What do you think?
Rate this book
The Simplicity Reader
A trio of popular inspirational self-help guides--Simplify Your Life, Inner Simplicity, and Living the Simple Life--explains how to rid one's life of unnecessary clutter and offers practical advice on how to slow down and rediscover the things that truly matter.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
858 pages, Hardcover
First published July 6, 1999
9 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 25, 2011
9. Stop buying clothes that need to be dry-cleaned
14. Get rid of your lawn
22. Build a simple wardrobe
“When a man and a woman are together and comparably dressed in any style, from dressy to casual to unbelievably casual, almost without exception the man looks better than the woman.” (57)
39. Live on half of what you earn, and save the other half
63. Beware exercise equipment, fire your personal trainer, and go take a walk
86. Resign from any organizations whose meetings you dread
90. Ten Minutes to Drop-Dead Gorgeous
I started with my hair style. For most women the consuming part of getting dressed is the hair we've brainwashed into believing has to be not only shampooed, but conditioned, color rinsed, moussed, spritzed, gelled, blow-dried, extended, enhanced, straightened, or curled then sprayed before we can go out the front door.
Men have hair styles that make it possible for them to wash their hair, run a comb through it, and go. Women can too. Years ago a hairdresser told me that every women has at least one flattering low-maintenance easy-care hair style that is natural for her hair type and facial structure. It took some experimentation, but I found an easy-care hair style that works for me.
94. Minimize your accessories
14. Get rid of your lawn
22. Build a simple wardrobe
“When a man and a woman are together and comparably dressed in any style, from dressy to casual to unbelievably casual, almost without exception the man looks better than the woman.” (57)
39. Live on half of what you earn, and save the other half
63. Beware exercise equipment, fire your personal trainer, and go take a walk
86. Resign from any organizations whose meetings you dread
90. Ten Minutes to Drop-Dead Gorgeous
I started with my hair style. For most women the consuming part of getting dressed is the hair we've brainwashed into believing has to be not only shampooed, but conditioned, color rinsed, moussed, spritzed, gelled, blow-dried, extended, enhanced, straightened, or curled then sprayed before we can go out the front door.
Men have hair styles that make it possible for them to wash their hair, run a comb through it, and go. Women can too. Years ago a hairdresser told me that every women has at least one flattering low-maintenance easy-care hair style that is natural for her hair type and facial structure. It took some experimentation, but I found an easy-care hair style that works for me.
94. Minimize your accessories
August 11, 2008
I bought this book while living in Deland, Florida. A place I was told by the local cops that had only two things to do, and those were work out and seek religion.
The town permeated me with a silence that demanded to be listened to.
And I seriously held this book as my living bible.
Its pages still vivid in my mind, even after all these years. Oh and the years have clung to its pages like the morning dew on a blade of grass.
I would like to pick up another copy of this book. The original was left with a friend in Philly, during a hiking trip I took out there.
He struck me as someone that could benefit from it. So, it was a parting gift to him. I had inscibed on the inner cover, that when I had applied all of the books principles, I would return for the copy.
Air fare is very expensive these days, making a trip to the bookstore a wiser trip.
The town permeated me with a silence that demanded to be listened to.
And I seriously held this book as my living bible.
Its pages still vivid in my mind, even after all these years. Oh and the years have clung to its pages like the morning dew on a blade of grass.
I would like to pick up another copy of this book. The original was left with a friend in Philly, during a hiking trip I took out there.
He struck me as someone that could benefit from it. So, it was a parting gift to him. I had inscibed on the inner cover, that when I had applied all of the books principles, I would return for the copy.
Air fare is very expensive these days, making a trip to the bookstore a wiser trip.
July 19, 2020
I just received this book and I am so happy I have the whole collection of my favorite books on simplifying your life and living a better life. Together with Marie Kondo's "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up", this collection by Elaine St. James is my favorite. I am usually inspired to read it at the beginning of every year and I am always glad to see how much I implemented over the years (I think I encountered it first in 2011)
When I saw all three books in Hardcover I knew I had to buy it for my reference, I will keep this close by. Now, this is going to be my go-to present for good friends :)
Love it.
This is honest, simple, inspirational and well tried advice. Highly recommended above all other books on simplifying and organizing your life.
When I saw all three books in Hardcover I knew I had to buy it for my reference, I will keep this close by. Now, this is going to be my go-to present for good friends :)
Love it.
This is honest, simple, inspirational and well tried advice. Highly recommended above all other books on simplifying and organizing your life.
May 12, 2018
There are a few things that have stuck with me from these books - don't say yes to social invitations you have no cares about. Have one of something rather than five and you will take better care of it/know where it is when you need it (this works for everything except my phone). Papers should pass through your hands only once on their way to be filed or thrown out (working on that one). I appreciated the read.
December 16, 2013
I gave this book 4 stars, because though much of this information is nothing new here in 2013… It would've been ground breaking and highly helpful when it was published. And there's still quite a lot of useful information in there.
December 18, 2019
I bought this book maybe 15 or 20 years ago. And it just sat on a shelf. I thought it would be good because the author was going to talk about simplifying your life - not just your stuff. Fast forward 20 years. I never needed to buy this. While I still have more stuff than Elaine and Gibbs, I have made a big dent in simplifying. There are many areas of our life that we have simplified. There are also some things that are suggested that I would never in a million years do! I will consider it a push to get rid of the next layer of stuff.
February 19, 2017
Compilation of three books. Some good stuff, some crap.
November 5, 2013
I wish I knew who recommended this book to me, because now I'd like to ask the simple question: Why?
Sometimes this book is so full of common sense things that it seems to go without saying. Other times i think Flylady said this all a whole lot better, and in a friendlier tone. Overall...I feel like this book isn't for me at all. And maybe it's not.
If you're looking to get organized, live a bit more simply, have a lot of disposable income and might have been classified as a yuppie in the 1990's then this book is for you. If like me you're just wanting to find a little simpler life, to get some new tips on organizing or decluttering...go seek out Flylady.
Sorry, just wasn't all that impressed. But then this book wasn't written for me anyway.
Sometimes this book is so full of common sense things that it seems to go without saying. Other times i think Flylady said this all a whole lot better, and in a friendlier tone. Overall...I feel like this book isn't for me at all. And maybe it's not.
If you're looking to get organized, live a bit more simply, have a lot of disposable income and might have been classified as a yuppie in the 1990's then this book is for you. If like me you're just wanting to find a little simpler life, to get some new tips on organizing or decluttering...go seek out Flylady.
Sorry, just wasn't all that impressed. But then this book wasn't written for me anyway.
March 17, 2012
174 manieren op tot rust te komen en te genieten van de dingen waar het echt om gaat. Er zaten wel een paar goeie tips tussen, maar ook heel veel rommel. Denk ook niet dat de schrijfster kinderen heeft ...
Wat ik deze week had kunnen toepassen:
146: Ga niet in op een belediging
163: Je mag gerust veel huilen. (Laat de jankfilms maar komen)
Er compleet over:
39: Leef van de helf van je inkomen, spaar de andere helft
164: Ga naar een helderziende
166: Gebruik geluidsopnamen met een 'onhoorbare' boodschap
Soit, retour bib.
Wat ik deze week had kunnen toepassen:
146: Ga niet in op een belediging
163: Je mag gerust veel huilen. (Laat de jankfilms maar komen)
Er compleet over:
39: Leef van de helf van je inkomen, spaar de andere helft
164: Ga naar een helderziende
166: Gebruik geluidsopnamen met een 'onhoorbare' boodschap
Soit, retour bib.
January 31, 2008
The book that started my quest for a more fulfilling, less hectic life with less STUFF. I own a copy of this book, and anyone who knows me knows that I only keep books that I consider to be of utmost importance. This is one of them.
July 15, 2014
Really I read this in 2009? No wonder I don't remember it...
Want to read
September 9, 2009Need to read again. Have had on the shelf for awhile.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews