Living Simply: A Teen Guide to Minimalism

by Sally McGraw

Twenty-first-century minimalism is an increasingly mainstream response to global environmental crises such as climate change, the garbage glut, fast fashion, and other manifestations of the harmful impact of consumerism. Originally founded in the art world in the decades after World War II, minimalism has evolved into an Earth-friendly lifestyle focusing on the three Rs (reducing, recycling, and reusing) and on simplifying individual needs to reduce one's carbon imprint, manage anxiety and depression, and prioritize human interaction over the impulse to acquire for the sake of acquisition. Hands-on activities, how-to tips, and profiles of practicing minimalists offer real-world examples for incorporating minimalism into your life.

-- "Journal"

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Teen

112 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Quirkyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my Valentines 2023 Blind Date With a Book.

It’s a good introduction to modern simple living.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple book that explain the basic of the minimalism. Made for teenage reader, this book does a very good job explaining it all in an easy and accessible way! It also explain why minimalistic help and how or over consumption destroy the environment, but also our health and life quality of some country. In our actual world, showing kids that consumption isn't the way to happiness and that it has way more negative aspect to it then positive one is something really important. This book also present some tips and way to, not became the best or craziest about minimalistic way of life, but just simple choices you can make that does a difference. Not the nest presentation/visual for the book itself, but a very strong and important message in it! Good idea!

[Mskychick · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was a teenager, I was reading Moby Dick and Anna Karenina. This “teen” book is written like it’s a Little Golden Book. It’s way too simplistic.

[LC · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, though written with good intentions, never finds its flow.

The tone is very much 8-12 years reading age, but then gives suggestions around a sustainable house/apartment only a homeowner or flatsharer could implement.

There is some awareness of wider issues, e.g. problems with donating to charity shops which resell the clothes abroad, but then the book switches to an incredibly narrow viewpoint - that of an affluent American. I found myself laughing in disbelief at the suggestions to turn off air conditioning, tumble driers and to buy fuel efficient cars - good suggestions in themselves, but how many teens live in places with those facilities, or can afford cars?

Common to many sustainability campaigns, the book failed to talk about the much wider contribution of corporations towards climate change, and the role of wealth vs poverty within climate change. I get that this is meant to be an optimistic "what can you do" sort of guide, but teens are mature enough to start understanding that it's not their fault for having a shower over 5 minutes long, and individual action only goes so far.

This book would be useful for a quick reference when doing a sustainability project for school, but as an actual how-to guide, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

not very hard hitting

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a teen, nor do I work with them or know any in person, and have no interest in being a minimalist...so why would I read this? I dunno, it was slender and brightly colored and when I passed it on display at the library it said "take me home!" Who would ignore a talking book, right?

OK, the real answer is that apart from its physical beauty (love glossy pages! which, amusingly, does not seem like a very minimalist style of production), sometimes I just like to pretend for a few minutes that I am but a simple teenager again, with only one room's worth of possessions to consider, and time to focus on personal growth and habits without having to earn a living or run a household. And for some reason I have a lot to say about this average read, so buckle up.

The downside is that it starts with a history of minimalism and why it's good for the planet, focusing mainly on climate change and generally being such a bummer that I almost quit before I got to the good stuff. Maybe that's helpful to teens who don't already know about this, but on the other hand, do they really need more reasons to be depressed about the state of the world/feel like the best solution is actually to just die ASAP? Both for the planet and to avoid the depressing reality that no matter what changes YOU make, odds are the majority of people aren't going to follow suit and all these terrible, wasteful and/or pollution-producing industries will continue to exist.

Once you get past that, though, there's fun stuff. I enjoyed the brief interviews with minimalist bloggers, tips for secondhand shopping, ideas for designing a room, curating your wardrobe, giving gifts other than objects, and my favorite of all -- "minimalism for the maximalist," or how to ensure that if you don't want to pare down your possessions, you at least get use out of all of them and genuinely enjoy what you own. The 2nd half of the book is divided into how to incorporate the title philosophy into "stuff you buy," "stuff you use," and "living simply as a life philosophy," in very digestible tidbits.

There's also one really great picture on page 38 of a guy working at a cluttered desk in the messiest room you've ever seen in your life (you can't even see the floor beneath of blizzard of papers and discarded items) that I guarantee you will inspire some cleaning motivation.

[Kory Bootsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall book about living simply, geared toward middle school students or lower high school. Goes over the roots of minimalism and basics for stuff you buy and use. References recycling, conservationism, food waste, clothing waste, landfills, uneaten food, secondhand stores, upcycling, buying sustainable items, eco friendly, transportation and air pollution, minimal gift giving.

References historical roots of industrialization, WWII, 1960s.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a fair number of books about minimalism and simplicity so the content here wasn't anything I haven't seen elsewhere. So how does this book stand out from the rest? First, Living Simply is aimed at teenagers. I love that! The teen years are a perfect time to make decisions about how you want to live your life, before getting bogged down in all the stuff and bad habits. McGraw has done a nice job of covering the bases of living a simpler life, focusing not only on the physical "stuff" but also discussing the environmental and social impact of our daily choices, giving the reader a more global view of the part they play in the state of the world.

Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Savannah]

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

While this was a good book, it was definitely aimed at those who had never really tried 'living simply.' I felt that a lot of assumptions were made about who exactly would be reading this by the author. A lot of things that McGraw talks about are things that I know that I, personally, couldn't have done as a teenager simply because I didn't have access to that type of thing. The content is more appropriate for college students than high schoolers, but the tone and word choice is the opposite.

[Taylissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like learning how to live with less and I think this book did a good job at highlighting the small changes to make that happen. I think it did good at reminding people you can make minimalism fit your lifestyle. It doesn't always need to fit what everyone says minimalism is. What I got out of the book is minimalism is living with less than you had before and you are content with what you have and most importantly you aren't as stressed as before from the clutter around you.

[Keira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good start in minimalism. Very to the point. I wish it had more concrete details and anecdotes

[naheeda! · Rating 2 out of 5]

some interesting facts//advice but overall nothing new on the topic

[Tesha Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do find this book to have some really good information and ideas, but don't know just how much it truly applies to teens. It's called a teen's guide but may be more useful for college and young adult as some ideas aren't things a high school student may have control over in their house. For example, a teen can definitely reuse clothes but may not have a say in where their parents get groceries or how they shop for them. I think some information could be useful, just think it is for older teens, not teens in general.

I voluntarily read and received a free ARC copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cindy Huskey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering the intended audience for this book, I think teens will enjoy this minimalist book on minimalism. The bright colors, glossy photos, clever graphics and subheadings are quite appealing. Although I don’t fully agree with the author, I think some of the suggestions are fairly sound. Essentially, it’s an overview of minimalism beginning with a short history and ending with some additional resources.

[Chelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the discussion on the history of consumerism and manufacturing to be interesting and a good introduction to current ecological issues. However, many of the actual steps to "becoming a minimalist" seemed a bit high-brow and unrealistic for teenagers, particularly for less affluent teens. That being said, I am inspired to continue making more conscious decisions about what I do and do not need in my life.

[Erin Lawwill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good simple book with some reasonable eye-opening explanations of what our over-consumption does to not just the world but other people.

It's a teen book (which is great to have a book that can help my younger children understand this concept).

If you're reading it as an adults it's a quick easy read.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice reminder of what we can do to reduce our impact on the earth - composting, avoiding fast fashion, reducing use of cars, avoiding food waste (though I was disappointed that the author didn't touch food choice like plant based vs meat), thrifting, up-cycling, donating, experimenting with a capsule wardrobe and more! Gently empowering without judgement.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tips in this book, even if I didn't agree with all of them. I really liked that the book talked about minimalism in all parts of your lifestyle. Good read, good introduction to minimalism!

[Romieeee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s simple enough for anyone to understand, I feel like a better title would have been “Living Simply A Beginners Guide To Minimalism”
I feel as if this book mildly treats teenagers as stupid? Somehow?

[Dewey Decimal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young person I know is interested in minimalism so I wanted to check out this book before I recommended it. I love that it has a history and explanation of minimalism (and maximalism), but I find the actual activities that it advertises lacking.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This text does a great job explaining the history of reusing and recycling in the US. It also explains the benefits of reducing consumption, buying/keeping only what "brings you joy," and buying responsibly. Meditation and lifestyle choices are also discussed.

[Harmony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little book for someone just starting to want to lower their impact on the planet and own and use less stuff. I found some of the statistics surprising. This book is very American, so it might be helpful to read something similar from a British perspective.

[Trinity Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informative about how to be minimalistic and help the environment. If you are a young teen looking to help our world and practice minimalist habits, this is the book for you! :-)

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great writing style for young teen audiences and chock full of ideas to reuse, recycle and reduce in order to be minimalist.

[RubyWineGlass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally loved this book for it's (ironically) simplistic teachings. I picked up a few of the habits it presented, such as having a small wardrobe.

[Sharon Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple ideas for teens to gain an understanding of living with less. Decent read.

[Louise Duckworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tad patronising in places

[Melissa Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Rating

[Julia Starr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too simplistic; writing is below age group.

[Katrina Sark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduction: Minimalism Matters

p.6 – Every year humans create 1.3 billion tons of solid waste and garbage. Experts expect that number to rise to 4 billion tons by 2100.

Americans discard 14 million tons of clothing each year. While a portion of that clothing goes to resale charities, much of it goes into landfills.

p.7 – Minimalism is a lifestyle that involves using less, minimizing harm to the environment, and owning only useful items.

Chapter 1 – The Roots of Minimalism

p.26 – US biologist Rachel Carson helped launch the environmental protection movement with her 1962 book Silent Spring. Carson shed light on the dangers of pesticides.

Chapter 2 – Making Minimalist Choices

p.47 – Fast fashion impacts waste production – Americans discard 14 million tons of clothing every year, which breaks down to about 80 pounds (36 kg) per person. Almost all that clothing could be recycled, but most of it ends up in landfills instead. Clothing made from synthetic fibers can take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill. It breaks down into harmful substances – into tinier and tinier synthetic pieces. And it releases toxic gases.

Chapter 3 – Getting Started

p.61 – Faced with an avalanche of old clothes, resale shops find ways to cope. They sell some of the excess clothing to companies that recycle it, turning it into materials such as insulation and carpet padding. The rest of the excess is bundled up and shipped overseas, mostly to Africa, for resale. Every year the US exports more then 1 billion pounds (450 million kg) of used clothing. The majority of it ends up in used clothing markets in sub-Saharan Africa. This may sound fine, but when African consumers have access to tons of cheap castoffs from the US, African clothing manufacturers can’t match the low prices. Many have gone out of business.

Chapter 4 – Minimalist Basics for Stuff you Buy

• Buy used and secondhand (never thrift when you’re exhausted, sad, or hungry, or in a hurry)
• Repaid damaged clothing – stained T-shirts and jackets with blown-out elbows are not eligible for donation to charities. But that doesn’t mean they have to go to the landfill, especially if they are longtime favourites. By mending and repairing your clothes, you extend their life. If you repair creatively, with fun contrasting fabrics or threads, you can even give them new life.
• Upcycle – repurposing damaged or old clothes (and other items) for new uses.
• Use what you have

Chapter 5 – Minimalist Basics for Stuff You Use

• Sell or share books when you’re done reading them
• Be an informed media consumer
• Wear each item you own and often
• Try a capsule wardrobe
• Mend and repurpose