Living with Less: The Upside of Downsizing Your Life

by Mark A. Tabb

Mark Tabb won't ignore the facts about the hectic pace of modern life that we are, ironically, often too tired to acknowledge and change. In his candid and spiritually insightful Living with Less, he declares, “The only way to get more out of life is to choose less. Less stuff. Less activity. Less wanting more. . . . May God give us the courage to choose less stress in order that we might experience more of the life he has planned for us.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Personal Development

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a decent investigation into the basics of existential downsizing. Not existential in the Camus-ian sense, but existential in the sense of existing/living/loving/surviving with less. crap. in. your. life.

amen!

The book is a good kick in the rear to get you thinking about how you may be able to simplify your own existence, but isn't tremendously well written. In fact, while reading this book, I was constantly hit with the thought that "yes, indeed, I too could become an author." I'm sorry if that's an arrogant thought, and maybe I'm missing the simple beauty of the book, but I was struck with the feeling that I was usually a half-step ahead of the author in his explanation and justification for how to live more simply. Maybe I've just given this a lot of thought in the past 6 months. I'll chalk up my lackadaisical response to the fact that I was fully expecting to have my socks blown off by this book. I've been chewing on ways to simplify my life ever since I realized that my life was completely convoluted, complicated, and ridiculous- somewhere in mid 2008. So to say that the subject has been on my mind is somewhat like saying that Blanche Devereaux was just a little bit of a slut. (Sorry, that's an inappropriate statement, but it's too funny to delete.) The book failed to "wow" me with insight...

Regardless, the book is a good rainy day read. If you need a mental break between chapters of Anna Karenina, it's a worthy addition to your stack of "in process" books.

[Arianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just wasn't my cup of tea...didn't realize it was written with such a religious bent. Loved the initial concept, but couldn't get past the intro (or the table of contents, which I subsequently checked).

[M.E. Kinkade · Rating 1 out of 5]

Preaches to the choir (only those interested in living with less would pick up this book, but it's a treatise on why you should live with less) and offers very little substance. The anecdotes sound invented and fake.

[Pat Roseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this world of excess, this is a great encouragement to learn to do with less so that we are free to help others as God leads. Obviously, there's a lot more to this book, and it was a very good read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I believe the truth of downsizing ALL areas of our lives is the key to personal fulfillment.

[Amy Stohs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not have kept reading this except I had to for book club. The most sincere, meaningful thought were in the last section of the book which was sweet. The structure of the sections exists and makes sense on its own, but those parts could have been the headings of a blog post. Many chapters repeat themselves. The author tells you what to do and what to believe without actually giving any advice how. He complains incessantly about his privileged life in suburbia. He does not mention many of the small, good deeds you’re supposed to be doing. Activism has no place here. Choices about how to make family life count don’t come into play. The generic listing of make time for family time and help people is painfully trite and vague. He also uses worn out Christian phrases like “God gives you just enough.” He tests out different styles such as humor and memoir but it makes the book feel disconnected not enlivened. Perhaps I’d have more sympathy if I were reading this at its publication date, but I don’t think so. There are so many other books out there that are better than this.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several other books dealing with the concept of embracing a simpler lifestyle, but this one went much deeper into the attitude that underlie such a change, and the spiritual truths that apply to them. This is not a quick how-to book, (although he does give some how-to tips), but more a book to get you to think deeply about your values.

[Diana Barrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I own this, Kindle edition. Thought I'd be reading a book giving the particulars of how many coffee mugs should be kept in my cupboards and instead was engaged on a soul searching, God focused encounter on how to strive for what's important in life. He quotes often from famous Christians such as CS Lewis and Bonhoeffer. There are many quotes from Richard Foster, Celebration of Disciplines, which I'm studying with my Sunday school class. The two books have gone hand in hand- an unexpected encouragement in reading both. I think the purpose of this book can be summed up in this quote from Chapter 12. "Overcoming the lure of the shiny requires a great deal of self-discipline and prayer. I often start my workday with the prayer, "Lord, protect me from the shiny things." Themes: Smaller, Simpler, Slower, Harder

[Jennifer Crone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you have to just say no. This book fundamentally changed the way I look at how I choose to spend my time and my family's time. It starts out a little morbid, but how true it is that if we hope to complete our lives and be remembered a certain way, we have to decide on how to spend the time that we have, day by day. Really, our days are what add up to our lives and the way that we affect our familes and friends with our words, actions and inactions, is what ends up being our lives.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was hard to put down. The author tells it like it is. I had originally purchased the book because of the title and had no idea what I was in store for. Downsizing your life is easier in midlife than in earlier years. The spiritual rewards are great and so worth the sacrifices that need to be made.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most poignant point for me was that speed is the enemy of influence. In order for my life to matter to those God put in my life, my life needs to be smaller in every way: less of me, less stuff, and less appointments on the calendar.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful book about becoming more by living with less. Less things, less stress, less hectic life. Then we have more time for God. It's a book I'll keep around to remind myself that less is more.

[Brid Callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

I would definitely recommend this book. I really enjoyed it. Some spiritual books can be a heavy read. However this book was so easy to read , and so practical. Very enjoyable.

[William Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to find real time!

The conclusion is better than what I had feared. This book will help you find a better way to spend your time. It is well written with humorous stories throughout

[Teresa Lacey ridolfi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so much as a how to but a philosophical book with religious undertones regarding WHY to simplify ones life

[Laraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author is quite depressing with his written thoughts of how,he looks at things. I didn't get too far.

[Argawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living with Less was a decent book about downsizing and minimilizing your life with a Christian bent to it. it's alright. there's probably better books on the subject tho

[Bex Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

too preachy

[Jeff Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a how-to on simplifying your life or cleaning out your garage, this is not that book. The how-to parts could be summed up in a few sentences. What it does offer is the most essential, though often overlooked, look at Why. I read this at a time when I was listening to a lot of talks, pinning pins, and reading blogs on minimalism and the simple life. None of them really addressed the Why in a meaningful, lasting way that didn't amount to just a different breed of selfishness. Others tell you to simplify your life so you can travel more or have more of what you really want. This books looks at making your life small enough it can actually matter, which ultimately leads to a fulfilling life. Though I'm not a parent, I also felt it had some gems of guidance in that category as well.