7 Books On Minimalism for Book Lovers
I’ve talked before about becoming a minimalist and how by getting rid of all my books, I actually started reading more. When I first started learning about minimalism, I was so inspired by the experiences of others that I decided to make changes in my own life. These books on minimalism helped get me started. ✨
The following books (and individuals) are the ones that had me nodding my head and got me started on my path to a simpler life, bookshelf and carry on bag. I’m aware of the irony of acquiring books to inspire minimalism – so to avoid accumulating any more books, I suggest reading these digitally
My favorite authors on this subject are The Minimalists, which is why the first two books listed here are authored by them. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus write (and present) in a way that is inspiring, simple and honest. I find that I always come back to their books on minimalism whenever I’m looking for motivation, so I hope their words might inspire you too.
Marie Kondo is the author of two best-selling books on minimalism in the past few years, with The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up becoming a household name. Kondo is a Japanese cleaning consultant and her book centers on the Japanese art of decluttering. I was lucky enough to be living in Japan when I read this, so found it incredibly relevant in my daily life! However, the concepts are global and can work anywhere. She takes a more spiritual approach (which isn’t for everyone) but it made me look at my possessions (especially my books) in a whole new light!
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7 Books On Minimalism
1.
Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
by Joshua Fields Millburn, Ryan Nicodemus, 2011
Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life is our finest, most important creation to date. It’s also the best thing we’ve ever written about Minimalism and will likely serve as the cornerstone to our work for years to come. It took us a year to write this book—a year of creating the best material possible and finding ways to relate it back to our lives so you would have practical ways to relate the subject matter to your life.
2.
Everything That Remains: A Memoir by the Minimalists
by Joshua Fields Millburn, Ryan Nicodemus, 2013
What if everything you ever wanted isn’t what you actually want? Twenty-something, suit-clad, and upwardly mobile, Joshua Fields Millburn thought he had everything anyone could ever want. Until he didn’t anymore. Blindsided by the loss of his mother and his marriage in the same month, Millburn started questioning every aspect of the life he had built for himself. Then, he accidentally discovered a lifestyle known as minimalism… and everything started to change.
3.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
by Marie Kondō, 2011
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?
Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).
4.
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
by Marie Kondō, 2016
Marie Kondo’s unique KonMari Method of tidying up is nothing short of life-changing—and her first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, has become a worldwide sensation. In Spark Joy, Kondo presents an in-depth, illustrated manual on how to declutter and organize specific items throughout the house, from kitchen and bathroom items to work-related papers and hobby collections. User-friendly line drawings illustrate Kondo’s patented folding method as it applies to shirts, pants, socks, and jackets, as well as images of properly organized drawers, closets, and cabinets. This book is perfect for anyone who wants a home—and life—that sparks joy.
5.
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own
by Joshua Becker, 2016
Most of us know we own too much stuff. We feel the weight and burden of our clutter, and we tire of cleaning and managing and organizing.
While excess consumption leads to bigger houses, faster cars, fancier technology, and cluttered homes, it never brings happiness. Rather, it results in a desire for more. It redirects our God-given passions to things that can never fulfill. And it distracts us from the very life we wish we were living.
6.
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
by Fumio Sasaki, 2015
Fumio Sasaki is not an enlightened minimalism expert; he’s just a regular guy who was stressed at work, insecure, and constantly comparing himself to others—until one day he decided to change his life by reducing his possessions to the bare minimum. The benefits were instantaneous and absolutely remarkable: without all his “stuff,” Sasaki finally felt true freedom, peace of mind, and appreciation for the present moment.
Goodbye, Things explores why we measure our worth by the things we own and how the new minimalist movement will not only transform your space but truly enrich your life.
7.
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste
by Bea Johnson, 2013
In Zero Waste Home, Bea Johnson shares her story and lays out the system by which she and her family have reached and maintained their own Zero Waste goals—a lifestyle that has yielded bigger surprises than they ever dreamed possible. They now have more time together as a family, they have cut their annual spending by a remarkable 40%, and they are healthier than they’ve ever been, both emotionally and physically.
Bonus Movie:
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things
by Joshua Fields Millburn, Ryan Nicodemus, 2016
How might your life be better with less? Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things examines the many flavors of minimalism by taking the audience inside the lives of minimalists from all walks of life-families, entrepreneurs, architects, artists, journalists, scientists, and even a former Wall Street broker-all of whom are striving to live a meaningful life with less.
Have you read these books on minimalism?
Do you have other books on minimalism you can recommend? I’m always looking for new reads about this topic, so please let me know your suggestions below!
Special Offers for Book & Travel Lovers
These are just a few things I love using for reading and travel, which have special deals that I want to pass on to you! 🙌
- Try Amazon Audible free for 30 days and get 2 free audiobooks which you can play on loads of devices. Ideal for listening while gazing out the window. Best of all, you can cancel at any time and you can keep your books forever!
- Receive free AirBNB travel credit when you sign up for a new account. I love staying at AirBNB’s for an authentic and local experience when traveling.
- Try Amazon Prime free for 30 days and get access to the Prime Reading library and free shipping on thousands of books. This was responsible for a significant increase in my home library!
