The Simple Life [Paperback]

Larry Roth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

An ever-growing segment of society is saying no to the conspicuous consumption and wastefulness that is destroying our planet, our pocketbooks, and our peace of mind. This lively collection of essays explains this grass-roots movement-and shows how we too can avoid the vicious cycle of debt and stress that lies at the end of advertising's lure. The bestselling author of The Tightwad Gazette tells how she made her dreams come true without mortgaging her future. The woman known as the "Gentle Survivalist" shares her philosophy of living simply in the chaotic modern world. The self-proclaimed "Cheapest Man in America" explains how his humble inner-city upbringing shaped his worldview. Vicki Robin remembers Joe Dominguez, the visionary coauthor of Your Money or Your Life, an excerpt of which is also included in this book. With hundreds of tips, and a special resource section, this important guide shows how anyone can take back control-and rediscover the joys of the simple life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Best selling authors Amy Dacyczyn (of the Tightwad Gazette), and Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (of Your Money or Your Life) and many others share their thoughts on how to untangle the complications of modern living, take control of personal finances, re-order your priorities and begin living the kind of life you choose. Hundreds of tips and a hefty resource guide make this one of the better guides to what has become a compelling movement, voluntary simplicity. Do you need more "stuff" in your life now at the expense of a future weighted with crushing debt, or do you need more real control over your life, more freedom, and greater peace of mind? You decide. --Mark Hetts

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425161684
• ISBN-13: 978-0425161685
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,707,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for different perspectives and references, April 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Simple Life (Paperback)

As someone who recently decided to take a sabbatical from work, and focus on my personal life and marriage, this book spoke to me. I DEVOURED it in one evening: it confirmed that taking "time out" from work is the right thing for me at this time, and my husband and I won't starve or lose shelter in the process. In fact, I hope to catch up with close family and friends during this time, by hosting many pot luck dinners!! :-)

This book has something for everybody contemplating simplifying, from the radical (e.g., picking through the dumpster) to the practical (e.g., using the video store or library vs. paying full price for a movie in the theater).

I also liked the non-emphasis on "being cheap", but instead how you could do more with less, in a cost-effective fashion.

Well done, and terrific references for more information. The entrepreneur section is most timely and interesting to me.

53 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Pretty disgusting book., April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Simple Life (Paperback)

I am confused what people are finding good about this book. I know simplicity means different things for different people, but this book has lessons on: dumpster diving (a couple of chapters worth, including how to blackmail companies with important documents you find in their dumpsters - pg.91), eating road-kill (seriously - a whole chapter), capturing possums and keeping them in a pen so you can eat them later (pg. 159), and quotes from a total nut like "speaking as a foaming-at-the-mouth revolutionary who looks forward to the day these United States will disintegrate in a fashion similar to the Soviet Union" (pg.94). I returned my copy, as I prefer not to put money in the pockets of people like that. Some of the other articles are good, but not good enough to balance out the others.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real ideas on how to LIVE the Simple Life- not just wish for, April 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Simple Life (Paperback)

What I enjoyed about this book was the variety of information available, and the true stories of how people were living their dreams about escaping the trap of consumption and commercialism. After reading this book, I really began to analyze not only what I wanted to do with my life, but how I wanted to live it. There is also a very extensive reference section for other reading material on this subject. The anthology is very well balanced, told by people who were actually living the simple life. Required reading for all of those in the rat race! Read this book on the commuter train or bus!