Simple Living: One Couple's Search for a Better Life

by Frank Levering, Wanda Urbanska

Originally published in 1992, long before "simple living" became a hot marketing trend, this groundbreaking work eloquently makes the case for a simpler, less stressful life. Told by Frank Levering and Wanda Urbanska, a literary couple who met as students at Harvard and moved from the fast lane in Los Angeles to take over a family orchard in southwestern Virginia, Simple Living is the story of their decision to put more meaning into their lives while eliminating unnecessary debt and superfluous consumption, as well as lessening their environmental footprint. Levering and Urbanska have written what many have hailed as a classic in the a personal yet grittily realistic memoir about their quest for more meaningful values in a consumer-driven society. Theirs is an honest account of what it means to live not outside the system but within it while at the same time claiming one's own values. While simple living has many definitions, Levering and Urbanska identify its focus as environmental stewardship, thoughtful consumption, community activism, and financial responsibility. Drawing on case studies of others throughout the country who are choosing to simplify, Simple Living suggests ways that you can simplify your life, not by any 10-step plan but by taking measures that make sense for you. As relevant today as when it was first published, Simple Living is reprinted here with a new preface by the authors and a foreword by Millard and Linda Fuller, founders of Habitat for Humanity International.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Sustainability, Biography, Money, Environment

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to quit reading this one. I thought it was going to be so good, but every time I would normally read I was trying to find something else to do because I was just NOT interested in this book. The authors move from L.A. to an apple farm in Virginia to take over the family farm and also live a simpler life. I don't know if their story was just boring or what but I just could not get into this book. I was hoping it would be like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, but it was NOT.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of exposition, odd tense/person changes in the middle of the paragraph, convoluted character stories that switched with no warning. I decided to stop after 50 pages.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written memoir of “one couple’s search for a better life”, in which the authors give up the rat race of 1980’s Hollywood to move to the husband’s childhood home and orchard in Appalachian, North Carolina to help his family. This book was written from the heart, which was almost always a good thing; save for the occasional tangent telling something that you could see was very important to the teller but didn’t add much to the story. I believe that I, and other readers, can take several practical suggestions and ideologies from this book and make them my own to bring greater sense of self-worth rather than net-worth to my own life. I loved the “research” that went into this book in interviewing others who had made the leap and add credence that it really can be done and for the better. I also enjoyed the background of the Quaker religion for which the husband’s father was involved, having not known much about that sect previously.

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book because it's full of all the things I usually love to read about (and think about doing myself someday!), but it was very difficult to follow the writing style. I read most of it and it's been several months now so I'm thinking I won't be finishing it, which is a shame because the story itself was fascinating.

Part of the difficulty for me is that the book is written from two different first person perspectives but in third person most of the time, second person sometimes, and there are bits of first-person in there too. I think the authors were trying to be clear about who was writing which parts and who thought what, but the result wasn't terribly readable for me. I would've preferred more of a united front and consistency of voice.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book gave some great insight about how to clarify the difference of just being busy vs having a life filled with meaningful pursuits. It was a struggle to get through because of the writing style, but the underlying points stuck with me. As others have said, it is a bit boring.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holds up surprisingly well almost 30 years later.

[Judy Gacek]

The odd tense changes in this book are annoying. However, the ideas in the book hold up well although it was written thirty years ago.

[Gina Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book even though I wasn't sure I was going to. I expected another list of ways to simplify, but instead it is really their story of how they simplified their lives and the values they believe go along with a simple life. I wasn't sure I cared about their journey, but she is a thoughtful, interesting writer and by the end of the first chapter I DID care. By the end of the book you almost feel as if you know them, and wish you did. I've always enjoyed her PBS program, this gave me a new appreciation for Wanda and Frank. The chapter that really got under my skin was the one on volunteering. It's something I really would like to spend more time doing, alone, and as a family.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another green-living book I finished about a month ago. A married couple who are writer's in Hollywood decide to move back to the country Orchard that Frank (husband) was raised on. It was a pleasure to travel with them as they met like minded people across the U.S.A. and learned from Frank's parents the joys of a simple life. The work is incredibly hard physically, but eventually, inside the find peace.

I was sad to learn after finishing this book that Wanda and Frank got divorced. She's still writing books about Simple Living. The wrote at least one other book together called "Nothing's Too Small to Make a Difference: Simple Things You Can Do to Change Your Life & the World Around You.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been about 16 years since I last read this. Interesting how some of the aspects that I adored last time (this history of Frank's father in FCNL) receded a bit and other aspects, how they handled the house renovation and living close to family were more prominent. This doesn't surprise me since in 2006 I was newly and very involved in my local Quaker meeting, and now have been tackling turning a house into a home and the move of my in-laws to 2 miles down the road.

Still find a lot of meaning in this book, with its simple living emerging from Quakerism, love of the land, and the strength of community.

[polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it about this book? It's a little book, I found it in a local bookshop and gave it to my husband for Christmas a few years ago. It is set "sort of" locally to us and we both devoured it. I read it while I had the flu, it was so good. the authors leave LA for a simpler existence in the mountains of VA, where the husband grew up--they move back to the family orchard. Really a nice book, refreshing, and we like to turn back to it for validation of our attempts at a simple lifestyle. I love this little book.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a big city couple who quit their jobs and leave everything behind to run the family cider mill. The writing is not super insightful, and sometimes borderline annoying, but it did make me think - and there were quite a few good stories about people they met along the way who were living "alternative lifestyles".

Some good lessons to be learned from them, especially for those of us who can't seem to slow down.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is not 'preachy', but insightful and introspective. More than a "how to" book, it is the story of their journey - almost adventure - to live a simpler life.

It includes more than just their story, though - they also write about the situations and experiences of a great many friends and acquaintances whose lives illustrate one aspect or another of living simply.

A well-written and enjoyable book.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like to read books like this on simplifying ones life and doing the things that are important, finding what is important in life. This couple are writers who moved from California east to take on his parent's fruit orchards. I grew up in a rural community and was in 4H for 10 years so all the "farm" stuff interests me also.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that takes you on the journey of two young writers and their struggles leaving LA (and many of their career aspirations) to move to Virginia to run the husband's family orchard.

[Justin]

I was looking more for a guide to simple living than a memoir but I enjoyed the book none-the-less. At some points the authors got a little "preachy" and insinuated that having a large family was not in line with a simple living/conservation lifestyle. I completely disagree.

[Skylar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected it to be more advice than story. While the story was good and compelling, sometimes it deviated into a little too much detail about things that really weren't that interesting. Overall, I'd recommend it to someone who wants inspiration to live a simpler life.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably forward thinking for its time, this is now a little bit dated (first published in 1992). That said, it's also frustrating that some of the ridiculously easy lifestyle changes that were mentioned in this book have now seen large scale adoption by the US populace. Like, duh, recycling?

[Mamafeelgood]

Did not get to read b/4 I had to turn it back in.

[Leanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't relate. Just skimmed it.

[La Cranberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

If only life could be that simple...

[Stephani · Rating 3 out of 5]

love it so far but not quite finished!