Graceful Simplicity: Toward a Philosophy and Politics of Simple Living [Hardcover]

Jerome M. Segal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1999

A landmark work about American lifestyles at the end of the century.

Despite our economic abundance, "the good life" has proved evasive. Millions of Americans long for a simpler life, with more time for friends and family, for reading a good book or taking a long walk in the woods. Instead our lives are frantic, hectic, and harried--we live devoid of almost any element of graceful existence.

In Graceful Simplicity, Jerome M. Segal, philosopher, political activist, and former staff member of the House Budget Committee, expands and deepens the contemporary discourse on simple living. He articulates a particular conception of simple living--one rooted in beauty, peace of mind, appreciativeness, and generosity of spirit. At the same time, he critiques much of the "simple living movement" for believing that we can achieve this as isolated individuals if only we freed ourselves from over consumption. Segal argues persuasively that we have created a society in which human needs can only be met successfully at high levels of income. Instead of individual renunciation, he calls for a politics of simplicity that would put the facilitation of simple living at the heart of our approach to social and economic policy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Segal's thought-provoking and energizing manifesto is partly a call to live a balanced life unyoked from the never-ending pursuit of money, partly a homily against material greed and partly a utopian economic blueprint for reordering society. "Graceful simplicity," in his definition, not only means scaling back consumption and working less but also implies the cultivation of meaningful activity, aesthetic appreciation, bonds of family and friendship. Rather than continually berating Americans for overconsumption, Segal, a social philosopher and former staff member of the House Budget Committee, trots out facts and figures to prove that the cost of meeting basic economic needs?food, housing, transportation, health care, education?has risen dramatically in recent years. So, to make the good life a workable proposition, he advocates a "politics of simple living," an agenda with scattershot suggestions like the following: replace paid higher education with free colleges and universities (an objective readily within the nation's budget, he insists); phase in extra holidays so that workers get a three-day weekend every other week; create a federal "simple living tax credit" for people who cut back on expenses and couples who move away from the two full-time wage-earner model; revive public transportation and build cars to last indefinitely. Sprinkled with the wisdom of Aristotle, Benjamin Franklin, Thoreau, Quaker theorists and Enlightenment thinkers, Segal's assault on the assumption that "more is better" will hearten readers tempted to "downshift" out of the rat race. Agent, Bedford Book Works.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Segal (Agency and Alienation: A Theory of Human Presence, Rowman & Littlefield, 1991) advocates an approach to life centered on gratitude and human connection rather than possession and achievement. He evokes a compelling portrait of the rich possibilities of life with social resources committed to education, environmental beauty, and economic security for all. Unfortunately, he seems unfamiliar with theories of Weber and Marx suggesting that the complexity and demanding pace of American life are rooted in capitalism. He argues that well-run cities offer the best chance for a satisfying yet modest life, but he ignores the role of white flight in the decline of urban livability, lamenting the lack of urban "safe" neighborhoods and "good" schools without acknowledging these as racial codes. Segal's call for political change wanders through religious and philosophical territory without acknowledging Socialist states (e.g., Sweden) that have achieved some of these goals. The book ultimately falls short but might find an audience in larger public libraries.?Paula Dempsey, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company; 1st edition (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805056793
• ISBN-13: 978-0805056792
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,127,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If I can take only one book into mid-life, this is it., May 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Graceful Simplicity: Toward a Philosophy and Politics of Simple Living (Hardcover)

Graceful Simplicity asks and attempts to answer the very big questions--why are we here? What's important? And how can we get more of it?

After taking the reader on a tour of the meaning of "the good life" through the ages, philosophy prof/Hill staffer Segal offers a definition of real progress for us today, and bravely outlines concrete prescriptions to get us there.

Others advocate downshifting and opting out. Segal resolutely and compellingly argues that's not enough. Millions can't reasonably afford it, and alienated pockets of downshifters do not a civil society make.

Instead, he advocates, why not build a politics that enables a good life for pretty much anybody? Sure, his policy prescriptions aren't as detailed and polished as the Contract for America(see Publishers Weekly review above), but who would disagree that looming college costs for our children jam millions of us into high stress, low quality-of-life careers? And who else out there has worked this hard through the details of moving equitably from more to better; from growth to real progress?

Jerome Segal's writing is as graceful as the book's cover. His analysis is borne out of his years as a philosophy professor, combined with a decade on Capitol Hill. Graceful Simplicity is at once provocative, pragmatic, insightful and enduring. Take it on vacation, demand it as next month's book group title, give it to your best friends (you'll rise three notches overnight).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jerry Segal's graceful simplicity is a better life, December 18, 1998

By 

John Farmer ([e-mail]) (Greensboro, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Graceful Simplicity: Toward a Philosophy and Politics of Simple Living (Hardcover)

Jerry Segal has written an important book for those interested in creating greater meaning and enjoyment in their lives -- that is, for everyone.

Jerry Segal has developed deep ideas about the meaning of a good life, ideas that have many parallels in religious thought, but which are not a part of any one religious tradition.

His exposition is highly practical, while seeking to change one's thoughts about what is a good life, and how to pursue it.

Many parts of the book speak to professionals in philosophy and public policy, which is appropriate for a philospher with deep interests in public affairs, and long experience in Washington D.C.

The best parts of the book speak to all of us who want to become more creative, feel more in control of our lives, and have a greater sense of self-worth through contributions to our community.

It's a rigorous analysis of the excesses of consumption in our society, along with the poverty of our collective spirit. But it is also an optimistic book, in that fairly simple steps can improve our experience of living.

Read the book. Be a better person.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A different approach to voluntary simplicity, August 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Graceful Simplicity: Toward a Philosophy and Politics of Simple Living (Hardcover)

For those sick of the yuppie Elaine St. James-type of voluntary simplicity (you know, simplifying your life means nothing more than driving your Mercedes less often!), Segal examines why "simple living" works better on paper than in practice. A dense read--there are no cutesy stories or lightweight filler in Graceful Simplicity. The book's beginning and end are its strongest parts. The "interlude," besides being a pretentious chapter title, is self-indulgent. It's like the author wants to show his esoteric literary knowledge. It doesn't work, and distracts from the rest of the book. Overall, a thoughtful and scholarly re-examination of what voluntary simplicity really means.