Love People, Use Things
Ratings5
Average rating2.6
**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** "The Minimalists show you how to disconnect from our conditioned material state and reconnect to our true essence: love people and use things. This is not a book about how to live with less, but about how to live more deeply and more fully." —Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Like a Monk AS SEEN ON THE NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES MINIMALISM & LESS IS NOW How might your life be better with less? Imagine a life with less: less stuff, less clutter, less stress and debt and discontent—a life with fewer distractions. Now, imagine a life with more: more time, more meaningful relationships, more growth and contribution and contentment—a life of passion, unencumbered by the trappings of the chaotic world around you. What you’re imagining is an intentional life. And to get there, you’ll have to let go of some clutter that’s in the way. In Love People, Use Things, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus move past simple decluttering to show how minimalism makes room to reevaluate and heal the seven essential relationships in our lives: stuff, truth, self, money, values, creativity, and people. They use their own experiences—and those of the people they have met along the minimalist journey—to provide a template for how to live a fuller, more meaningful life. Because once you have less, you can make room for the right kind of more.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
I'm not sure what I was expecting going into this book- a little bit of Marie Kondo or Peter Walsh, plus a little bit of mindfulness?
This book was not that. It was a tone-deaf tirade from privileged white men that waffles between memoir (disguised as ill-fitting anecdotes) and a how-to book that is soaked in privilege. Once I got to the chapter about money, I was done.
The tone is more shaming than supportive, the chapters are too long and not valuable enough, and I wasn't sure what to actually do or try to take action on when ending a chapter, despite the “coda” section at the end of each one.
I tried to keep an open mind, but this is one book I am not going to finish. I'll be steering clear of the Minimalists books, podcast, and content.
Since I took the time to write a brief reply to a review by @Sweetheart_Seer, but was rejected—as only her friends can comment—I will place it here. (Nice boundaries, Sweetheart!)
My reply to her scathing one star review:
“That's so interesting. I always marvel how people can have completely different opinions. I happen to love Josh's writing style and enjoy how he comes across. I have always had a fear that because I naturally write and talk like him some people will roll their eyes at me. (It's been known to happen.) I guess I've just come to realize that is a-okay.
Initially I felt like this book was going to be a waste of my time (as I read their other ones and watched the film) and I was thisclose to returning it to the library, unread; however, once I got into it, I found many lovely reminders of how to live intentionally and love deeply. In a world that seems to thrive on chaos, it is comforting to remember that there are people who think, feel, and live like I do. I am not alone.”
