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Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World
Are you constantly striving to keep up with life's busy expectations? It's easy to feel consumed with the desire to "succeed" and "acquire", and miss the simple opportunities waiting for you to slow down: a walk in the forest, sharing laughter with family, a personal moment of gratitude...
Once upon a time, it became clear to Brooke McAlary that the key to happiness was discovering a simpler, more fulfilling existence. She put the brakes on her stressful path, and reorganized her life to live outside the status-quo, emphasizing depth, connection and meaningful experiences. Alongside Brooke's affirming personal stories of breaking down and rising up, Slow provides practical advice and fascinating insights into the benefits and challenges of the slow life, such as:
―Decluttering to de-owning
―Messiness to mindfulness
―Asking why, to asking where to now?
Slow is an inspirational guide on creating a life filled with the things that really matter, and is meant for anyone seeking peace, meaning, and joy in their otherwise rapid lives. Slowly―of course.
Once upon a time, it became clear to Brooke McAlary that the key to happiness was discovering a simpler, more fulfilling existence. She put the brakes on her stressful path, and reorganized her life to live outside the status-quo, emphasizing depth, connection and meaningful experiences. Alongside Brooke's affirming personal stories of breaking down and rising up, Slow provides practical advice and fascinating insights into the benefits and challenges of the slow life, such as:
―Decluttering to de-owning
―Messiness to mindfulness
―Asking why, to asking where to now?
Slow is an inspirational guide on creating a life filled with the things that really matter, and is meant for anyone seeking peace, meaning, and joy in their otherwise rapid lives. Slowly―of course.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2018
345 people are currently reading
6712 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews
July 25, 2018
3.5 stars!
*non-fiction challenge*
*non-fiction challenge*
June 19, 2024
‘Less is More’ is a practice I’ve been following for a while now and one of the reasons I’m keen on small regular dosings of the type of gentle advice that abounds in ‘Slow.’
Intention, simplicity, mindfulness, balance and connection through tiny steps form the book’s foundation - no judgement, no right or wrong way, no practice too small - and McAlary’s studied and graceful account of missteps, achievements and growing awareness of the development of these qualities makes luminous and rewarding reading.
Intention, simplicity, mindfulness, balance and connection through tiny steps form the book’s foundation - no judgement, no right or wrong way, no practice too small - and McAlary’s studied and graceful account of missteps, achievements and growing awareness of the development of these qualities makes luminous and rewarding reading.
August 30, 2018
Such a great introduction to a minimalist/mindful living lifestyle. The author does a great job of being personable and convicting without being preachy; she really makes you think, but reminds you that it’s okay to fail and failure doesn’t make you a terrible person. Highly recommend!!
July 24, 2018
An amazing and well laid out "planner" of how this author changed her way of viewing the world by decluttering, mindfulness, and just taking things slower. Although some of this has been written elsewhere, it was still wonderfully written.
September 28, 2017
Followers of my reviews will know that self-help books are not my usual forte. I used to read parenting guides many moons ago when my big kids were tiny kids (these kind of qualify as self-help don’t they?) and I skimmed, because it was a book club pick, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, but I found this to be both preaching to the converted and over zealous. It’s not that I think I don’t need any self-help; it’s more that I’m just not all that interested and I have a million other books that I would rather read and fiction is my favourite, always my first preference and okay, I’ll be honest, I don’t think I need any self-help!
However, Slow, was a really good read. Brooke McAlary has a definite way with words, her prose is inflected with humour, a self-depreciating honesty, and a tell it like it is quality that I always appreciate. The premise of Slow is to simply ‘slow down’ and ‘be present in our own lives’. Be grateful. Be mindful. Stop buying crap you don’t need and working harder to afford a life you don’t even enjoy. At a base level, Brooke’s words made a whole lot of sense to me and I was pleased to note that in many ways, I was already adopting some of the practices of living slow. Don’t be fooled into thinking this book is a step by step manual on how to live slow; far from it, and that’s what appealed to me the most. Brooke explains within the book that living slow looks different for each and every person, but there are things to keep in mind that will help you shape your life into one you are delighted to live in.
At the beginning of the book Brooke asks these questions of the reader:
1. What is important to me?
2. What do I want to leave behind?
3. What don’t I want to leave behind?
4. What do I want people to say about me?
5. What regrets do I want to avoid?
The book is broken up into chapters that correspond with Brooke’s own journey to a slow life. I particularly enjoyed the chapters Mindfulness and Disconnect to Reconnect. But that’s the thing about this book: it’s the type of book that will offer every reader a different experience. I liked the fluidity of its structure; and the beautiful photos, cute illustrations, and boxes of text make this an easy read as well as a visually appealing one. It’s designed to be a book you return to and its hard cover ensures you can cart it around without fear of it eventually falling apart.
“There are, of course, many other ways of bringing mindfulness into your day, but this simple act of noticing was my entry point and it changed my perspective in enormous and tiny important ways.”
“If we can apply only one idea to technology as we move forward, it needs to be mindfulness. We need to make our use of technology intentional. Use it well. Use it to make life better. And then put it down and go do something else.”
Filled with insightful observations, Slow is a book that I recommend everyone read. It takes us back to the roots of what it means to be a decent human being: a person who smiles at strangers and stops to smell the roses. Even if you think you aren’t interested in adopting a new lifestyle, reading Slow is a reality check on the way our lives have evolved, a tool kit for examining our 21st century existences with a view to evaluating whether or not we are truly satisfied. From the perspective of an educator, I would love to see aspects of this book converted into seminars/lessons for teenagers, particularly with content from those abovementioned chapters. Being mindful and disconnecting from technology are both sadly becoming foreign concepts to our youth, something I see both in my home and my work. There is a lot in Slow for everyone and it’s content is presented in an accessible and entertaining way. As far as books go, this is a beautiful one to linger over. Coming from a person who doesn’t ‘do self-help books’, rest assured, I am not making this recommendation lightly.
“Perspective helps us to care less about the crap that doesn’t matter and recognise how lucky we are that these are in fact our problems.”
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Slow for the purposes of review.
Slow is book 61 in my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
However, Slow, was a really good read. Brooke McAlary has a definite way with words, her prose is inflected with humour, a self-depreciating honesty, and a tell it like it is quality that I always appreciate. The premise of Slow is to simply ‘slow down’ and ‘be present in our own lives’. Be grateful. Be mindful. Stop buying crap you don’t need and working harder to afford a life you don’t even enjoy. At a base level, Brooke’s words made a whole lot of sense to me and I was pleased to note that in many ways, I was already adopting some of the practices of living slow. Don’t be fooled into thinking this book is a step by step manual on how to live slow; far from it, and that’s what appealed to me the most. Brooke explains within the book that living slow looks different for each and every person, but there are things to keep in mind that will help you shape your life into one you are delighted to live in.
At the beginning of the book Brooke asks these questions of the reader:
1. What is important to me?
2. What do I want to leave behind?
3. What don’t I want to leave behind?
4. What do I want people to say about me?
5. What regrets do I want to avoid?
The book is broken up into chapters that correspond with Brooke’s own journey to a slow life. I particularly enjoyed the chapters Mindfulness and Disconnect to Reconnect. But that’s the thing about this book: it’s the type of book that will offer every reader a different experience. I liked the fluidity of its structure; and the beautiful photos, cute illustrations, and boxes of text make this an easy read as well as a visually appealing one. It’s designed to be a book you return to and its hard cover ensures you can cart it around without fear of it eventually falling apart.
“There are, of course, many other ways of bringing mindfulness into your day, but this simple act of noticing was my entry point and it changed my perspective in enormous and tiny important ways.”
“If we can apply only one idea to technology as we move forward, it needs to be mindfulness. We need to make our use of technology intentional. Use it well. Use it to make life better. And then put it down and go do something else.”
Filled with insightful observations, Slow is a book that I recommend everyone read. It takes us back to the roots of what it means to be a decent human being: a person who smiles at strangers and stops to smell the roses. Even if you think you aren’t interested in adopting a new lifestyle, reading Slow is a reality check on the way our lives have evolved, a tool kit for examining our 21st century existences with a view to evaluating whether or not we are truly satisfied. From the perspective of an educator, I would love to see aspects of this book converted into seminars/lessons for teenagers, particularly with content from those abovementioned chapters. Being mindful and disconnecting from technology are both sadly becoming foreign concepts to our youth, something I see both in my home and my work. There is a lot in Slow for everyone and it’s content is presented in an accessible and entertaining way. As far as books go, this is a beautiful one to linger over. Coming from a person who doesn’t ‘do self-help books’, rest assured, I am not making this recommendation lightly.
“Perspective helps us to care less about the crap that doesn’t matter and recognise how lucky we are that these are in fact our problems.”
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Slow for the purposes of review.
Slow is book 61 in my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
June 12, 2020
Having made some radical changes in order to live a slow life, I've already done many of the things suggested by the author. But sometimes doubt creeps in and it's great to read accounts of others' choices and get a fresh perspective. I love her writing style, her honestly, and the very approachable things she suggests. And the cover - how gorgeous! This is one you'll want to read and then keep on your shelves forever.
January 8, 2018
In Slow, Brooke McAlary – creator and host of the uber popular Slow Your Home blog & podcast – shares her journey towards and through, living a slow and intentional life. Not so you can imitate her actions, but to help you realise what your own ‘why‘ is. Why does a slow, intentional life appeal to you? And more importantly, what are the things that matter, really matter, to you. What do you want your legacy to be? And Why. It’s not about the how. It’s about looking deep. Past the social mask and the past the Joneses, deep into yourself and your intentions for being.
I can’t put into words how affecting this book was for me. Brooke’s warm tone, her honest, straight-to-the-point narrative, and her ability to worm her way into your soul is mesmerizing. She shares both her own story, as well as practical advice and pathways that will be inspiring to those just feeling their way towards slow living, as well as those already embarking on their journey.
Covering the usual topics such as decluttering and mindfulness, Slow is so much more than a ‘how-to’ manual. It’s a book that feels like a warm hug of reassurance that there is still hope for a meaningful and intentional life for us all. It’s a book that will spark something within you, and help you realise that tiny changes, can and do, make a world of difference – and a difference to the world.
There’s not many non-fiction titles that I would choose to read again. Not from cover to cover at least. Slow is different. I want to hold it close, and re-read it again and again. Keep it under my pillow as a talisman. (Although maybe the bedside table is a better, less uncomfortable option!)
Maybe it’s because I found it reassuring that I am on – and I use this word hesitantly – the ‘right’ path. The validation that my innate feelings and longings towards a simple life can be true and powerful. Or maybe it’s because it’s cemented the realisation that a slow and minimal lifestyle looks different for everyone. I’m not sure. But I love, love, loved this book.
Having said that, it won’t be for everyone. Not yet anyway. some will still be up against the ‘life is too busy’ or ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘life is too full’ or ‘I’m in too deep to change’ mindset. And that’s okay. But if you are curious, even slightly, you must read this book. And re-read this book. And begin your own journey, no matter what it looks like – big or small – just begin.
I can’t put into words how affecting this book was for me. Brooke’s warm tone, her honest, straight-to-the-point narrative, and her ability to worm her way into your soul is mesmerizing. She shares both her own story, as well as practical advice and pathways that will be inspiring to those just feeling their way towards slow living, as well as those already embarking on their journey.
Covering the usual topics such as decluttering and mindfulness, Slow is so much more than a ‘how-to’ manual. It’s a book that feels like a warm hug of reassurance that there is still hope for a meaningful and intentional life for us all. It’s a book that will spark something within you, and help you realise that tiny changes, can and do, make a world of difference – and a difference to the world.
There’s not many non-fiction titles that I would choose to read again. Not from cover to cover at least. Slow is different. I want to hold it close, and re-read it again and again. Keep it under my pillow as a talisman. (Although maybe the bedside table is a better, less uncomfortable option!)
Maybe it’s because I found it reassuring that I am on – and I use this word hesitantly – the ‘right’ path. The validation that my innate feelings and longings towards a simple life can be true and powerful. Or maybe it’s because it’s cemented the realisation that a slow and minimal lifestyle looks different for everyone. I’m not sure. But I love, love, loved this book.
Having said that, it won’t be for everyone. Not yet anyway. some will still be up against the ‘life is too busy’ or ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘life is too full’ or ‘I’m in too deep to change’ mindset. And that’s okay. But if you are curious, even slightly, you must read this book. And re-read this book. And begin your own journey, no matter what it looks like – big or small – just begin.
December 31, 2017
The first third of this book was great - thoughtfully introducing ideas and raising concerns. The second two thirds of the book was very long winded - summarizing and condensing ideas would have been more effective.
Read
October 29, 2018I appreciate how McAlary emphasizes that slow living isn't about minimalism and that much of what we see about minimalism is exactly the problem: it's keeping up with a perception of what we think we should be. Nothing groundbreaking here, but still a nice book to remind you about unplugging, about the power of breathing, and about finding what matters to you and focusing on those things while ignoring the rest. I'd put this on a shelf with BRAIDING SWEETGRASS and THE YEAR OF LESS, both of which have done some mentality-shifting for me. Not so much about stuff but about time and energy.
I did enjoy that there were no prescriptions or "here's how I did it" lessons here. It's about doing the work on your own.
I did enjoy that there were no prescriptions or "here's how I did it" lessons here. It's about doing the work on your own.
July 19, 2018
3.5*
I’m a big fan of Brooke McAlary and her Slow Home podcast. I wholeheartedly agree with everything she says in this book. However, I didn’t get a lot from it beyond the basics of what I could glean from the podcast. It’s beautiful written and I love the attention she paid to writing about the small details in life. This would be a fabulous book for someone who was new to intentional living, minimalism, etc. but I didn’t really get much “new” content from this book.
I’m a big fan of Brooke McAlary and her Slow Home podcast. I wholeheartedly agree with everything she says in this book. However, I didn’t get a lot from it beyond the basics of what I could glean from the podcast. It’s beautiful written and I love the attention she paid to writing about the small details in life. This would be a fabulous book for someone who was new to intentional living, minimalism, etc. but I didn’t really get much “new” content from this book.
March 30, 2020
Ein unglaublich sympathischer Ratgeber, der einen ermutigt auch mal nicht perfekt zu sein, auch in der "Slow Welt". Dies wird einem durch Social Media doch gerne aufgedrückt. Hier wird einem klar gemacht auch kleine Schritte zählen, solange die Balance am Ende stimmt.
January 22, 2019
If you previously spent your life reading fashion magazines and now want a simpler life this might be the book for you. It was definitely not the book for me. Nothing new here.
August 25, 2022
Eine Freundin hat mir das Buch geliehen. Ansonsten hätte ich es mir auch nicht gekauft und wohl auch nicht gelesen. Ich bin generell kein großer Leser von Sachbüchern und nicht unbedingt ein Fan von "Selbsthilfe" Bücher. Hier fühlte ich mich durch die Autorin mit ein paar Ideen durchaus mitgenommen, ein paar Dinge kann ich sicherlich versuchen in meinen Alltag einzubauen. Aber grundsätzlich würde ich sage, lebe ich schon viele Dinge, die in diesem Buch angesprochen werden und Vieles war nicht neu, sondern nur noch mal im neuen Gewand gefällig präsentiert. Die Aufmachung des Buches ist toll, es gibt ein paar "Mitmach-Seiten", was ich auch recht nett finde. Kurze Kapitel, viele Bilder und Graphiken lassen einen schnell voran kommen, die Autorin kann schreiben und erklären. Die kurzen Kapitel machen es möglich das Buch immer mal wieder zwischendurch in die Hand zu nehmen. Kein Buch, was ich jetzt gebraucht hätte, aber sicherlich empfehlenswert für Menschen, die genau dieses Gefühl des "Verlangsamen" des eigenen Lebens suchen.
January 10, 2023
An interesting book with tips and ideas on how to slow down and simplify. It has helped me refocus and inspire me to make some changes.
March 14, 2019
Oh man, so much great information, tips, tricks, ideas, and an over all empowerment of love in this book.
Great writer, and I plan to read this over and over again til it totally absorbs into my soul and I have it memorized.
I'm going to listen to the audio of this while going through my next "things purge" to keep me inspired and motivated.
If you find yourself way too absorbed in the culture of buying the latest and greatest ask the time, collecting things, and just overall accumulating stuff you just don't use, this book needs to be in your hands until you have read it front to back and let it soak in .
Recommended for everyone.
Great writer, and I plan to read this over and over again til it totally absorbs into my soul and I have it memorized.
I'm going to listen to the audio of this while going through my next "things purge" to keep me inspired and motivated.
If you find yourself way too absorbed in the culture of buying the latest and greatest ask the time, collecting things, and just overall accumulating stuff you just don't use, this book needs to be in your hands until you have read it front to back and let it soak in .
Recommended for everyone.
March 21, 2023
This book is a game changer! I loved how real and relatable the author is about all aspects of life while giving tips that will really push you to the next level of simple living.
She is clear that the lessons found in her book won’t make your life better, but can create an easier style of living.
Can’t wait to put this book to practice.
She is clear that the lessons found in her book won’t make your life better, but can create an easier style of living.
Can’t wait to put this book to practice.
July 23, 2018
This book came into my life at the perfect time. I had put it on hold based on the title and when it came in it was so beautiful that I just wanted to start reading it right away. Brooke McAlary was living the typical "keeping up with the Joneses" life of accumulating all the stuff society told her she needed, but she was overwhelmed and barely keeping her head above water. After her second child was born she had severe postpartum depression and that was when she decided to change her life. It was a slow process, but little by little McAlary de-cluttered her house and life. She began to see that saying "yes" to everything often meant saying "no" to the truly important things like her family and health. She covers decluttering and de-owning, mindfulness and disconnecting from technology to reconnect with nature and real life. She also talks about the wobbly art of balance and how to deal with "backsliding" into our old ways.
I loved that she wasn't pushing minimalism or a certain way to slow down - she reiterates that this process is all about whatever works for you and what is important to you. I also like that even though she has children the whole book wasn't about her kids it was more about whatever your family looks like or whatever your priorities are how best to enjoy that more. She also recognizes the importance of technology in our lives, but encourages serious boundaries - both with the amount of time we use technology and what we feed ourselves with social media. This is probably the most well done book about simplifying or slowing down that I've read. McAlary gives lots of great tips and ideas, but doesn't try to create a new "slow Joneses" to now idealize. Overall a wonderful book that I will probably end up buying because it's just so beautiful and inspiring!
Some quotes I really liked:
"Instead, think of decluttering as one step in the process of creating a slower, simpler life, not the goal. It's more about approaching our home - and the things we choose to keep in it - with intention. It's about choosing actively what things to hold on to, what things to let go of, and what things are meaningful to us. There is no right or wrong, but we do have a choice." (p. 43-44)
"Clutter is deferred decisions. It's the physical manifestation of procrastination. It's overcommitment in the form of stuff." (p. 44)
"As my raw, real, feeling self was revealed, two things began to happen. I began to experience more. More joy, yes, but also more realization, more discomfort, more pain, more bittersweetness. More awareness of the beauty and tragedy of life. For the first time in many years (maybe ever), I was becoming emotionally available, and it was stunningly uncomfortable." (p. 117)
"There is constant stimulus in modern life, and the opportunity to let thoughts out rather than cramming more in is a rare one. By walking in silence, with no music, no podcasts, no audiobooks, we invite our thoughts to do their thing without impediment. So often, I will have a breakthrough in these moments of silence, as my thoughts, which need time to roll around in silence and put themselves in some kind of order, gradually work themselves out." (p. 132)
"We do a lot to avoid feelings like anxiety, sadness, or anger. We stay busy, we self-medicate, we say yes, we say no - all so as not to experience the 'bad' feelings life has for us. But these feelings are important, because in order to feel the highs of joy and happiness, we also need to understand the lows of grief, envy, or disappointment. Mindfulness allows us to acknowledge and accept such feelings, feel them in all their depth, and understand that they are valid and important. It also helps us to understand that they are not everything - even on days that feel like sadness has swallowed the whole world." (p. 141-2)
"The technology isn't the problem; it's how we choose to use it. And it is a choice. We choose to keep our phones in our pockets. We choose to put them on the dinner table. We choose to respond to emails at 11:30 p.m. We choose to update statuses when we're sick, or in bed, or on vacation, or while someone who loves us waits for us to look at them. We choose to document an endless succession of precious, personal moments, and we choose to view so much of our life through a screen." (p. 154)
"Now I can see that the idea of balance is a good one, when viewed with two caveats:
1. Not everything in our lives deserves the same weight. Aim instead for the correct weight.
2. Balance isn't a daily act. Not everything will be given attention every day, and that's OK.
The difference is the weight we give things. Keeping the house immaculately clean doesn't need or deserve the same weight as spending time with our closest people." (p. 216)
"What does a (realistically) ideal day look like for you? One that fills you up, ticks the boxes you want ticked, makes time for the important things in your life, leaving you satisfied as you lie in bed at night? Not a holiday or day off, but a work-school-cooking-meetings-laundry kind of a day...Think it through, and write it down if you want to. Choose one thing in that ideal day that you aren't currently doing - make it a good one, one that will contribute to your core - and add it to tomorrow." (p. 236-7)
"So often, we avoid doing things because we're afraid. Afraid to fail, fall flat on our faces, or admit we made a mistake. Afraid to backtrack, afraid to be judged. We don't make changes, because we're afraid the requirements will exceed our capabilities or the problems will be bigger and more complex than we anticipated. So we stay where we are. Comfortably stuck. Studiously avoiding change or new experiences, out of fear of what the other side holds." (p. 241)
"Behavioral consultant Nicholas Bate refers to this regular checking in as 'taking your MEDS,' or, more specifically, paying attention to: mindfulness, exercise, diet, sleep Once I recognize which of these areas has changed, it's simpler (again, not necessarily easier) to recognize the issue and start fixing it." (p. 245)
I loved that she wasn't pushing minimalism or a certain way to slow down - she reiterates that this process is all about whatever works for you and what is important to you. I also like that even though she has children the whole book wasn't about her kids it was more about whatever your family looks like or whatever your priorities are how best to enjoy that more. She also recognizes the importance of technology in our lives, but encourages serious boundaries - both with the amount of time we use technology and what we feed ourselves with social media. This is probably the most well done book about simplifying or slowing down that I've read. McAlary gives lots of great tips and ideas, but doesn't try to create a new "slow Joneses" to now idealize. Overall a wonderful book that I will probably end up buying because it's just so beautiful and inspiring!
Some quotes I really liked:
"Instead, think of decluttering as one step in the process of creating a slower, simpler life, not the goal. It's more about approaching our home - and the things we choose to keep in it - with intention. It's about choosing actively what things to hold on to, what things to let go of, and what things are meaningful to us. There is no right or wrong, but we do have a choice." (p. 43-44)
"Clutter is deferred decisions. It's the physical manifestation of procrastination. It's overcommitment in the form of stuff." (p. 44)
"As my raw, real, feeling self was revealed, two things began to happen. I began to experience more. More joy, yes, but also more realization, more discomfort, more pain, more bittersweetness. More awareness of the beauty and tragedy of life. For the first time in many years (maybe ever), I was becoming emotionally available, and it was stunningly uncomfortable." (p. 117)
"There is constant stimulus in modern life, and the opportunity to let thoughts out rather than cramming more in is a rare one. By walking in silence, with no music, no podcasts, no audiobooks, we invite our thoughts to do their thing without impediment. So often, I will have a breakthrough in these moments of silence, as my thoughts, which need time to roll around in silence and put themselves in some kind of order, gradually work themselves out." (p. 132)
"We do a lot to avoid feelings like anxiety, sadness, or anger. We stay busy, we self-medicate, we say yes, we say no - all so as not to experience the 'bad' feelings life has for us. But these feelings are important, because in order to feel the highs of joy and happiness, we also need to understand the lows of grief, envy, or disappointment. Mindfulness allows us to acknowledge and accept such feelings, feel them in all their depth, and understand that they are valid and important. It also helps us to understand that they are not everything - even on days that feel like sadness has swallowed the whole world." (p. 141-2)
"The technology isn't the problem; it's how we choose to use it. And it is a choice. We choose to keep our phones in our pockets. We choose to put them on the dinner table. We choose to respond to emails at 11:30 p.m. We choose to update statuses when we're sick, or in bed, or on vacation, or while someone who loves us waits for us to look at them. We choose to document an endless succession of precious, personal moments, and we choose to view so much of our life through a screen." (p. 154)
"Now I can see that the idea of balance is a good one, when viewed with two caveats:
1. Not everything in our lives deserves the same weight. Aim instead for the correct weight.
2. Balance isn't a daily act. Not everything will be given attention every day, and that's OK.
The difference is the weight we give things. Keeping the house immaculately clean doesn't need or deserve the same weight as spending time with our closest people." (p. 216)
"What does a (realistically) ideal day look like for you? One that fills you up, ticks the boxes you want ticked, makes time for the important things in your life, leaving you satisfied as you lie in bed at night? Not a holiday or day off, but a work-school-cooking-meetings-laundry kind of a day...Think it through, and write it down if you want to. Choose one thing in that ideal day that you aren't currently doing - make it a good one, one that will contribute to your core - and add it to tomorrow." (p. 236-7)
"So often, we avoid doing things because we're afraid. Afraid to fail, fall flat on our faces, or admit we made a mistake. Afraid to backtrack, afraid to be judged. We don't make changes, because we're afraid the requirements will exceed our capabilities or the problems will be bigger and more complex than we anticipated. So we stay where we are. Comfortably stuck. Studiously avoiding change or new experiences, out of fear of what the other side holds." (p. 241)
"Behavioral consultant Nicholas Bate refers to this regular checking in as 'taking your MEDS,' or, more specifically, paying attention to: mindfulness, exercise, diet, sleep Once I recognize which of these areas has changed, it's simpler (again, not necessarily easier) to recognize the issue and start fixing it." (p. 245)
August 1, 2021
Ich hatte tatsächlich wirklich keine großen Erwartungen an dieses Buch und bin super glücklich, dass es mir schon beim Lesen so viel gebracht hat.
Ich finde die Ansätze, die die Autorin behandelt wirklich gut! Sie erzählt von ihren eigenen Erfahrungen und geht dies ganz ohne Druck an. Sie sagt einem nicht "Du musst X tun, sonst kannst du nicht 'slow' leben", sondern sagt, dass jeder verschieden ist.
Sie geht auf den Besitz aber auch auf die Lebensweise an und das fand ich wirklich interessant.
In vielen Dingen habe ich mich selbst wiedererkannt :D und ich bin einfach Feuer und Flamme es anzugehen und bewusster zu leben!
Ich finde die Ansätze, die die Autorin behandelt wirklich gut! Sie erzählt von ihren eigenen Erfahrungen und geht dies ganz ohne Druck an. Sie sagt einem nicht "Du musst X tun, sonst kannst du nicht 'slow' leben", sondern sagt, dass jeder verschieden ist.
Sie geht auf den Besitz aber auch auf die Lebensweise an und das fand ich wirklich interessant.
In vielen Dingen habe ich mich selbst wiedererkannt :D und ich bin einfach Feuer und Flamme es anzugehen und bewusster zu leben!
March 14, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
I feel like this book was written for me honestly. Such great thoughts about decluttering, slow living, and mindfulness. I feel like for me the best takeaway was to do more noticing--stopping to ask "is this a want or a need?" before buying things, being aware of how my time is being spent each day, and just pausing to look around and appreciate the moment. Definitely would recommend if you're looking for an introduction to cultivating a slower, more mindful lifestyle!
I feel like this book was written for me honestly. Such great thoughts about decluttering, slow living, and mindfulness. I feel like for me the best takeaway was to do more noticing--stopping to ask "is this a want or a need?" before buying things, being aware of how my time is being spent each day, and just pausing to look around and appreciate the moment. Definitely would recommend if you're looking for an introduction to cultivating a slower, more mindful lifestyle!
November 2, 2022
This book offers an antidote to the frenetic pace of modern life and consumer culture that people (including myself) can get caught up with. It is filled with helpful ideas and is written in a non judgmental way, with its aim to help you start your journey as opposed to setting out rigid rules.
I did not give it 5 stars as it can feel a bit “wishy washy” throwing out generalisations as opposed to going deeper in to a topic and the grumpy old man in me found the photos to be a little pretentious and fitting the slow living/minimalist stereotype that the author was trying to avoid.
Overall, I found this book sold me on the idea of slowing down and gave me much food for thought.
I did not give it 5 stars as it can feel a bit “wishy washy” throwing out generalisations as opposed to going deeper in to a topic and the grumpy old man in me found the photos to be a little pretentious and fitting the slow living/minimalist stereotype that the author was trying to avoid.
Overall, I found this book sold me on the idea of slowing down and gave me much food for thought.
February 3, 2023
This book felt like a superficial meandering through the authors interpretation of living a “slower” (read: more intentional and meaningful) life. It was a hodgepodge of messaging that never quite hit the mark, and the book overall lacked direction and cohesion in attempting to share a life philosophy. Instead, the author sporadically touched upon many of the buzzing topics related to a “slower” life in an overly self-reflective way—lacking refinement and a practical application.
Random point that peeved me: the random lists and graphics throughout were pointless.
If you’re just delving into this topic, you might enjoy this read. Otherwise, I would recommend finding a book or collection of books more focused on one application of “slower” living. For example, last year I read The Art of Frugal Hedonism (A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More), which provided practical insight to literally: spending less and enjoying life. It was funny and resourceful.
Random point that peeved me: the random lists and graphics throughout were pointless.
If you’re just delving into this topic, you might enjoy this read. Otherwise, I would recommend finding a book or collection of books more focused on one application of “slower” living. For example, last year I read The Art of Frugal Hedonism (A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More), which provided practical insight to literally: spending less and enjoying life. It was funny and resourceful.
February 2, 2019
Nothing totally mind blowing, but a good set of reminders and a way to recalibrate. A good companion to “the frugal hedonist” which I read this time last year
My favorite section was about focusing on long term balance versus daily balance
Also: “striving for constant happiness is a denial of so many important feelings”
“Being kind to others is addictive. Being kind to myself is addictive.”
My favorite section was about focusing on long term balance versus daily balance
Also: “striving for constant happiness is a denial of so many important feelings”
“Being kind to others is addictive. Being kind to myself is addictive.”
June 5, 2021
After reading a few books about minimalism, slow living was brought up a few times in those books before I decided to pick one that was dedicated to it.
Living slow, is living with intention. Deceitfully easy and simple, it requires more presence. Taking time to know the core of your why, and avoid the nuisance and unnecessary turmoil in your life. This book will help you understand the nuance between the two lifestyles based on the author's experience.
You can read this one at your pace, which is a thing I did - opening it every now and then to read a few pages - you'd still get the full experience.
Anyway, slow living is about keeping what is important to you not what others are doing, or what your "status" require but is rubbish really ... It boils down to focusing on the most important things to you, to get out of the rat race if it's not serving you and isn't part of your plan. It's really a break and moment off to reconsider your life choices and see if they're still aligned with your values and your vision.
It was acute read...
Living slow, is living with intention. Deceitfully easy and simple, it requires more presence. Taking time to know the core of your why, and avoid the nuisance and unnecessary turmoil in your life. This book will help you understand the nuance between the two lifestyles based on the author's experience.
You can read this one at your pace, which is a thing I did - opening it every now and then to read a few pages - you'd still get the full experience.
Anyway, slow living is about keeping what is important to you not what others are doing, or what your "status" require but is rubbish really ... It boils down to focusing on the most important things to you, to get out of the rat race if it's not serving you and isn't part of your plan. It's really a break and moment off to reconsider your life choices and see if they're still aligned with your values and your vision.
It was acute read...
August 23, 2018
I have benefited from Brooke McAlary’s words for a long time—starting with her blog a few years ago and then her podcast—so I have been eagerly anticipating SLOW. It was wonderful—touching, honest, illuminating, and funny.
Brooke’s advice on how to live a slow life comes from her personal experience in needing to dial life back a bit so that she could be a well and present mom to her children. As a mother myself, I connect well with her journey from trying to be everything to everyone and totally burning out to focusing on what is most important. In fact, I have never read a more honest account of the daily challenges of motherhood.
For Brooke, slow living doesn’t have a particular format. Slow living follows a personal format based on your own Whys of living and on the things that are most important to you. This books lays out the process for discovering that truest life for yourself and offers plenty of encouragement to be kind to yourself, as this will be an imperfect journey.
I love this quote from the end of the book and feel that it sums up the lessons of SLOW very nicely:
“You are allowed to make changes to the way you are living. You’re allowed to look after yourself. You’re allowed to decide what is important to you. And you’re allowed to create a life with those things at the center.”
I
Brooke’s advice on how to live a slow life comes from her personal experience in needing to dial life back a bit so that she could be a well and present mom to her children. As a mother myself, I connect well with her journey from trying to be everything to everyone and totally burning out to focusing on what is most important. In fact, I have never read a more honest account of the daily challenges of motherhood.
For Brooke, slow living doesn’t have a particular format. Slow living follows a personal format based on your own Whys of living and on the things that are most important to you. This books lays out the process for discovering that truest life for yourself and offers plenty of encouragement to be kind to yourself, as this will be an imperfect journey.
I love this quote from the end of the book and feel that it sums up the lessons of SLOW very nicely:
“You are allowed to make changes to the way you are living. You’re allowed to look after yourself. You’re allowed to decide what is important to you. And you’re allowed to create a life with those things at the center.”
I
November 10, 2017
I loved this book, very easy to read and put into practice. I already do most of the things to live life simply and slow but I needed Brooke's reminder to get rid of the things I no longer need or love. I also waste too much time on social media. So now I will do my year to clear and spend more time connecting face to face wherever possible.
December 6, 2019
This is a great book if you struggle to understand what’s really important to you and if you’re feeling overwhelmed in life and like your constantly busy. Lots of advice and examples to help you. Loved it!
September 26, 2017
4.5 stars.
Review coming to my blog soon; alwaysandforevereading.wordpres.com
Review coming to my blog soon; alwaysandforevereading.wordpres.com
October 26, 2017
This is an excellent guide for figuring out what's important to you and living a fulfilling life.
September 7, 2019
This is my book of the year....or maybe my life! I know I need to go back and re-read it, to make notes, to ponder, to question, to find my WHY. A beautiful book that is a must read for all who want to live slow, mindful, intentional lives....and to also realise that what that looks like is different for us all.
December 11, 2019
Halfway through I realized I had no intention of taking her (solid) advice, it's just soothing to learn about someone who's gotten her life together.
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