Living With Less (Simply for Students) [Paperback]

Joshua Becker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2012 | Series: Simply for Students

Since the day you were born, you've been told to pursue more. Ads from every TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, billboard, and website constantly scream at you with the message that more is better. But more is not necessarily better, declares Joshua Becker, a pastor, author, and blogger. There's a far better way to live life, he says a way that recognizes the empty promises of consumerism and champions the pursuit of living simply and scripturally. In Living With Less, Joshua will guide you through biblical teachings on possessions and his own personal experience with minimalism living with only the essential. You'll see how his life was transformed by this Jesus-centered choice that rejects the flow of our culture. This book will challenge you to spend your hours, energy, and resources in ways that draw you closer to the heart of Jesus.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Today's teenagers are pitched this and that all day long, but rarely are they exposed to a truly compelling and contemporary way of living that is somehow both counterintuitive and so obviously biblical. --Mark Oestreicher Partner, The Youth Cartel,I wish I was encouraged more to pursue a life free from stuff when I was a teenager. In other words, I wish I had this book. Joshua challenges teens to free their hearts from the pursuit of stuff, and his words are gold. --Tsh Oxenreider, Blogger at Simple Mom, Author of Organized Simplicity, Joshua Becker is about to introduce you to a different way of thinking: your life is too valuable to waste it chasing stuff. The idea isn't one you'll hear very often in our culture, but it is one that could change your life and even more importantly change your heart. --Josh Griffin, High School Pastor, Saddleback Church. There's a lot to look forward to in life. Joshua is right on when he encourages readers to pass on consumerism and live for Jesus. No need to worry about returns or next season's fashion. Living for Jesus means no regrets. --Dave Bruno, Author of The 100-Thing Challenge Joshua has created a resource that is challenging & thought-provoking! If students (or even adults) are willing to engage with it, the ideas can transform how they look at stuff...starting today. --Scott Rubin, Junior High Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church

There's a lot to look forward to in life. Joshua is right on when he encourages readers to pass on consumerism and live for Jesus. No need to worry about returns or next season's fashion. Living for Jesus means no regrets. --Dave Bruno, Author of The 100-Thing Challenge

Joshua has created a resource that is challenging & thought-provoking! If students (or even adults) are willing to engage with it, the ideas can transform how they look at 'stuff' ...starting today. --Scott Rubin, Junior High Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church

About the Author

JOSHUA BECKER and his young family were just your typical, run-of-the-mill American family until they were turned on to minimalism during a conversation with their neighbor. Through his website (becomingminimalist.com), Joshua has inspired millions around the world to find more life by owning less. Joshua is currently a pastor in Peoria, Arizona, and has served as a pastor of student ministries for the past 14 years. Most recently, he pastored one of the largest youth ministries in New England while serving at Essex Alliance Church, Essex, Vermont.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: GROUP PUBLISHING INC. (August 15, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764486608
• ISBN-13: 978-0764486609
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 4.8 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #593,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joshua Becker and his young family of four live in Peoria, AZ. They are just your typical middle-class, suburban family... minus the dog and relentless pursuit of physical possessions.

After a conversation with their neighbor on Memorial Day 2008, Joshua and his family decided to pursue a minimalist lifestyle. Consequently, they removed all of their nonessential possessions. Eventually, over 70% of their belongings were sold, donated, or discarded. Their story has been featured on numerous media outlets around the world including the Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, and the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

Joshua's blog (www.becomingminimalist.com) has experienced phenomenal growth since its beginning. Through it, Joshua has inspired millions around the world to consider the practical benefits of owning fewer possessions and given them the practical help to get started. His writing has led to speaking opportunities all across America.

No doubt, you'll be inspired to approach life with a whole new mindset after meeting Joshua.

Media or Speaking Inquiries should be directed to Joshua at becomingminimalist [at] gmail.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Messages For Young and Old August 15, 2012

By Colorado Dave

Format:Kindle Edition

In terms of introducing the concept of minimalism, whether to a teenager or a 30-something, this book hits the mark. It covers a lot of the same ground that Joshua has laid out on his blog, as well, which is originally what drew me to his work. He spells out, with straight-forward examples, what minimalism is, what it is not, and what the benefits are, weaving in his story and his faith in to the examples. This isn't a religious book that mentions minimalism. It's a minimalism book that draws parallels to Joshua's faith to teach others.

Not being Christian or particularly religious myself, I was nervous about reading a book with a Christian viewpoint, but the style in which those viewpoints were tied to mimimalism was very well done, and didn't come off as a sermon. As a result, this book is also relatable to those outside the Christian faith. That is a good thing, because while the target audience for this book might be specific, the messages are relevant for a much wider, diverse audience.

If you're curious about minimalism, whether you are a Christian teenager or just an open-minded 30-something, this book provides a great introduction to minimalism from someone living the lifestyle in a practical way.

If you're religion-averse, there might be other resources that could provide much of the same information you are searching for in a context without the religious nature of this book. But, honestly, if you're opening up your life to minimalism and filling it with what is important, that should include more love, more tolerance and being open to other ideas and ways of thinking. So maybe this book is right for you, too.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From Hoarder to Minimalist: Finding Happiness in Between August 17, 2012

By M. Wisian

Format:Paperback

I needed a miracle in my life. The piles of junk were starting to suffocate me. I was hanging on to things that made no sense. I wasted a tremendous amount of time browsing through online deals. I had close to 3 feet of catalogs stacked in my office. Somewhere stuck inside the corner of my brain was a little voice telling me things like... possessions equal joy....more is better....happiness can be bought online.... And then I read Living With Less: An Unexpected Key to Happiness. Although the basic principles mimicked what my depression era parents had tried to instil in me, I didn't quite grab on to the concept until I read this book. It's as if a light bulb has gone inside my head and chains have been removed from my neck.

After I finished reading the book, I threw away every catalogue. I unsubscribed from most of the online daily deal sites. The interesting thing about this transformation is that the author Josh Becker did not dictate that I should stop shopping. He doesn't promote strict minimalism, where we need to get rid of everything and live with the bare essentials.

What Josh does encourage is the intentional promotion of the things we value most and the removal of anything that distracts us from it, which involves the unnecessary physical possessions from our lives that are preventing us from fulfilling our greatest purpose.

This book is a quick read, but packed full of life changing counsel. It's geared to the high school/college age group, but is a must read for any adult seeking a more fulfilling life. I wish I had read this book when I was in college.

I'm excited to go through my house to find things to give away so that I can stop hoarding treasures on earth and pursue something greater.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Message for Young Adults August 15, 2012

By Jill Foley

Format:Kindle Edition

Although this book is written for a Christian, young adult audience, it is a great read for anyone and everyone. The message of this books resonates with me on so many levels ~ as a Christian, as an aspiring minimalist, as an adovcate for the poor and as a parent.

My personal desire for living with less is rooted in the example of Jesus, and as a follower of him I desire to imitate him in as many ways as possible. In Living With Less, Joshua so eloquently describes Christ's offer of abundant life and how that differs from a life that is full of material possessions. Through sharing Jesus' Story and his own story, Joshua invites the reader to create their own story.

The book is full of statistics, personal stories, Scripture, practical steps to take, benefits of living with less and so much more. The layout is simple and easy to follow. Joshua refutes the idea that the minimalist lifestyle is boring and hard and instead presents the reader with many reasons why pursuing a life with less is an unexpected key to happiness.

This is a message all young people need to hear. For most of us we come to this message after we have wasted both time and money pursuing more. It's not until we are tired of managing all our stuff that we say, "Enough is enough!"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what minimalism is all about. August 15, 2012

By Sarah Hughes

Format:Kindle Edition

This is what minimalism is at its core -- simple and true instead of flashy and unnecessary. The third part of the book is entitled, "Your Story." This is Becker's guide to us starting our own path towards minimalism. Well, maybe not a guide, but definitely a few good pieces of advice. Basically, the way to happiness is to follow our hearts, and to follow our hearts is to know that possessions do not equal joy. The main point is though, there are many reasons to choose minimalism. It's up to us to decide if we want to and for which reason(s). One of my favorite quotes is the title of Chapter 11...

Your life is too valuable to spend chasing possessions.

I love this quote and I think it really epitomizes minimalism for me. It is one of the biggest reasons I believe minimalism can be the solution for many people. Overall, I loved Joshua Becker's book and I would recommend it to everyone.