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Love People, Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works : 'This is a book about how to live more deeply and more fully' Jay Shetty
How might your life be better with less?
Imagine a life with less: less stuff, less clutter, less stress and debt and discontent - a life with fewer distractions. Now, imagine a life with more: more time, more meaningful relationships, more growth and contribution and contentment - a life of passion, unencumbered by the trappings of the chaotic world around you. What you’re imagining is an intentional life. And to get there, you’ll have to let go of some clutter that’s in the way.
In 'LOVE PEOPLE USE THINGS', Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus move past simple decluttering to show how minimalism makes room to reevaluate and heal the seven essential relationships in our lives: stuff, truth, self, money, values, creativity, and people. They use their own experiences - and those of the people they have met along the minimalist journey - to provide a template for how to live a fuller, more meaningful life.
Because once you have less, you can make room for the right kind of more.
A MACMILLAN AUDIO PRODUCTION FROM CELADON BOOKS
RUNNING TIME => 9hrs. and 30mins.
©2021 Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Milburn (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Imagine a life with less: less stuff, less clutter, less stress and debt and discontent - a life with fewer distractions. Now, imagine a life with more: more time, more meaningful relationships, more growth and contribution and contentment - a life of passion, unencumbered by the trappings of the chaotic world around you. What you’re imagining is an intentional life. And to get there, you’ll have to let go of some clutter that’s in the way.
In 'LOVE PEOPLE USE THINGS', Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus move past simple decluttering to show how minimalism makes room to reevaluate and heal the seven essential relationships in our lives: stuff, truth, self, money, values, creativity, and people. They use their own experiences - and those of the people they have met along the minimalist journey - to provide a template for how to live a fuller, more meaningful life.
Because once you have less, you can make room for the right kind of more.
A MACMILLAN AUDIO PRODUCTION FROM CELADON BOOKS
RUNNING TIME => 9hrs. and 30mins.
©2021 Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Milburn (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2021
697 people are currently reading
8771 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Fields Millburn
24 books1,105 followersJoshua Fields Millburn is one half of the simple-living duo The Minimalists. As the bestselling author of five books, Millburn has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Time magazine and has spoken at Harvard, Apple, and Google. His podcast, The Minimalists Podcast, is often the #1 health show on Apple Podcasts, and his popular documentary, MINIMALISM, is available on Netflix. Raised in Dayton, Ohio, he currently lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 619 reviews
October 22, 2025
When I received Love People Use Things by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, I was immediately intrigued. Not only did it seem incredibly interesting, I happen to have a plethora of opportunities for self-improvement. I fully expected to collect cool tips, neat techniques and not much more.
There is so, so much more.
There really are outside factors that can quickly exacerbate a biological issue, such as depression. And, oh-so-importantly, ‘adding value is a basic human instinct’.
The Minimalists, as the authors are also known, are able to articulate sneaking suspicions that may spin in your head. Most of want to be “free”, but without a unit of measure for freedom, it is a challenging concept to grasp. We can all have a tendency to give up something real, to create an illusion.
While certainly nowhere near the point of this book, I learned something surprising, then was annoyed with myself for legitimately being stunned. Sildenafil was a drug developed to treat hypertension. Clinical trials proved it ineffective. Several of the male participants did experience an unexpected and unique side-effect, though. A solution without a problem. Until marketing came up with the term “erectile dysfunction” (yes, it’s a marketing term, not a medical one) and now the world has Viagra.
There are stellar suggestions, in simple steps that are never overwhelming, regarding de-cluttering, and properly cleaning out and cleaning up. The entire tome is packed with legitimately useful information for anyone and everyone. It is written in such a welcoming, easy-to-read way that I will be introducing it to “my” students. They’re soon to be flying the coop and this will be so much more than a packing handbook.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge “Thank You!” to Celadon Books for the Advance Review Copy, which I will donate to my favorite high-school classroom library.
There is so, so much more.
There really are outside factors that can quickly exacerbate a biological issue, such as depression. And, oh-so-importantly, ‘adding value is a basic human instinct’.
The Minimalists, as the authors are also known, are able to articulate sneaking suspicions that may spin in your head. Most of want to be “free”, but without a unit of measure for freedom, it is a challenging concept to grasp. We can all have a tendency to give up something real, to create an illusion.
While certainly nowhere near the point of this book, I learned something surprising, then was annoyed with myself for legitimately being stunned. Sildenafil was a drug developed to treat hypertension. Clinical trials proved it ineffective. Several of the male participants did experience an unexpected and unique side-effect, though. A solution without a problem. Until marketing came up with the term “erectile dysfunction” (yes, it’s a marketing term, not a medical one) and now the world has Viagra.
There are stellar suggestions, in simple steps that are never overwhelming, regarding de-cluttering, and properly cleaning out and cleaning up. The entire tome is packed with legitimately useful information for anyone and everyone. It is written in such a welcoming, easy-to-read way that I will be introducing it to “my” students. They’re soon to be flying the coop and this will be so much more than a packing handbook.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge “Thank You!” to Celadon Books for the Advance Review Copy, which I will donate to my favorite high-school classroom library.
July 4, 2021
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Celadon Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is the first book of this type that I have read, so if you read these types of books, you might want to take that into consideration.
I hadn’t heard of the Minimalists before reading this book. I have heard of Marie Kondo, if that helps. This book address a minimalist lifestyle not only in terms of belongings but also in terms of self.
I agree with the book’s title, the idea that we can do with less things, and I found some helpful bits in the book (such as the questions to ask before you buy things and some of the coda bits for the chapters). The authors make it quite clear that what every person considers needed is going to be different. I liked that. The chapter about relationships has some valid, if at times oversimplified point. However, those good parts didn’t outweigh the problem though.
The first problem is the structure and the writing style. The bulk of the book seems to have been written by Joshua Fields Millburn, and the book cannot deicide if it wants to be his memoir (which would be fine) or a self help guide (which would be fine). While some times this works, if not well, on a functional level, many times it does not. Too often it feels like the reader is being treated to a digression about Millburn’s life for little or no reason. Some of the bits are also repetitive. Quite frankly, his writing style is the total opposite of minimalist. It also feels like he throws in words just show that you he knows them. (Honesty, if I had to read about how he earned 200,000 a year in Dayton, Ohio before he became a lifestyle guru in LA, I was going to stab something. One or two mentions is fine, but after awhile it sounds like bragging). There are also a couple times when Millburn sounds downright cruel about people. For instance, he talks about a big fat guy eating a pizza and watching Netflix while on lunch break. While we can agree that this is unhealthy in terms of lunch, Millburn doesn’t know why the guy is unhappy and tone is on of superiority mixed with a small degree of pity.
My second issue, and to be fair this is undoubtedly a criticism of the genre as a whole. It is the amount of selling that this book does. He mentions people they work with and their works (including that of his wife), he talks about the conferences and shows, the reader is encouraged to buy things and listen to things. So if we are suppose to get read of things, why are you selling things? (Let me stress this seems to be the case for pretty much every person who advocates a simpler, less thing filled life). Additionally, the rules, while good, are also adaptions of philosophy and ideas from other sources (again, this is most likely status quo for the genre. It is true of mindfulness for example). To be fair to the authors, they do seem to mention people they either have worked with or consulted and those people’s blogs, podcasts, businesses, so they are spending the consumer wealth around.
But there are more serious issues at pay in the book.
Millburn writes that he wishes this book had come out earlier because it could have helped people though the pandemic, that the solutions and questions presented would have allowed people to escape without as much harm. But which people is he talking about? The book proposes solutions to things, but in some cases you have to have a certain income to do some of those things. (For instance, adjunct faculty can find it extremely difficult to save three months of income and set it aside. Could an artist?) The comment about the pandemic comes across as tone deaf when you are aware of who were most effected either by COVID or by the lack of work. To imply that this book by itself would have saved those people the discomfort is, well, many things other than believable. It also is, unintentionally no doubt, dismissive of the people who died, over half a million in the US alone.
Then there are the statistics that are cited to showcase consumerism and focus on status (which is rich coming from a guy who keeps stating his income). The problem is that some of the statistics are over ten years old and the data has changed (in particular in regards to malls, though it is unclear how that term is being used). One study that is, in fact, British, is implied to be American by the structure of the paragraph it is in. If I can’t trust how you use data or how recent your data is, can I trust you?
But for me the biggest issue is the chapter about self. Millburn starts this chapter by mentioning his own battle with depression. The chapter then keeps moving (though it always feels like digressing) to various subtopics – such as healthy eating and taking care of yourself (the presumption is that everyone has health insurance, can afford a gym membership, has access to green space, and money to afford good food). While Millburn never directly states it, the implication or sense in the chapter is that in order to get over depression, you simply have to keep moving and work though it. (For instance, when Millburn mentions drugs of any type in this chapter he is usually negative). While this might be true for some people who suffer from depression, it is not true of everyone who suffers from depression. To even passively suggest that you just need to pull yourself out is insulting and, quite frankly, dangerous. It is this type of thinking that leads to much of the stigma attached to mental health.
This chapter combined with the privilege that pervades other sections (health care, pay, what happens after arrest among other things, what a person could afford to do as a family outing even) weakens the argument. It should be noted that question of privilege is only addressed once, really, and then it is dismissed. On one the dismissal makes sense in terms of cost, on the other, not everyone lives an easy 20 minutes away from good shops. This true even in a city where a bus routes do not always go the quickest route. Not to mention, the privilege of having too much stuff.
And while the book itself isn’t the type (nor is does it have the purpose) to challenge the whole of societal issues that plague us – some realization that some women in some jobs cannot get away with only four outfits or that a black teen arrested for shop lifting is likely to be treated differently than a white teen, for instance – would have made the book better.
(Note: Thanks to Celadon Books for the ARC. Normally I would tag the publisher and use the hashtag, but I do not feel comfortable doing that with a negative review).
I hadn’t heard of the Minimalists before reading this book. I have heard of Marie Kondo, if that helps. This book address a minimalist lifestyle not only in terms of belongings but also in terms of self.
I agree with the book’s title, the idea that we can do with less things, and I found some helpful bits in the book (such as the questions to ask before you buy things and some of the coda bits for the chapters). The authors make it quite clear that what every person considers needed is going to be different. I liked that. The chapter about relationships has some valid, if at times oversimplified point. However, those good parts didn’t outweigh the problem though.
The first problem is the structure and the writing style. The bulk of the book seems to have been written by Joshua Fields Millburn, and the book cannot deicide if it wants to be his memoir (which would be fine) or a self help guide (which would be fine). While some times this works, if not well, on a functional level, many times it does not. Too often it feels like the reader is being treated to a digression about Millburn’s life for little or no reason. Some of the bits are also repetitive. Quite frankly, his writing style is the total opposite of minimalist. It also feels like he throws in words just show that you he knows them. (Honesty, if I had to read about how he earned 200,000 a year in Dayton, Ohio before he became a lifestyle guru in LA, I was going to stab something. One or two mentions is fine, but after awhile it sounds like bragging). There are also a couple times when Millburn sounds downright cruel about people. For instance, he talks about a big fat guy eating a pizza and watching Netflix while on lunch break. While we can agree that this is unhealthy in terms of lunch, Millburn doesn’t know why the guy is unhappy and tone is on of superiority mixed with a small degree of pity.
My second issue, and to be fair this is undoubtedly a criticism of the genre as a whole. It is the amount of selling that this book does. He mentions people they work with and their works (including that of his wife), he talks about the conferences and shows, the reader is encouraged to buy things and listen to things. So if we are suppose to get read of things, why are you selling things? (Let me stress this seems to be the case for pretty much every person who advocates a simpler, less thing filled life). Additionally, the rules, while good, are also adaptions of philosophy and ideas from other sources (again, this is most likely status quo for the genre. It is true of mindfulness for example). To be fair to the authors, they do seem to mention people they either have worked with or consulted and those people’s blogs, podcasts, businesses, so they are spending the consumer wealth around.
But there are more serious issues at pay in the book.
Millburn writes that he wishes this book had come out earlier because it could have helped people though the pandemic, that the solutions and questions presented would have allowed people to escape without as much harm. But which people is he talking about? The book proposes solutions to things, but in some cases you have to have a certain income to do some of those things. (For instance, adjunct faculty can find it extremely difficult to save three months of income and set it aside. Could an artist?) The comment about the pandemic comes across as tone deaf when you are aware of who were most effected either by COVID or by the lack of work. To imply that this book by itself would have saved those people the discomfort is, well, many things other than believable. It also is, unintentionally no doubt, dismissive of the people who died, over half a million in the US alone.
Then there are the statistics that are cited to showcase consumerism and focus on status (which is rich coming from a guy who keeps stating his income). The problem is that some of the statistics are over ten years old and the data has changed (in particular in regards to malls, though it is unclear how that term is being used). One study that is, in fact, British, is implied to be American by the structure of the paragraph it is in. If I can’t trust how you use data or how recent your data is, can I trust you?
But for me the biggest issue is the chapter about self. Millburn starts this chapter by mentioning his own battle with depression. The chapter then keeps moving (though it always feels like digressing) to various subtopics – such as healthy eating and taking care of yourself (the presumption is that everyone has health insurance, can afford a gym membership, has access to green space, and money to afford good food). While Millburn never directly states it, the implication or sense in the chapter is that in order to get over depression, you simply have to keep moving and work though it. (For instance, when Millburn mentions drugs of any type in this chapter he is usually negative). While this might be true for some people who suffer from depression, it is not true of everyone who suffers from depression. To even passively suggest that you just need to pull yourself out is insulting and, quite frankly, dangerous. It is this type of thinking that leads to much of the stigma attached to mental health.
This chapter combined with the privilege that pervades other sections (health care, pay, what happens after arrest among other things, what a person could afford to do as a family outing even) weakens the argument. It should be noted that question of privilege is only addressed once, really, and then it is dismissed. On one the dismissal makes sense in terms of cost, on the other, not everyone lives an easy 20 minutes away from good shops. This true even in a city where a bus routes do not always go the quickest route. Not to mention, the privilege of having too much stuff.
And while the book itself isn’t the type (nor is does it have the purpose) to challenge the whole of societal issues that plague us – some realization that some women in some jobs cannot get away with only four outfits or that a black teen arrested for shop lifting is likely to be treated differently than a white teen, for instance – would have made the book better.
(Note: Thanks to Celadon Books for the ARC. Normally I would tag the publisher and use the hashtag, but I do not feel comfortable doing that with a negative review).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2022
(audio) Sigh. Where do I begin? I listened to this book while purging my house of a huge percentage of our belongings so I’m obviously the target audience. But let’s just say that it missed its mark. By a long long long shot. I only finished it because I wanted to be able to rate it here (I don’t star books I DNF) but admittedly skimmed sections. I like a lot of what The Minimalists do and really enjoy their podcast. I like a lot of their resources and believe in many of the fundamentals they preach about our relationship with stuff. But this book was a rich, white, privileged bro telling me how to live and not acknowledging any of the intricacies of how the rest of the world lives. I have so much more to rant about, but instead, I’d like to point you toward a 1 star review here on GR by Christine ~ she articulates it so much better than I can. HARD PASS.
ETA: Please try “The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less” by Christine Platt instead 😊
ETA: Please try “The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less” by Christine Platt instead 😊
July 24, 2021
This book has come at the right time: after COVID we are all having to 'reset' for the future. The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus) have 'mapped' out the brave new world we are all going to have to 'wade' into: but will it still be cluttered with all the things that we have now seen really do not matter? The Minimalists’ podcast and blog is not set down in a book which challenges us all to ask this most important of questions: do I own things or do things owe me? Highest recommendation.
May 10, 2021
Before having picked this book up I had never heard of the Minimalists, listened to their podcast or read any of their books. Having finished this book I'm pretty sure that's about to change. Filled with no-nonsense advice and hard truths; this book was VERY impactful. I found myself re-reading sections and bookmarking pages - I hardly EVER do that. At the heart this book is about minimalism, but in fact it is so much more than that. The sections on relationships, creativity, and money were so powerful that I'm still thinking about them. From 30 day challenges to worksheets to engaging questions - this book wants to change how you view your life and wants you to think critically about everything you own, everything you do, and everyone you associate with. It's a handbook that will make you think more deeply about aspects of your life that you take for granted. I really appreciate that this book wasn't preachy and didn't tell readers how wrong they are living their lives. You could do small approaches and monthly challenges to find what works best for YOUR life - because there is no one size fits all approach. I won't become a minimalist over night but I certainly aim to use lots of different advice that this book had to see what changes I can make to improve my life. An excellent book. #celadonreads #lovepeopleusethingsbook
September 22, 2021
This is not an easy book to read and it is not a quick read. The chapters make you stop and reflect before moving on to the next chapter. The book challenges the reader not only with discussions on the physical stuff in one’s life but also on relationships. What I enjoyed the most about the book was all the new vocabulary words I learned. I always enjoy learning a new word.
The book is well written, but it is obvious when one writer stops and the other takes over. This is a different writing style but it does not affect the reading of the book. This is not the type of book I would go to a store and buy, but I did find it interesting. I received the book from Celadon Books free for an unbiased review. I read this as a hard cover book. It is 321 pages published by Celadon Books in 2021.
The book is well written, but it is obvious when one writer stops and the other takes over. This is a different writing style but it does not affect the reading of the book. This is not the type of book I would go to a store and buy, but I did find it interesting. I received the book from Celadon Books free for an unbiased review. I read this as a hard cover book. It is 321 pages published by Celadon Books in 2021.
July 15, 2021
I've listened to the audiobook 🎧
I've been living a minimalish lifestyle for about three years now and read their previous books and listened to their podcasts.
This newest book was a complete disappointment. It's repetitive, boring and preachy. The set up is also quite messy. What did this book set out to be? Joshua's memoir? Self-help book? Minimalist workbook? All of it?
For me it was the worst book they put out so far, the only thing new in there is that we get a more in-depth version of their mistakes and life decisions.
If you read the other books or listen to the podcast on a quite regular basis. I'd skip this one. I'm not impressed 🤨
I've been living a minimalish lifestyle for about three years now and read their previous books and listened to their podcasts.
This newest book was a complete disappointment. It's repetitive, boring and preachy. The set up is also quite messy. What did this book set out to be? Joshua's memoir? Self-help book? Minimalist workbook? All of it?
For me it was the worst book they put out so far, the only thing new in there is that we get a more in-depth version of their mistakes and life decisions.
If you read the other books or listen to the podcast on a quite regular basis. I'd skip this one. I'm not impressed 🤨
July 14, 2021
LOVE PEOPLE, CHANGE YOUR LIFE uses minimalism as a springboard to align your values with your activities. A must-read for anyone who wants to live more fruitfully. Written by The Minimalists, whose popular Netflix documentaries have gained them lifelong fans. Pub Date 13 Jul 2021.
Thanks to @joshuafieldsmillburn, @ryannicodemus, and @celadonbooks for the review copy; opinions are mine.
Thanks to @joshuafieldsmillburn, @ryannicodemus, and @celadonbooks for the review copy; opinions are mine.
September 13, 2021
'The Minimalists,' Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, share their life journeys towards intentional living using seven different areas of focus: stuff, truth, self, values, money, creativity and people. Readers are invited to use the lessons they have learned to enact positive change in their own lives.
I, like many, had preconceived notions about what minimalism is. I thought it was about creating a living space that has like one chair, one table, and a cup with a single sharpened pencil in it. You can see the room, can't you. In my mind, that was minimalism- bare to the point of ridiculousness.
Millburn addresses this misconception early on in the book.
"Minimalists don't focus on having less, less, less; they focus on making room for more: more time, more passion, more creativity, more experiences, more contribution, more contentment, more freedom." pgs 35-36
Sounds pretty good to me, Josh. So how do we get there?
"Minimalism is a practice of intentional living. While it starts with the stuff, it's ultimately a stewardship program for one's life." pg 124-125
I've recently experienced some major changes in my life, which include relocating to a new home and moving almost a decade's worth of stuff. During the process, I took the time to try on every piece of clothing in my wardrobe and, to my not-unexpected dismay, about three-quarters of the clothing no longer fit.
It was simply a matter of donating the old clothes then. But I found myself hesitating to do so. I've lived a lot of life in those clothes and just holding them brought back so many memories.
I realize the memories aren't in the items, they're in me. Millburn points out that it's easy to make that mistake.
"While it's true that our memories are not in our things, it is also true that sometimes our things can trigger memories inside us." pg 20
He recommends taking pictures of these treasured items so you can continue to access the memories at will while still making room for growth.
Because that's what all of this minimalism stuff is geared towards: Living an intentional life so you can grow with the values that you've chosen for yourself. What you're aiming for is growing like a cultivated flower about to bloom rather than a tumor that spills out uncontrolled in all directions.
"Growth is a critical component of a meaningful life- as long as it's responsible growth- because continual improvement makes us feel alive and brings purpose to our actions." pg 170
To do so, we must first confront the reasons why we're holding on to all these items in the first place.
"Fear is a common theme with people who are starting to confront their stuff. We're afraid to pull back the curtain because we're afraid not of the stuff itself, but of the work that must be done to live a more rewarding life after getting rid of it." pg 102
And for me that's the crux of the issue- fear. What am I afraid of? I'm afraid of living a life that doesn't match up with my values. I fear change, not because it might be negative but because it pulls me out of my little routines into a place of uncomfortable uncertainty.
Your fears are probably quite different from mine, but the point is that you have them. Do you know what yours are?
Highly recommended for readers interested in self improvement, self help or the minimalist movement. Thank you to the publisher for a free advance reader's copy of this book.
I, like many, had preconceived notions about what minimalism is. I thought it was about creating a living space that has like one chair, one table, and a cup with a single sharpened pencil in it. You can see the room, can't you. In my mind, that was minimalism- bare to the point of ridiculousness.
Millburn addresses this misconception early on in the book.
"Minimalists don't focus on having less, less, less; they focus on making room for more: more time, more passion, more creativity, more experiences, more contribution, more contentment, more freedom." pgs 35-36
Sounds pretty good to me, Josh. So how do we get there?
"Minimalism is a practice of intentional living. While it starts with the stuff, it's ultimately a stewardship program for one's life." pg 124-125
I've recently experienced some major changes in my life, which include relocating to a new home and moving almost a decade's worth of stuff. During the process, I took the time to try on every piece of clothing in my wardrobe and, to my not-unexpected dismay, about three-quarters of the clothing no longer fit.
It was simply a matter of donating the old clothes then. But I found myself hesitating to do so. I've lived a lot of life in those clothes and just holding them brought back so many memories.
I realize the memories aren't in the items, they're in me. Millburn points out that it's easy to make that mistake.
"While it's true that our memories are not in our things, it is also true that sometimes our things can trigger memories inside us." pg 20
He recommends taking pictures of these treasured items so you can continue to access the memories at will while still making room for growth.
Because that's what all of this minimalism stuff is geared towards: Living an intentional life so you can grow with the values that you've chosen for yourself. What you're aiming for is growing like a cultivated flower about to bloom rather than a tumor that spills out uncontrolled in all directions.
"Growth is a critical component of a meaningful life- as long as it's responsible growth- because continual improvement makes us feel alive and brings purpose to our actions." pg 170
To do so, we must first confront the reasons why we're holding on to all these items in the first place.
"Fear is a common theme with people who are starting to confront their stuff. We're afraid to pull back the curtain because we're afraid not of the stuff itself, but of the work that must be done to live a more rewarding life after getting rid of it." pg 102
And for me that's the crux of the issue- fear. What am I afraid of? I'm afraid of living a life that doesn't match up with my values. I fear change, not because it might be negative but because it pulls me out of my little routines into a place of uncomfortable uncertainty.
Your fears are probably quite different from mine, but the point is that you have them. Do you know what yours are?
Highly recommended for readers interested in self improvement, self help or the minimalist movement. Thank you to the publisher for a free advance reader's copy of this book.
July 13, 2021
This was extremely eye opening.
Love People Use Things really makes you think. It's a raw and honest look into each of our lives. I really enjoyed the recap and questions at the end of each chapter. It made me stop and reflect on what I learned. Did I ever learn a LOT! And not just about people as a whole. I learned so much about myself in regards to many areas of my life. This book isn't just about "stuff", it is so much more.
I actually stopped in the middle of the book, went downstairs and started organizing and decluttering. Ended up having my teenage son carry out some heavy items and several boxes to set outside. And while I know this is FAR from living a minimalist life, it sure felt good to rid my life of items that are just taking up space and not bringing me joy.
I for one will admit I am guilty of existential clutter ... I have bins of memories in my basement dating back to my childhood.
I have even been guilty of clearing out our basement by selling and giving items away only to fill that space back up.
I also realized my organization skills are just well-organized hoarding LOL!
Overall I'm taking some really great lessons away from Love People Use Things. Though I will say that the book started to lose me a bit just after the half way point just a little. The first half though, excellent. There is definitely some really great wisdom in these pages.
Thank you so much Celadon Books for my gifted copy!
Love People Use Things really makes you think. It's a raw and honest look into each of our lives. I really enjoyed the recap and questions at the end of each chapter. It made me stop and reflect on what I learned. Did I ever learn a LOT! And not just about people as a whole. I learned so much about myself in regards to many areas of my life. This book isn't just about "stuff", it is so much more.
I actually stopped in the middle of the book, went downstairs and started organizing and decluttering. Ended up having my teenage son carry out some heavy items and several boxes to set outside. And while I know this is FAR from living a minimalist life, it sure felt good to rid my life of items that are just taking up space and not bringing me joy.
I for one will admit I am guilty of existential clutter ... I have bins of memories in my basement dating back to my childhood.
I have even been guilty of clearing out our basement by selling and giving items away only to fill that space back up.
I also realized my organization skills are just well-organized hoarding LOL!
Overall I'm taking some really great lessons away from Love People Use Things. Though I will say that the book started to lose me a bit just after the half way point just a little. The first half though, excellent. There is definitely some really great wisdom in these pages.
Thank you so much Celadon Books for my gifted copy!
August 30, 2021
Disclosure: I received this book as an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review. It took me a while to force myself to finish it.
I’ll give this guy the benefit of the doubt and assume he is being genuine in his belief that minimalism will solve all of his problems. If that is the case, he is sorely deluded. He explicitly outlines his rather shocking childhood trauma, lambasts the medical system (I’ve had my own mental health Odyssey there, I’ll admit that I was misdiagnosed for far too long) and then embarks on pseudoscientific journey that brings us to his cure-all: minimalism. This book is also dripping with narcissism and self-aggrandizement. I would have been willing to give it a better chance if he didn’t tell me his entire life story and every daily encounter and instead just outlined the premise of how “Loving people and using things” was going to make me happy (and presumably minimalism). Instead it was a never ending deluge of personal anecdotes about his supposedly ‘outstanding’ life peppered with stories of his horrific childhood and how he came to the baffling conclusion that instead of therapy he needed to embark on a quest to become the guru of a self-help trend. What he really needs is some therapy from a trauma-informed therapist.
Baffling.
I’m sorry, I’ll probably never get another advance review copy from Celadon Books again because of this scathing review, but this was truly an awful book.
I’ll give this guy the benefit of the doubt and assume he is being genuine in his belief that minimalism will solve all of his problems. If that is the case, he is sorely deluded. He explicitly outlines his rather shocking childhood trauma, lambasts the medical system (I’ve had my own mental health Odyssey there, I’ll admit that I was misdiagnosed for far too long) and then embarks on pseudoscientific journey that brings us to his cure-all: minimalism. This book is also dripping with narcissism and self-aggrandizement. I would have been willing to give it a better chance if he didn’t tell me his entire life story and every daily encounter and instead just outlined the premise of how “Loving people and using things” was going to make me happy (and presumably minimalism). Instead it was a never ending deluge of personal anecdotes about his supposedly ‘outstanding’ life peppered with stories of his horrific childhood and how he came to the baffling conclusion that instead of therapy he needed to embark on a quest to become the guru of a self-help trend. What he really needs is some therapy from a trauma-informed therapist.
Baffling.
I’m sorry, I’ll probably never get another advance review copy from Celadon Books again because of this scathing review, but this was truly an awful book.
July 17, 2021
This book is a comprehensive self-help book. Its focus on minimizing "things" and prioritizing the people in our lives is a solid framework to propose a logical and sound design for a way of living. The prose is clear, concise and supported by citations and experiences which will make sense to most Americans. It is much more than a book about minimalization, sharing many concepts, from a unique modern perspective, covered in most general self-help books. The whole book is a modern examination of what philosophers or religious writers cover in their books about living the best life.
I was gifted this advanced reading copy. The only "complaint" were some obvious issues with the printing which I doubt would appear in the for sale published version.
I was gifted this advanced reading copy. The only "complaint" were some obvious issues with the printing which I doubt would appear in the for sale published version.
July 25, 2021
Since I was a foster child and never owned anything of my own I now live a very cluttered and unorganized life. The more items I own the more I feel loved. It is mostly clothes I have a problem with since I was always dressed poorly. It really drives a wedge between my family and I . After reading this book I am getting a lot better and getting rid of things I know I don't need and will never use. When I do start to buy something I think about it and feel so proud when I put it back. No more impulse buying, well just a little. lol This book can be a useful tool for everyone. I feel better and better about myself everyday. Joshua and Ryan you are never too old to learn new tricks. I am sixty three years old and making big and great changes to my life and how I feel about myself. Thanks for the great gift to my family and I.
August 22, 2021
After listening for more than two hours to the audiobook I'm giving up. The narration comes across as quite condescending and even though the introduction promised that this book was going to be much more indepth than their other books, so far I don't feel like this adds anything to the documentary I have already watched or other books I've read on minimalism. For a book on minimalism it's also surprisingly long-winded and repetitive. While there are definitely some good ideas in here, I was not expecting this to largely be a memoir. I'm sure the authors are nice people, but I'm not particularly interested in learning about their lives again. Instead, I was hoping this book would either give me some new insights on people's relationships to objects in general or on ways I could further simplify my own life. So far, it did neither of those things.
Also, I was not at all a fan of the comments about covid in the introduction of this book. I find it very arrogant to believe this one book could have solved so many people's problems during the pandemic.
Also, I was not at all a fan of the comments about covid in the introduction of this book. I find it very arrogant to believe this one book could have solved so many people's problems during the pandemic.
April 15, 2021
I love these guys. I love what they stand for and how they share their stories. Their passion is beautiful. This is a wonderful read. Lots of great information, and pages that just make you think. Love people use things. It's something that will stick will me. I hope to revisit this again from time to time for reminders. I think there may be something new for me each time I read it.
July 21, 2021
If you've watched their Netflix shows, read their other books or listened to their podcast, this is basically the same information rehashed with a few new bits, so it felt...unnecessary.
September 29, 2021
Yikes. This book was not at all what I expected it to be - and that's not a compliment.
As a lover of all things relating to minimalism and decluttering, I had watched their Neflix documentary a while back and thought it was a bit cheesy, but cute enough. Then I saw this book and was so excited, because 10 hours of an audiobook on decluttering would be something I would absolutely love listening to while running errands or going jogging.
But that's not what this book is about. To be fair, the first chapter is still about the idea of benefits you gain from having less, but after that it is hours and hours of their random ideas about life that have nothing to do with being minimalists.
Instead, it just devolves into a diatribe against modern medicine, their beliefs in healing yourself, their belief on relationships (that are based on contracts and the renegotiation of said contracts) - and their odd bragging about wealth. It was the oddest mix of memoir, oversharing, bragging, and giving instructions on how to live, mixed with then - when they presumably suddenly remembered this was supposed to be a book on living with less - these inserted tips on how to sort out and donate things. So a chapter would involve stories of the author's childhood, his issues with relationships today, and then suddenly a TIP: Have a decluttering party!, followed by more memoir moments.
In other words, this is a hot mess of a book.
And you know that person who cannot stop themselves from telling you how they have figured out all of the secrets of life? That's what this is.
Hard no.
As a lover of all things relating to minimalism and decluttering, I had watched their Neflix documentary a while back and thought it was a bit cheesy, but cute enough. Then I saw this book and was so excited, because 10 hours of an audiobook on decluttering would be something I would absolutely love listening to while running errands or going jogging.
But that's not what this book is about. To be fair, the first chapter is still about the idea of benefits you gain from having less, but after that it is hours and hours of their random ideas about life that have nothing to do with being minimalists.
Instead, it just devolves into a diatribe against modern medicine, their beliefs in healing yourself, their belief on relationships (that are based on contracts and the renegotiation of said contracts) - and their odd bragging about wealth. It was the oddest mix of memoir, oversharing, bragging, and giving instructions on how to live, mixed with then - when they presumably suddenly remembered this was supposed to be a book on living with less - these inserted tips on how to sort out and donate things. So a chapter would involve stories of the author's childhood, his issues with relationships today, and then suddenly a TIP: Have a decluttering party!, followed by more memoir moments.
In other words, this is a hot mess of a book.
And you know that person who cannot stop themselves from telling you how they have figured out all of the secrets of life? That's what this is.
Hard no.
July 13, 2021
hank you so much to Celadon Reads for this copy of Love People, Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. The authors, also known as The Minimalists, examine how minimalism can help you to live a rich and meaningful life. It goes beyond decluttering and shows how minimalism can help you to work on the seven most essential relationships in your life: stuff, truth, self, money, values, creativity, and people.
I love the idea of simplifying one's life both physically and mentally and the idea that sometimes less gives you more. Little changes that are highlighted in the book can lead to a more fulfilled and complete life. The book focuses on decluttering all aspects of your life - material possessions, relationships with others, money, your values and truths, and more.
“Because once you have less, you can make room for the right kind of more.”
I like how the authors use experiences from their own and other people’s lives to show how this minimalist approach brought meaning to their lives. These personal anecdotes, as well as the various questions and prompts throughout the book, put everything in perspective and give great context for their assertions. If your looking for ways to decluttering your life, if you like the idea of minimalism, then you should totally check this book out!
I love the idea of simplifying one's life both physically and mentally and the idea that sometimes less gives you more. Little changes that are highlighted in the book can lead to a more fulfilled and complete life. The book focuses on decluttering all aspects of your life - material possessions, relationships with others, money, your values and truths, and more.
“Because once you have less, you can make room for the right kind of more.”
I like how the authors use experiences from their own and other people’s lives to show how this minimalist approach brought meaning to their lives. These personal anecdotes, as well as the various questions and prompts throughout the book, put everything in perspective and give great context for their assertions. If your looking for ways to decluttering your life, if you like the idea of minimalism, then you should totally check this book out!
June 4, 2021
Man is this guy ever full of himself. There are some good ideas in this book, but the author just comes across as a completely unlikeable douchecanoe paddling along up holier-than-thou creek.
I won this from a goodreads giveaway.
I won this from a goodreads giveaway.
July 3, 2021
Originally published on my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
A new book from podcasters The Minimalists is almost here. Called Love People Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works, it’s about relationships. And about why our relationship with stuff gets in the way of developing meaningful relationships with people. Written mostly by Joshua Fields Millburn, with assists from Ryan Nicodemus, it’s a practical self-help book for the 21st century.
According to The Minimalists, getting our volumes of stuff and money management under control deepens our connections with people. Because things—their acquisition, costs, and storage—ultimately takes over our lives. Also, living with less stuff changes the available cash we have for traveling or contributing to our communities. Millburn discusses getting straight with our values, ourselves, and our creative endeavors too. The Minimalist path is about being true to ourselves so we can be honest with friends, coworkers, family, and significant others.
In between the many suggestions, rules, and ideas, Millburn shares stories about his childhood, early adulthood, and relationship with his mother. He admits that he did many things wrong in those years. Mostly, he chased the “American Dream,” with its focus on unrestricted acquisition and career advancement. Still, his life felt hollow and lacked connection until he started following the minimalist path.
Since then, he and Nicodemus have introduced these ideas to thousands or millions of people through their podcasts, speaking engagements, and books. Yet they seem like down-to-earth guys. Living simply will do that to you.
My conclusions
I’m not a self-help reader. But when Celadon sends me a book, I read it. They never steer me wrong, and this is no exception. The Minimalists inspired me to clean out some drawers because all ten of those sunglasses aren’t necessary. My husband and I are debating upgrading our 2007 Honda for a hybrid. After reading this book, we unflinchingly discussed priorities and cash flow. Still haven’t settled on a vehicle yet, though!
Early in the book there’s a story about a family losing everything in a fire. The way Millburn tells it, the fire made them (of course) grateful for their lives. And second, it freed them from lugging around a house full of mostly unnecessary stuff. Obviously, seeing sentimental items go up in flames is awful. But Millburn’s goal is inspiring us to sort and release things we don’t use.
There are plenty of less dramatic stories too. For example, people pack everything up in one room, and then they unpack only items they truly need. It’s a Minimalist shock to the system, but it also sounds more honest than reorganizing. According to Millburn, reorganizing and sorting through stuff still leads to keeping more than we need.
The more I think about this book, the more I must mention the preponderance of white privilege within it. Even though neither author had an easy childhood, their adulthood is certainly colored by the fact they’re white men. I felt the same way when I read You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha. There’s no doubt that white men can “pull up their bootstraps” and find success. The same process isn’t accessible as easily (if at all) for people of color. If you need that perspective, I recommend reading books by Mychal Denzel Smith or Mikki Kendall.
Nevertheless, Millburn and Nicodemus seem genuinely interested in helping readers. Their choices are admirable, and the book explains it well. I recommend Love People Use Things if you’re looking for a new outlook that’s less about collecting stuff and more about creating meaning.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Celadon Books and the authors for an advanced reading copy in exchange for this honest review. Expected publication date August 13, 2021.
A new book from podcasters The Minimalists is almost here. Called Love People Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works, it’s about relationships. And about why our relationship with stuff gets in the way of developing meaningful relationships with people. Written mostly by Joshua Fields Millburn, with assists from Ryan Nicodemus, it’s a practical self-help book for the 21st century.
According to The Minimalists, getting our volumes of stuff and money management under control deepens our connections with people. Because things—their acquisition, costs, and storage—ultimately takes over our lives. Also, living with less stuff changes the available cash we have for traveling or contributing to our communities. Millburn discusses getting straight with our values, ourselves, and our creative endeavors too. The Minimalist path is about being true to ourselves so we can be honest with friends, coworkers, family, and significant others.
In between the many suggestions, rules, and ideas, Millburn shares stories about his childhood, early adulthood, and relationship with his mother. He admits that he did many things wrong in those years. Mostly, he chased the “American Dream,” with its focus on unrestricted acquisition and career advancement. Still, his life felt hollow and lacked connection until he started following the minimalist path.
Since then, he and Nicodemus have introduced these ideas to thousands or millions of people through their podcasts, speaking engagements, and books. Yet they seem like down-to-earth guys. Living simply will do that to you.
My conclusions
I’m not a self-help reader. But when Celadon sends me a book, I read it. They never steer me wrong, and this is no exception. The Minimalists inspired me to clean out some drawers because all ten of those sunglasses aren’t necessary. My husband and I are debating upgrading our 2007 Honda for a hybrid. After reading this book, we unflinchingly discussed priorities and cash flow. Still haven’t settled on a vehicle yet, though!
Early in the book there’s a story about a family losing everything in a fire. The way Millburn tells it, the fire made them (of course) grateful for their lives. And second, it freed them from lugging around a house full of mostly unnecessary stuff. Obviously, seeing sentimental items go up in flames is awful. But Millburn’s goal is inspiring us to sort and release things we don’t use.
There are plenty of less dramatic stories too. For example, people pack everything up in one room, and then they unpack only items they truly need. It’s a Minimalist shock to the system, but it also sounds more honest than reorganizing. According to Millburn, reorganizing and sorting through stuff still leads to keeping more than we need.
The more I think about this book, the more I must mention the preponderance of white privilege within it. Even though neither author had an easy childhood, their adulthood is certainly colored by the fact they’re white men. I felt the same way when I read You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha. There’s no doubt that white men can “pull up their bootstraps” and find success. The same process isn’t accessible as easily (if at all) for people of color. If you need that perspective, I recommend reading books by Mychal Denzel Smith or Mikki Kendall.
Nevertheless, Millburn and Nicodemus seem genuinely interested in helping readers. Their choices are admirable, and the book explains it well. I recommend Love People Use Things if you’re looking for a new outlook that’s less about collecting stuff and more about creating meaning.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Celadon Books and the authors for an advanced reading copy in exchange for this honest review. Expected publication date August 13, 2021.
August 20, 2021
Brutal.
I have listened to all 301 podcasts, read everything on their web site, watched their two movies, and read the three books before this.
Minimalism doesn't need this amount of advice. Make no mistake about it, advice is levied here. And the judgments were obiquitous throughout this book. Superlatives and compative adjectives all over the place. Live a better life. You don't live a meaningful life. All of this was delivered in a re-telling of the overtold Minimalists story through the pompus voice of JFM.
Yes, pompous. JFM has always written with a thesaurus at hand. Here, he has stepped up his use as he found some new words.
The big issue, however, for me is that this book is a mess with the brand. When one tunes into The Minimalists the audience expects certain topics. But when you are making a living off your spiel, you need to expand what you talk about. Why? Because minimalism isn't that complicated nor does it need this amount of coverage. That is why there is a chapter delivering Dave Ramsey's financial advice. There's been a relationship with Ramsey for a few years. Here's the payoff.
Then there is relationship advice. Is that what the audience comes to The Minimalists for?
I will grant that while virtually everything in the book is rehashed from everything we have heard before (shoot, it was more than an hour recap before the book even started), there were was some new stuff I don't recall hearing before. Nothing staggering, but some of the stories we are familiar with have been fleshed out more fully.
There is nothing here I would recommend to anyone. I find it useful to hear on a regular basis the tenets of minimalism. It keeps my eye on the ball. This was 10 hours of rehash with a healthy dose of self-help.
What really came through with this is that Millburn and Nicodemus are salesmen. That's what they do: they sell. They use their podcast and blog to sell their books and special access to the "Maximal Podcast" (oddly named). The audience grows so they they can sell to Netflix. If one can sift through all the whooy stuff, the core message is not bad. This just isn't the best vehicle to get that message.
I have listened to all 301 podcasts, read everything on their web site, watched their two movies, and read the three books before this.
Minimalism doesn't need this amount of advice. Make no mistake about it, advice is levied here. And the judgments were obiquitous throughout this book. Superlatives and compative adjectives all over the place. Live a better life. You don't live a meaningful life. All of this was delivered in a re-telling of the overtold Minimalists story through the pompus voice of JFM.
Yes, pompous. JFM has always written with a thesaurus at hand. Here, he has stepped up his use as he found some new words.
The big issue, however, for me is that this book is a mess with the brand. When one tunes into The Minimalists the audience expects certain topics. But when you are making a living off your spiel, you need to expand what you talk about. Why? Because minimalism isn't that complicated nor does it need this amount of coverage. That is why there is a chapter delivering Dave Ramsey's financial advice. There's been a relationship with Ramsey for a few years. Here's the payoff.
Then there is relationship advice. Is that what the audience comes to The Minimalists for?
I will grant that while virtually everything in the book is rehashed from everything we have heard before (shoot, it was more than an hour recap before the book even started), there were was some new stuff I don't recall hearing before. Nothing staggering, but some of the stories we are familiar with have been fleshed out more fully.
There is nothing here I would recommend to anyone. I find it useful to hear on a regular basis the tenets of minimalism. It keeps my eye on the ball. This was 10 hours of rehash with a healthy dose of self-help.
What really came through with this is that Millburn and Nicodemus are salesmen. That's what they do: they sell. They use their podcast and blog to sell their books and special access to the "Maximal Podcast" (oddly named). The audience grows so they they can sell to Netflix. If one can sift through all the whooy stuff, the core message is not bad. This just isn't the best vehicle to get that message.
November 13, 2022
Look, I am finding this book nearly impossible to rate. I like so much of the messaging around consuming less, living with less, detoxing social media/advertising and approaching purchases with intent. I think some of their “rules” are helpful in this regard if that’s what works to help people buy less or at least more thoughtfully. I love getting rid of stuff and their challenges help me approach it with more of a clear plan.
What I had a problem with was the tone-deafness around health, “wellness” and self-improvement. The fatphobia was jarring and offensive. I was shocked to find this in a book written in 2021. I also was furious to find yet another non-health professional giving health advice. Much of which was oversimplified, unhelpful and sometimes downright hurtful. How dare anyone imply that ALL medications are poison? Or that your health is completely in your own hands? This is extremely outdated thinking. And he kept referring to his friends and podcasters he likes as “experts” in their fields. It’s like he doesn’t understand true evidence-based practice.
I feel like I could keep going, but I’ll just say one last thing: This guy needs to look up the social determinants of health and stop preaching the unhelpful and untrue message of “you can be well it’s completely in your control.” It’s false and harms people. And it also contributes to increased consumerism within diet culture so it’s counter to his overall message. Honestly those sections almost made me stop reading. It was judgmental and he came off as having a massive superiority complex.
What I had a problem with was the tone-deafness around health, “wellness” and self-improvement. The fatphobia was jarring and offensive. I was shocked to find this in a book written in 2021. I also was furious to find yet another non-health professional giving health advice. Much of which was oversimplified, unhelpful and sometimes downright hurtful. How dare anyone imply that ALL medications are poison? Or that your health is completely in your own hands? This is extremely outdated thinking. And he kept referring to his friends and podcasters he likes as “experts” in their fields. It’s like he doesn’t understand true evidence-based practice.
I feel like I could keep going, but I’ll just say one last thing: This guy needs to look up the social determinants of health and stop preaching the unhelpful and untrue message of “you can be well it’s completely in your control.” It’s false and harms people. And it also contributes to increased consumerism within diet culture so it’s counter to his overall message. Honestly those sections almost made me stop reading. It was judgmental and he came off as having a massive superiority complex.
June 6, 2021
Thank you to Celadon for randomly surprising me with snail mail once again. I love getting surprises in the mail every now and then. And this book was a very nice surprise. Non fiction can be very hit or miss with me but I swore to myself that no matter what book they sent, I would read it and give it all of my attention...and be honest when I review it. I think I was only a few pages into this book when I was posting some of what I was learning on Facebook. I am telling you, this book was so full of much needed information that at times it felt like my head was going to explode. For all of you people who seem to have everything but are still unhappy? I would completely recommend reading this book and seeing if it helps at all. It just makes you look at things differently...It is written by the Minimalists and I wasn't too sure what the main idea of the book (outside of the title) would be or how it might relate to minimalism but they totally made it work. It IS about minimalism at it's heart but not in all of the ways you might think. So go on...give it a shot.
April 3, 2021
This is a helpful resource for many of us who want the motivation to declutter both physical and virtual things we consume.
Love People, Use Things focuses on relationships and people more than the act of decluttering which is a different take. (I still prefer Marie Kondo’s method when it comes to decluttering physical objects).
What I loved: the chapter on creativity and reducing distractions. I found the advice very helpful on a personal level.
What I skimmed: the memoir-like excerpts from the authors about their personal lives. It didn’t really add to the self-help feel of the book.
Overall, I found value in much of the advice and there was plenty of concrete advice and steps to make real change in one’s life.
Thank you to Celadon books for the paperback ARC.
Love People, Use Things focuses on relationships and people more than the act of decluttering which is a different take. (I still prefer Marie Kondo’s method when it comes to decluttering physical objects).
What I loved: the chapter on creativity and reducing distractions. I found the advice very helpful on a personal level.
What I skimmed: the memoir-like excerpts from the authors about their personal lives. It didn’t really add to the self-help feel of the book.
Overall, I found value in much of the advice and there was plenty of concrete advice and steps to make real change in one’s life.
Thank you to Celadon books for the paperback ARC.
July 8, 2021
I had heard of The Minimalists but had not listened to or read their work. I truly enjoyed the writing style that was engaging yet thought-provoking. It is a book based on eight relationships we have with self, things, and others and that when you make space, you then can allow these other relationships to thrive. I enjoyed the snippets of stories about the authors' lives intermixed with suggestions. The questions at the end could be helpful if you want to make changes to your life. It was easy to read, found I wanted to pick it up. Definitely recommend it to all.
Thanks to @joshuafieldsmillburn, @ryannicodemus, and @celadonbooks for the review copy; opinions are mine.
#lovepeopleusethings
Thanks to @joshuafieldsmillburn, @ryannicodemus, and @celadonbooks for the review copy; opinions are mine.
#lovepeopleusethings
May 4, 2025
It is a great read for anyone who wants to be more minimalist and understand the positive aspects of doing so. It is also helpful to understand the author's perspective on why things like having more meaningful relationships and setting boundaries with other people are important. With different experiences the author has with people, you can also better understand what the author is saying.
I definitely recommend listening to it as an audiobook, the narration is great. I liked listening to it. Have fun reading!
I definitely recommend listening to it as an audiobook, the narration is great. I liked listening to it. Have fun reading!
June 29, 2021
Self-help is not my genre.
There were a few things working against Love People Use Things. One is that I’ve never heard of the Minimalists before reading this, and so I was immediately skeptical of the advice they had to offer (call me a cynic, but I’m just going to question any self-promoting franchise that asks me to live with less while also purchasing their books). Since I don’t immediately buy into the authority of the author(s), I need data to back up any recommendation made (that’s the scientist within me), but self-help as a genre doesn’t have to cite the literature – which irked me as there were times even when I agreed with what Millburn was saying and *knew* of evidence that could be referenced, but wasn’t (ex. winning the lottery doesn’t actually make you happy – this has been well-studied).
That’s just a bias against the genre, so I admit, Millburn and Nicodemus had an uphill battle when it came to winning a positive review from me. And I would have overlooked it if their philosophy really wowed me.
Their brand of minimalism does have its insights. I agree, overall, with its broad points – it’s not so much living minimally, but living intentionally. But to me, that’s not mind-blowing. It’s as old as Buddhism, and doesn’t have the catchy practicality of Marie Kondo-ing your entire home. Yes, I agree that as Americans we consume too much. I agree that debt is bad. I agree in transparency and healthy eating and yadda yadda yadda. But I also feel like I was the wrong audience for their impact to land. I may not be as explicitly conscious of my spending habits as Minimalism asks, but I’m also not someone who maxes out credit cards on cars, TV’s, and vacations I can’t afford. That’s not to belittle people who do, or suggest that those behaviors aren’t problematic or widespread – more to say that with all his emphasis on the former, it felt like Millburn was pitching ideas that weren’t aimed at me.
There were also small things that bugged me. One was the totally weird preface, with an opening sentence that had the word “erumpent” in it (I had to look it up, and still not quite sure if it was used correctly), and sentences like “...devastating silence blanketing empty movie theaters galvanized by dust and darkness." How do dust and darkness galvanize, exactly? I also, probably unfairly, judged Millburn early in the book, which further undermined his authority as a lifestyle guru
At the end of the day, this book only reinforced my skepticism of self-help as a genre. I do feel vaguely motivated to declutter and donate some of my excess stuff though. Perhaps will start with Love People, Use Things.
There were a few things working against Love People Use Things. One is that I’ve never heard of the Minimalists before reading this, and so I was immediately skeptical of the advice they had to offer (call me a cynic, but I’m just going to question any self-promoting franchise that asks me to live with less while also purchasing their books). Since I don’t immediately buy into the authority of the author(s), I need data to back up any recommendation made (that’s the scientist within me), but self-help as a genre doesn’t have to cite the literature – which irked me as there were times even when I agreed with what Millburn was saying and *knew* of evidence that could be referenced, but wasn’t (ex. winning the lottery doesn’t actually make you happy – this has been well-studied).
That’s just a bias against the genre, so I admit, Millburn and Nicodemus had an uphill battle when it came to winning a positive review from me. And I would have overlooked it if their philosophy really wowed me.
Their brand of minimalism does have its insights. I agree, overall, with its broad points – it’s not so much living minimally, but living intentionally. But to me, that’s not mind-blowing. It’s as old as Buddhism, and doesn’t have the catchy practicality of Marie Kondo-ing your entire home. Yes, I agree that as Americans we consume too much. I agree that debt is bad. I agree in transparency and healthy eating and yadda yadda yadda. But I also feel like I was the wrong audience for their impact to land. I may not be as explicitly conscious of my spending habits as Minimalism asks, but I’m also not someone who maxes out credit cards on cars, TV’s, and vacations I can’t afford. That’s not to belittle people who do, or suggest that those behaviors aren’t problematic or widespread – more to say that with all his emphasis on the former, it felt like Millburn was pitching ideas that weren’t aimed at me.
There were also small things that bugged me. One was the totally weird preface, with an opening sentence that had the word “erumpent” in it (I had to look it up, and still not quite sure if it was used correctly), and sentences like “...devastating silence blanketing empty movie theaters galvanized by dust and darkness." How do dust and darkness galvanize, exactly? I also, probably unfairly, judged Millburn early in the book, which further undermined his authority as a lifestyle guru
At the end of the day, this book only reinforced my skepticism of self-help as a genre. I do feel vaguely motivated to declutter and donate some of my excess stuff though. Perhaps will start with Love People, Use Things.
August 10, 2021
Poignant and well written, the over-arching theme is to ask what brings meaning to life. The root idea of minimalism is not an austere life for it's own sake, but rather a clearing away of the "excess" or debris that accumulates in life. In other words:
"You cannot buy a meaningful life-you can only live it."
The Minimalists encourage their audience to dig deeper, to look beyond the stuff. What does a curated life look like? What does an intentional relationship look like? How can we be more honest with our own relationship with self? While this was not the book I was expecting, I gleaned a deeper understanding of how to go about crafting a meaningful life.
"At best, the things we bring into our lives are tools that can help us be more comfortable or productive - they can augment a meaningful life, but they cannot bring meaning into our lives."
Instead of an insipid book full of useless platitudes or worse, a judgmental tone with a "tough love" message under the guise of guidance, what you will find instead is a deeply human discussion, grounded within a personal experience freely shared and thoughtfully written. Well worth a read.
"You cannot buy a meaningful life-you can only live it."
The Minimalists encourage their audience to dig deeper, to look beyond the stuff. What does a curated life look like? What does an intentional relationship look like? How can we be more honest with our own relationship with self? While this was not the book I was expecting, I gleaned a deeper understanding of how to go about crafting a meaningful life.
"At best, the things we bring into our lives are tools that can help us be more comfortable or productive - they can augment a meaningful life, but they cannot bring meaning into our lives."
Instead of an insipid book full of useless platitudes or worse, a judgmental tone with a "tough love" message under the guise of guidance, what you will find instead is a deeply human discussion, grounded within a personal experience freely shared and thoughtfully written. Well worth a read.
June 10, 2021
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus call themselves the "minimalists". I was first intrigued by this book when it came out because I thought that given that we live in the age of excess, this would be an interesting read because it can be arguably a hard and almost difficult task. This book, however, turned out to be more than what I was expecting. It is not only a book that encourages us to think about what is important ultimately in our lives and asks us to shift away from merely materialist thinking.
The authors explore our relationships with materialistic possessions, truth, self, values, money, creativity, and people. My favourite chapters were "truth" and "self-care", both of which are important cultural currencies in the digital era where we can access news at our fingertips and are too busy to take care of ourselves.
Thank you to Celadon books and Bookish for providing me the Arc for this book! #LovePeopleUseThings
I would be happy to recommend this book to anyone looking to recharge their lives!
The authors explore our relationships with materialistic possessions, truth, self, values, money, creativity, and people. My favourite chapters were "truth" and "self-care", both of which are important cultural currencies in the digital era where we can access news at our fingertips and are too busy to take care of ourselves.
Thank you to Celadon books and Bookish for providing me the Arc for this book! #LovePeopleUseThings
I would be happy to recommend this book to anyone looking to recharge their lives!
June 20, 2021
I'm at a loss on how to tell everyone how much I loved this book. I don't usually read any type of self-help books. But the tittle interested me and when I read the first look on Bookish First it really caught my attention. I was so thrilled to read this book. It is so much much more then how to just minimalize your life. Its how to get to be that person we all want to be. To love ourselves so we can then love and be loved by others. How to be a better person in order to live a better life. Who wouldn't want that!
The authors describe there lives, Past and present (very entertaining) which adds a lot to the book. Then each section of the book describes your relationship to
Stuff, Truth, Self, Values, Money, Creativity, and People.
Never before have I used a highlighter in a book. But this one I did because I will be rereading this book again and again.
I can't wait for this book to come out. It will make a GREAT gift for my daughters and close friends in my life.
If you read only one book this year, This is the one you should read! 5 STARS
The authors describe there lives, Past and present (very entertaining) which adds a lot to the book. Then each section of the book describes your relationship to
Stuff, Truth, Self, Values, Money, Creativity, and People.
Never before have I used a highlighter in a book. But this one I did because I will be rereading this book again and again.
I can't wait for this book to come out. It will make a GREAT gift for my daughters and close friends in my life.
If you read only one book this year, This is the one you should read! 5 STARS
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