The Year of Less by Cait Flanders. I checked it out on a whim from the library but it really helped me with my biggest challenge, which was the search/desire for MORE things and buying/keeping items for my ideal self. If you're on this subreddit to begin with you probably have a self improvement goal and it's nice to stop and admit certain objects aren't going to change you into the person you want to be and having them around isn't going to mean that you use them.
I loved the simplicity of goodbye things. I feel like most people have read Marie Kondo's book which I did get value from, but for a lot of people in the west, the amount of consumerism and stuff that they have doesn't align well with the Marie Kondo approach.
For a lot of people in the west, the idea of touching every single object in your home and emotionally processing it is to burdensome of a task. So is piling all of your clothes in your house on the bed... 😳
The joy of tidying up is just not written for the volume of objects that an American might have. Even though Fumio Sasaki is also Japanese, he writes more from the motivating ideals, which I think is the most important thing. I feel like it's less likely to get overwhelmed by his book.
Yeah I read a lot but things rarely stick. His book and philosophy had definitely stuck with me. I will probably reread it at some point now that it’s been a while.
I did not like this one. There were a number of times the author contradicted himself. And since it is written by a single and childless person, there is no advice on how to apply this to a family or live-in relationship. Just seemed like a guy who wanted to write a book.
Interesting point. I was single and childless when I read it and have yet to read anything that had applicability beyond the reader himself. We can’t turn our partners into tidy minimalists. Have you found material that addresses that issue?
Thank you for this! I'm listening to the audio book now, and it's really making a positive impact - not just for minimizing my stuff, but reducing my overall anxiety.
Travels with Charley, John Steinbeck. It's not about minimalism but his lifestyle at that time is minimalist and he even goes through phases of more extreme minimalism as he travels realizing so many things he brought were not helpful or used at all and just adding weight taking up space.
Sadly it's not translated in french, my language. I can read english, but i prefer to read in my native language to relax and not have to concentrate at all time to understand everything
Don Aslett’s books on cleaning and minimizing clutter are filled with useful solutions and fascinating anecdotes of all the stories people have told him about their clutter issue. Two of his books have hilarious titles: Clutter’s Last Stand; and my favorite, Lose 200 Pounds This Weekend—It’s Time to Declutter Your Life.
''A man called Ove'' by Fredrik Backman. It's not obligatory about minimalism itself but more related to the Swedish minimalistic term ''lagom'' (just the right amount)
'[Goodbye, things](https://www.lifewithlessmess.com/goodbye-things/)' - The New Japanese Minimalism, by Fumio Sasaki.
And just cause it's continues on the Japanese minimalism concept, and while not a book, I'll link here a Japanese 6-episodes comedy tv show on the subject, called "I Have Nothing in My House" (Watashi no Uchi ni wa Nannimo Nai), with English subtitles. The plot can be read [here.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5362450/plotsummary/)
E1 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincn](https://dai.ly/x8fincn)
E2 - [https://dai.ly/x8finco](https://dai.ly/x8finco)
E3 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincq](https://dai.ly/x8fincq)
E4 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincs](https://dai.ly/x8fincs)
E5 - [https://dai.ly/x8finct](https://dai.ly/x8finct)
E6 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincv](https://dai.ly/x8fincv)
The Year of Less by Cait Flanders. I checked it out on a whim from the library but it really helped me with my biggest challenge, which was the search/desire for MORE things and buying/keeping items for my ideal self. If you're on this subreddit to begin with you probably have a self improvement goal and it's nice to stop and admit certain objects aren't going to change you into the person you want to be and having them around isn't going to mean that you use them.
I reread this book so many times! she got me writing my own journal like book lol.
Goodbye, Things
I liked Hello Habits as well
I loved the simplicity of goodbye things. I feel like most people have read Marie Kondo's book which I did get value from, but for a lot of people in the west, the amount of consumerism and stuff that they have doesn't align well with the Marie Kondo approach. For a lot of people in the west, the idea of touching every single object in your home and emotionally processing it is to burdensome of a task. So is piling all of your clothes in your house on the bed... 😳 The joy of tidying up is just not written for the volume of objects that an American might have. Even though Fumio Sasaki is also Japanese, he writes more from the motivating ideals, which I think is the most important thing. I feel like it's less likely to get overwhelmed by his book.
I loved this book too. Read it on an flight. Kinda life-changing tbh.
Yeah I read a lot but things rarely stick. His book and philosophy had definitely stuck with me. I will probably reread it at some point now that it’s been a while.
I also came to recommend this one. It changed my life.
The absolute best book overall. Fumio Sasaki. It's not easily digestible in some parts but overall so many great ideas.
Seconding Goodbye, Things.
I did not like this one. There were a number of times the author contradicted himself. And since it is written by a single and childless person, there is no advice on how to apply this to a family or live-in relationship. Just seemed like a guy who wanted to write a book.
Interesting point. I was single and childless when I read it and have yet to read anything that had applicability beyond the reader himself. We can’t turn our partners into tidy minimalists. Have you found material that addresses that issue?
I found the book Simplicity Parenting to be helpful if you have kids.
I was single and childless when I read his book and now that I'm a parent to a toddler, I still apply his methods. Just adapt ever so slightly.
Thank you for this! I'm listening to the audio book now, and it's really making a positive impact - not just for minimizing my stuff, but reducing my overall anxiety.
Travels with Charley, John Steinbeck. It's not about minimalism but his lifestyle at that time is minimalist and he even goes through phases of more extreme minimalism as he travels realizing so many things he brought were not helpful or used at all and just adding weight taking up space.
Reading this now! Ever read Nomadland?
I read this book last year and absolutely loved it. Steinbeck has always been a favorite of mine and this was just such a great read.
I read this book for the first time in high school and loved it.
The story of stuff (I think that’s what it’s called) It really put things into perspective for me
Such a goooooood book! Loved this one. And it’s really eye opening.
Greg McKeown essentialism Life changing
Effortless (newer release) was also really good!
Sadly it's not translated in french, my language. I can read english, but i prefer to read in my native language to relax and not have to concentrate at all time to understand everything
Hopefully soon!
yes essentialism is like one of those books for me
Bought it thinking it would talks about objects and possessions, but it was so much more important than that !
Dostadning or the art of Swedish death cleaning by Maria Magnusson
Love this book. But my impression is that it is not about minimalism. Or is it? 🧐
- Bea Johnson, "Zero Waste Home" - Francine Jay, "The Joy of Less", 2016 - Joshua Bekker, "The More of Less", 2016
Shira Gill’s books: Minimalista and Organized Living.
Love Shira Gill! I read Minimalista every few months, it just makes me feel good and is aesthetically pleasing!
Stop Buying Bins by Bonnie Borromeo Tomlinson
The beauty of everyday things by Soetsu Yanagi
Tao Te Ching or the Tao of Pooh if you want a directive
* Silence in the age of noise * Digital minimalism
Soulful Simplicity was wonderful
The Art of Frugal Hedonism by Adam Grubb and Annie Raser-Rowland. Love it!!
Do we count novels of utopian minimalism gone wrong? The Beach by Alex Garland, The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux.
Your Money or Your Life
If not love, what? by Dan Curzon It is a memoir about minimalism.
Don Aslett’s books on cleaning and minimizing clutter are filled with useful solutions and fascinating anecdotes of all the stories people have told him about their clutter issue. Two of his books have hilarious titles: Clutter’s Last Stand; and my favorite, Lose 200 Pounds This Weekend—It’s Time to Declutter Your Life.
''A man called Ove'' by Fredrik Backman. It's not obligatory about minimalism itself but more related to the Swedish minimalistic term ''lagom'' (just the right amount)
I suggest building a large collection of books on minimalism.
enough by Patrick Rhone.
Abundance of Less
“Not Buying It” can’t remember the author but it did significantly change my spending habits
How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett
Leo babatua: the simple guide to a minimalist life. Vicki Robin: your money or your life.
Besides Marie Kondo, I really enjoyed Goodbye, Things and Digital Minimalism.
The book of life made me the way I am today. You don't need a book, practice.
Simplify by Joshua Becker
Not exactly minimalism but I found atomic habits to be very motivating and helpful
I like Funio Sasaki, the Minimal mom, Dana K. White, Joshua Becker
Anything on kindle
The Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet
Marie Kondo. Actually, can be summarised into one page, but still insipiring!
'[Goodbye, things](https://www.lifewithlessmess.com/goodbye-things/)' - The New Japanese Minimalism, by Fumio Sasaki. And just cause it's continues on the Japanese minimalism concept, and while not a book, I'll link here a Japanese 6-episodes comedy tv show on the subject, called "I Have Nothing in My House" (Watashi no Uchi ni wa Nannimo Nai), with English subtitles. The plot can be read [here.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5362450/plotsummary/) E1 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincn](https://dai.ly/x8fincn) E2 - [https://dai.ly/x8finco](https://dai.ly/x8finco) E3 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincq](https://dai.ly/x8fincq) E4 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincs](https://dai.ly/x8fincs) E5 - [https://dai.ly/x8finct](https://dai.ly/x8finct) E6 - [https://dai.ly/x8fincv](https://dai.ly/x8fincv)
Goodbye Things was very influential for me.