The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Dave Bruno (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 28, 2010

An ordinary man's inspiring journey toward a simpler, more meaningful life.

In 2008, average American family man Dave Bruno decided to unhook himself from the intravenous drip of consumerism that fueled his life by winnowing all his personal possessions down to just 100 things. Little did he realize that he would be igniting a grassroots movement—soon after Dave embarked on his journey, media around the world took notice and others started to follow his lead.

A cause for pause, The 100 Thing Challenge is a response to the culture of materialism in America, one that has filled our lives with the constant and unsatisfactory desire for "more." Dave Bruno offers compelling anecdotes and practical advice to help readers live more meaningfully, simply by casting off the unnecessary "stuff" that clutters their lives. The 100 Thing Challenge is a golden opportunity to experience the positive changes that occur as you defiantly hop off the treadmill of consumerism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Living simply is only an ideal until someone like Bruno gets particular. The way he got particular should make everyone think--hard, which is a very good thing.” (Mark Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame )

“In a loving, wise, sometimes hilarious manner, Dave Bruno holds a mirror up to us and says to take a closer look at how we’re living. Reading this will lead you to a better life.” (Dean Nelson, Author of God Hides in Plain Sight and director of the journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University )

“[Bruno’s] musings about his slow and steady purge have developed a cult following online, inspiring others [toward] clutter-free living.” (Time magazine )

From the Back Cover

An ordinary man's inspiring journey toward a simpler, more meaningful life.

In 2008, average American family man Dave Bruno decided to unhook himself from the intravenous drip of consumerism that fueled his life by winnowing all his personal possessions down to just 100 things. Little did he realize that he would be igniting a grassroots movement—soon after Dave embarked on his journey, media around the world took notice and others started to follow his lead.

A cause for pause, The 100 Thing Challenge is a response to the culture of materialism in America, one that has filled our lives with the constant and unsatisfactory desire for "more." Dave Bruno offers compelling anecdotes and practical advice to help readers live more meaningfully, simply by casting off the unnecessary "stuff" that clutters their lives. The 100 Thing Challenge is a golden opportunity to experience the positive changes that occur as you defiantly hop off the treadmill of consumerism.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (December 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061787744
• ASIN: B005SN4SAW
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dave Bruno is an author and advocate for simple living. He's the creator of the 100 Thing Challenge, a project focused on breaking free from the constraints of American-style consumerism. Bruno is a native of San Diego and lover of every outdoor square inch of California that he's ever hiked, biked, surfed, or seen. He lives with his wife and three daughters. Bruno's favorite of many household pets is his loyal mutt, Piper.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Challenge for the Heart December 28, 2010

By Michele Corbett

Format:Paperback

Dave Bruno hit the nail on the heart with his personal story of coming to a point where he felt so stuck in stuff that he had to take action. Although his "action" could be viewed as a bit extreme (I don't know if I could reduce my clothes alone to 100 things), there is something in here for everyone. Reading about the process he went through in his own head and heart is so much more valuable than your normal self help book that merely gives you steps to follow with no context and no recognition that it's not as easy as a few simple steps.

Dave takes you on a journey of self discovery, and his insight along the way will inspire and challenge any reader. Even if you don't ever do anything as extreme as the 100 Thing Challenge, you will take away some principles that will change the course of your life for the better.

64 of 70 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique premise but underwhelming content January 10, 2011

By T. Tuan

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. A recent convert to minimalism and fairly familiar with the new wave of bloggers that have publicized the value of living simply (Everett Bogue, Colin Wright, etc), I was interested in hearing the perspective of the man that started it all with the 100 thing challenge.

In this book Dave Bruno chronicles his experience weaning down his personal possessions and living with 100 things for the duration of a year. An exercise in changing the mindset of consumerism, he weaves personal anecdotes both from childhood and during his adulthood in with his account of trying to get out of the mindset of buying.

I agree with his notion that Americans have fallen into the trap of thinking that one can buy happiness and fulfill long-held and dreams or aspirations through a cash register. I appreciated his insights about how the most beneficial thing he gained through the challenge was not feeling the pressure or inclination to buy every time he set foot in a store. I too have found this through pursuing his challenge. It's a welcome mindset change of not always wanting more.

The author seems like a perfectly nice guy with genuine notions about making the world a better place. I have nothing to say against him personally.

However, I found reading his book to be less than enjoyable at times. Basically the structure is this - 1) thinks up and events leading up to the challenge, 2) the logistics of conducting the challenge, 3) post-challenge thoughts. It feels like an overly drawn out premise with not enough content to justify the one hundred some-odd pages. Points were repeatedly reinforced to the point where I felt like every other word was "American-style consumerism" or "100 thing challenge guy". And his other supporting points seemed muddled in the process. The shifts between his point of view and the points of view of his family and friends seemed clunky at times. Although, his wife sounds like a mighty intelligent and lovely lady.

Part-biography, part-retelling of an event, and part-reflection, I feel like the book would have benefited from more stringent editing to really solidify and streamline his prose. I think the idea was an excellent one. The writing, however, could have been better. And I personally do not anticipate keeping his book on my list of 100 things.

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Journey to Simplify December 28, 2010

By E. G. Morgan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great book. I devoured this book in one sitting. At times I felt like Dave Bruno was inside my head. There are so many parallels with our journey to simplicity and minimalism.

It all hit home in Chapter 13 - "My Almost Perfect Wednesday". I have experienced a day similar where the stars aligned and everything was "perfect". I want more of these days and I think simplicity and minimalism is one of the keys.

This is a very well written book. An enjoyable read. I have been very encouraged.