Simple Living: The Path to Joy and Freedom [Paperback]

Jose Hobday (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1998

Jose Hobday, a Native American and a Sister of St. Francis sees simple living as a way of life - an inner stance, an attitude, a disposition, and it is this message which she conveys in this book.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hobday, a Native American and a Franciscan Sister, describes her book as a "program for simple living." Her program focuses on six areas of life in which material desires threaten to crowd out spiritual life: food, clothing, shelter, work, transportation and recreation. Hobday applies four distinctions to each area: what we actually need; what will be helpful in our daily lives; what we might prefer to have; and what we must count as luxury. The result is a series of succinct chapters introducing readers to the notion that simplifying life is the key to physical and spiritual freedom. The book is not just a plan for reducing life's clutter, however; Hobday's real purpose is clearly devotional. "We can't saturate ourselves with what other people need for basics and still be living a gospel life," she warns. She explains that "simplicity is natural preparation for prayer.... It creates an inner awareness of gratitude for the material and spiritual gifts you have. It creates time and space for prayer." The brevity of the chapters, their devotional tone and Hobday's accessible style make this an ideal introduction to the concept of spiritual simplicity.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"The brevity of the chapters, their devotional tone, and Hobday's accessible style, make this an ideal introduction to the concept of spiritual simplicity." --Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082640846X
• ISBN-13: 978-0826408464
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Great, April 30, 2004

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I Like Books (Boise, ID United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Simple Living: The Path to Joy and Freedom (Paperback)

This is a simple but great book that will inspire you to change your life for the better. Jose Hobday preaches that less is more: She suggests taking the clutter and rush out of your life and giving yourself more space and time, thereby opening you to other people, beauty and spirituality.
It is not about deprivation. But forces you to look at what you really need, use and what's important to you. It asks you to look at the quality of material things in your life, not just the quantity. After reading this book, I was inspired to do two seemingly different things. First, I went through my home and office, giving things away to people who could use them. Second, I ordered a very expensive hand made bamboo fly rod-because fly fishing is important to me and the rod represents a simple useful tool made by skilled human hands from natural materials. Clearly, the first activity was the most important, but clearing away things left me with breathing space to focus on something important to me.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The VERY best book I've ever read on living simply, June 26, 2002

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"simplebev" (Woodbridge, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simple Living: The Path to Joy and Freedom (Paperback)

I recently was priviledged enough to hear Jose Hobday speak. She is the most amazing woman I've ever read, heard, or met. Her joyful simplicity is summarized in the book Simple Living. If you care about changing your life, she will give you the hope, joy and tools you need to do it. It will be a blessing and gift that will not only change your life for the better but those around you. Her honest, heartfelt ways can only spread - they are too good to keep to yourself!

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars reflective: good complement to other classics (below), April 28, 2000

By 

meg327 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simple Living: The Path to Joy and Freedom (Paperback)

This is a gem of a book, focusing on the most essential issues of true simplicity. This is a series of philosophical reflections for those who wish to live what they believe. The author is a Native American nun; she's practical about integrating inner and external simplicity. A great companion-piece to Joe Dominguez's Your Money or Your Life (for a really thorough process of growth towards simplicity). Or to Amy Dacy...'s Tightwad Gazette(which has more of the nitty-gritty on saving money no matter what your lifestyle.) It could also be used for meditation or a series of small group discussions.