Simplicity Lessons: A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply [Paperback]

Linda Breen Pierce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2003

Simplicity Lessons is a practical guide for those who long for a slower pace of life with more time for joyful relationships, fulfilling work, and living one's dreams. Working on your own or as part of a simplicity study group, you will explore the major areas of your life: material possessions, money, time, work, housing, transportation, relationships, inner simplicity, health, community, and environmental sustainability. For each category, you will complete written exercises to determine how best to improve the quality of your life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thank you, Linda Pierce - you've given us another eminently useful and readable book. Each lesson provides sound data for the mind, inviting reflections for the soul and a range of practical exercises perfect for the simplicity "toe dipper" and "full-body jumper" alike. The lessons also integrate the small steps we can take on our own with the long-term public policy changes that might afford everyone a more balanced, humane and meaning-rich life. While each suggestion is do-able and practical, taken together this book shows how revolutionary simplicity really is." -- Vicki Robin, coauthor, Your Money or Your Life

"For anyone who is really serious about simplifying, here is your essential book; an inspirational, step-by-step guide to liberation!" -- Janet Luhrs, author of The Simple Living Guide

"Discover a life of elegant simplicity that fits your unique circumstances, and then transform inspiration into action with this practical study guide. Simplicity Lessons is a valuable resource for anyone seeking a more satisfying and sustainable way of life." --Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity --Advance Praise

About the Author

Linda Breen Pierce is the founder of The Pierce Simplicity Study (a three-year study of 200+ people who live simply) and the author of Choosing Simplicity: Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World (Gallagher Press, 2000) and Simplicity Lessons: A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply (Gallagher Press, 2003). Linda s website, The Simplicity Resource Guide, features a broad range of resources on voluntary simplicity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Gallagher Press; 1st edition edition (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967206790
• ISBN-13: 978-0967206790
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

132 of 133 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on Voluntary Simplicity available!, September 6, 2003

By 

Lena R. (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simplicity Lessons: A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply (Paperback)

Voluntary simplicity is a growing movement in the US and in the world that focuses on living mindfully and pursuing what really matters to each individual, independently of external pressures such as advertising and societal "shoulds." There are dozens of books about the subject, but Linda Breen Pierce's "Simplicity Lessons" is by far the most updated, complete, and user-friendly of the bunch. Moreover, it is one of the very few books that places voluntary simplicity in a wider social and political framework. To change only ourselves does not suffice; we also need to help change the culture we breathe.

The book's chapters focus on twelve major aspects of VS, including our focus on stuff instead of on non-material things that would bring us far more joy; our difficult relationship with money and how much we actually make per hour (a la "Your Money or Your Life"); how we can increase the time we have available to pursue our passions; the importance of community; the role of spirituality; the joys of passionate work; the importance of keeping our nest, the Earth, clean and healthy for future generations... and more.

Pierce included an inspiring quotation on every page (by itself a wonderful read!). Her statements are supported with careful research and citations, and she provides extensive lists of updated further resources, in print and on the web. Hers is quite an impressive accomplishment, to offer this depth of scholarship expressed in a writing style that is so clear and easily comprehensible.

"Simplicity Lessons" was written to be used as a workbook -- there are intelligent, useful, and challenging assignments after each of the twelve lessons. Whether you go through the book by yourself or, even better, with a Simplicity Circle (consisting of 8-12 adults who support each other), you'll find it a wonderful resource. If anyone wants to study this book with me in the Washington DC area, please feel free to contact me at <[e-mail]>. I'd gladly read the book again within a circle.

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good ideas but..., September 15, 2007

By 

Cyn (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simplicity Lessons: A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply (Paperback)

I am both happy and not happy with this book. I purchased it hoping to find different ways to simplify my life. I found that I am already doing many of the suggestions and have already evaluated much of my life in the ways that the author suggested. This provided me with positive reinforcement that I am hopefully on a good path.

I think this would be a good book for someone just starting to evaluate their life or looking for a new approach.

I don't like the way the author seems critical of many choices people make in their lives and find many of her suggestions to be of no value to me and my life. I try to be friendly to the Earth and its inhabitants. I buy locally, recycle everthing possible, and generally try to be as respectful and mindful of my place and purpose in life.

It is neither practical nor feasable for me to sell my house and move to a pedestrian friendly city so I don't need to own a car or can share one with a neighbor.

I make no apologizes that I drive a SUV. My life more than occasionally requires this vehicle making renting one when I needed one financially stupid. If I didn't live in an area that was snow covered several months of the year perhaps I could ride a Vespa or have a "commuting car." However how is having more than one vehicle simplifying my life? If I didn't have co-workers perhaps bicycling to work would be possible. I can neither shower at the office I work at nor am I willing to carry a full change of clothing to put on after I arrive.

I am not going to opt out of health insurance on the hopes that I won't need it. Of course I hope I won't need it but I am not going to bet my finaicial future on it. My job may make me crazy but I can't see how its worse than perhaps incurring a huge medical bill and losing my home.

I value old friendships and keep a place in my life for those people who may not share my feelings on many issues. The value of a 27 year friendship far outweighs our political or social differences. Is it simplier to discard people who "complicate" my life or to find a way to fit them in?

In the end its all about the choices you make. Ms. Pierce does a good job of showing you do have control in ways you might not have considered. Just because I don't agree with some of her conclusions doesn't mean she is wrong in asking the questions.

56 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!, September 24, 2003

By 

Bonnie Michaels (Evanston, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simplicity Lessons: A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply (Paperback)

In a country that overspends, overworks, over accumulates, and wastes precious resources, it is refreshing to read Simplicity Lessons. Not only does this book address the issues on a philosophical level but it has many practical ideas on how to enhance your life by following many of her options. If you are looking for more passion and spirituality in your life, quality of time and relationships, ways to connect to community and nature, this book will show you how to accomplish it. Linda Breen Pierce doesn't preach but rather invokes ideas with a variety of solutions. I particularly liked her ideas on organizing study groups and providing worksheets to help make change. There is no question that the quality of your work-life will improve if you follow a few of her practical suggestions.