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The Simple Living Guide: A Sourcebook for Less Stressful, More Joyful Living
In The Simple Living Guide Janet Luhrs demonstrates how to live a deliberate, simpler life--and savor it.
As Janet Luhrs says, "Simple living is about living deliberately. Simple living is not about austerity, or frugality, or income level. It's about being fully aware of why you are living your particular life, and knowing that life is one you have chosen thoughtfully. Simple living is about designing our lives to coincide with our ideals."
Whether you are looking at small solutions for cutting down the stress in your life or taking the big leap toward the simpler life, this book can be your guide. Janet Luhrs, the nationally recognized founder and editor of the Simple Living Journal, brings together strategies, inspiration, resources, and real-life profiles of people who have slowed down, overcome obstacles, and created richer lives.
Discover Simple Living approaches money, work, holidays, cooking and nutrition, health and exercise, clutter, gardening, travel, and more!
As Janet Luhrs says, "Simple living is about living deliberately. Simple living is not about austerity, or frugality, or income level. It's about being fully aware of why you are living your particular life, and knowing that life is one you have chosen thoughtfully. Simple living is about designing our lives to coincide with our ideals."
Whether you are looking at small solutions for cutting down the stress in your life or taking the big leap toward the simpler life, this book can be your guide. Janet Luhrs, the nationally recognized founder and editor of the Simple Living Journal, brings together strategies, inspiration, resources, and real-life profiles of people who have slowed down, overcome obstacles, and created richer lives.
Discover Simple Living approaches money, work, holidays, cooking and nutrition, health and exercise, clutter, gardening, travel, and more!
444 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
138 people are currently reading
1659 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 118 reviews
September 26, 2021
Before you read this one, you may want to consider the irony of a 400+ page book on simplicity. It's a good warning of what you're going to get into.
Despite its length, this book is surprisingly low on useful content. A good half of the book is filled with accounts of particular people's "simple" lives -- either the author's own, or those of people she interviewed. While occassionally interesting, that's not at all helpful for practically simplifying your own life. Of what's left, much of it is Luhrs talking about other simple living books she's read -- but she does not summarize or repeat the information. She tells you what other book you need to go read and then goes on about how great it was and how it helped her, or at least what a nice person the author is.
On top of that, much of the information that is included is now hopelessly out of date. Both the "Cooking and Nutrition" and "Health and Exercise" chapters are utterly obsolete and weren't well grounded in science even when they were written. The "Travel" chapter isn't much better, because the internet has changed that area so drastically. The "Money" chapter is similarly getting long in the tooth, and is only about half as useful as it was when first published.
Finally, there are a LOT of assumptions of privilege in this book. For example, during the "Work" chapter Luhrs rails against working for health benefits, basically calling anyone who does so an idiot who needs to have a long talk with themselves. Going without or buying your own high-deductible individual policy is all well and good if you're relatively young, relatively fit, come from good genes and have never had a serious or chronic health issue. If you're not, however, then you've probably discovered that health insurance is not optional and that you simply can not get it outside of a group rate (and won't be able to until the recent health care reforms go into effect). If that is your case, working full time for a company with health insurance benefits stops being optional -- and then much of her reasoning in the "Time", "Money" and "Work" chapters and throughout the rest of the book becomes invalid.
Even if you are relatively young, fit, and healthy, this book won't be of much help to you unless you're stuck in a cycle of keeping up with the Joneses and aren't sure how to get out. If you've already trimmed the fat from your budget and life, this book will do nothing but frustrate you.
Instead of reading The Simple Living Guide, I recommend that you pick an area of your life you want to simplify and then read a book specifically about this area. This ironically thick guide won't help you nearly as much.
Despite its length, this book is surprisingly low on useful content. A good half of the book is filled with accounts of particular people's "simple" lives -- either the author's own, or those of people she interviewed. While occassionally interesting, that's not at all helpful for practically simplifying your own life. Of what's left, much of it is Luhrs talking about other simple living books she's read -- but she does not summarize or repeat the information. She tells you what other book you need to go read and then goes on about how great it was and how it helped her, or at least what a nice person the author is.
On top of that, much of the information that is included is now hopelessly out of date. Both the "Cooking and Nutrition" and "Health and Exercise" chapters are utterly obsolete and weren't well grounded in science even when they were written. The "Travel" chapter isn't much better, because the internet has changed that area so drastically. The "Money" chapter is similarly getting long in the tooth, and is only about half as useful as it was when first published.
Finally, there are a LOT of assumptions of privilege in this book. For example, during the "Work" chapter Luhrs rails against working for health benefits, basically calling anyone who does so an idiot who needs to have a long talk with themselves. Going without or buying your own high-deductible individual policy is all well and good if you're relatively young, relatively fit, come from good genes and have never had a serious or chronic health issue. If you're not, however, then you've probably discovered that health insurance is not optional and that you simply can not get it outside of a group rate (and won't be able to until the recent health care reforms go into effect). If that is your case, working full time for a company with health insurance benefits stops being optional -- and then much of her reasoning in the "Time", "Money" and "Work" chapters and throughout the rest of the book becomes invalid.
Even if you are relatively young, fit, and healthy, this book won't be of much help to you unless you're stuck in a cycle of keeping up with the Joneses and aren't sure how to get out. If you've already trimmed the fat from your budget and life, this book will do nothing but frustrate you.
Instead of reading The Simple Living Guide, I recommend that you pick an area of your life you want to simplify and then read a book specifically about this area. This ironically thick guide won't help you nearly as much.
August 4, 2012
I picked this up because I wanted a guide to lowering stress and balancing work, family and health. Instead I found anti-vaccine ideas and the most offensive statement I have ever read regarding breastfeeding. On page 271 the author is describing an isolated community in northern India with a record of good health. She writes that in this community, babies who can not breastfeed die and are thus "spared the future gastro-intestinal miseries" that she claims accompany bottle feeding. What a horrible, malicious thing to say - what kind of deranged person thinks it's better for a baby to starve than receive formula? I was appalled beyond words.
September 9, 2018
Found this on a 99 cent book rack at Goodwill, and the title drew me in. Now don't get me wrong, the book shows it's age, especially in the financial section, but the basic tenements hold true. Don't want to work? Don't spend money. Don't want to deal with stuff? Don't accumulate it. Etc. I found myself taking copious notes in the wide margins, and re-evaluating my life. Happy I found it.
That said: I did skip over one section relating to "simplifying" health, mainly avoiding doctors/vaccines/western medicine. I happen to think that if you're sick --> go to the doctor who trained for YEARS, but I understand that's not the only view out there. If that stuff also wrankles you, you may appreciate that it's grouped together in one section, easily skipped.
That said: I did skip over one section relating to "simplifying" health, mainly avoiding doctors/vaccines/western medicine. I happen to think that if you're sick --> go to the doctor who trained for YEARS, but I understand that's not the only view out there. If that stuff also wrankles you, you may appreciate that it's grouped together in one section, easily skipped.
January 6, 2013
A life changing book for me. Soon after reading I wanted to get rid of most of my stuff and never purchase anything else unless it truly served a unique purpose in my life. The wonders of life are in the people we surround ourselves and the experiences we have. The things that we purchase mostly serve to clutter our lives and distract from what's most important.
April 10, 2016
Although there is no groundbreaking or new information in this book, I really enjoyed it. Yeah, you can find most of this information out there on various websites, blogs, and in other books, but this is a really nice comprehensive guide that also includes real-life stories of people who have applied these principles to their lives. The theme of the book focuses on figuring out what your values are and then evaluating whether or not how you spend your time and money support your values. The Simple Living Guide seems to emphasize this more than other books I’ve read on this subject and I really liked that - the book is not just a list of things that everyone should do to simplify your life; it is a guide as to how to make your life more simple for you and acknowledges that this is different for everyone.
I continually strive to live a simple life and found that reading this book got me back on track, inspired me to re-evaluate choices I’ve made, and to continue to think about how to make my life align with my values.
I continually strive to live a simple life and found that reading this book got me back on track, inspired me to re-evaluate choices I’ve made, and to continue to think about how to make my life align with my values.
December 12, 2011
I marked this as "read" although I didn't read it all the way through. It would be difficult to do so, I think, since it's so incredibly full of information and suggestions. Instead, I skipped through, reading a bit here and a bit there and focussing my attention closely on those areas of particular interest to me (and then just picked today to say that I was, effectively, done).
While there’s more information in this book than one can really use, that's kind of the point. Luhrs presents snapshots of people engaged in the practice of voluntary simplicity as a way to give the reader ideas for his or her own life. There's no way anyone could do everything in this book, nor should they try.
This isn’t a typical “here’s how to live simply” book that flippantly presents just one way of living simply and leaves out the internal process that precedes the external changes involved in living simply. Rather, it says something more along the lines of, “Here’s the philosophy. Here’s what some people have done to live that philosophy. Maybe something here will work for you.” Identifying one’s values and discovering ways to live them is a very personal and often very difficult process, and while I, too, find the scope of information in the book overwhelming, I appreciate that Luhrs isn’t just giving the same old, “It’s simple, Stupid,” suggestions that shoot down would-be practitioners of voluntary simplicity for not doing it the one “right” way rather than inspiring them to find their own path.
With each suggestion (and I use the term loosely), Luhrs refers back to the philosophy, which is basically to identify your values and align your life with them. For example, in the section about Families, she talks about chores and allowance. She explains that before you decide what to do about chores and allowance, you need to determine what your motivation is. If you want to use chores and allowance to teach your children about money management, you'll handle things one way, If you want to use them to teach the value of work, you'll handle things a different way. She explains that both are valuable lessons, and that it's each parent's decision which lesson they're hoping to teach. She then gives examples of how real families have done things to meet each motivation. In the end, my husband and I decided to do something different from any of the things she suggests, but the ideas got us thinking and got us into a conversation that we'd been avoiding. Our families of origin handled money very differently, and we've been stymied about the best way to teach our daughter the lessons we've acquired over the years. When we're stymied, our natural tendency to procrastinate takes over. Luhrs' suggestions got us over that hurdle, and that's fairly impressive.
So, good (albeit slightly dated) suggestions, love the focus on the philosophy. If you've started doing the inner work of identifying your values and want to read about how other people are living similar values, this is a decent place to start. You can't follow this book from cover to cover and find yourself living simply. Luhrs offers you the tools, and you need to choose which are appropriate for living the values you want to live.
While there’s more information in this book than one can really use, that's kind of the point. Luhrs presents snapshots of people engaged in the practice of voluntary simplicity as a way to give the reader ideas for his or her own life. There's no way anyone could do everything in this book, nor should they try.
This isn’t a typical “here’s how to live simply” book that flippantly presents just one way of living simply and leaves out the internal process that precedes the external changes involved in living simply. Rather, it says something more along the lines of, “Here’s the philosophy. Here’s what some people have done to live that philosophy. Maybe something here will work for you.” Identifying one’s values and discovering ways to live them is a very personal and often very difficult process, and while I, too, find the scope of information in the book overwhelming, I appreciate that Luhrs isn’t just giving the same old, “It’s simple, Stupid,” suggestions that shoot down would-be practitioners of voluntary simplicity for not doing it the one “right” way rather than inspiring them to find their own path.
With each suggestion (and I use the term loosely), Luhrs refers back to the philosophy, which is basically to identify your values and align your life with them. For example, in the section about Families, she talks about chores and allowance. She explains that before you decide what to do about chores and allowance, you need to determine what your motivation is. If you want to use chores and allowance to teach your children about money management, you'll handle things one way, If you want to use them to teach the value of work, you'll handle things a different way. She explains that both are valuable lessons, and that it's each parent's decision which lesson they're hoping to teach. She then gives examples of how real families have done things to meet each motivation. In the end, my husband and I decided to do something different from any of the things she suggests, but the ideas got us thinking and got us into a conversation that we'd been avoiding. Our families of origin handled money very differently, and we've been stymied about the best way to teach our daughter the lessons we've acquired over the years. When we're stymied, our natural tendency to procrastinate takes over. Luhrs' suggestions got us over that hurdle, and that's fairly impressive.
So, good (albeit slightly dated) suggestions, love the focus on the philosophy. If you've started doing the inner work of identifying your values and want to read about how other people are living similar values, this is a decent place to start. You can't follow this book from cover to cover and find yourself living simply. Luhrs offers you the tools, and you need to choose which are appropriate for living the values you want to live.
June 8, 2013
I did not finish this book. I got about 25% of the way through before I had to just put it down. There are a few good basic tips but much of the discussion focuses on the importance of being debt free and saving for the future. These two points are very good practices but, when I stopped, there weren't many points of how to get that way or practices to change. Also this book was published in the late 1990s and much of the emphasis in the discussion points have changed.
An example of this is that much of the discussion is based on if you just put $X into savings at an X% interest rate in X Years you'll have X. Since this book was published, the economy has tanked and interest rates at even 10% of what they were in the 1990s are non-existent in 2013. The emphasis on this point has really dated the book.
Also, some of the "solutions" or stories provided are unrealistic for the masses. There was one story near the point I had to stop reading about an office manager for an LA law firm that got tired of living in LA. She apparently worked out that she could telecommute from her new home in New Mexico (or something like that) and only come to LA once in a while. I am a big fan of "it doesn't hurt to ask" but this seems like an outlier event and not something that everyone can do.
Due to some of these reasons, I just had to stop reading because I was getting mad. Overall I think I have healthy household/life management skills. So I was reading this more for some additional tips and tricks. I do some of the things suggested, like know the importance of saving for the future and working on having that be even more in the future. This book did not help me but it might help those looking for a starting point. I may try to finish the book in the future but I think there are more current and relevant books that have been published and don't revolve around impractical solutions.
An example of this is that much of the discussion is based on if you just put $X into savings at an X% interest rate in X Years you'll have X. Since this book was published, the economy has tanked and interest rates at even 10% of what they were in the 1990s are non-existent in 2013. The emphasis on this point has really dated the book.
Also, some of the "solutions" or stories provided are unrealistic for the masses. There was one story near the point I had to stop reading about an office manager for an LA law firm that got tired of living in LA. She apparently worked out that she could telecommute from her new home in New Mexico (or something like that) and only come to LA once in a while. I am a big fan of "it doesn't hurt to ask" but this seems like an outlier event and not something that everyone can do.
Due to some of these reasons, I just had to stop reading because I was getting mad. Overall I think I have healthy household/life management skills. So I was reading this more for some additional tips and tricks. I do some of the things suggested, like know the importance of saving for the future and working on having that be even more in the future. This book did not help me but it might help those looking for a starting point. I may try to finish the book in the future but I think there are more current and relevant books that have been published and don't revolve around impractical solutions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2010
This slightly tattered book stood out to me while browsing a Goodwill store; I am so thankful I bought this little thing I didn't necessarily "need!"
This book, written in 1997, is the perfect wake-up to all of us who are bogged down by the speed of life. Janet Luhrs is a steadfast believer in "voluntary simplicity" and believes each of us should put away our cell phones and take time to smell the roses. Simplicity is not about depriving yourself but fostering an appreciation for the world and people around you.
Luhrs draws inspiration from real-life stories and even from meditation techniques. She gives hearty advice that is both uplifting and practical. She discusses everything from relationships to money to food.
This Simple Living Guide is a great read for a Sunday afternoon, a beach trip, a plane ride, or any time you need to be brought back down to Earth. You will wish you would've read it sooner!
This book, written in 1997, is the perfect wake-up to all of us who are bogged down by the speed of life. Janet Luhrs is a steadfast believer in "voluntary simplicity" and believes each of us should put away our cell phones and take time to smell the roses. Simplicity is not about depriving yourself but fostering an appreciation for the world and people around you.
Luhrs draws inspiration from real-life stories and even from meditation techniques. She gives hearty advice that is both uplifting and practical. She discusses everything from relationships to money to food.
This Simple Living Guide is a great read for a Sunday afternoon, a beach trip, a plane ride, or any time you need to be brought back down to Earth. You will wish you would've read it sooner!
February 19, 2009
My plan was to read this book and pass it along. Instead, it's still on my shelf and is the book I go back to when I feel like life is getting away from me. The variety of topics lets me find what's appropriate for current circumstances - today it's pressure to schedule every minute of my child's life. Last month it was shop, shop, shopping with friends. Things that don't make me happy but I get caught up in doing. It's also completely changed the way we travel. Something that I didn't realize could be better.
The personal stories add a lot to the tips. A few were a bit unrealistic. Or maybe just too different from my life for me to relate to? But the rest of the book more than makes up for that. If you want to slow down and enjoy life, this is the book for you.
The personal stories add a lot to the tips. A few were a bit unrealistic. Or maybe just too different from my life for me to relate to? But the rest of the book more than makes up for that. If you want to slow down and enjoy life, this is the book for you.
February 10, 2009
Loved Loved Loved this book! It is not a weird hippy-type book, but a practical book with so many ideas that you can pick and choose what you feel will work for you. And the basic foundation is not moving to the country and "living off the land", it's making your life easier so you can spend more time enjoying the things that are really important to you. This is one book that I will actually keep to re-read once or twice a year. I am implementing some of the ideas already and it really feels great to simplify and give yourself to the things that you care about - I recommend this book to all!
Read
July 16, 2007I started the book during breakfast yesterday and I am really getting some good tips from it. It's not merely giving up your large house and moving to the country to raise your own food, but finding a simplicity in the way you live.
As I move away from frenzied deadlines and expectations from my work, I question what I am seeking now. I never did go crazy for shopping at the Nordtroms, but a book store could ruin my budget really fast. So I am looking at the different ways of meeting my needs, but not stuffing a void with things I don't need.
Still reading...
As I move away from frenzied deadlines and expectations from my work, I question what I am seeking now. I never did go crazy for shopping at the Nordtroms, but a book store could ruin my budget really fast. So I am looking at the different ways of meeting my needs, but not stuffing a void with things I don't need.
Still reading...
October 13, 2007
I recommend this book to everybody!! I got this when I decided not to work for a year and a half after I had my second baby. Living on one income was scary but this book helped me enjoy living simple. I learned things that I continue to use even with our 2 incomes now. It can be a guide to live on less money or to plan for an early retirement if you have more money. Living simple is a great way to reduce stress in our busy lives. It also helped me realize what a consumer I was. Living simply can help us all live more gently on our planet.
Read
May 19, 2008I started picking a couple of books of this theme because I felt I needed to ground myself from my rampant consumerism so as to avoid repeating past mistakes. This book does a good job of covering most of the bases you could think of where your life could become complex.
Unique to this particular book on the subject are the real-life stories interjected from people who made a decision to simplify their life and how they did it. Very interesting and since it is a lengthy book for one of this nature, the stories help to break up the how-to portions.
Unique to this particular book on the subject are the real-life stories interjected from people who made a decision to simplify their life and how they did it. Very interesting and since it is a lengthy book for one of this nature, the stories help to break up the how-to portions.
May 30, 2023
THE POPULAR AUTHOR GIVES HELPFUL ADVICE
Author Janet Luhrs wrote in the Introduction to this 1997 book, “When I got involved with voluntary simplicity… I listened and thought it sounded right, but I didn’t really and truly get it..; My little dream was that my family would go off and live in a log cabin in the woods, simply ever after… Six years later I’m still living in the same house in the same city. I still look pretty much the same. But inside I’ve changed… I’ve edited and published a journal called ‘Simple Living’ since 1992. I have interviewed countless people who have simplified their lives in every way imaginable… I read everything I could get my hands on about the subject. And I spent a lot of time thinking about what it all meant. Now, finally, I really, deeply understand … The key word… ‘deliberately.’ … This one word, in my opinion, is the hallmark of a simple life… Simple living is about living deliberately. That’s all. You CHOOSE your existence rather than sailing through life on automatic pilot.” (Pg. xiii-xiv)
She continues, “Living deeply means living consciously… being fully present, fully aware…. Living deeply means living intimately… closely tied to the people, places, and things in your life… Simplicity is not just one thing, one path. There is not an easy recipe for simplicity. There is not a perfect way to live simply… Simplicity is not so much the outward trappings of your life; it is the inner you making decisions. Not the outer you, the one that says you need a certain car or certain house or certain clothes or certain job or degree in order to look good to the world… that is the one that lives far from your essence. That is the one so many of us in Western culture have been trained to follow…The one that keeps us up at night worrying about how we’re going to continue maintaining this image that takes so much money, energy, and time. The that overrides the quiet voice of our essence that is begging to be heard.” (Pg. xv-xvi)
She adds, “Simplicity means stopping for a moment and asking what the heck we are doing with our lives. Simplicity asks whether we need to follow the status quo just because everyone else is doing it. Simplicity asks: Is it right for me? For us? If not, then simplicity gives us the inner strength we’ll need to say no… Simplicity asks: Is it worth is” Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Simplicity gives you the space and consciousness to find out.” (Pg. xvi)
She acknowledges, “A certain level of material comfort is necessary. We all need our own nests, food, and clothing in order to survive. We need some kind of work to do, paid or unpaid. And as human beings, we need more than the bare minimum; we need a certain level of aesthetics. The trouble it, most of us don’t know when to stop. We get to a certain level of comfort and then think, ‘This feels nice, I’d better strive for some more.’ The next thing we know we’re buried in debt, stress, and complication. Then we’ve lost our fire, our passion for life.” Pg. xix)
This book will be of keen interest to those trying to ‘simplify’ their lives.
Author Janet Luhrs wrote in the Introduction to this 1997 book, “When I got involved with voluntary simplicity… I listened and thought it sounded right, but I didn’t really and truly get it..; My little dream was that my family would go off and live in a log cabin in the woods, simply ever after… Six years later I’m still living in the same house in the same city. I still look pretty much the same. But inside I’ve changed… I’ve edited and published a journal called ‘Simple Living’ since 1992. I have interviewed countless people who have simplified their lives in every way imaginable… I read everything I could get my hands on about the subject. And I spent a lot of time thinking about what it all meant. Now, finally, I really, deeply understand … The key word… ‘deliberately.’ … This one word, in my opinion, is the hallmark of a simple life… Simple living is about living deliberately. That’s all. You CHOOSE your existence rather than sailing through life on automatic pilot.” (Pg. xiii-xiv)
She continues, “Living deeply means living consciously… being fully present, fully aware…. Living deeply means living intimately… closely tied to the people, places, and things in your life… Simplicity is not just one thing, one path. There is not an easy recipe for simplicity. There is not a perfect way to live simply… Simplicity is not so much the outward trappings of your life; it is the inner you making decisions. Not the outer you, the one that says you need a certain car or certain house or certain clothes or certain job or degree in order to look good to the world… that is the one that lives far from your essence. That is the one so many of us in Western culture have been trained to follow…The one that keeps us up at night worrying about how we’re going to continue maintaining this image that takes so much money, energy, and time. The that overrides the quiet voice of our essence that is begging to be heard.” (Pg. xv-xvi)
She adds, “Simplicity means stopping for a moment and asking what the heck we are doing with our lives. Simplicity asks whether we need to follow the status quo just because everyone else is doing it. Simplicity asks: Is it right for me? For us? If not, then simplicity gives us the inner strength we’ll need to say no… Simplicity asks: Is it worth is” Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Simplicity gives you the space and consciousness to find out.” (Pg. xvi)
She acknowledges, “A certain level of material comfort is necessary. We all need our own nests, food, and clothing in order to survive. We need some kind of work to do, paid or unpaid. And as human beings, we need more than the bare minimum; we need a certain level of aesthetics. The trouble it, most of us don’t know when to stop. We get to a certain level of comfort and then think, ‘This feels nice, I’d better strive for some more.’ The next thing we know we’re buried in debt, stress, and complication. Then we’ve lost our fire, our passion for life.” Pg. xix)
This book will be of keen interest to those trying to ‘simplify’ their lives.
January 8, 2022
While I am trying to embrace simple living and the basic principles, this book is quite dated.
I think if it were updated it would be more beneficial. Also, I disliked the parts of the book where she profiles people who choose to live off the grid, or make a major life change embracing simplicity. Most, if not all the profiles are of people of privilege who have the funds to walk away from their "former" life.
I think if it were updated it would be more beneficial. Also, I disliked the parts of the book where she profiles people who choose to live off the grid, or make a major life change embracing simplicity. Most, if not all the profiles are of people of privilege who have the funds to walk away from their "former" life.
July 25, 2021
The irony of this book is that it's about simplicity, and it's 444 pages in paperback form.
While there is some good information in this book, I don't care for the author's writing style - it could be simplified and pared down. The author needed a good editor. It's far too wordy.
Also, it was published in 1997.
While there is some good information in this book, I don't care for the author's writing style - it could be simplified and pared down. The author needed a good editor. It's far too wordy.
Also, it was published in 1997.
December 22, 2022
While there is some timeless information in this book, a lot of the information is out of date or no longer relevant. In addition, for a book on simple living, it is not nearly as concise as it could be. Many of the chapters are long meandering slogs which could have been cut down by half or more and still conveyed the same information.
January 29, 2018
In addition to being rather dated, this book felt a lot like it was mostly quotes from other books, with a few profiles of people sprinkled throughout. I wanted to like it, but it ending up being a bit of a slog.
December 18, 2017
The Simple Living Guide (Paperback)
by Janet Luhrs
by Janet Luhrs
February 6, 2018
Promised alot
I didn't find this book relevant to my life in many ways there are a few Good. Suggestions. I think this book is based more for the Upper Middle Class
I didn't find this book relevant to my life in many ways there are a few Good. Suggestions. I think this book is based more for the Upper Middle Class
April 12, 2019
Reading this huge book is NOT the way to simplify your life.
January 2, 2020
My new bible!
June 3, 2020
This book started me on the path to right-size my life.
October 8, 2020
It's not really bringing much to to think about. I read it but skimmed some of it because it got a little monotonous.
January 4, 2022
Very informative and learned so much on how to live more simply. Is of course outdated but the information can be transferred easily. Good read!
April 5, 2024
It’s quite retro and quaint at times but so much still holds up. The main point is that being creative will get you so much more joy out of life that owning more and bigger things will
September 30, 2024
Filled with tips to help simplify several aspects of one's life.
Written before the time of internet and cell phones, there would be a few more tips today.
Written before the time of internet and cell phones, there would be a few more tips today.
August 8, 2015
Life frustrates you on some level, possibly more deeply than conscious knowing. You frustrate yourself. Your stuff and your money and your time are all enemies. Something needs to change. You pick up this book and get to the business of reading it.
After two chapters you really begin to like Janet Luhrs, and if you persist, you settle in. You read stories about people who have done much to overcome the frustrations you are feeling, or frustrations not unlike them. Change becomes possible perhaps; in any case, the realm of possibility opens up. There is hope, and by the end of the book you feel peculiarly excited. I felt a little giddy.
But you must persist. This is a book that will make you feel good, but you must then make the (possibly enormous) extra effort to act. If you do not, you will find yourself re-reading the book a year or two later, maybe with the same frustrations still nagging. If you pick up this book, vow to yourself that you will take an action or two suggested in the text, and you will be much happier you read it. Suggestions are generally indirect, not in your face, so there's no direct pressure to do it "right."
I personally did not do so, and I'm looking at my third read coming up sometime. It's a great book, and I'll be inspired once again.
After two chapters you really begin to like Janet Luhrs, and if you persist, you settle in. You read stories about people who have done much to overcome the frustrations you are feeling, or frustrations not unlike them. Change becomes possible perhaps; in any case, the realm of possibility opens up. There is hope, and by the end of the book you feel peculiarly excited. I felt a little giddy.
But you must persist. This is a book that will make you feel good, but you must then make the (possibly enormous) extra effort to act. If you do not, you will find yourself re-reading the book a year or two later, maybe with the same frustrations still nagging. If you pick up this book, vow to yourself that you will take an action or two suggested in the text, and you will be much happier you read it. Suggestions are generally indirect, not in your face, so there's no direct pressure to do it "right."
I personally did not do so, and I'm looking at my third read coming up sometime. It's a great book, and I'll be inspired once again.
December 22, 2016
ife distracts easily and passes by without being noticed. The Simple Living Guide is written as an antidote, one which both prompts people to think more deeply about their lives -- how the ordinary can take on meaning -- and which provides resources for living an engaged life. After an initial section on inner simplicity, separate sections concern personal finance, food, health and exercise, homes, travel, gardening, entertainment, and so on, with a special section near the end devoted to clearing out clutter. Though distinct, the chapters link together. Each section is laced with real-life examples and book summaries drawn far and wide, and ends with a larger testimonial and list of resources. The only fly in the ointment, and it is a truly minuscule fly, is the book's datedness: written in 1997, it reminds readers that cell phones are useful, but unnecessary given the widespread availability of phone booths. Ah, but time marches on. The majority of her advice rings as true today as it would been back in those halcyon days, but a work written this century would have included the revolutionary impact of ubiquitous wireless connections and 'smart' electronics; her multitude of pages on cheap car-renting strategies is practically moot considering car-sharing services. Luhrs' sections on inner simplicity and personal finance are exceptional, however.
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