Simplicity Made Easy

by Jennifer Kavanagh

In folk history and religion, from the Shakers to Zen, simplicity has generally been considered a good thing. Our own motivation may be to leave a smaller carbon footprint, to express a compassionate solidarity with those who have least; or simply to downsize. Whatever our concern, it is likely that the motivation to live a simpler life will spring from within. At heart, simplicity is a focus on what matters. Reducing the clutter in our lives, whether in material objects, use of time or money, or in our religious practices, leads to an increased clarity of vision and a focus; a view of life and its priorities that is in itself simple. Step by step we can move towards a state in which our attitudes and life are all of a piece, integrated and made one. Simplicity is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. With this inspiring book, discover how simplicity can become a way of life.

68 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Jennifer Kavanagh is a former literary agent, who spent nearly 30 years in publishing. She now sets up micro-credit programmes, mainly in Africa, and is a facilitator for the conflict resolution programme, Alternatives to Violence project. Jennifer lives in London, England. She is a Quaker, an associate tutor at the Quaker study centre, Woodbrooke, and she writes and speaks regularly on the Spirit-led life.
She is the author of twelve books of non-fiction and three novels, the third of which, "And this shall be my dancing day", comes out in July 2023.

Reviews

[Julian Summerhayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It made me think in a way that I hadn't expected. Brilliant.

[Alan Fricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very slim volume with a lot to consider. Comes from a quaker perspective on simplicity so provides thoughts and questions on both practical and spiritual matters.

[Marius Macovei · Rating 4 out of 5]

O carte subțire care vorbește mult despre atingerea fericirii atât prin intermediul deposedarii de material și cât și prin a fi autentic și a avea o gândire lipsită de vanitate, orgolii și dorința de a fi acceptat cu orice preț.
Este o carte care te poate apropia de divinitate.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that encourages simplicity rather than a 'how to'. It is gentle and supportive whether you are at the stage of just thinking 'my life is so complicated' or at the point of considering whether becoming a total hermit living in a beach hut eating seaweed is the next stage; wherever you are at Jennifer Kavanagh describes simplicity as a journey with the benefits in the travel rather than achieving a destination. For a Quaker writer the one thing that surprised me was just how much Buddhism is used and quoted, and that got me thinking about the failure of Christianity to take this path seriously. The Desert Fathers seem an awfully long time ago.

[Valentina Chiriac · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Simplitatea, ca promisiune sacra, este semnul exteriorizat al bucuriei spirituale."
O carte frumoasa cu un titlu interesant si un continut pe masura, care confirma principiul: Viata este simpla, deci de ce sa o complicam noi?!
Cam mult accent pe viziunea religioasa a tematicii, ceea ce m-a facut uneori sa simt ca citesc o carte de convertire la cine stie ce secta religioasa!