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Graceful Simplicity: Toward a Philosophy and Politics of Simple Living

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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).

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.

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.

I found this book interesting and thoughtful, but the ancient philosophy and historical examination of the movement towards a simpler life seemed to be an exercise in "Look how smart I am!". The examination of the politics and economics behind the difficulty most families would experience in trying to cut back were very eye-opening and the end solutions about government invervention to try to enrich the life of American citizens more was interesting, but unlikely to occur. Overall, an interesting book, but if you're really interested in this topic I'd reccommend The Two-Income Trap, which is a more well-written discussion of the topic and more pertinent to an individual's need to consume less and make their life more simple.

Segal lost me when he went into Greek philosophy et seq. But he does alert us to very important problems: 1) the cost of Housing, Transportation et al. have been rising much faster than family incomes; and 2)that families are putting more time into work and commuting to stay abreast. But he offers no real solution. As it happens the problem was forcast and the real solution enunciated 40 years ago, by Costantinos Doxiadis, "the Aristoteles Onassis of City Planning. It was in "Architecture in Transition" by Doxiadis. He called it Ekistics. It was implemented by Doxiadis in the design of Islamabad and by Jaime Lerner in Curitiba Brazil, arguably the best-planned city in the world. It is too late to put a lot of toothpaste back in the tube, but as long as city planners disregard Ekistics things willl get worse.