10 Best Books About Simple Living: Less Stuff & More Of What Matters
Books about simple living can be a great resource if you’re looking to declutter, minimise and simplify your life! These books guide how to live a more intentional life, reduce stress, and focus on what truly matters. If you’re looking to downsize your possessions, simplify your schedule, or just live a more mindful life, you are sure to find a great option in one of these simple living books!
Here you will find a list of some of the best books on simple living, to bring you some great motivational reads and practical advice. Whether you’re just starting your journey toward simple living or you’re looking for new ideas and inspiration, you will find your next great read here!
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10 Best Books on Simple Living
If you’re looking to simplify your life, there’s no better place to start than with a good book – but not all books are created equal, in any genre.
The best option is a book that gives practical tips and processes to simplify your home and lifestyle. Simple living is a valuable part of being more intentional with your life since less stuff means more time for the things you really want to focus on!
From decluttering your home to finding inner peace, these titles offer a wealth of wisdom and insight to help you live a more fulfilling, intentional life. So grab a cup of tea, find a cozy spot, and get ready to be inspired!
The More of Less by Joshua Becker
Joshua Becker is one of the leading voices in the minimalist movement, and his book “The More of Less” is a must-read for anyone looking to simplify their life and home.
This book will guide you on how to declutter your home, let go of material possessions, and focus on the things that truly matter.
Even if you aren’t looking to go for a minimalist lifestyle, Joshua Becker is full of wisdom that will help you take small but meaningful steps towards living with less and finding more happiness – away from material possessions.
He also has another book, The Minimalist Home, which is a little more of a practical approach to decluttering your home, compared to The More Of Less, which digs into the reasons for pursuing a more simple life.
The Joy Of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify by Francine Jay
The Joy Of Less is a highly recommended book for anyone wanting to simplify their life. With this book, Francine Jay shows that being a minimalist isn’t about having less, but rather it’s about having the right things.
She shares practical tips on how to declutter and organise your home, as well as simple habits to adopt in order to maintain a clutter-free lifestyle.
This book is also a great resource for those who are struggling with the emotional attachment to their possessions and offers guidance on letting go of items that no longer serve us.
Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More by Courtney Carver
Courtney Carver’s book, Soulful Simplicity, is a beautiful journey towards living a simpler and more intentional life.
She shares her personal story of how she simplified her life after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis – which forced her to reevaluate her priorities.
The book offers practical advice on decluttering your home, simplifying your schedule, and priority management.
But what sets this book apart is the emphasis on finding joy and purpose in living with less. Courtney encourages her readers to slow down and be mindful of their choices, rather than being caught up in the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Destination Simple: Everyday Rituals for a Slower Life by Brooke McAlary
In Destination Simple, Brooke McAlary shares practical and achievable ways to simplify your life and create a slower, more intentional way of living.
She emphasises the importance of slowing down and enjoying the present moment, rather than constantly striving for more.
The book offers simple rituals and habits that can be incorporated into your daily life to reduce stress and increase mindfulness.
Brooke also touches on decluttering and organising your physical space, but her main focus is on decluttering the mind and finding inner peace.
She is also the host of the popular blog and podcast, The Slow Home, which further explores the concept of slow living.
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store By Cait Flanders
In The Year of Less, Cait Flanders shares her personal journey of living with less for a year.
She challenges herself to give up shopping and declutter her belongings, while also facing her struggles with alcohol and debt.
Through this process, she learns valuable lessons about consumerism, gratitude, and self-worth.
Cait’s honest and relatable writing style makes this book a refreshing and inspiring read for anyone looking to simplify their life.
She also shares practical tips and resources for decluttering, budgeting, and living a more intentional life.
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki
Fumio Sasaki’s book, Goodbye, Things, takes a deep dive into the philosophy of minimalism and its impact on our daily lives.
Unlike decluttering professional, Marie Kondo of The Life-Changing
Magic Of Tidying Up, Sasaki is just a regular guy who wanted to change the way he was living, embracing his own version of the simple living movement.
He shares his own personal journey of accumulating and then discarding possessions in pursuit of a simpler and more meaningful life. Through this process, he discovers the true value of minimalism – not just in terms of physical possessions, but also in decluttering our minds and finding contentment within ourselves.
Sasaki’s book offers practical tips on how to declutter and organise your home, as well as insights into the psychological benefits of living with less.
The Happiness Project By Gretchen Rubin
This one is a little different to most of the others on the list, but one I love and think it deserves to make the list! It really is a great book and one I have listened too more than once in audiobook format.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin is a self-help book that explores the idea of actively working towards being happier in our daily lives.
Rubin shares her own journey and experiences as she dedicates a year to focus on different areas of her life, from family and relationships to work and personal growth. And of course, decluttering and simplifying her home.
Through this process, she discovers simple yet powerful ways to bring more joy and contentment into her life.
The book also offers practical advice on how to declutter our minds, build better habits and find balance in our daily routines.
Overall, The Happiness Project is a great read for anyone looking to improve their overall well-being and find more happiness in their daily lives.
Zen: The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo Masuno
If you’re looking for a book that can help you achieve a more peaceful and simple life, then Zen: The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo Masuno is a great choice.
Masuno provides practical advice on how to incorporate Zen philosophy into your daily life. The book covers a wide range of topics, from decluttering your home to finding peace in nature to practising mindfulness in your daily activities.
Masuno doesn’t just talk about abstract concepts but provides concrete steps that readers can take.
The Joy Of Missing Out by Tanya Dalton
In a world that constantly bombards us with the idea of “doing it all” and always being busy, Tanya Dalton’s book The Joy Of Missing Out offers a refreshing perspective on the value of slowing down and simplifying.
Through her personal experiences as well as insights from experts in productivity and time management, Dalton shows readers how to let go of the pressure to do more and instead focus on what truly matters.
She also delves into the concept of decluttering not just our physical spaces, but also our schedules and priorities. By learning to say no to things that don’t align with our values and goals, we can create a simpler and more fulfilling life.
Overall, The Joy Of Missing Out is a must-read for anyone feeling overwhelmed and seeking a more intentional and joyful way of living. It’s a reminder to slow down, simplify, and find joy in the little moments that truly matter.
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist
In Present Over Perfect, author Shauna Niequist shares her personal journey of leaving behind a life of constant busyness and striving for perfection to instead embrace a slower, more present way of living.
Through honest and relatable stories, Niequist encourages readers to let go of the need for external validation and success, and instead focus on what truly brings fulfillment and joy.
She also discusses the importance of self-care and setting boundaries, as well as finding a balance between work and rest. By learning to be present in the moment and let go of striving for perfection, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Filled with thought-provoking insights and practical tips, Present Over Perfect is a great reminder to slow down, simplify, and live in the present moment. It’s a must-read for anyone feeling burnt out and longing for a more soulful way of living.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Greg McKeown’s Essentialism offers a refreshing perspective on productivity and success. The core idea of the book is to focus on doing less, but better. McKeown argues that by eliminating non-essential tasks and commitments, we can create space for what truly matters to us.
He also emphasises the importance of saying “no” and setting boundaries in order to protect our time and energy. By doing so, we can avoid being pulled in too many directions and instead focus on our priorities.
McKeown’s book is filled with practical strategies and examples to help readers apply essentialism to their own lives. His message of less but better is a powerful reminder that success does not mean doing it all or having it all, but rather focusing on what truly brings value and meaning to our lives.
Final Thoughts: Best Simple Living Books
If you’re striving for a simpler life, you will find some of the best simple living books on this list that will help you simplify every aspect of your life. From intentional living and making choices that are more in line with what is most important to us to finding a step-by-step guide for decluttering your home and life.
While some of these books delve into sustainable living and the minimalist lifestyle, others are more about staying connected and present, reducing the unnecessary from our everyday life and enjoying every area of your life more.
Whether you are looking for a practical how-to guide or a philosophical approach to simplifying, these books offer valuable insights and guidance on living a more intentional and fulfilling life.
Which one will you read first?
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