Since beginning my journey towards living a more intentional life, I’ve found books to be one of the most helpful resources in getting (and keeping) myself motivated throughout the long process of downsizing my belongings and realigning my life with what matters most. Having resources to turn to when I get overwhelmed with the decluttering process (which is often) and the sheer amount of stuff I somehow acquired over the years has been a game-changer. Finding not only practical insights and words of wisdom in the pages I read, but also down-to-earth, relateable stories and empathetic encouragements has been instrumental in the progress I’ve been able to make.
Through my readings I’ve found there is not a one-size-fits-all version of minimalism to aspire to. On the contrary, every story I’ve read has begun and ended differently from the previous. Some people go through life-altering events that force them to re-evaluate their lives and change the way they interact with their stuff, while others (like me) simply wake up one day and realize that somewhere along the way, their stuff ended up owning them (rather than the other way around). There is no “magic number” of things you must own to be considered a minimalist. Nor do you have to have white-washed walls and simple twigs for decorations around your home. You can be a minimalist and have color bursting from every inch of your home and wardrobe. You can be a minimalist and have a library of books you adore. You can be a minimalist and appreciate all the little trinkets you bring back from your travels around the world. And guess what? Your minimalist lifestyle will almost certainly look different from mine! And mine will most definitely look different from the next person’s. How liberating! because this means that a minimalist lifestyle is able to meet you where you are in life (that’s right, you!), teach you about what you value most, and bring you back to it. That’s the incredible, soul-centering power of minimalism.
And while everyone’s journey and implementation of a minimalist lifestyle will look different, they all incorporate the theme of eliminating the excess to make room for the important stuff (which turns out, isn’t stuff at all). Minimalism is a mindset, a mentality, a lifestyle for how you approach every day and prioritize the moments happening over the things you’re using. It’s more than an aesthetic. It’s more than a number. And in fact, it’s more than the individual things themselves. And at the end of the day, isn’t that the entire point?!
All this being said, I’ve learned a tremendous amount about what it means to be a minimalist, not from a strict list of rules I found somewhere online, but from the very unique and very real stories of people just like you and me who wanted to change their lives for the better and gave minimalism a try. It’s in the pages of these books that I share below where I discovered minimalism doesn’t have to be as restrictive and exclusive as it sounds. Instead it can be more rejuvenating and more liberating to you, your life, and your relationships than anything else you try.
Whether you are hesitant to give minimalism a chance or have already decided that it could be a lifestyle for you, I’d encourage you to check out the books I’m reviewing below. Sometimes all it takes to make the leap is a story that resonates with you, your experiences in life, and where you are. And let me tell you, there are tons (TONS!) of books out there on simple living, living with intention, living a more meaningful life, and minimalism. So many, in fact, that I’m convinced there is a story out there for everyone. (Even if it isn’t one of the ones I share below.)
Today I’m sharing twelve of the books that personally resonated most with me. These are the books that have changed my perspective on minimalism and have led me toward this vision of living a more intentional life. I’ve broken the books up into 3 different categories–The Why, The How, and the Challenges. The first category covers stories that answer the question of why you might want to consider living more simply. These are more motivational and inspirational to get you started on your journey. The second category focuses on how to achieve a more minimalist life. These provide practical tips and insights on how to declutter your home and reapproach your daily habits. And the third category discusses mini challenges you can try out today to live more intentionally. And guess what? None of the challenges require you to go out and buy anything new or even to donate all your stuff. They are just simple challenges for you to try out a new way of living now. For those that get overwhelmed by twelve different book choices, I’ve also denoted my top 6 picks with a * if you don’t know where to start. (I know I didn’t!) These are the best-of-the-bests (in my opinion) and the ones I absolutely LOVE and plan to read and re-read again.
So without further ado, here are my favorite books on minimalism! And let me know if I left out any of your favorites. I’m always up for new book recommendations!
…
~ Books On Why You Should Try Simple Living ~
The books in this section are inspiring and motivational. They are the reasons I felt so compelled to change my life and live one of more meaning and intention. These books are a great place to start if you need an extra push to be persuaded, but also are great to read (or re-read in my case) along the downsizing process to keep your spirits up. These books provide the why living more simply is worth your time, energy, and effort and provide a glimpse into what living more intentionally can look like for you.
*Chasing Slow by Erin Lochner
Erin’s book was the very first I read in this category of simple living and it verbalized a lot of what I had been feeling…unfulfilled, unbalanced, exhausted, and left wondering what I’m doing wrong at the end of the day. Her story helped me to start letting go of things and instead to embrace all the moments going on around me. In her book, Erin tells the story of her journey toward chasing a slower, more intentional way of living. It may not be the easy route, and in fact may be harder than simply going with the norm of busyness surrounding the American life nowadays. But for her, pursuing this slower way of life and making a conscious decision to live with more intention every single day has made all the difference for her.
*Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver
In today’s world we are often told to work more, have more, do more, and that is exactly what Courtney aimed for as she became an adult. But after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she was forced to reevaluate her life and instead aim for one free of the mental and physical stressors of constantly staying busy and in debt. In her book, she not only gives the personal account of her journey into living more intentionally, but also gives justification for why we should all pursue less to create more–more space, more time, more love. The latter of which is the most important reason for living simply–to get back to love.
*You Can Buy Happiness (And It’s Cheap) by Tammy Strobel
Tammy is an incredible writer and her style/voice speaks so much to me on a personal level. Perhaps that is why her book is my favorite of the bunch. Reading her story is like talking to a best friend about all the interesting things that have happened in her life. Tammy talks about her journey in downsizing and moving into a tiny house. But she also shares the stories of the people that she meets along the way and proves that everyone’s version of “simple living” is their own, and no one’s vision of what that looks like is better or more right than another’s.
*Minimalism: Live A Meaningful Life by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
In the experience of Joshua and Ryan, minimalism is about eliminating the excess in our lives and removing our dependence on material things to make room for the what really matters (not things at all). In this no-nonsense guide to creating a more meaningful life, Joshua and Ryan focus on the importance of health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution and how incorporating these “things” into our lives will embue them with all the meaning and intention we desire. They introduce these topics by discussing their personal experiences and life choices which led them to these revelations–lives that used to be characterized as living the “American Dream” but didn’t hold happiness for either author. This is a quick read but one you will want to hold on for reference and read again in your journey to going minimalist.
The Big Tiny by Dee Williams
If you’ve ever been curious to know what type of person would give up nearly all of their worldly possessions and move into a tiny house, then this book is for you! Dee Williams talks about her life as it led her to downsizing and why she decided to personally build her tiny home on wheels from the ground up. It’s an incredible story and a compelling look into her life. This book is for anyone who wants to know how downsizing and living with less changed the life of one woman who started an entire movement of tiny home dwellers.
…
~ Books on How To Declutter, Organize, and Simplify ~
These books are ones which get more into the nitty-gritty of how to declutter your home and live more intentionally. They provide advice on downsizing and getting rid of the excess in your life. If you have already decided that decluttering is your next step, you might consider picking one (or more) of these up on how best to go about the process.
*The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
If you have ever considered spring cleaning your home or even if you just keep up with best-selling titles, then I’m sure you’ve heard of this book. This book gives practical advice on how to declutter your space in one marathon go and keep it that way for good. Marie gives specific criteria for getting rid of excess and keeping only what will bring you joy. It’s more a process of deciding what to keep than deciding what to let go of. If you have already decided that decluttering is something you want to invest your time in, then this is the next best step you can take in making it happen. She also has an illustrated sequel called Spark Joy if you want even more direction!
Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
In her book, Bea shares her journey to simple living by drastically reducing the amount of waste her family producs (which is down to 1 quart of garbage per year!!!). She shares her personal advice and tried-and-true secrets on just how you can make this a reality for yourself and your family as well. While the majority of people won’t implement everything that Bea recommends, her book is a fantastic resource full of practical how-to’s if you are looking to reduce your impact on the environment and live more simply.
*Simple Matters by Erin Boyle
Erin is an expert in small-space living and conscious consumption while keeping true to her aesthetic and style. In her book, she gives practical guidance and personal insight from experience into living more resourcefully, getting creative with storage solutions, living with less, and finding the everyday beauty in simple things. Her style is both aspirational and attainable, and the pictures in this book are gorgeous inspiration for any aspiring minimalist.
The More of Less by Joshua Becker
In his book, Joshua talks about his personal journey into minimalism, which started one Saturday afternoon as he was attempting to clean out an overflowing garage full of stuff, and gives practical tips on the downsizing process while keeping it real for families with kids. He also shows that minimalism isn’t about what it takes away from your life, but rather what it gives back to your life–fullness, joy, and the ability to go after your dreams.
The Joy of Less by Francine Jay
This is an all-in-one guide for decluttering, organizing, and simplifying your life using the STREAMLINE method, which is easily applied to any space in your home. I love her easy-to follow instructions and practical tips to not only downsizing your belongings but of maintaining this simpler lifestyle for good.
…
~ Simple Living Challenges To Try ~
Whether you are the competitve type and like the challenge of a minimalist experiment, or are the type who has always wanted to go minimalist but wasn’t sure if you could actually do it, this is the section for you!
The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno
Dave lived an entire year using only 100 things. And guess what? To his surprise, it wasn’t that hard at all. As it turns out, we tend to surround ourselves with a lot of things we don’t need or even use. We become accustomed to having the stuff around even when it goes unused for years. Sometimes all it takes to understanding this reality is simply deciding to live with less and realizing it’s not that different from how we live now. While Dave permanently got rid of everything except his 100 items over the duration of his challenge, you could also try living with 100 things temporarily and just put the rest away until after the challenge. What 100 items would you choose? (P.S. – Stay tuned for my version of The 100 Thing Challenge: Summer Internship Edition coming soon.)
The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
Cait went on a shopping freeze for an entire year to cut back on her spending habits, get out of debt, and deal with some of the personal issues she had been hiding behind. By spending less and not allowing herself to mindlessly shop, Cait found a greater freedom for living life without the stress of the financial chains that had been holding her captive for years. This uber honest account of her year of less provides a vulnerable yet valuable experience we can all learn something from. What would happen if you only shopped when something got used up or needed replacing?
Project 333 by Courtney Carver
Courtney (of the book Soulful Simplicity, described above) decided to use only 33 pieces of clothing over 3 months to see if she could live with less in her wardrobe. Through the process she discovered that not only did no one at her office notice she was rewearing a lot of the same clothes week in and week out, but also that she felt completely at ease with the number of clothes and different outfits she could put together with a limited wardrobe. She proved to herself that she could indeed live with less in her closet, which gave her more time to live and enjoy time with family. Have you tried a capsule wardrobe yet?
10×10 Challenge by Lee Vosburgh
Lee is a responsible style blogger with a lean closet. Every season (4x per year), she hosts the 10×10 Challenge, during which she and hundreds of other people style 10 pieces of clothing 10 different ways over 10 days. It’s a great first step towards trying out minimalism, a micro capsule wardrobe, and practicing contentment with what you have (without needing to buy or even get rid of anything). I have done 5 different 10×10 Challenges so far and love learning new things about my style each time! You can check out my 10×10 Challenges here, if you are interested. Have you joined in on a 10×10 Challenge before? What 10 items would you pick for this season?
What about you? Do you have any other books on minimalism you love?
You might also like…Thoughts On Slowing Down This Year and Finding Balance.
Photos by Noah Berg
No Comments