5 of My Favorite Books About Minimalism and Simple Living
Minimalism is not only about owning less. It’s about living with intention and removing distractions. Those are the common themes you’ll find in all books about minimalism.
When I started my minimalism journey, I needed some help. I used an equal dose of documentaries, YouTube videos, and books to help me along.
And today I thought it’d be nice to share the five books that left an impact on me.
Here are my top 5 favorite books about minimalism
Minimalista by Shira Gill
I started following Shira Gill on Instagram about a year ago. A professional home organizer and speaker, she also created a popular productivity hack. It's called #15minwin.
She has several online courses available to help you declutter and organize. She also offers business consulting. This woman is a powerhouse.
When she announced she was writing a book, I immediately went to Barnes & Noble and preordered it.
Shira's approach to minimalism is a combination of two elements: simplification and functionality. That, to me, is the key to a truly organized home: simple, yet functional.
In her book, Shira walks you through methods she uses for her clients in every part of the home. Bathroom, bedroom, kids’ room, garage; you name it, it’s in this book. She’s not afraid to call you out on the thousands of mugs and pens you no doubt own. Her tone is funny, honest, and effective.
If you want to create a simple, streamlined home, Minimalista is your way to go. It’s a book about minimalism that doesn’t force you to convert. But it gives you the tools to create a clutter-free, comfortable home.
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
Cal Newport is the author of six books, the most popular being Deep Work. An associate professor of computer science, he also shares game-changing productivity tips.
I first heard about him through a bullet journalist on Instagram. When I found his website (he’s not on social media) I was hooked by his tone and straightforward way of writing.
Digital Minimalism is his contribution to the minimalist movement. In it, he helps you break free from the distractions of digital devices. You also learn how to build boundaries around using them.
Admit it, you have a cellphone addiction. Who doesn’t?
The big tech companies created these devices and apps to hold our attention. But this isn’t about whether social media is good or bad (it’s both). It’s about learning to limit your use so you can focus on the things that matter. Watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix before or after reading this book for a deeper perspective on that.
The book is filled with common-sense tips that if you do them will help you break free from the digital chain. This way you can focus on what needs to get done. Because let’s face it, we’ve all lost hours due to social media scrolling.
When it comes to books about minimalism, you want to look at more than physical clutter. Digital clutter is just as much of a culprit. It steals our time and attention. That’s what Newport is conveying in this book.
The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees
One of the first places most budding minimalists start decluttering is their closet. Why? Because clothes are easily replaceable. Plus you learn to sharpen your decision-making skills for harder objects down the road.
Even Marie Kondo starts with clothes with this in mind. More on her later.
The Curated Closet is a great book to help you finetune your closet. You'll nail down your personal style and own only the clothes that fit into it.
If you work from home, do you need six blazers? Unless you wear a blazer almost every day because it’s your style, the answer is no.
Anuschka walks you through the process step-by-step, giving you plenty of tips to try. Even maximalists would benefit from this book.
In the end, clothes are something we need every single day. What The Curated Closet does is help you keep only what you need. This way you’re able to dress each day in something you love and that represents you.
Love People, Use Things by The Minimalists
If you want to learn about minimalism, the definitive website to check out is The Minimalists. These guys (Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus respectively) also have two Netflix documentaries worth checking out.
Love People, Use Things is their fourth book and it is one of the best books about minimalism. They also have a blog and podcast where they talk about it as well.
What I love most about Love People, Use Things is that it personifies their main message. Which is that we tend to value our things over our relationships. And that needs to change.
The book is broken up into seven chapters, each one covering a different type of relationship. Some examples include relationships with your stuff, your money, and your self.
While their method may be extreme for newcomers to minimalism, their stories are relatable. That's why I recommend watching the Netflix documentaries first.
So if you’ve been meaning to learn about minimalism in general, The Minimalists and their books are the way to go.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Even if you never watched her Netflix series or read a book by her, most people have heard the name, Marie Kondo. Either by people who use her folding methods or from someone who has read her books.
Marie Kondo’s method stems from joy. She believes we should only keep things in our homes and lives if they spark irrevocable joy.
What does that mean? It’s simple. Look through your closet. Do you see that black dress in the back? Do you know the last time you wore it? Does it have holes? Does it even fit? Does it have a bad memory associated with it?
What would happen if you decluttered it? Would you feel horrible or would you feel lighter?
It’s not the best explanation but it’s what Marie Kondo wants her clients to understand. Why do we keep things we don’t use? What joy is an object bringing by sitting in a closet or drawer collecting dust?
Some people might consider Marie Kondo’s approach a little too hippy-dippy. But in her book, she examples it better. When we keep only the things that spark joy, we’re making room for more important things in our lives.
There are many more books about minimalism that I didn’t cover in this post. Mainly because I haven’t read them yet. Some cover specific topics like parenting, work, and more.
If you decide to read any of these titles I mentioned, let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you read any of them already, comment below with your brief review. What other books about minimalism have you read and loved?
And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram where I share all my current reads and favorite books. Want a brief overview of minimalism before diving into these books? Check out my post, “What Are the Top 3 Principles of Minimalism,” where I cover the basic fundamentals.
Resources, Websites, and Purchase Links
