. He presents DOZENS of strategies for letting go of the items that you no longer need, use, or love. (My personal favorite is the 29 Day Experiment!) After you've de-owned, Joshua shares numerous methods for maintaining your edited lifestyle. These include dealing with gift giving, receiving, and passing on.
Joshua's practical suggestions will enable even the most tight-fisted to release, because he brings that grasp on stuff back to its core motivations. When we address and meet our needs for security, acceptance, and contentment, the stuff no longer holds much value. Things will never satisfy. Relationships will. Live on purpose, with arms wide open, running headlong toward the things that matter most!
I would personally like to thank Mr. Becker for sending me (and a select group of professional organizers) an advance reading copy! It's been an honor to read and review his work, and I'm thrilled to be able to share it with you, my fabulous followers.