I decided to purchase a copy of the ebook Voluntary Simplicity from Amazon
after looking at both the library and the local bookstore without success. I did not want another paper book around but I have heard so much about this book I could no longer resist.
after looking at both the library and the local bookstore without success. I did not want another paper book around but I have heard so much about this book I could no longer resist.I spent last night reading it. It was definitely NOT what I expected compared to other simplicity books I have read--this one was more like a reference book on the subject than anything. It was an extremely good read, however!
I enjoyed the types of Simplicity listed here but personally I would compress two of the types for my personal existence with quotes from the book:
- Uncluttered Simplicity "..cutting back on clutter, complications, and trivial distractions..."
- Frugal Simplicity "Frugality and careful financial management bring increased financial freedom and the opportunity to more consciously choose our path through life."
My life is a combination of the two. I feel that by living an uncluttered, minimalistic life, paring down the unimportant that it will naturally spill over into frugality and increase my financial freedom. I do pursue frugal alternatives to a lot of things to reduce my financial dependence upon things and resources and.. money.
This book has a lot of fascinating information in it about why a lot of folks are choosing this path and the author makes it clear that in his opinion we should all follow voluntary simplicity for the good of the planet.
If books that list a heavy emphasis on global warming and upcoming global catastrophe bother you, you may not be too excited about this book. If you want to learn more about the Simplicity movement and "why" it is becoming so popular, including a lot of quotes from practitioners--this book is an excellent read.
Honestly, I got more benefit from The Happy Minimalist 
than I did this book but I do not regret the purchase. I'm not crazy about the fact that the book is a DRM Kindle edition and am concerned about what will happen should I switch computers or wipe this operating system.
than I did this book but I do not regret the purchase. I'm not crazy about the fact that the book is a DRM Kindle edition and am concerned about what will happen should I switch computers or wipe this operating system.To answer any questions, I do not own a Kindle and refuse to purchase one. Why should I buy another gadget when I can read books just fine from my laptop or PDA? Both of those devices have uses other than the single use of just reading things. I do not purchase single-purpose devices if at all possible so Amazon is out of luck there. Instead I downloaded the Kindle for PC application.
I really love the Kindle for PC application but as I said I am very concerned about the DRM and future computers. You can only download books so many times from Amazon and I do not want to lose my favorite books if the Kindle is closed of my computer crashes. I definitely prefer other formats to the Kindle as a result. Does anyone have any suggestions?
On another, unrelated note--I shall pack up the printer/scanner as well as the speaker set that had their power cords damaged to donate on Freecycle. I do not want to bother repairing the cords, I have other speaker sets and I'm doing quite well without a scanner or a printer in the home so I shall bite the bullet and eliminate these things from my life. Perhaps someone with more patience than I can get them back up and running and actually benefit from having them around....
