Get Satisfied: How Twenty People Like You Found the Satisfaction of Enough

by Carol Holst (Editor), Peter C. Whybrow (Foreword)

What do Americans need that most eludes them? It's not a tank of cheap gas (as astonishing as that would be) or ever earlier pre-holiday sales. What Americans need most - and most of them know it - is satisfaction, especially the satisfaction of enough.

So when Postconsumers.com put out its call for submissions to this book, the mainstream response was enthusiastic. From the outpouring of personal stories submitted, the editorial committee chose these twenty to represent the broadest possible spectrum of Americans who have sought and found a simpler, more satisfying life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Money

177 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Carol Holst is based in the Los Angeles area and founded Postconsumers.com in 2010 to celebrate each person’s core values in our hypermaterialistic culture. Using humor and irony, Postconsumers is building a U.S. brand without profit to help society move beyond addictive consumerism and toward the satisfaction of enough for today. Anyone can be a postconsumer by finding their own idea of #EnoughStuff for now --whether it’s a lot, a little, or in between.

All of Carol’s efforts in supporting Postconsumers and its strategic marketing team are driven by her epiphanic experiences with the United Nations. In 1994, she received major grants to build an organization as part of the United Nations conference, where she was taught the most crucial, nearly unaddressed question humanity faces: how much is enough?

At the headshot age of 64, Carol continues her longtime career as a professional artists’ model at top art studios in Los Angeles. She previously founded The Learning Place preschool and holds undergraduate degrees in education and sociology. Carol adores her two grown daughters in the ultrafast lane, both born on her birthday five years apart. However, her lane isn’t all that slow.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Get Satisfied. The stories in the book are very inspiring and motivational to me, a lifelong perfectionist and procrastinator. I've had many fits and starts in trying to organize and simplify my life and this book has given me the impetus to finally begin the changes I know are necessary to attain happiness and fulfillment. There are five sections in the book, each with four stories of about five to ten pages in length. I found that reading one story per night and then reflecting on the message therein was a great way to read Get Satisfied and the writers, by and large, were highly proficient at relating the events that changed their lives. I enjoyed all the stories and took away something from each, but my favorites are A Breath of Life, Forest Solitaire, Remembering the Power, and Toolittle, Toomuch and Enough. In this hectic world filled with its ever-increasing demands, I believe most of us have taken on far too much and, as a result, our health and wellbeing are suffering. I feel anyone who reads this book will see themselves in many of the stories and very well may decide it's time to make the changes, small or large, towards a simpler life.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light easy read, 20 stories of how people arrived at satisfaction......some easy to identify with, others kind of boring!

[Katherine Hauswirth · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the title of this book says a lot. How many of us are truly satisfied; how many of us fall into the trap of striving for more--more possessions, more sense of importance, worthiness, or approval; more money; even more responsibility? What does it take to say "I have enough"? It was fascinating for me to read about how a wide variety of people define "satisfaction" and "enough" in their own lives. Some lifestyle changes toward true satisfaction were by not by choice--a house fire, poor health, reduced income forced changes in the direction of true satisfaction. Other scenarios were more conscious shifts toward a more sane, less cluttered lifestyle. The book is very thought provoking, and easy to read since each author has their own small chapter.

Full disclosure:I am one of the 20 authors! However, my own contribution aside, the other 19 pieces are well written and worth a read.

[Rob Mcwilliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first attracted to this book by its subtitle: 'How Twenty People Like YOU Found the Satisfaction of Enough.' It didn't take long to find the connections! These are stories of people, written by themselves, sharing their motivations for change. From personal or family health issues, to their house burning down, to the cry of a soaring hawk, to a plane flying into a tower, motivation is one of the most diverse words I know. These are stories told from the heart, and the authors share their hearts openly. I'd tell you my own story - and that is one thing this book inspired in me - but maybe there'll be a sequel, and, who knows, maybe...... Anyway, I recommend it to those who share these memories of change, and those who need a nudge to make their own shift. Whichever you are - enjoy!

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breath of fresh air and just what the doctor ordered for these economically difficult times! Twenty insightful essays on how to find satisfaction and happiness through simpler, more meaningful living. I found good advice and support on how to go beyond the manic consumerism and ubiquitous advertising driving our American culture, to find the "satisfaction of enough", in 20 very different and interesting ways.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A varied collection of essays written by people who have tried to "simplify" their lives and livelihoods. The spectrum of what was identified as "simplification" was interesting. My favorite was the economic cost/benefit analysis of an afternoon of kite flying.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I finished "Get Satisfied" and I loved it! I feel very motivated and hopeful, and I especially enjoyed the chapter by Katherine Hauswirth...she started with baby steps and that's how I am going to have to proceed. Keep up the great work."

[Ray Charbonneau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Examples of people who've cut back. No guidance as to how to make the necessary choices, and not terribly inspiring or relevant.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Get Satisfied is a collection of essays from people who have simplified their lives. It wasn't a bad collection, just not great or really inspiring. I wouldn't really recommend this one.

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

A perfectly fine book that I didn't care to keep reading.