Instead it uses Millburn and Nicodemus’ anecdotal examples to provide a sample 21 day journey to “strip away the superfluous so we can focus on what’s important”. I appreciated the anecdotes that were related to her year-long challenge but some others were simply anecdotes that happened to occur during it and I failed to see the connection.

The Wire "An array of voices and perspectives kept from being bewildering by the editors’ clear and sensible organization. There were also passages relating to gifts and getting children to declutter that went a little too far for me.To him, ‘minimal’ was this word to describe why they were so uncomfortable, because the viewer does not recognise the usual symbols of an artwork. The book tells a personal story of a family who overcame their overwhelming debt and liberated themselves from their material possessions, which had taken over their lives. So it was really refreshing to read Joshua’s book and find it full of common sense, wisdom, personal experiences and practical, reasoned advice. One of the things I like about this workbook is its minimalist design that provides a focused environment, encouraging children to engage in the task at hand. If you love the idea of minimalism but think that it goes too far with decor and furniture, you'll love this book.

Influenced by history, culture, and her own experience, Platt created this gem of a book that will surely be read for years. He says that the time taken to get it out of the cupboard and plug it in isn’t as annoying as you think but I’m afraid I disagree there. This relatable story made me realize that minimalism is not merely a movement but rather a way of living that can bring spiritual and mental peace. It’s not terribly different from most self-help philosophies but the nice thing about Minimalism is that it’s simple, actionable, and can be done slowly and incrementally – with little daily actions combined with a holistic approach that’s more about living well than about giving away stuff (though the latter leads to the former).

The first is that you shouldn’t hold onto stuff that you think you might be able to sell or gift to a specific person later.

The workbook is perfect for use at home or in a Montessori-inspired classroom setting, printed on a single side at a size of 8.This is all well and good, it simply wasn’t what I was expecting, nor the kind of book I was looking for. In this book, Becker offers practical guidelines for simplifying and streamlining our lives and homes. Some of the suggestions we were already doing, but there are some really well thought out and practical ideas for ensuring you don’t end up needing to do such a large scale decluttering ever again. But, as this book reveals, minimalism was much more than just a classical phenomenon; it revolutionized everything from avant-garde to psychedelic counterculture.