Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

Basically a repeat of everything I've read on the blog, at least in message. I don't read his blog often either. Less arrogant than other minimalists although he has a religious bent that may be bother some. Read his blog first, or any blogger/author to see if their style appeals to you, or check your library. I found I remove this book from my house with no trouble at all.

Although I do not consider myself a hoarder I found plenty of good advice in this book. I'm not sure I agree in one of the main points of the book, though. I'm not sure that reducing clutter and learning to live with less can free so many resources as to completely change your lifestyle to live a fuller life. It may be for some people in deep debt, but not sure this will make a huge difference if you have your finances in order. However I think it is worth trying. I'll give it a shot.

For many, the terms minimalism or minimalists may conjure images of vegan yoga fanatics living in sparse apartments, people traveling the world with all of their earthly belongings in a backpack, or the guy choosing to live in a van down by the river. Yet, there are forms of minimalism, including the type promoted by Joshua Becker in his book The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. I consider his form “rational minimalism for the rest of us.” Becker’s blog Becoming Minimalist has been instrumental in my minimalist/essentialist/simple living journey over the last year and I was excited to read his new book.

I can relate to Joshua. Like me, he is a husband, dad, homeowner, has a career, passionately involved in church ministry, and around the same age. These factors helped make the teachings from his book accessible and reasonable for me. Becker defines minimalism as “the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them” (Page 18) and clearly unpacks it in about 220 pages.

After sharing the story of his launch into minimalism and the benefits of it, Joshua provides well-researched background about consumerism and advertising. This was both eye-opening and convicting. It is also important to note that the author stresses that minimalism and the minimalist lifestyle will look differently for each individual or family. There is no “cookie cutter” approach, but many clear strategies and techniques are presented throughout the book.

In his clear and enjoyable writing style, Joshua provides strategies on getting started in reducing the number of possessions cluttering our lives, addressing difficult areas (e.g. mementos and papers), and sustaining a minimalist lifestyle over time. Finally, in the last three chapters, Becker details the abundant/purposeful life that minimalism can create. These chapters were outstanding and probably my favorites.

Having started exploring minimalism about a year ago and reading many different blogs, not many of the strategies presented in the book were truly new to me. However, they were great reminders and encouragements to persevere in the journey. I picked up several great tips in the chapters. The testimonies included throughout the book were also very helpful. Finally, while it is not a “Christian book” per se, it is written from a biblical worldview, something that I deeply respect and appreciate.

Whether you are on the minimalism journey already or just exploring the concepts, I whole-heartedly commend Joshua Becker’s The More of Less.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of The More of Less from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased book review.

I thought I was already a minimalist until reading this book. I have a better understanding about what minimalism is and its effects on not only myself but all the people around me. Promoting putting value on life's experiences over possessions is one of the author's strongest messages.
I've already been implementing a few of the strategies from this book and it has been making substantial difference in my lifestyle.

I always expect great things from Joshua Becker, but this is easily his best work. The More of Less touches on some of the "how to's" of decluttering, but more importantly, the "why to's" and the benefits and responsibilities that come with it. I have read more than my fair share books on decluttering and simplifying, but this is the most important book on the subject I have ever read. Thank you, Joshua, for such a wonderful book!

Having read a non-minimalist amount of books on minimalism, most of the content of the book isn't new. However, the final chapter of the book is, I believe, its distinctive difference. Read the whole book and glean what you can, but the reward is at the end.

Unfortunately with all of the hype, this is actually a rather dull book. Nothing new is said and the writing is uninspiring with several Christian references that I skipped over. I will do with less of these popular minimalist books and give this book away to my local library.

Life-changing book. I love how the chapters are divided and that the author is not preachy, but sharing the philosophy of minimalism. I originally borrowed this book from the library and loved it so much I bought it.

This book is more for those who want to start their journey into minimalism. It sets the philosophy and mindset to get started. I am personally at a later stage in the process. I do recommend this book.

Careful this book may make you a minimalist. Side effects include. ... donating everything you don't need or use as well as all the "just in case" items. You may also find you have more time for things like family, friends, volunteering your time and maybe even a hobby or two.

Overall it's a good message but as someone who is not religious at all the Christian theme and constant biblical references are distracting and off putting. This book would be far better without them.

Enjoyed this enhanced version of the Becoming Minimalist blog. Found the emphasis on religion a bit disappointing and heavy handed. The teachings are ancient zen, older than Christianity. Still enjoyed the read and the practical, real life tips on practicing minimalism.

I didn't learn anything new, but someone else might, I suppose, if she has never considered the process of downsizing possessions and other distractions. Wouldn't recommend to folks who would be put off by the spiritual context.

I just could not finish this. I bought it to also get the free online course, but I couldn't even finish THAT! Very glad I didn't pay the full asking price for the online course. I wanted to like it. I do admire the way he's adopted a minimalist lifestyle. But.

I pre-ordered a copy in February, because I am so very interested in slowing my life and turning more and more to a life of simplicity (and of less really being more)! I'd completely forgotten about the pre-order, though and put this book on my wish list to get at some point. Then I read one of Joshua's newsletters where he'd offered a free early reader copy in exchange for honest feedback on the store, and a blog post. I JUMPED at the chance, feeling super blessed, and came to the store to remove the saved copy in my wishlist. Then today I see a note that I'd already purchased it. Clearly I really really wanted this book. :-)

All of that to say this: I have not been disappointed. I will gift one copy or the other to someone either within my groups online, or to a family member or co-worker.

The one thing that has thrown me off is that I somehow missed Joshua's background in the church, and there's a good bit of scripture and just general talk of Christian values & beliefs as they relate to simplicity. It's not so much my thing, but it's also not *so* pronounced that it put me off from reading it. My boss would probably really enjoy this book for this exact reason, actually. So, to each her own.

As far as appropriate audience... I would say this is more for folks who are starting out on the path towards simplicity, and want / need some encouragement & a really solid foundation for the WHY behind walking this path. There's plenty of that in here, and that's what I most appreciate.

The book was an overview of minimalism. I felt like it was a lot of Becker's blog material in book form. Although I appreciate the reminders, I didn't have any takeaways. This book did not allow Becker to stand out among the pioneers who've set the foundation.

In our American consumer culture on steroids, it’s amazing more people don’t have the wake-up moment Joshua Becker did in 2008 when he realized he didn’t have time to play with his young son because he had to deal with an avalanche of clutter in his garage.

Thus began Becker’s BecomingMinimalist.com, the best of an increasing number of blogs devoted to stripping down possessions, clutter, and commitments to free time and money for what’s really important: family, passions, and giving.

Becker has inspired millions to opt out of the bigger-is-better American trend that results in less time and much more debt and stress. But even devoted followers of his blog will find new material and inspiration in the powerful new book “The More of Less.”

It’s not Becker’s first book, but the first produced by a mainstream publisher and marketed to the masses. It might be the public breakout for the minimalist movement, even more so than Marie Kondo’s best-selling “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”

Becker pays tribute to Kondo, as well as other noted declutterers such as Peter Walsh and fellow minimalist bloggers Courtney Carver, Ryan Nicodemus & Joshua Fields Millburn, Leo Babauta and others. But Becker drills deeper to frame minimalism as a means to develop a focused, mindful, intentional life. Becker isn't just decluttering physical possessions but also exposure to television, advertising, and other digital distraction.

Becker’s background is in church ministry and he delves a little deeper into the biblical references and his faith journey in “The More of Less” than he does in the blog, but the message resonates regardless of faith or lack thereof.

In the last few years, Becker has inspired me to eliminate 50 percent of my belongings, including 75 percent of my clothes, and reduce my television viewing to little more than college basketball. When you purchase only what you absolutely need, you find you don’t need much.

“Once we let go of the things that don’t matter,” Becker writes, “we are free to pursue all the things that do matter.”

Less clutter = more time and freedom. It’s a tough sell in America, where overconsumption is viewed as the norm, if not a civic duty to support our economy, itself unsustainable because of consumerism.

Minimalism, as Becker writes, is “the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them.”

Indeed, more is less.

In 2010 I moved from 2300 sq. ft to 800 sq. ft. (after becoming an empty nester). Since then I've been a "Progressing Minimalist". I attended Josh's book signing in early May in Phoenix. Over my 4 day Memorial Day weekend I read his awesome book from cover to cover then purged 42 items from my already minimalist closet. My book is highlighted and marked all over with even more practical ideas to keep my life simple. Thank you! I can't wait for his next book but meanwhile I enjoy his blog and weekend reads.

This book was just what I needed at just the right time. Week after week I get overwhelmed and frustrated by trying to organize all of my family's stuff... We have a camper in the woods with few belongings there, and we have such a wonderful time there... Why do we need so much stuff at our actual home? This book is inspiring change in my family and I hope it gives us more quality time together. Thanks to the author for making minimalism so accessible and not a crazy alternative lifestyle.

So boring. There was nothing new, in depth, or interesting, just very generic ideas about getting rid of your things. The Marie Kondo book is so much better! Plus this had way too many stories about Jesus. I never would have purchased this had I known it had a religious angle.

Long stort short - the incitement to minimalism is... ok, but certainly nothing you haven't heard more succinctly and compellingly before, and unfortunately it comes with a huge helping of "be minimalist because Jesus says so" which completely alienated me and I'm sure many other readers. The religious focus of this book should have been included in the advertising so people could steer clear if they weren't interested in a book that cannot make the case for minimalism without citing the Bible.

I was extremely disappointed in this book. From the first mention of church and Jesus I knew this book was doomed. This is like a friendly conversation someone starts up with you that you slowly realize that they want to tell you about religion. That sinking feeling that I knew I should not have bought this book and I was very disappointed myself and angry with myself for buying it. Stick to YouTube videos people.Watch YouTube videos on minimalism and that's all you need to know.

Thank goodness it's never too late! Even the book is minimalist size with a large impact! Now nearing 80 , my husband & I( mostly me) have been haphazardly downsizing for some years now. While reading several books on it, none has made such an impression as this one! Our stuff now owns us!
We are of modest means but still have accumulated STUFF! My DH is an amateur photographer & we have thousands of photos to prove it! Even some Polaroids! Why? I have way to many craft supplies, fabric etc. I was struck by an example in the book of how we hold on to things so people will see us as we want to be seen. I wanted to be seen as an artist, so I surrounded myself with not so much art, but art supplies, books paints, papers, etc. I no longer have the passion but I hold on to everything; thinking maybe Grandma Moses reborn? I wondered why I had so many unfinished projects , jumping from painting to rubber stamping to scrap booking to jewelry making to quilting! & kept buying more stuff ! Whew! I was distracted by all the stuff. I am now limiting myself & vowing to finish just 2 passions; Quilting & jewelry making.They are functional & bring me the most joy! The rest I will donate. I will work with my DH to put his work into digital photo books. Thank you Joshua, you've given an "ole Lady" new life.!

Normally I don't mind when an author slips their personal beliefs into a book advertised as educational. However, it's best to either avoid allowing it to take up so much of your book, or to mention spirituality being a key talking point in the summary.

I returned this book because I had no idea when I purchased it that so much of it was going to be about Jesus. If I'd have known, I'd have purchased something else. I need practical information relevant to my life. Not religious affirmation.

That said, if you are a Christian, this book will definitely be up your alley.

This book is quite a departure from what I normally read, but it was wonderfully worth it. Joshua Becker’s The More of Less is inspiring, encouraging and remarkably practical. It’s a super short book that I probably could have read in a day or two if it weren’t for all the ideas and suggestions that I wanted to put into practice one at a time. The main idea of the book comes from Mr. Becker’s own story of moving from owning too much to a lifestyle of minimalism. At the very beginning of the book, and the beginning of his own journey, he notes: “Our excessive possessions are not making us happy. Even worse, they are taking us away from the things that do. Once we let go of the things that don’t matter, we are free to pursue all the things that really do matter.”

This little book is laid out in such a way so that each chapter builds on the one before. Starting at the beginning by answering questions such as “what is minimalism” and “what could minimalism look like in my own life”, Mr. Becker moves thoughtfully and carefully, at quite a slow speed, through each of the steps laid out. He talks through some of the reasons we have too much stuff, such as the fog of consumerism (chapter 4) or the search for acceptance or security (chapter 5). Chapter six helps the reader to declare their why. I really appreciated this chapter and even wrote down my own reasons for wanting to pursue minimalism (hello – FIVE kids!). The author gives practical advice about how to begin the process, including what to keep and what to give away. There is so much grace and kindness in this chapter that it is obvious that the author has experience with the type of people that are attached to their stuff.

There is a chapter on maintenance, one on minimalizing for the family, and a couple of chapters on the difficulties you might come across as you begin your journey towards minimalism. The book ends with two very quotable chapters on living intentionally (in every area of our lives) and not settling for anything less than purposeful living. These were the best two chapters of the book.

Perhaps my favorite quotable in the book comes from the final chapter and summarizes very well the tone of the entire book: “..life is about choices, but some choices are more valuable than others. Some things matter more. Some things matter less. There is greater life available for those who recognize the difference.”

The More of Less by Joshua Becker will inspire you to take a look at the things in your life and your home that might be keeping you from the things that really matter. It will encourage you to take a good, long look at your stuff and begin to make better decisions for your future. Since reading this book, we have given away over 400 books, over ten bags of clothes and over 50 DVDs! We’ve begun working through the rooms in our home one by one to make more room for us to actually live and play here and I hope and pray that this is just the beginning of our family’s minimalist journey.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the Blogging for Books blogger review program in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The whole book could have been summed up in a couple of sentences. You get the message by the end of page one. If you have too much junk, get rid of some of it and stop buying stuff that you do not need. The End.

So far the best book on the process I've read (listened to). I've listened to 3 audio books about minimalism and zero waste in the last few days. This is the favorite among them. For those that are not religious, please note that Joshua does mention his faith several times throughout the book, but hopefully you'll be able to see the general "concept" of what he means overall and not get hung up on the religion.

I bought this book so I could take the online course he offered for 'free' with this pre-order purchase. I was excited to get it, but after finishing it tonight, I am really disappointed! He said it was his best book yet so I guess I expected much more. Firstly, I didn't appreciate all the god stuff as I believe that is a personal choice and not a topic for minimalism and/or owning less. I am a very spiritual person, but it's my personal choice and I don't want to read about it in a book on mimimalism. I have learned and followed much more about minimalizing from The Minimalists (Joshua & Ryan) and Marie Kondo. To be honest, I am already pretty downsized so I found very little in this book that I didn't already know or practice. About the only part I enjoyed was the stuff on consumerism and how it sucks us in to buying more stuff. Other than that, I hope the 'free' course offers something worth my 12 weeks of taking it or otherwise I will feel like I wasted my time!

A lot of the reviewers who didn't like this book mention the overt message of Christianity. That is true. However, the author is also extremely self-righteous and tells us all about the wonderful changes he has made in his own life, then wags his finger and tells us that we should do the same. He tells us that we should watch less tv, eat heathier, drink more water, exercise more, and give to charity. I just wanted some inspiration to clear out my house.
The author was naggy and the book was poorly written. Its advertising was decseptive. It maakes me sick to think I wasted so much money on this book.

I initially bought this book as part of the process of getting my parents to throw away a lot of their junk in order to effectively downsize the family home. On the way home from the library I cracked it open to see what it was about and decided to read it for myself firrst.

My husband and I have always wanted to own less stuff, have a smaller house, and generally have more time to invest in family and friends instead of material possessions. That was exactly what this book talked about. In a generation where mega mansions rule, even in our small city outside of Columbus, Ohio, this is a radical way of thinking, but one we are firm in adopting. If I could have every person read this book I would.

It is a call to less materialism, more joy, less stress and more freedom of pursuit. The amount of time my husband and I spend cleaning up our small apartment with limited "junk" compared to others in my family with large houses and all the toys in the world, is astonishing. It's given us greater freedom and joy to pursue our passions instead of constantly rearranging and reorganizing. It frees up space in our minds and souls.

I wish others could see the benefits of minimalism that Joshua Becker presents in this short book, because I think if everyone did, we would all be a little more joyful, a little less rushed and a little more compassionate to those around us. A must read for anyone feeling tied down to their possessions, stressed over their cleaning schedules or in need of more time, money and freedom to spend on the things that are most important.

I'm not sure what I expected... maybe more techniques on how to be a minimalist. He made me feel shame for wanting to have anything for myself. He mentioned grooming as if it was a bad thing and we shouldn't waste our money because it won't makes us look or feel better about ourselves. He also mentioned giving to the church and a charity each week before we even look at our bills. Sell your most prized possession such as your boat/wedding ring and give the money away. The religious references didn't bother me, you don't have to be a Christian to give, however I don't think it added anything to the book. To sum up this book... give away more than you keep, work to give. I love being about to help people and try to be as charitable as possible, but I do have to make sure my family has their needs meet first. I also think it is foolish not to save for the future.

Falsely advertised. This book is simply a rambling christian sermon on the virtues of owning less material goods. The best part of the book is the back cover. Unless you like repetitive writing from a religious cheerleader, steer clear.

Something about this 2016 book looked eerily familiar when I came across it on the store: the cover color treatment, the typeface, the title and theme, even down to the placement of the subtitle and author's name. And then I realized that it mimics (to use the polite term) another "how to get by with less" book — one that was published THREE years earlier. That is, Susan Vogt's book, "Blessed by Less" published in 2013. Of course I don't know if the latter day author, Becker, consulted with Ms. Vogt or acknowledged her previous effort, but it does seem so derivative — at least in looks — that one can only wonder what his publisher was thinking. At least they took the trouble to change Vogt's "empty shelf" graphic to an empty suitcase.

In fact, the two books are so bizarrely similar in looks that at first I thought "The More of Less" was a sequel to "Blessed by Less" or that perhaps even that the two authors had collaborated.

Of course, the field of life de-cluttering and minimalism is not exactly uncluttered itself — a quick Google search reveals several dozen, if not hundreds of titles. Oddly, "The More of Less" was actually published just a week after the almost identically titled audio book, "The Joy of Less" by self-described "miss minimalist" Francine Jay (although her hardcover version came out in 2010.) At least Becker's publishers had the good sense not to mimic the simple-living pioneer's cover treatment.

Maybe copying another author's book format is just another way to simplify one's life.

The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker is a self-help book about living a simpler life free of clutter. The clutter that Becker refers to is both physical and mental and includes spiritual clutter as well. Becker runs a popular blog, Becoming Minimalist, in which he describes his story of missing out on important time with his kids because he was cleaning out his garage that was full of stuff.

In this book, Becker explains how clutter keeps us from pursuing our dreams. There is a guide on figuring out why you buy more than you need. He explains how to declutter a house and your time and what the benefits are of doing so. There is also information about how living with less clutter means a more satisfying life.

I struggle in this myself. I grew up without everything that I needed. I also find it fun to visit the occasional rummage sale or thrift shop. I have gotten better and am more conscious of what I bring into my home. I still have more than I "need" but less than I used to. For myself, I realized that I was spending too much time managing my stuff and it was overwhelming. I used to have a big stockpile of food. One day a jar of salsa fell off of a shelf, hit my foot and shattered into a million messy pieces. I was trapped because I was barefoot and surrounded by shards of glass. I realized then that I did not want to be in that situation again! I now have a much smaller "stockpile" of one shelf of canned and boxed foods that I can more easily manage. It's enough to supplement our fresh foods for a couple of weeks. When surprise food collections come up for charities, I can easily fill a grocery bag. I no longer buy foods in mass quantities. Now my yarn collection is another story...!

This is a great book for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed with their possessions. It would also be a good read for an adult child who is facing the task of cleaning out their parents' home.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing an honest review. I did not receive any other compensation.

Seems just about right that a book about minimalism should be small. That's the first thing you notice - the size - and if you didn't already know what the book was about, you might ask why.
I liked everything about this book - the message, the writing style, the fact that the text wasn't cluttered with a bunch of quotes from famous people. Sure, there were a few well-placed quotes from people like Will Rogers and Anne Frank. But most of the quotes were personal stories from Becker's own experience as a minimalist and stories he's collected from people who follow his blog and who have embraced minimalism themselves.
I loved the little experiments throughout the book that made me want to get up and start getting rid of some things - I did - but overall, the message wasn't just to de-clutter, it was about focusing on the life you could have if you weren't so bogged down with material possessions. How much more would you enjoy one or two things if you weren't always so distracted?
Becker connects the message to his spiritual background but whatever your religious conviction, I think most people just want to live their best lives possible.
I recommend this book for anyone who's looking to carve out a simpler, more fulfilling life for themselves.

I purchased the Audible version of this book.

I was so disappointed in this book I'm not sure where to begin. I am an avid reader, about 20 books per year, and this is the first one I haven't been able to finish a book since 2013. I did suffer through about 80% of it.

1) Most of the good advice he gives is about de-cluttering your home, not minimalism. I don't think the average reader needs a book on how to throw out a few old, unused items. Just do it as Nike says.

2) Preachy! Most of the book reads like a poorly written sermon. I'm not a Christian, and this may have made this book harder for me than most, but I doubt any god would care if I give my used underwear to charity. OK ... a little joke there. But almost EVERYBODY gives their old stuff to a good cause. This is not minimalism, it's spring cleaning.

If we are honest, most of our stuff is near worthless the minute we take the tags off. Giving to charity makes us feel good, but often, they are just throwing it away for us. A side note on this: Joshua has a story late in the book about trying to have a yard sale. So, charity is not his first thought. He talks about raising money to BUY MORE STUFF!

3) He gives some terrible advice. At one point he talks about buying e-books to replace your real books. This is in NO WAY simple living, minimalism or a way to remove clutter. Do the math. If you are a reader (as I am), you may have over 100 books. I've read close to 500 books. I know people who have 5 to 10 times that. An e-book is often more expensive than a used copy of these books. So, by spending 10 times what I paid for the hard cover, I can have one less bookcase in my house! Follow this: Buy a book (better yet get a library card) and read it. Is it good? Pass it on. Is it garbage? Throw it away. Note: I wish I had bought a physical copy of this book just to be able to throw it away!

4) He tells a story of someone who has minimized many of his possessions but wants to buy his dream car (about $60,000). Joshua tells him to buy a $30,000 car and give the difference to charity! This is NOT minimalism! Stop preaching! I took this one personally. I just bought a $40,000 car. Not 100% my dream, but a car I love and way more than I needed. But I use it almost every single day. I get compliments on it. I love driving it. It fills all my driving needs and most of my driving joys. Don't skimp on stuff you enjoy. Skimp on stuff you can't afford or don't use.

It's OK to have nice things. In fact, I would say people who buy a few nice things are much happier than people who buy lots of crappy things. And that's the message I didn't hear listening to this audio-book. Stop buying crap for the sake of buying!

My final thoughts: You don't need Jesus to simplify (or stop using alcohol or anything else for that matter). I'm cool with Joshua being a Christian. It's not for me, but I am in the minority in this matter. But his religion weighs heavily on this book in a negative way.

First let me say that Joshua Becker did a superb job of reading the book, not an easy job even for a professional. I am already a minimalist. But I am at the stage of life now to where I need to part with even more stuff and find more value in my life. Becker points out that we all have a different idea of what minimalism is. Indeed, every stage of life brings with it different needs. We need different things in different amounts. Some people need very little. Others simply need less. But, it's a safe bet we ALL have far too much.

I have read many books on minimalism and most of them brought value to me. But I think perhaps this book brought the most. I don't know if it's because it's the last book I've read or because it actually did. But, suffice it to say, I feel blessed from hearing it and took away an awful lot of good.

Becker tells true stories of many people who have chosen minimalism and the types of minimalism they chose. I found this delightful.

I highly recommend this book.

My latest read in the field of minimizing stuff is The More of Less by Joshua Becker. Rather than a practical guide to removing excess from one's life, it is more of a manifesto to minimalism. The book explains the benefits of minimalism, misconceptions about it, and different means of achieving it. It addresses the negative effects of consumerism, generational ideas toward materialism, and how destructive is it to seek security, identity, and belonging through ownership of stuff.
I've been an anti-clutter person my entire life so I agree wholeheartedly with many of the arguments for minimalism presented in this book. However, I don't believe reducing the amount of items you own or buy will make you a better person, especially if you become obsessive about it. Ever been around someone on a diet? Not fun. Some people enjoy being surrounded by objects that make them happy. Others like clean surfaces. One person isn't better than the other and both can be equally generous with their time and money. The idea that you will have more time and money if you get rid of all your stuff may be partially true, especially if you spend a lot of time cleaning, organizing, and maintaining your stuff. Most of us don't.
I like the idea of reducing excess from my life, but not keeping only the minimum. I hold on to sturdy toys, cartoon videos, and children's books because I plan to have little kids over at my house, even though I don't have any now. I keep a punch bowl, a roast pan, and a large platter even though they are used rarely. I want to be able to host a large dinner if I'm in the mood. Owning these things doesn't add stress to my life and the cost of storing them is minimal. I don't believe my life would be exceedingly better if I got rid of everything I don't currently use. Minimalism isn't for everyone, though this book implies that it is. It is more dogma than advice.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.

I bought this from another store, but wanted to say, while I rarely give 5 star reviews, this one earned every one of them.
It is a Christian based book, but don't let that put you off if that's not your thing. The author does a great job making this for all
people that find themselves buried under clutter, not just the religious ones.
This spoke to me on a deep level. I started bookmarking important items to turn back to and in the end, the majority of this book was
marked up.
This book starts conversations, and inspires people to quit the clutter. I keep talking it up and people listen and want to change based
on ideas found inside.
While the material is along the lines of many other de-cluttering, organizing books, it is written in such a straight forward manner that it is
hard to put down and even harder to forget about.
Maybe I was just ready for this message, but since reading it, I have begun a huge purge of the things that have been holding me back
and I can feel things begin to open up and shift about in my life.
Who knew it was buried under all my stuff.
If anyone were to ask me, What is the one book you have read that has changed your life?
My answer would be this one!

It started out really good with an anecdote about how his clutter was preventing him from living his full life. But then it got heavy on his religion. I think the second part of this title should be "in Jesus Christ my Lord." There is nothing wrong with that AT ALL but it would signal the reader about what kind of book it is. I got mine as an audiobook from the library rather than from the store but I returned it before finishing because I have limited time, and only want tips and inspiration for downsizing.

The More of Less is a great place to start if you're thinking about minimalism or are curious about what it is. It explains what it's all about and why it's a great lifestyle choice. It gives some general instructions and challenges, and shows some real life success stories. It lets us know that all journeys are different and don't compare one to another. I still remember one of the first books on minimalism I read being super rude and judgmental towards those that didn't share the same lifestyle as the author. That approach rarely works with anything! This book, on the other hand, does an amazing job of offering grace to those of us, like me, that are very much imperfect on this journey.

Definitely grab this book if you're wanting some extra encouragement to make your life simpler, or are curious what minimalism is all about.

*I was provided a review copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Joshua Becker opens his book The More of Less by telling the story of how he stumbled on minimalism. Cleaning out his garage one Memorial Day, he was so caught up with the enormity of the task that he was unable to find time to play with his son. He kept thinking he'd be soon finished, only to see a huge pile of belongings accumulate on his driveway. Never-ending. At one point during the course of that day a conversation with his neighbor caused a light bulb moment. She quoted her own daughter and basically said, "(You) don't need to own all this stuff." That was his springboard.

That's the way it works. With so many books out now about throwing out, making do with less, buying fewer things, there's a technique that will suit anyone. Becker, with enthusiasm, shares about how within 6 months of that first clearing out he and his wife had lessened their possessions by fifty percent. He started a website which quickly caught on, and this all began only 8 years ago.

He doesn't get all spiritual about the process, but is very practical. Like, how many of one object do you really need. We're not in the midst of a Depression, and even if we were, more isn't better.

With various personal stories, and those of others, you'll read about what works for each one and how they go about cleaning and freeing up their lives. And interestingly enough, he mentions something called 'leveling' which about giving yourself some room to make changes. Maybe not being so radical, but taking time. You might not be ready to part with certain items, so he recommends packing them up, labeling the box and living without it for awhile. He says that there's a chance that being away from those things might be the rest you need to make a decision. If you can live without it, then maybe you'll realize you can get rid of it. Makes sense.

For folks who might need a fresh start, his book is an excellent beginning. For me the best piece of advice was his comment about a failed garage sale. He and his wife had spent lots of time sorting and tagging things to sell, expecting to make a huge return. It didn't happen. He says you shouldn't try to sell low ticket items. It brings extra stress and really, you're trying to minimize stress. Give it away to charities and bless someone else. For the excess beyond that, I say toss it.

(i received this book free to review from blogging for books)

As soon as I started reading Joshua Becker's The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, I had an urge to go to my closet and bag stuff up to get rid of! That's his goal--but only part of his goal. Becker has made a name for himself in the world of minimalism with his blog,[...]. The basic message of his blog and The More of Less is to get rid of stuff (and stop accumulating more stuff), but the emphasis isn't simply on minimalism or an uncluttered life. Becker wants you to get rid of stuff so you will be more free, with more time, money, space, energy, and mental space to pursue things that really matter and serve others.

Becker is practical and doesn't strike me as an extremist. I don't get the impression that he wants to live off the grid in a treehouse, or reduce his belongings to a single backpack (although he tells a few stories of extreme minimalists). He's a guy with a house and a family. There was no point in The More of Less at which I thought, "I could never do that."

In fact, on several points, I did think, "Yeah, I already do that." But there are many more areas in which I could and should walk away from my American consumerist tendencies and embrace a more minimalist attitude and lifestyle. It's not easy, but Becker certainly makes minimalism, or at least moving incrementally toward minimalism, seem doable, desirable, and worth every bit of effort.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for the complimentary review copy!

"The More of Less" by Joshua Becker is a great read for anyone wanting a simpler lifestyle, namely, through learning to live with less material possessions. The book is around 215 pages and addresses topics such as:

1. Benefits and misconceptions of the minimalist lifestyle.
2. 7 questions to ask in clarifying your goals.
3. Valuing possessions too much leads to valuing relationships too little.
4. Using the 80-20 rule for going through your home.
5. Suggestions for going from room to room.
6. Suggestions for giving away and keeping books.
7. Using the principles of leveling and experimentation for reducing household items.
8. How to get your family involved.
9. Advantages of giving items away to charities instead of trying to sell them.
10. Suggestions for having a more restful and less busy schedule, taking care of our bodies, and having healthier relationships.

The title is very readable and the author shares his own experiences and that of others in the quest for having a simpler lifestyle. The narrative flows smoothly and easily transitions from chapter to chapter. Will be an excellent future reference. Recommended.

I loved this book. Joshua gives some wonderful tips for downsizing, and reasons why. I love his idea of experiments, trying for 29 days to live without something to see if you really need it (I'm currently trying that with sweets, and so far it's been going great!). He also put forward some ideas for minimalism I hadn't come across before, such as having more time to volunteer and give to others in need. There's a lot of books on minimalism out there, but this was the first one I've come across which seems to be written from a Christian's perspective, and as a Christian myself, I enjoyed his connecting minimalism with Biblical principles (but if you are not a Christian, you don't need to worry about this book being "preachy").

The More of Less by Joshua Becker (from Becoming Minimalist) offers a great introduction to minimalism, as well as practical steps on how to actually get there. That's where many books on organising or minimalism stops, but Becker goes one step further in The More of Less, touching on the real benefits of minimalism, what you can do with the time and money you gain in the process. At the end of the book there's a chapter on their newly-founded charity The Hope Effect, dedicated to change the way orphans are taken care of, by letting them grow up in stable families, rather than orphanages. This is a topic that I've personally realised the importance of, so I was excited when I first heard about this. However, I did have some concerns regarding The Hope Effect, I contacted them and unfortunately some of my concerns were valid. I was delighted to hear that they will purely be working with local couples, and only taking in so-called double orphans (meaning that both parents are dead, too frequently children end up in orphanages because their parents don't have any other option in order to look after them). However, they will not support any same-sex couples to participate in the program, even in countries where it is legal. As such, I cannot in good conscience recommend this charity. I will not support such harmful, out-dated homophobic nonsense. For the book itself, 3.5 Stars

*I received an ARC from Blogging for Books, the review is my own opinion*

I have read several books about simplicity and downsizing. I have made progress in the past, but at times I felt as though I was losing momentum. This book is superb for many reasons. First of all it will motivate you to continue reading, and it will help you through the process of minimizing. Many of the books I read talked a lot about the advantages of simplicity, but rarely did they provide a step-by-step guide to the process. This author takes the concept and makes it applicable to everyday life. The book is easy to read, easy to apply, and is almost painless. I appreciate the options the author offered in the different chapters and also how to spend some of the free time you will discover as you proceed. I also appreciated the fact that he recognized that the concept doesn't work the same for each person and offers ways to simplify no matter where you are in your life. I truly enjoyed this book and I think you will too.

The more of Less by Joshua Becker published by WaterBrook is a fantastic book. Wonderfully written, clear and concise, right to the point, fluent and intriguing the author shares through this book his new philosophy of life from 2008: the one of Minimalism. What does Minimalism mean ? Living with less a much more intense and plenty life. How can it be possible to do that? Our society is a consumerist reality where people are taken in consideration because they can spend. A compulsive society where we are overwhelmed everyday by messages, ads, publicity for let us buy always more. We keep our houses plenty of things most of the time absolutely unnecessary or in an exaggerated number because of it. Joshua Becker focuses in a new life-style where what it will be important won't be anymore the big house with all the expenses necessary for maintaining it, won't it be the big car, or the rich furniture of a house, but...people and their main interests in a best quality life. In fact the author says, it is important a massive declutter of the stuff in the house for living with less but living a best life, because when we are surrounded by too many objects we lose the best part of us. We become selfish, arrogant, egoist, we are not able to seeing the other one as our brother, we are not able to giving to anyone anything because of our ego. It's indispensable to understand that this society sometimes can be superficial. Every person in a certain moment will buy the same pair of shoes of a certain brand because everyone say that it is trendy. Just a little example but let's admit it, the human being is like a sheep: we love to follow the current. And what does in term of quality-time and intelligence mean? A lot, because following the standards of this society means not always to follow quality, but mainly appearance. The beautiful house, the beautiful car, and so on. Why people are important in this society? Are they important just because of their capacities of spending money? In the past, in the remote past, society and messages mainly spread were the ones of saving money. At the moment men, women and children are lived like potential consumers. Speaking with a friend of mine time ago for the special issue of Christmas, topic toys, I discovered for example that children must be also very stressed by this society, because they don't have anymore any kind of certainty and any kind of real super-hero at long as we had when we were little. They explained me that children's toys are products of movies, cartoons and they can exist just for six months, one year if they are lucky. Scary. Back to the book, Mrs Jane, during a hard working day in the garage for Joshua Becker, introduced him at what it would have meant a complete change of life-style for this man and his family: minimalism. Jane told that afternoon to Joshua Becker that her daughter lived in the minimalism so she wouldn't never spent too much time cleaning the house but she would have had much more time to spend THIS with friends and family. To Becker, absent with his kid who wanted to play with him because busy in the garage, a revelation. He talked immediately with his wife and they decided to proceed and to change their life-style. For better. Becker explains minimalism doesn't want to say austerity. Each Minimalist is different and starts to join this great community for personal reasons. There are reporters, retired people, teenagers in this colored group of the "Philosophers of the good time spent well and with less." What a minimalist does is keeping space, emotive, physical, emotional for himself/herself and for his/her family, without to be surrounded by too many redundant objects but just by the necessary. It doesn't mean that we should avoid to have a TV, or PC or smart phone. We should adopt a different and more healthy life-style, sober, able to let us appreciate thanks to the Minimalism our New Us. Objects, surplus, is able to create chaos all around us and this is extremely dangerous for a good and emotive development of our real personality too much oppressed by what we are surrounded by. It's like a sensation of suffocating. Once you will set you free from all the objects you will be free to re-construct your real Self. Many the example introduced by Joshua Becker including of course his immense, wonderful story. Altruism, generosity, donation, must enter in the dictionary of your new life. It's wonderful to donate in many ways: time, money, joining an association or a charity for helping people in needs or simply assisting some neighbors in need. From his experience, Becker discourages to sell the material once you decide to throw it away. They tried but they did accumulate just 135 dollars. So they started to call many associations and charities in need of the most diversified items they wanted to give away and Becker remembers his joy in giving away unwanted stuff able to make the difference for other men, women and children. Becker insists that everyone once taken the decision of becoming minimalist should donate everything away without asking money, but contacting local charities. A lady created an association of wealthy women for donating the Wedding Ring for bringing water in Africa. This association fascinated me a lot because I remembered that the same experiment was made by the ladies of the South during the Secession War of 1861-1865. Married ladies were asked to donate their wedding ring for the cause of the war. Becker asks to everyone to live in the substance and not in the appearance. Our society is mainly built in the appearance. Becker add that there is always more request for plastic surgeries in the USA, but gym is neglected, people eat junk food so they become always more fat developing important social illnesses. What it is important to do according to the author is to return to a normality made of friendship, family, good sleeping time, eating properly, watching less TV and adopting a more human life-style. A wealthy life-style means less time for family, children, friends. This book is not only beauty, it's felt, written with decision, with force and with the soul. It's extremely powerful. While you read the words of the author you start to feel what he says and while you are reading it you think: this author will make the difference for a lot of people in the world!

*I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.*

The older I get, the more I seem to want to simplify - my schedule, our possessions and my life. For this reason, I was drawn to Joshua Becker's new book, The More of Less.

Joshua Becker is the founder of the blog, Becoming Minimalist. I was unfamiliar with Joshua or his story so I enjoyed this peek inside his life. The More of Less tells the story of Joshua's own introduction to Minimalism and how it changed his life. Six years ago, a simple conversation with a neighbor sparked the beginning of Joshua's journey. His life has never been the same!

What I found interesting is that this truly was a family endeavor. He is living a minimalism lifestyle with his wife and two children. You don't have to be single to live simply! Joshua is also quick to point out that minimalism can look different to everyone. You define your reason for living simply - and how to do it.

As someone who just finished reading The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I was struck by the difference in the philosophy as Joshua said to start slow and go through your house room by room. I can see the sense in that but I think I now prefer the KonMari method of sorting by category instead of location. However, it is less overwhelming to go through your house room by room.

Whatever process you chose, Joshua's point remains the same. You can live the life you want without all the stuff. You truly can experience more of life with less stuff! I found The More of Less thought provoking and worth a read. It was good motivation for me to start simplifying!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

On Memorial Day weekend in 2008 Joshua Becker was on a mission--a mission to clean out his garage. He planned to take everything out, clean the garage, and put everything back. Throughout the day, his 5 year old son kept asking him to play, and Mr. Becker kept telling him that as soon as the garage was done, he could play. Each time, he'd say, "almost done." On that day, gazing at his driveway full of dirty, dusty possessions, Mr. Becker realized that his stuff was the source of his discontent. He noted, "I already knew that possessions don't equal happiness. Doesn't everybody? At least we all profess to know that our things won't bring true satisfaction. But in that moment, as I surveyed the pile of stuff in my driveway, another realization came to me: Not only are my possessions not bringing happiness into my life; even worse, they are actually distracting me from the things that do!"

Thus began Joshua Becker's journey toward minimalism. In the years since that day, Mr. Becker has learned a lot about minimalism, and he shares the best of his knowledge in his book, The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. Minimalism is about, quite simply, owning less so that one may have more time and energy, more money, more generosity, more freedom, less stress, less distraction, less environmental impact, higher quality belongings, less comparison, and more contentment.

This is a good book. Mr. Becker has some great advice about why and how to go about minimizing. It's well written and engaging, with a good mixture of anecdotes, statistics, and techniques. There is nothing special about this book, however. I imagine there are any number of books about minimalism that contain roughly the same information. I, personally, have been feeling drawn toward less lately, so I enjoyed the book and found it inspiring.

If you'd like to get a feel for Mr. Becker's style before committing to buying the book, check out his blog, Becoming Minimalist.

I received this book for free from the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Josh Becker had an epiphany one day while cleaning out his garage. What started as a father son activity, turned into a long day of hauling, sorting, organizing while junior played with summer toys he hadn't seen for several months. While son begged dad to play with him, Josh was determined to get the garage in order that day.

In the meantime, Josh's neighbor was also puttering around her house. Becker's response to a her sarcastic remark, "Ah, the joys of home ownership" was to joke about how we allow our stuff to own us. She then shared that her daughter chose the path of minimalism and had suggested that her mother didn't need to own all the stuff she did.

That fleeting conversation made a lasting difference as Josh realized that he really didn't need all that stuff. His journey toward ridding himself of unneeded possessions formed the basis for his blog, "Becoming Minimalist" that in turn yielded speaking engagements and finally this book. Becker is passionate about teaching others what he has learned through the paradox of the more [joy, peace, time] of less [stuff].

Josh forces the reader to take a hard look at all they've been accumulating. Is it making your life better or more burdened? Does more stuff make you more secure? Improve relationships? Increase your free time? As Josh and his wife loosened their hold on stuff, they found they were opening up new vistas of opportunity and joy. Less stuff meant more time to pursue hobbies and adventures with their kids they had always been meaning to do.

Readers will come away realizing that more stuff is really less of a life. And less stuff will yield more benefits than you could possibly imagine. Becker offers suggestions on how to take practical steps to minimize and continues to reinforce the idea that you can be a tremendous blessing to others by sharing your excess.

This would be a great gift for those embarking on new steps in life: college graduates, newlyweds, even new parents. Becker will help them avoid the pitfalls of materialism and help them really examine and shape a fulfilling life with less stuff and more contentment and joy.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The More of Less for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

Joshua Becker, a former pastor, is a blogger, author, and speaker on the subject of minimalism. He is also the head of a charitable organization that focuses on the care of orphans and orphanages.

“The More of Less” is a practical book which lays out for the reader the minimalist lifestyle. Employing autobiographical examples, the experiences of other minimalists, popular published writings, and statistics, Becker explains minimalism in a conversational style. He persuades the reader to discard a percentage of his personal items by demonstrating that the reader gains more as he adapts to living with less.

Becker argues both from the “negative” and the “positive” as he promotes minimalism. Negatively, he demonstrates that a house full of clutter creates stress; that one must spend great deals of time and effort to care for great deals of possessions; that unexamined spending on both big-ticket and small-ticket items do harm to your financial health and relationships. Thus cutter often carries an unexpectedly large opportunity cost.

Positively, he demonstrates that discarding items, clearing the calendar, and being intentional relationships creates increased opportunities for deepening bonds with loved ones; greater financial health; the ability to develop hobbies and interests; free time; and opportunities donate to or serve at charitable organizations.

While Becker’s focus is primarily on physical possessions (especially during the first part of his book), he applies the principles for reducing physical possessions to time commitments, finances, relationships, and our position within the world.

The book is well-written and well-structured. Those acquainted with Becker’s writings will notice familiar stories and ideas and yet see them presented in a fuller, deeper way with new details added. Helpful and appreciated is Becker’s inspirational closing chapter on the relationship between minimalism and generosity. Indeed, a minimalist life is a great catalyst to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

“The More of Less” is recommended to those interested in the impact of physical possessions upon a life, those exploring minimalism, and also those who consider themselves minimalists.

Yes, another book on decluttering because as author Josh Becker reminds us, we see five thousand ads every day telling us to buy more. Becker is pushing back by encouraging minimalism.

The More of Less isn’t just about decluttering though and getting rid of less. Becker emphasizes the joy of having more when we get rid of much of our stuff. He reminds us that minimalism isn’t about giving up everything; do keep the things you love. And minimalism isn’t about organizing your stuff; it’s about owning less. And letting less own you.

The book is practical in many ways. He walks you through tips, through strategies, through day-to-day things you can do to minimize. Some are traditional hints you’ve heard, but others are not.

But Becker also gives you the why behind the how. He tells what you gain by living with less. That makes this book different.

The More of Less is the first book by Joshua Becker that I have read and it has been enjoyable for the whole family. We have been slowly reducing our belonging for a couple of years since we downsized however it has not been nearly enough because we have still have clutter. I like Joshua’s definition “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we value most and the removal of anything that distracts us from them. It’s for everyone who wants more out of less.” This book does not promote a one size fits all approach, it tells peoples stories from all walks of life and the how and why they did what they did.

We are preparing for a garage sale in the next couple of weeks and this book is perfect timing for us! It has definitely made it easier to fill the boxes and clear out the house. For quite some time I have been feeling overwhelmed by our belongings and the weight of “stuff”. It does feel freeing to reduce what we own and not have every corner of our house stuffed.

In a culture of consumption this book makes you redefine and evaluate what success means, what marketers are up to and what your viewpoint of your belongings are based on your generation.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is ready to find the true meaning of LIFE. It is time our society finds another hobby besides shopping.

"What if instead of being embarrassed over the brand of our clothing we became embarrassed by the enormity of our walk-in closets? What if instead of being embarrassed over the type of car we drive we became embarrassed over how often we take the luxury of automobile ownership for granted?...What if excess became the cause of embarrassment and responsible living the champion generosity became the norm? Maybe then we could become a little more proud of normal."
This is my favorite excerpt from this fantastically inspiring book. Becker takes you alongside of his journey into becoming a minimalist with intriguing stories of his own encounters and of those he has met. I also personally enjoy his Christian perspective however if you are not a believer don't be turned away as it is written in a subtle nonjudgmental way. I initially borrowed this book but had to buy my own copy since I know I will need to re-read this book, especially as someone who lives in the US where we are constantly trying to be convinced to buy more.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to live a better, more purposeful, less stressful life.

Here's the author's definition of minimalism: "the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them." That's something all of us should appreciate.

For a while now, I have organized, and cleaned, and organized some more. But I still wasn't getting anywhere with the clutter! After reading The More of Less, I can honestly say it was the piece I was missing. I realized I was living out of fear, focusing on the what-ifs: What if I need it tomorrow? What if someone else in the family needs it? Now, I ask myself, Do I need this now? Is it helping me to meet my goals? It it bringing me joy? As you can imagine, this has freed me to get rid of a lot of stuff! And I don't miss any of it.

I'm sure there are a lot of books out there on this topic of minimalism. So far, this is the first one I have read. However, the author's genuine tone and desire for a better life resonated with me. I also liked that he is upfront about his Christian beliefs (although not preachy in the least bit!). As a believer myself, I appreciated the link between minimalism and the desire to be more generous, more loving, and more purposeful with my time.

The More Of Less, Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker, creator of BecomingMinimalist.com. Although in the long-run I did enjoy the book very much, I felt as if it started out on the slow side - so don't give up if you feel the same when you read it. It did take me several chapters to get into it as the beginning of the book deals with a lot of the background and how the whole process came about; but once I got into the actual procedures portion - it was very informative and enjoyable and I found myself taking notes as I read. It discusses the reasons we accumulate things (security, success, acceptance, and others) and the how and why we can reduce the amount of items we own and actually feel more free than we might feel right now - having more time, more money and more energy. It was interesting to learn that we use 20% of our things 80% of the time, the other 80%, we use 20% of the time.

The book gives you detailed instructions and various ways in which we can reduce our surplus. It allows you to start small if that is what you need - go through one drawer, one box, one closet, one room. One idea is to separate our items into various categories (donate, sell, recycle, toss) and then actually follow through with removing the items from our homes. It offers great ideas as to ways in which to get rid of the items - places I would have never thought to check into, should you choose not to sell all your items. It discusses how to deal with the items that we are not sure we want to get rid of, breaking it down into stages we can follow - until we are sure we want to let go of the item. It does not come across as putting you down if you are not ready for these measures, or making you feel like a hoarder; as a matter of fact, it discusses the fact that this process is not for everyone.

There are great ideas that take you beyond just de-cluttering your life. Joshua Becker gives you information based on tried and true situations which he and his family experienced - and also shares the experiences of people he has met on his journey. You will learn not only the best way to handle your surplus, but how you can invest the money you are now saving, grow your giving, and invest your time. This book goes well beyond just telling you how to reduce your clutter (and a lot of items which are NOT clutter) and helps you to realize that we do not need to fill our lives with things - that there are much more important things involved here.

I found "me" in many of these pages, especially when he discussed having a hard time letting go of items with sentimental attachments - how you can still keep part of your memories and bless others with the surplus. I very much liked the numerous options of what to do with everything - there is pretty much an idea for just about every mindset - all with the same end result: An easier lifestyle for you to enjoy and appreciating the items you do have.

I received this book free from Water Brook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

The More of Less is a book that you will not want to put down. I like to refer to it as a minimalism guide to the majority of the population. Many people think that minimalism means living in a 500 square foot house with no furniture, plumbing, or electricity. Joshua explains that minimalism is what you want it to be, there are no rules that you have to follow. Minimalism will vary from person to person and that is completely fine! Even as someone who already embraced this lifestyle before reading the book I found it extremely useful and thought provoking. I was highlighting and flagging pages to come back and read again later. I also found that it made me think about some other areas of my life that I could improve upon, such giving more of my time to charitable causes instead of just donating money. For someone who is just learning about minimalism it breaks it down in a very easy to understand and easy to implement way without doing too much at one time. I love the minimalism movement that is gaining steam right now and I hope that it continues to grow and reach more people.

Joshua Becker is the creator of BecomingMinimalist.com . I enjoy reading his posts and I believe in his philosophy of living a more abundant life by owning less.

Becker's newest book, The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, is a good read. Although I have been simplifying my life for several years now, I still found good points throughout the book.

It states in the book, "There is more joy to be found in owning less than can ever be found in pursuing more. " The author claims that if we practice the principles of minimalism taught in this book, we can experience: more time and energy, more money, more generosity, more freedom, less stress, less distraction, less environmental impact, higher-quality belongings, a better example for our kids, less work for someone else, less comparison, and more contentment.

There are personal stories shared throughout the book, but the book primarily offers advice on how to become a minimalist on one's own terms and the numerous benefits that come from making this change in our lives.

I also appreciated the last part of the book where the author talks about how we can give to others once we reach the stage in our lives where we have more time, energy, and money due to our new lifestyle.

*I received an advance reading copy from Blogging for Books for my review.

Very basic and seems to have a hidden agenda to push Christianity and the Bible. The book is full of Biblical references and "the teachings of Jesus". I wish this had been mentioned in the description. I feel like this is the type of covert manipulation that turns people off from organized religion. It certainly turned me off!

In the American culture today, stuff can dictate our lives. We feel we must work hard to keep up with others and their stuff, so we put too much value on possessions over deep relationships. But in this book, author Joshua Becker teaches how one can become a minimalist at heart and find happiness in less.

He offers practical baby steps in how to downsize, taking the fear of getting rid of everything all at once. He says 80% of what is in our house we only use 20% of the time. So why do we have all the stuff? This book helps one evaluate what they have and asks hard questions like:
--What if, instead of being embarrassed over the type of car we drive, we became embarrassed over how often we take the luxury of automobile ownership for granted?
--What if, instead of being embarrassed because our house seems too small, we became embarrassed over the amount of unused space within it?
--What if, instead of being embarrassed over the brand of our clothing, we became embarrassed over the enormity of our walk-in closet?

Overall, this book helps readers see the world of excess and reminds us as Christian how we are to live differently than the world and find happiness not in stuff, but of the things of God.

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

I've been a fan of Joshua's for the past two years since becoming a minimalist myself and have always found his blog posts, previous books, emails, and other resources very helpful along my journey. That said, this newest book is by far the most complete, broadly applicable and impactful to all areas of life compared to what he has created previously. In the words of Joshua himself when I interviewed him recently about the book on my podcast, “[The More of Less] isn’t just about owning less—this is a book about living a bigger life because of it. So it’s not organizing, it’s not decluttering, it’s not even just an introduction to minimalism. But it also is an introduction to the idea that our greater life—our best life, our most fulfilling life—is actually found on the other side of owning less and overcoming consumerism. That when we reach that point, that then all of life really opens up to us.” I agree whole-heartedly with this description of the book and the potential and power that minimalism has to improve our lives. As Joshua said, getting rid of stuff is just part of it, and in my experience it is a great starting point for figuring out on what is essential in life and living with greater intentionality and impact in all areas of life. This is a must read for anyone interested in/curious about minimalism as well as those who are already deeply rooted in it. Personally, I thought I was going to just be reading more of the same that I have before, but this book taught me some new things, helped me see things in a different light, and reminded me of some of the things I've let slide over time. If you want to hear more from Joshua you can listen to our podcast chat at:[...]

Joshua Becker became a minimalist in 2006. At that time, he spent the weekend cleaning out his garage instead of playing with his son. He realized that the items he owned were actually limiting him. The idea of fewer possessions made Joshua and his wife realize that they would have less stress, more freedom, and the opportunity to contribute to causes they believe in.

The family quickly embraced the joy of downsizing. On a move from Vermont to Arizona, they chose to sell one of their two family cars and purchase a smaller home. (They soon realized that the second car was a necessity.) The family now owns one television set instead of four.

What I like about the book is that it’s very realistic. Becker is up-front about the fact that he and his wife disagree on the definition of minimalist, and that the minimizing process has not always been easy. He offers advice on how to get spouses and children on board with a more minimal lifestyle. He also talks about how advertising and sponsorship work to create demand for products that we really don’t need.

Overall this was an enjoyable book and that will make you question whether more stuff will truly make you happy.

Saw some hype about this book on Facebook, then saw it on display at a local bookstore. I'm very interested in simplifying my life so I brought it home then spent a month of slogging through this uninteresting book.

The stories don't match my life, nor did I find advice like trade in your stand mixer for a hand held model helpful.

Need to look into the Best Sellers in Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating How-to; if I had found this book in the Christian section I would have realized that I am not the target audience.

This was a fantastic book and I would recommend it to anyone looking to simplify. The basis of the book is to slow down and look around. Notice all that you do have and be more mindful of those things. In doing so, you learn to treasure what is most important which are not the things we continue to clutter our lives with, but rather the moments, experiences and people we cherish. The author does a great job of supplying his readers with practical tips to incorporate into their current lives and often provides examples of how they have worked in other scenarios. I am very pleased with the contents in this book and it has earned a place on my shelf of keepers.

I received this book at a discount in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I read a book about the idea of living with less stuff from a Christian perspective. It really inspired me to be more mindful in the ownership of my stuff rather than the other way around. This book isn't preachy. But there are ideas and stories from scripture to see the wisdom of the message from God's own view. Be blessed, bless others, and control the boundaries of what consumes your space and thus your life. This book was very helpful for me and my family to get on a better path. I can't wait to read more by this author and am very glad he wrote this book. I was very lucky to find this book at my library to read on Kindle for free. Not too many self-help books hold my attention to the end. This is a good book, written in an easy friendly style. It is well worth the price to purchase and why I'm here leaving positive feedback. Be encouraged.

I've been interested in minimalism for a long time...interested, but not doing too much about it. It's just so easy to drift, to allow anything and everything into my life and home. Added to that, minimalism with a family that isn't minimalist is even more difficult.

I found Joshua Becker's book Becoming Minimalist to be the boost of encouragement I needed to try starting decluttering yet again. Becker reminded me of the reasons I want to simplify my life, and he also gives some suggestions for how to become minimalist when your family isn't quite on board.

In short, I really enjoyed Becker's book. My copy is now scribbled in and dog-eared. I think that both people just beginning to consider minimalism would enjoy this book as well as others who are further along in their journey, since Becker gives both practical how-tos (including some of the most difficult things to declutter) and thoughts do to with the time and money you've freed up from simplifying.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. His philosophy about minimalism goes beyond just getting rid of stuff. I was a bit hesitant to get this
because I thought it would be too religious but I didn't find that to be the case. There is some religion but it didn't bother me
at all.
I was one who was constantly collecting while my kids were growing up and that has made them minimalists. I'm so glad!
Not glad for my habits but that they realize how unimportant all the stuff is.
I've been working on minimalism for a few months and this book gave me great insights. It's not only only about less but
living a purposeful life. The only weird segment for me was the story of the people donating their wedding rings. That's a bit
much to me (unless you hate your spouse maybe lol)
A good read

If there is a single word that contrasts with the American culture of 2016 it is Minimalism. In Joshua Becker’s new book, The More of Less, he contends that most of us can have the life that we really want, but it begins with getting rid of all of the stuff that is in the way. And by stuff, he means all of the things around your house and in your life that not only steal resources, but which also take valuable time to maintain, clean, and present.

I must admit that the message of this book intrigued me. It was the sole reason that I requested the review copy in the first place. And I could definitely feel the author’s passion, which sometimes got a little preachy (he is a pastor, so I guess he has that right), and I can see the accuracy of his message, but he never really engaged me at the level that would drive me to make significant changes. The biggest thing that I did while reading this book was to clean out the cluttered desk in my home office.

I hope that this message and reading this book has planted some seeds. Mr. Becker truly convinced me that a minimalist lifestyle could certainly lead to less headaches and having more resources available to pursue the life that I desire. He just failed to convince me to do anything about it, at least for now.

I was a little set off by the editing of this book. There are multiple references back to other chapters and previously stated material that were simply unnecessary and eventually caused me to start skimming the book, looking for truly new material in each chapter. The book could have been shorter….

I will close by saying that I truly respect the book the Joshua Becker has written. He has a very successful blog and I was expecting to find the book filled with promotions pushing me to purchase additional items and resources via his website, as seems to be the norm these days. Thankfully, this book was only filled with his message and vision for what is possible for those who choose to limit their needs, and focus on bigger goals.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I follow Joshua Becker on his blog Becoming Minimalist, and was very excited for the opportunity to read his newest book The More of Less from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review! Mr. Becker discusses the start of his journey with minimalism while sharing his tips for defining your own experience. He provides insight to the "Why" behind the minimalism movement without being judgmental to readers who choose to start slowly with the process.

I really enjoy the author’s writing style! His book flows and feels like a conversation with a friend. I really enjoyed the stories from readers throughout the book. He inspires me to continue following minimalism principles in my life and pursue my true passions! I have found peace with living a simpler lifestyle, and am grateful to have found his blog and read his books. I highly recommend reading this book and sharing it with your friends and family when you are finished!

The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker is an interesting book. He chronicles his experience with becoming a minimalist. He offers encouragement and personal examples for ridding your life of un-necessary clutter that keeps you bound to a never ending cycle of consumerism.

Becker doesn’t, however, give much practical advice to newcomers to the minimalist movement. Much of his book is repetition of information commonly found just about everywhere. He doesn’t add anything new to the pot.

There is one point worth repeating—organizing is not minimizing. I tend to forget that!

His book is well written and easy to read. A newcomer wishing to begin the journey of reducing their consumption of ‘things’ will find it helpful and inspiring—but to those of us who have been on the road awhile it is of little use other than reminding us to be vigilant against filling up the empty spaces with more clutter.

The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

Very disappointing. Joshua Becker seems like a great guy and I really respect him. However I wish he actually wrote a book with helpful information. The book feels like a collection of examples, stories and excerpts from his friend's blogs and books. It's sort of a fluffy overview of minimalism. All of what I considered the useful information could have fit into 1 chapter.

If you're looking for a how-to approach to simplifying your life, or clear and direct writing this is not your book. If you know absolutely nothing about living a simple life and enjoy reading books filled with superfluous words and inspirational examples (think Max Lucado style) then you should probably check this book out.

My latest read, The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, by Joshua Becker, was very profound. With the new Minimalism movement that is changing the way many think about living and consumption, this book is a coming of age piece that puts simplicity to perspective. Becker discusses how one can determine what is important to his/her life. One quote from the book that resonates with me states, “…finding the life we want isn’t about giving up everything. Instead, it’s about reducing the number of our possessions to a level that sets us free.” Throughout the book, Becker explains how this philosophy has allowed him and his family to appreciate opportunities that would have been missed had they not gotten rid of all the items they consumed. Becker also explains how removing used items allows time to reflect on thanksgiving and having the means to give to those in need. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for its straightforwardness, easy to read and honestly, I did not want to put it down. With practical teachings, More of Less provides encouragement on how to live on less material possessions and maximizing more from life experiences.

I have been reading a good book called “The More of Less” by Joshua Becker, about becoming a minimalist, and its benefits. It tells how getting rid of some things, even things you think you need, can free up your life and help you focus on more important priorities. While minimizing is different for everyone, clearing up and getting rid of things that are not really something you are investing in an be a great life benefit. “The More of Less” is very inspiring, even life changing, and also helps clear up some of the problems you will face while trying to minimize. This book clarifies the difference between organizing and minimizing, clearing the distractions in your home, to focus on what is truly important to you. “The More of Less” is an amazing book, that I hope you will read. It has truly changed my perspective on possessions and true focus.

Much of life is about making choices with all of the different options. Joshua Becker encourages readers to learn from his own stories. In THE MORE OF LESS, Becker asks us not blindly follow the advertising and commercials which fill out lives. Instead we need to think about our consumption, our relationships and our health.

This audio book is a wealth of thoughtful content and practical information. I heard this audio book cover to cover and enjoyed it. I recommend THE MORE OF LESS audio book.

W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including his latest Billy Graham: A Biography of America's Greatest Evangelist

I am not completely new to minimalism but haven't read that many books on the subject. Personally, I thought this was a great introduction to minimalism as a lifestyle and provided plenty of inspiration to someone who may already be familiar with the topic. I appreciated that he helped you go through some of the ways consumerism and materialism are likely filling your life right now, and how to fill that void so that as soon as you get rid of stuff you won't return to a consumeristic lifestyle. Becker is a Christian and draws quite a bit on his faith and the Bible as inspiration. In addition to this book, I also enjoyed "the life-changing magic of tidying up".

More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker

This book is heaven sent, an answer to my prayer that been buried deep down inside.

I am a hoarder. I love paper. I like the thrill of buying new things. I am an the store junkie. I am disorganized. My home is cluttered and my life is lived without intent, and cluttered.

I have read many books on organizing, but got bogged down by the externals. But what i learned from this book is not a how to be organized, although you do get that. But how to focus on the why of keeping and buying things that means the most and adds to quality of life and harmony in your family. I have to ask the hard question of having each item in the house, does it add to my home as a sanctuary or does it make my home a battleground.

Joshua Becker gets to the heart of problem. My problems. He did not prescribe just medication for living more on less, but he understands me and he offered not only strategies to keeping my home neat and clean but also so much more: He puts it all in perspective of how to have a meaningful and a life full of joy and generosity under everything you already own.

I have received this book for review from Blogging for Books

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is short enough to be easily read while still providing plenty of information about minimalism. It is both personal and practical, making it a relatable read. If you’re interested in promoting what matters while getting rid of what doesn’t, The More of Less would be a great place to start.

I love Becker’s definition of minimalism: the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them. He emphasizes that minimalism does not mean throwing everything away and living in a stark, lifeless house. Rather, he encourages everyone to make space in life for what matters most and get rid of the excess.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Usually the concept of “minimalism” evokes images of eliminating our creature comforts, meditating in bare white rooms or downsizing to a tiny home in Montana. But in The More of Less, author and blogger, Joshua Becker, sets out to convince us of the paradox that living a minimalist lifestyle will not strip away, but actually enhance the life we were meant to live.

This book is a practical how-to book for the minimalist novice looking to explore the benefits of a simpler lifestyle. As I already agreed with Becker’s concepts of minimalism at the outset, I didn’t need a lot of convincing and personally found the first half of the book to be purely common sense. But the second half of the book offered so much practical advice on how to actually incorporate minimalist ideas into the average American’s life that I found it to be gem in the midst of so many books now available on this current trend.

Becker humbly incorporated the wisdom of other popular minimalist gurus in his discussion and his bibliography offers a wide range of resources for those looking to do a more in depth exploration of minimalism.

Becker's clear and relatable writing style gives readers the “guy next door” impression that might empower middle class Americans to feel that they, too, might be able to make some simple changes to their life of excess.

While other currently popular books on minimalism focus on decluttering or organizing possessions, Becker makes a wider sweep and considers how being more intentional about the number of our kitchen utensils, clothes or cars also impacts our family, friends, goals and aspirations to make a difference in the world.

Most other resources about minimalism today focus on the individual benefits to self and the ways we will have happier lives as we purge our possessions, but Becker reveals how having more time and money will enable us to help others through volunteering, giving and generally just having more time for people. Becker points out that our choices to intentionally own less will free up our time and finances so that we can be a blessing to others. This—not just personal happiness—is what he describes as the paradox of "the more of less." He says, “It’s about having a smaller material lifestyle so you can experience a bigger life, full of passion and purpose. Own less to live more” (212).

If you are looking to live a more counter-cultural lifestyle and transition from feeling controlled to being in control of your possessions, finances and time, then this book is for you. (This review first appeared at [...])

I liked this book. I got a lot out of Spark Joy which helped me get rid of stuff, and I thought that this was great as a sort of sequel. I've read some of the negative reviews, but I thought he had some very practical tips. For instance, instead of getting rid of everything (which I did after reading Spark Joy and then I missed it), to put it in a bag and store it for a while and then dispose of it. I've read several books on minimizing and I thought this one gave me a philosophy I could live.

I recently completed The More of Less by Joshua Becker about minimizing your household. I did not feel overly inspired to declutter or minimize by reading this book. There were a few interesting parts, but mainly he repeated over and over, "get rid of the things you don't need to leave space for what is important in your life." He is speaking emotionally and physically. This is a good message, but I wanted more oomph! I received this book free from Blogging for Books.

This is a great book on starting your minimalist journey & one that I wish every church would espouse to their members. Josh covers "why minimalism" in the most meaningful profound way I have seen yet & those who live a faith-based life will appreciate the thoughtfulness, intention, mindfulness, & caring that Josh uses to craft & send his message. Very powerful!

I am not very religious, although I grew up in faith. I related to the faith-based message, but didn't know that the book had a Christian focus when I started reading it. While the message of the book can benefit anyone of any faith, because of the focus on Jesus specifically, it is definitely a book I would recommend or pass onto my family that is active in church, but not a book I would pass onto my Jewish mother in law. That being said, I think Josh's writing style and easy accessible approach to minimalism is a great & compelling place to start for anyone interested in paring down their possessions so they can do more with their lives & loved ones.

Really great, deep look at the "why" behind minimizing and letting go of things in your life. I loved the questions posed and the introspection offered as to why we buy, what to do about the "holes" left when we stop and the focus on giving back. Another helpful and inspiring book by Mr. Becker.

It's no surprise that there's more in our houses than we can use. Some of us have cabinets stuffed with things we hoped would make us happy - or thinner - or better cooks - or nicer people.

Becker invites us to reexamine our goals and values "under everything you own". This little volume asks questions about what our possessions say about us. What they are doing to our well-being. What we best can live with ... and without.

An easy read, this is challenging if taken seriously. If you're new to minimalism - or living within your means - you'll enjoy this challenge.

I really enjoyed how the author combined his reflections with real life examples of people who implemented them. This book is more than how to downsize your junk, it's how to evaluate your priorities and make sure your home, life, and spending habits are in line with your goals. I would recommend to anyone!

Not a lot of meat to this book. It reads more like an infomercial/blog post of minimalism. There are many other books on the subject that are written better. There is a religious undertone about your purpose throughout the book as well. It’s not bad, it’s just nothing new or groundbreaking. I don’t feel like I’m any better off for having read it.

I am sad for his family. Son wasn't allowed to buy the dinasaur tent with his birthday money. Author was sad because his car got scratched at parking lot and the car was too old to fix. Author is obsessed with not spending money.

I have been exploring minimalism for some time now, and this book is a good introduction to the philosophy. It's well-written and easy to read and digest. A lot of it is common sense, but if you're new to minimalism it does a great job of laying out the important ideas and techniques.

I am not Christian and could have done without the sermons. Frankly, some of the Christian stuff was a turn off, but there's still a lot of good stuff in here.

The author is also Christian and supports his minimalist teachings with a few select parables from the Bible.

Overall helpful. Encourages readers to partake in a more meaningful life by providing services and volunteering for others, in addition to just staying at home bettering one’s own intellectual pursuits or hanging out with family.

What was good about this book? EVERYTHING! This book gets to the heart of the matter - stuff will never get you to the place of contentment. We think "when I have _______ I will be happy!" The truth is that we never are - we always want more, bigger better, it's human nature. If we change our view of stuff our whole lives will change.
Joshua Becker is an outstanding author and communicator. This book is a must read!

The More of Less is packed with inspiration and encouragement for minimal living. Joshua Becker shares his story and throughout the book, he shares the stories of others who are living a minimal lifestyle. He points out through these stories that minimal living doesn't look the same for everyone. There is no right way to do minimalism, you find the type that is right for you whether that living is with fewer clothes, living with a certain number of possessions, keeping your schedule clear or living in a tiny house, there is not one way to live minimally. There is great freedom in knowing your minimalism doesn't have to look a certain way or be like anyone else.

Becker points out the benefits of living with less such as more time and energy, more money, more freedom and less stress. He also writes about consumerism, how it 'surrounds us like the air we breathe, and like air, it's invisible.' Not only does this book share statistics and the philosophy of minimalism, it also contains practical, how-to advice such as questions to ask yourself about your possessions, experiments to help you realize whether you need things or not and how donating your unwanted items (versus selling) empowers your generosity.

After reading The More of Less, I'm inspired to simplify my home even more. And, this is a book that I know I will read again, there's just so much information, inspiration, encouragement and practical advice that it's nearly impossible to soak it all up in just one reading.

Disclaimer - I received an advanced reading copy for review purposes.

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to live with less. It has taken quiet a bit of time to get through the process but it feels good knowing that I don't need all the things that we spend endless hours organizing.

This is not only an excellent read but life changing. This book helped me further my journey of owning less. Well thought out and much depth. We cannot change what we don't understand. This book explains how our STUFF complicates and holds us back.

I've been a fan of Joshua Becker for quite a while...we actually met at a book signing (for another author) several years ago. I have always found his writing to be honest & approachable,and this book is consistent with his blog voice. I will admit that I don't recall as many religious references on the blog...but I do appreciate that Joshua is upfront about their inclusion in the book. This is a handy refresh of what minimalism is (and can be) about....

(note - I was given a copy of this book for review by Blogging for Books. I was not compensated, and all opinions expressed are my own.)

The More Of Less By Joshua Becker
Rating: 5 Stars

In 2014, I stumbled across Becoming Minimalist and started reading with interest. In January 2015, My husband and I decided that we were going to make the choice to get rid of clutter and simplify our life.

Since then we have cleaned out the house, garage, shop, barn and attic and have gotten rid of truck loads of stuff. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve never been ‘pack-rats’, but we simply had a lot of stuff that we didn’t use, just taking up space. You can find my blog post with pictures here.

I like to think of myself as a cozy, comfortable minimalist…. I’ll never have total bare walls or get rid of all my photo’s, etc., but I do love a clean, non cluttered home and continue to get rid of things on a daily basis.

"Living with less isn't about having bare walls and no furniture. It's about getting rid of the clutter, so you can enjoy the things that you love." –Rhoda A Kindred

In Joshua Becker's latest book, The More of Less, he talks about the benefits of owning less stuff. While I didn't necessarily find anything new, it’s a good read that everyone can benefit from. Most people don’t realize how much clutter weighs them down. Joshua Becker defines minimalism as the intentional promotion of things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them. Minimalism doesn't mean owning nothing and giving up everything. When we let possessions own us, we don't enjoy what we value most in life.

“Living with less is about having more…. more time, more money, more quality… it’s about adding to your life, not taking away.” – Rhoda A Kindred

All in all, this is a great book to read if you're looking to be inspired or want a more simple lifestyle.

More info on the author and book found here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Blogging For Books book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I enjoyed the book. It gave practical advise on minimalism and gave some background on consumerism. Yes there was a lot of Jesus talk, which I was able to muddle through, but don't let that detract you from reading this book if you are not a Christian. The Bible is mentioned but not enough to be of bother.

Joshua Becker told his little son who was crying that he couldn't spend time with him until he'd finished clearing out his garage. Then he realised that he was choosing his possessions over his son! This began his journey towards minimalism, a fantastically popular blog and this book. This is an excellent book to read for anyone who is interested in decluttering, but 'clutter people' will probably find it all extremely difficult.

There are several advantages of minimalism, according to Becker. These include 'more time, more money, less stress, less distraction' and 'more freedom'. We often buy stuff in order to seek security, apparently. It's better to do this by choosing 'loving relationships with other people' instead. Also, if you spend less time buying things and decluttering, you have more time to achieve your dreams.

Becker provides a process to help people start decluttering, by assorting things into specific piles, labelling them and dealing with them in the appropriate way. He gives tips for getting rid of objects, such as paper, books and gadgets, which are very helpful. However, booklovers may find some of these suggestions pretty difficult!

The stories of people who experimented with minimalism are the most interesting part of the book, I found. For example, Courtney was suffering with MS and decided that she needed less stress. She realised that she was buying too many clothes so she chose to use just 33 items of each item of clothing for three months and started the popular Project 333.

This book will certainly help you buy less and start decluttering. Whether you will become a minimalist or not is another matter...

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Excellent book on getting started onto the mindsets of de-cluttering. I've read a LOT of the books out there and a few new insights in this book really changed my perspective on minimalism. We were already fairly minimal but we have dropped 4 carloads off at Goodwill and thrown out a LOT of trash in the last couple of weeks since reading The More of Less. I also appreciate the Biblical perspectives - good examples while not being "preachy" in the least bit.

I have just begun my minimalist journey and unlike many other books on the topic, I found this one precise and full of motivation. I found myself wanting to immediately take action. Not from scare tactics and a bunch of statistics. But rather from helpful stories of personal experience.

Best book on minimalism I've ever read and I own several. I've been a long time follower of Joshua Becker's blog and on social media platforms. I love his style of writing and he gets to the real issues behind owning material possessions and how decluttering and downsizing can bring real happiness. I'm a firm believer of minimalism and live my life accordingly. It's been the best experience of my life. Kudos!!

This book was one that actually got me to go clean through my closet again (even though I thought it was already pretty efficient).

Although this book does inspire you to live more simply, my favorite part of this book is how practical it is. The "troubleshooting" and "maintenance" chapters highlight this perfectly by tackling questions such as "how do I minimize my books?" and "how do I keep things simple after trimming down?" Some may just want the inspirational nudge (this book has that), but I found the combination of that spark with practical advice is something I really valued in this read.

Being an avid reader of the Becoming Minimalist newsletter, I was eager to hear what Joshua Becker had to say in a much different format on the benefits and challenges of living with less. I am a missionary-in-training about to embark on a year-long trip living out of a backpack - this book was GOLD for me to see another point of view and add the things I learned about minimizing and spending more time with the things (people) I love, and to understand the deep, long-term benefits of it. Clutter is a terrible burden to carry through your life - moving, transitions, lifestyle changes - all contribute to the disaster that can become overwhelming if you don't manage it. 'The More of Less' really hits the why's and how's of seeing your situation and cleaning it up, resulting in a higher quality of life.

thanks for the read, JB. Excellent, informative, honest... will be sharing with friends and suggesting they purchase it too!

Wonderful book. I have been on the decluttering/ minimalism journey for awhile now, and this was an encouragement to keep moving forward on it. I liked that he went over some of Jesus' teachings on living simply and generously, because it seems most American Christians have been sucked into the consumer culture like the rest of our country (my self included- anyone else go on trip to the outlet mall with their church?!). There is a better, more fulfilling way. "The More of Less" is a great way to learn more about minimalism in a non- judgmental setting, as well as an encouragement for those who have been on this journey for awhile.

Loved how well this author cover the topic of minimalism is such a short quick read. Highly recommend this book whether you’re just starting your journey into minimalism or if you were already on your way and just need a lot more tips.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in learning about minimalism. The author does a fantastic job of giving you a detail understanding of who, what, when, where and why of this movement. I loved the fact that he gave so many resources to connect to other minimalist bloggers. He digs deep into the history of why Americans have become excessive consumers. I especially like his chapter on how different generation consumer. Its great insight into not only understanding yourself, but those around you. To better help you break bad habits. Be warned it is a pretty long and in depth read.

If you’re overwhelmed with stuff, with busy, or with figuring out what matters and what doesn’t, check out The More of Less. A few quotes I found helpful:

“A busy life is an unreflective life.”

“There are more valuable pursuits available to us than the purchase and accumulation of material possessions.”

“When you’ve individualized your approach to simplifying your life… it frees you up to express yourself and become who you were meant to be.”

Yes and yes and yes!

This book provides several approaches to a minimalist that ranging from the simple (buy less) to the absurd (sell your wedding ring and donate the proceeds). There are several biblical references which, if not your thing, can be overlooked. I personally thought a gym membership was not considered a minimalist venture which has statistically been shown to be money wasted.

Great book! Why is it that sometimes common sense is so revolutionary? Joshua Becker writes about his own journey to owning less and encourages others as they find the minimalism that works for them. I found this book practical, inspiring and encouraging and the life changes have been profound. Highly recommend.

The More Of Less is a thought provoking journey into consumerism and wants vs needs. It's written from a place of balance and understanding. If you've ever thought you had too much stuff or clutter and felt the urge to clean house, The More or Less shows the reader value in quality over quantity.

I recommend this book to all awakening beings who choose to free themselves from the consumers mentality and possessions. Although I knew most of the stuff in the book it did inspire me to clutter clear some more and haul stuff out and clean the carpets. It is a good companion to feng shui and is a clutter cleaners MUST READ.

Some people will tell you that this book is an introduction to minimalism. But I say that it's an expertly and authentically written book about how and why to be generous in all aspects of your life. Minimalism just happens to be the tool that works for Joshua Becker, for me, and for literally billions of people throughout history.

In my mind, Becker seems to be trying too hard in the first two chapters to convince us to give minimalism a chance. I appreciate his passion and firm belief in the live-affirming power of minimalism. However, the facts, wonderful personal stories, and emotional case studies he presents stand tall without needing him to implore us to take them seriously.

The signature chapter for me was the "Shortcut to Significance" with sections like how to meaningfully reinvest the dividends you get from minimalism. Of course, we're invited to reinvest in our own fulfillment – yet you may be surprised how much contentment you'll get from plowing your money, time, and energy into helping others.

Although I'm an atheist, I'm excited that Becker decided to bring his religious faith into the book (which he hasn't in previous books or on his website, Becoming Minimalist). We have a tremendous amount to learn from Jesus when it comes to living simply and being selfless – or from Buddha, the Prophet Muhammad, or Moses for that matter – and his commentary on the vibrant tradition of religious restraint is fascinating.
At one point, Becker writes that "we'll settle for nothing less than less." And after reading this influential book, I recommend that you settle for nothing less than The More of Less.

The More of Less is a very thoughtful and practical book .  Joshua points out that minimalism will not look the same for every person and he includes questions which help the reader reflect on their own reasons to minimalize.
A concept that was new to me was "leveling", which is just one stategy he talks about in his book. For people who are unsure of what they can live without, leveling is a great place to start.
As for the consumerism that runs rampant in this country, Joshua points out that by owning less, you will have the time and energy to pursue what is most important to you.  I think that's the kind of life most of us would prefer to live.  Great book!

Great book! I listened to it on Audible. I particularly enjoyed the author's anecdotes and his views on different generational attitudes toward stuff. I like it as much as the indispensable "The Joy of Less" another great book on minimalism.

This book was incredible helpful, real and spoke to my heart. I finally felt validated for wanting so much "stuff" but then feeling the need to get rid of it. It's like a breath of fresh air... I am raving to my family and friends and highly highly recommend. Well done.

I've been trying to eliminate the clutter from my home and work for some time now. Always getting lost or giving up for one reason or another. I had been following Joshua Becker and bought his book. I couldn't put it down. I found the motivation to move on and this time I have actually got further than I dreamed possible. I want to thank Joshua Becker and his facebook group for the amazing help and motivation that we all need. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that wants to find the life they want under their "stuff"

This was an extremely helpful book. It was also very challenging, in the sense that it challenged my current way of living, and what I appreciated was that it did so gently and logically. It didn’t appeal to huge emotions or make minimalism out to be something more than what it is. Becker simply gave sound reasoning on why minimalism is a good way to live. I liked that I didn’t feel like I was being preached to; rather, I felt like a friend was describing a better way of living.

Importantly, this book presented minimalism in a way that isn’t one-size-fits-all. Rather, it discussed multiple ways that minimalism can be embodied for many different people, lifestyles, and preferences. Becker defines minimalism as “the intentional promotion of things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them.” With this definition, minimalism can take thousands of different forms.

The first part of the book talks about the what and why of minimalism. What is it, what is it not, why is it good, etc. The second part was about how to minimize, including very practical strategies and advice. The third part was about how to maintain the lifestyle, the fifth part was about how to manage family dynamics in regards to adopting a minimalist lifestyle, and the final part was about the positive things we can expect to gain from living a minimalist life and how to begin living the meaningful life that minimalism allows.

After reading it, I’ve already started to discuss with my wife ways we can remove clutter from our life to make room for the things that actually matter and that we want to pursue (goodbye, lots of books, shoes, and clothes!).

Furthermore, it convicted me that I currently am looking for safety in my things. I think people will like me if I have money, an impressive job, fine taste, etc. So, I spend my time trying to accumulate things that will impress people hoping it will lead to people liking me, but I never spend time actually building relationships. Becker has shown me that I need to reprioritize.

Only a few days removed from reading this book, I’m already seeing it positively influence the way I live. Five stars. It’s a must read. (I received an advanced review copy).

Rock solid. Another gem from Joshua Becker. Huge fan. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to slow down, find more time, change mindset, and go beyond organizing 101 tactics. I can't say enough about the book and Josh's mission, generally.

I had been reading Joshua Becker's "Becoming Minimalist" blog for several years when I ordered "The More of Less", and I had no doubt it would be helpful in a practical sense as I strive to bring my home to a place of less clutter and more calm. What I did not expect was how very inspired I would feel by Joshua's words in a spiritual sense, to finally find my purpose in the world, and to lead "a life of intention". This is a book I will read more than once! Quite simply, "The More of Less" is one of the most important books I have ever read.

I read this book cover to cover in a day, but now I'm going back to savor it and pick out the gems that are presented on every page. The writing is simple but by no means shallow, challenging the readers to not only learn the principles of simplicity, but put them into practice. I also LOVE that he defines minimalism by what is gained rather than what is lost. Incredibly inspiring.

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Joshua Becker’s new book, “The More of Less.” By the 2nd chapter, I had to put the book down for a second to get a highlighter. As I continued to read, I started thinking, “I can’t wait to pass this book on to (insert several friends’ names here).” But then I realized I want to keep my copy as a reference. So, spoiler alert, my new go-to all-occasion gift is this terrific book.

Reading “The More of Less” is like listening to a friend. Joshua has a way of writing that is completely engaging, leading you ever forward towards a fuller, better way of life. He is honest about the struggles, yet gives you confidence that you can achieve the goals of minimalism that suit you.

The chapters are arranged so that you move from understanding what minimalism is, then how to strategically go about decluttering, and finally, creating a significant, intentional life. Not bad for 220 pages, huh?

I hope you choose to read Joshua’s book, and that you find as much value in “The More of Less” as I did, and continue to do.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I wasn’t expecting it, and it personally didn’t speak to me. I found myself skipping a lot of pages because the information just wasn’t practical enough. If you’re looking for spiritual [Christian] inspiration to go minimalist, you will like it.

After discovering minimalism years ago, I thought I knew all there was to know about minimalism. Boy was I wrong. Joshua opened up a whole new dimension to minimalism in "The More Of Less". After reading this book, I wanted to personally thank June (his neighbor) for inspiring Joshua to begin his journey of becoming minimalism which has inspired me. Not only was this book easy to read, Joshua explained each concept with appropriate stories (even scripture) and points. It reconfirmed my journey of a minimalist, that this is the best path for me in my life to find happiness, my "pearl of great price". I learned that I can become more of a minimalist, do more than I already am. I really liked that Joshua talked about the environmental impacts of owning less (because a lot of minimalism/decluttering books talk a lot about getting rid of items, but don't make a point of recycling and donating to specific charities). I have already benefitted from getting rid of clutter, but Joshua points out other ways to become a minimalist. Joshua defined minimalism in this book in a ways that I haven't thought of before. As a mother of 2 young children, minimalism has helped me become a better mom and made me want to be a better example to my children and to focus on what is important (time and experiences over things). This book has motivated me to be an even better mom, a friend, a neighbor, and someone who wants to serve others because that is where true joy comes from. This is a great book for anyone looking to improve their life!

I have tended to live a minimalist lifestyle most of my life; I thought I had a pretty good handle on things until I read this book. Lots of great ideas! Several areas I never even considered! And it's not just a "do this, do that" kind of book; it includes thoughts on determining my philosophy of life and suggestions for articulating what it is I truly want to accomplish. I spent nearly twice as much as advertised by buying it from my locally-owned bookstore, but even at that, it was worth it.

This book lays out the benefits of minimalism, includes tips on how to minimize and even suggest ways to give it a test run if you’re nervous about giving away something you think you can’t live without. Reading this book is like having a conversation with the author about what you want out of life. His explanations and anecdotes are relatable and make so much sense. He also provides small actionable steps to get you started right away. It’s impossible to read this book and not reflect on how our consumption oriented culture is affecting you. The good news is - you can do something about it. This book gives you the tools and motivation you need to uncover the life you want.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of The More of Less from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased book review.

I really enjoyed this well written and engaging book. I read it and immediately felt like I could do something. I feel that I am on my way to a better life-and I do not say that lightly. I have bought all the minimalist books in the past and read them all but this is the first that gives me an action plan, an understanding of why it's important to do it and the belief in myself that I can finish it. Thank you Joshua for the gift of your book. I think it is your best book yet.

I have been a fan of Joshua Becker's and his minimalist way of life for a couple of years now. Since that time, I have intentionally been creating a simpler life for my family of six - less stuff, fewer commitments, more connection. His blog, Becoming Minimalist, has been a regular source of inspiration and encouragement along the way. This book is wonderful! Becker defines minimalism as "the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from them." The book discusses the benefits of minimalism (and there are many), common misconceptions, consumerism, how to declutter, getting your family on board, and living more intentionally. Having been on this path for a while now, my favorite chapter was on how to maintain this lifestyle and it had a lot of great suggestions. My hope is that others will realize the benefits of living with less. It has truly changed our family for the better!

I am halfway through this book so far, and already can highly recommend it. It is so much more than just a decluttering book. It talks about you, the life you want, and how all our stuff is getting in between us and the life we want to live. Our things can choke the life out of us like weeds in a garden. Time for me to be selective and intentional about what I want in my life. This book is going to help me do just that!

I like how the author goes into minimalism beyond material possessions. And instead of just focusing on how to be minimalist he explains the impact minimalism has had on his life - it actually makes me excited to think of how many resources minimalism would free up for me. Very encouraging

Love this book! Joshua's friendly, easy-going tone makes me feel like I'm sitting down with a friend. He leads you right through the process of minimalizing, but more importantly, points out the benefits of a life with less. Fantastic read.

Joshua Becker wonderfully weaves why living a simple life equals a more meaningful life. If you find that the life you want is buried under the abundance of your possessions, I highly recommend you read this book and find how simplifying can allow you to live with greater meaning.

This book was so great. I have been on a journey to get rid of all of my clutter and this book is such a huge help! I just finished reading it and I am feeling so inspired to keep going because I am on the right track. Joshua Becker provides a fantastic mix of facts, personal stories, and helpful tips to get the job done.

Rational minimalism, as Becker calls it, is exactly what I am aiming for. I don't have to get rid of everything, just the extra things that are bogging us down. Becker also talks about the mental barriers of consumerism that we all deal with and how to get rid of them.

Overall, this book is an easy read and so inspiring! I will be recommending it to my friends and family who are also struggling with clutter.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of The More of Less from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased book review.

Joshua provides strong, touching Whys for exploring minimalism, strategically owning less and freeing yourself from materialism. His words are like those a good friend encouraging without judging. I wish my house were as 5-star as this rating: just (minimally?) starting my own journey in this direction.

I received an ARC of “The More of Less." This book is nothing less than enlightening – a remarkable encounter with fate in finding your personal minimizing journey and living an intentional life. The book is sprinkled with gold nuggets of info, helpful advice, ideas and words of motivation. For my full review (from a homeschooling mom's perspective), please read: [...]

Great tips for beginners, mostly on how to make the first steps to minimalism.
I felt there were a few too many references to Jesus and biblical stories, which could have been replaced by real peoples' stories.

I thought this book was very helpful in understanding the 'why' of minimalism. Very sound advice for understanding our motivation for being such rabid consumers and how to get from under all of our stuff.

Made me think about life - not just in the ways that minimalism could make a positive impact (and it has) but in ways that i looked at the world. Good thought-provoking book that has just started me on a new journey....

I feel like I might have enjoyed this book more if it were my first exposure to the idea of minimalism. However, I enjoyed both Marie Kondo’s book and the documentary Minimalism better, and would recommend them first. I found Becker’s tone to be preachy even when he wasn’t referencing the Bible, and didn’t feel that I took away anything new about minimalism from his perspective.

Although this book generated a lot of positive blurbs, neither the recommendations nor the description mention the strong Christian beliefs of the author which dominate his clutter musings. After the first chapter’s many mentions of God as well as the author’s promise to tell us more about his charitable foundation and its life/clutter changing goals, I could not / would not continue.

I was disappointed because the book has too much Jesus stuff.
I am jewish so I am not interested in Christian religion. Thinking about refund.
There should be disclaimers if a book contains religious material!