As a lifestyle movement, minimalism is all about enjoying life without pursuing unnecessary things. It means living with less and focusing on experiences, rather than worldly possessions. If something doesn’t don’t provide value to you, then you’re better off without it.
But it’s also more than just getting rid of stuff. The minimalist movement is all about recognizing what really matters and basing your life around these things rather than immersing yourself in activities and thinking that rarely has a positive effect on your life. It’s a simple, value-focused way of living.
Books About Minimalism
We’re going to be tackling a list of books that deal with minimalism in its different aspects, practices, and beliefs. From how you shop, tidy your place up, and maintain your own image, these are the best books to read when starting your minimalist journey. Check them out below!
1. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondō
For those who want to tidy up and organize.
What’s a book about minimalism without the queen of tidiness herself? Marie Kondo started a wave of minimalism when she released this book in 2011. Today, a lot of decluttering enthusiasts use the KonMari method for choosing what items give them happiness and what items they need to get rid of.
Kondo gets into the most minute details when it comes to tidying up your things (there’s even a specific way of folding socks!). Her KonMari method focuses on the question “Does it spark joy?” reasoning that anything that doesn’t give you happiness needs to be let go. Her methods go for the big win, decluttering on a massive scale rather than gradually losing unnecessary objects in your home.
2. Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
For those looking to live a more meaningful life.
Minimalism extends its influence not only for material concerns, but also the spiritual. This is a book detailing the authors’ personal experiences, growth, and insights on what it means to live a meaningful life. Their realizations of how minimalist living frees you from the traps of consumer culture (debt, discontent, and depression) and opens new possibilities are a helpful guide in finding purpose in your life.
In this book, it’s all about decluttering your home and mind so you can have the energy to do the things that matter to you. Because when you’re not occupied with unnecessary things, there’s a lot more you can do with things you’re passionate about.
3. Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki
For those who have trouble letting go of stuff.
The Japanese are experts in minimalist living, and Sasaki-san brings that expertise almost to perfection. He was just an ordinary guy who was constantly stressed, insecure, and often comparing himself to others. That was until he made the drastic decision to get rid of absolutely all the things he didn’t need.
You’ve probably put off throwing away stuff because of sentimental reasons, even when they’re superficial ones. Or the fact that a particular object is worth some money, or still usable. But despite all that, they just clutter your space without contributing much to your life.
This book is an in-depth analysis of why your worth isn’t measured by the things you possess. If you’re an irrational collector of stuff, then this book will help you in saying good-bye to all your junk.
4. Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
For those wo want to lessen their environmental impact.
Sustainable living goes hand in hand with minimalism. After all, it’s all about leaving a minimal imprint on the environment. We often don’t realize that we produce a lot of waste, most of which can be avoided or reused. From food scraps to packaging material, there’s a lot of potential uses for things we consider worthless.
Johnson’s core idea is a way of living that produces zero waste, and shares her experiences of transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle. This is a practical how-to guide to reducing unnecessary waste in your home and shifting to an environment-first frame of mind.
5. A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind by Shoukei Matsumo
For those who dislike cleaning.
Zen Buddhism is known for its spiritual approach to living, shown not only through their lifestyle practices, but also in the way they clean their temples. Matsumoto takes those cleaning practices and relates them to our way of living as a way of achieving a cleaner and happier life. A lot of us view cleaning as a burden, but in Zen Buddhism, it’s an ascetic way of fostering a clean and healthy mind.
Though not a direct book about minimalism like others in this list, this book does tell you the benefits of simple living. It teaches about keeping to simple pleasures and rejecting the wasteful capitalist lifestyle that most of us are stuck in.
6. The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
For people looking to make better choices.
A lot of us assume that having more choices leads to better options and greater satisfaction. But according to Schwartz, too many choices can actually burden the human mind, and can result in a less satisfied life. Buying jeans, for example, has become a complex activity revolving around different cuts, styles, and color. You now have to think about a lot of things before making a purchase.
Schwartz tells us how choices have become a burden that can lead to highly unrealistic expectations, constant stress, and clinical depression. In this book, he teaches us how to properly manage our choices, change our perspective, and lower our commitment to consumerism.
7. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
For those looking to improve their financial know-how.
Minimalism is largely about letting go of material things, and what’s more material than money? Everyone loves the idea of being debt-free, but few take action to achieve it. We continue spending money on unnecessary things that fuel our short-term happiness, rather than bring fulfillment to our overall lifestyle.
Dave Ramsey talks about the importance of being financially knowledgeable. This is a practical know-how book that seeks to demystify money matters in order for you to live a more satisfying life.
8. Minimalist Parenting by Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest
For parents who want to guide their kids.
When we want to give the best to our families, we tend to overwhelm them with a lot of choices, believing that what’s best for them is always more. More education, more clothes, more extra classes, more hobbies, and more. Though we mean good, it only results in confusion and resentment for both parents and kids.
Koh talks about tuning out the quantifiable, superficial aspects of parenting and focusing on values and learnings that give a better impact on your kids. What you think is good for your kid may only have a short-term effect. Picking out what’s best for them in the long-term ensures that kids don’t get overwhelmed and pressured, and helps you out in properly guiding them as they grow.
Is Materialism That Bad?
Modern society has undeniably become materialistic. It’s a side effect of humanity’s progress. As we built up our knowledge and advanced our society, comfort became an increasingly familiar companion—and comfort can often be found in material objects.
There are always two sides to a story. While many materialistic people have been proven to care less about the environment and other people, it’s unfair to say that it’s completely bad. Some experts say that materialism is a natural part of being human. Some people use it as a way to adapt to experiences that induce negative feelings for them.
In fact, in most Asian cultures, materialism is less about self-satisfaction but more about collective satisfaction. People usually buy stuff to gift, rather than to keep, in order to cultivate healthier relationships with each other.
The fact is that we’ve developed a lot of objects that cater to our interests which we naturally use to improve ourselves. Naturally, we put faith in these objects and cherish them because they have a positive contribution to our lives. Is that a bad thing? It’s mostly an issue of belief and perspective.
Why Is Minimalism Popular?
In recent years there’s been a growing worldwide community of minimalists. Largely due to growing environmental concerns, more people are now advocating a lifestyle that emphasizes less. People are now shifting to a more sustainable type of living that seeks to minimize the effects they leave on earth.
A lot of people also choose a simpler way of living because it gives them more satisfaction Breaking away from consumerism has given them the freedom to pursue their passions. They’re happier and more fulfilled due to being debt-free, worry-free, and unburdened by unnecessary things. When people give up the distractions of an excessive lifestyle, they’re able to enjoy more the life they lead.
Changing your lifestyle is a daunting task. It’s basically giving up on what you’re comfortable with in order to transition to something you don’t even know will work. If you’re looking to have a simpler and value-filled life, then these books are a good start to your minimalist journey.
Have you tried having a minimalist approach to life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Intentional Living: 7 Steps for Discovering Your Best Life
- How to Find Your Life Purpose: Creating an Adventure Worth Living For
- How to Have More Energy: 10 Simple Tips for a Natural Boost
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
