This is a summary review of Minimalism containing key details about the book.

What is Minimalism About?

Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus offers a guide to declutter one’s life and live a more intentional and fulfilling life with less stuff. (Full Summary…)

Minimalism Summary Review

“Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life” by Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus is a thought-provoking and inspiring exploration of the minimalist lifestyle. The authors, known for their popular website TheMinimalists.com, share their personal journeys towards embracing minimalism and how it transformed their lives. In this comprehensive review, I will delve into various aspects of the book, including its content, structure, and writing style.

The central theme of the book revolves around the idea that minimalism is not merely about decluttering physical possessions but about simplifying and prioritizing life’s most essential elements. Millburn and Nicodemus emphasize that minimalism allows individuals to shift their focus from materialistic pursuits to more meaningful aspects such as health, relationships, passions, personal growth, and contribution to society. This core message resonates throughout the book and serves as a guiding principle for readers.

The narrative begins with the authors’ personal stories, detailing their lives before minimalism. Both Joshua and Ryan had successful corporate careers, but they found themselves overwhelmed by the pursuit of material wealth, working long hours, and living paycheck to paycheck. Their stories are relatable to many readers who may find themselves in similar situations, which adds a layer of authenticity to the book.

One of the strengths of “Minimalism” is its in-depth exploration of various aspects of living a meaningful life. The authors provide valuable insights into health, relationships, dieting, and personal growth. They share personal anecdotes and experiences, offering practical advice and suggestions for readers to incorporate into their own lives. This comprehensive approach makes the book a valuable resource for those looking to embrace minimalism and make positive changes.

However, some readers might find the book’s structure slightly challenging to navigate. The narrative alternates between Ryan’s and Joshua’s life stories, which can lead to moments of confusion, especially with the inclusion of numerous subchapters within the chapters. While this format adds depth to their personal journeys, it may require readers to pay close attention to the transitions between the two authors’ perspectives.

In terms of writing quality, Millburn and Nicodemus excel in delivering their message with clarity and accessibility. They use a range of literary devices, including metaphors, repetition, parallelism, and informal speech, to engage the reader effectively. The book feels like a conversation with the authors, making it accessible to a wide audience, including those who may not typically gravitate towards complex literature.

One notable aspect is the inclusion of bold titles for each paragraph, providing readers with clear signposts for the content ahead. This approach facilitates comprehension and encourages readers to dive deeper into the book’s concepts and ideas.

Another notable feature of the book is the authors’ commitment to their message. They actively promote their website and other resources throughout the book, aiming to reach a broader audience and share the benefits of minimalism with others. This dedication to their mission adds authenticity and reinforces the authors’ commitment to helping people live more meaningful lives.

In conclusion, “Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life” is a highly informative and inspirational book that offers valuable insights into the minimalist lifestyle. Millburn and Nicodemus share their personal experiences, practical advice, and a clear message about the importance of prioritizing meaningful aspects of life over material possessions. While the book’s alternating narrative structure may pose a slight challenge, the quality of the writing and the depth of content make it a compelling read for anyone interested in exploring minimalism as a path to a more fulfilling life.

Who is the author of Minimalism?

Joshua Fields Millburn is a New York Times–bestselling author, Emmy-nominated Netflix filmmaker, writing instructor, podcaster, and international speaker. Best known as one half of The Minimalists, he is the author of five books, including a critically acclaimed memoir, Everything That Remains.

Ryan Nicodemus, along with his life-long friend, Joshua Fields Millburn, is one-half of the simple-living duo, The Minimalists. The two help their 20 million readers live more intentional lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and documentary film.

How long is Minimalism?

• Print length: 138 pages

What genre is Minimalism?

Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development

What are good quotes from Minimalism?

“Unless you contribute beyond yourself, your life will feel perpetually self-serving. It’s okay to operate in your own self-interest, but doing so exclusively creates an empty existence. A life without contribution is a life without meaning. The truth is that giving is living. We only feel truly alive when we are growing as individuals and contributing beyond ourselves. That’s what a real life is all about.”

― Joshua Fields Millburn, Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life

What are key takeaways from Minimalism?

Takeaway #1: There is no correlation between money and happiness.

After a promotion and skyrocketing anxiety, Ryan Nicodemus quit his job. Nowadays, Nicodemus believes there is no amount of money that justifies a stressful job. He and his co-author Millburn experienced the phenomenon of “hedonic adaptation,” where their happiness would only last for a short period of time before they wanted more. The book discusses the idea that money can often lead to larger financial commitments and that adopting a minimalist lifestyle can lead to a happier life.

Takeaway #2: To start minimizing, pay off your debts, and declutter your surroundings.

Joshua Milburn spent two years saving up to pay off his debts. He discovered that while decluttering finances is important, so is decluttering the items in his life. He describes a story of his mother when every scrap of work from elementary school was brought home, the mother stored it in a box without opening it. She wanted to hold onto her loved child, but memories and cherished things are not physical objects. It took time but eventually, his mother realized that she has been collecting these objects just to hold onto her son, but these things are not what make his life special. Decluttering creates a physical and mental space to be more open, and free from internal stress.

Takeaway #3: Minimalism is also about putting less junk you put into your body.

From now on, think of your body as a machine if you want it to stay healthy and happy, feed it high-quality fuel. What you eat might taste good at the moment, but it can have long-term consequences for your body. Dairy and bread should be avoided in any regimen. Wheat and milk were only introduced to the human diet after agriculture was created, so our bodies are not designed to metabolize these substances as much as other foods. Cutting back on gluten and lactose-containing foods can also help some people have more energy.

Takeaway #4: Improving your relationships can lead to a better you.

Friendships and relationships are important. If you’re feeling isolated or unhappy with your friends, it may be time to reprogram yourself. The first step to change is being willing to change yourself. For example, try being more accepting of those who are different from your own opinion. If more people were willing to befriend those they are less accustomed to, there would be far fewer lonely people in the world. The TARA method introduced in the book is a 4-step process in which one person learns to better Tolerate, Accept, Respect, and Appreciate the other.

Takeaway #5: Don’t let work define you.

Your job is not the most important thing in your life. Yet it is constantly pushed on us by the society around us. The question of “what do you do?” is often asked to ask someone’s income and not just what they are doing with their life. So to change this, next time your talking with someone, begin by asking them about what they like to do and care about.

Takeaway #6: For more freedom, reduce your dependency on a big paycheck.

Aim to spend less time at a job and become less dependent on a big paycheck. This takes a few steps to achieve. First, create a monthly budget and stick to it. Next, make a list of wants. After that, every month you can divide all your extra money into categories like clothes and entertainment. If you use one budget for a different thing, the latter won’t be able to be used. Get the entire household on board with budget planning so everyone feels equally responsible for what is happening. But one should also set up a safety net before completely relinquishing the need for a big paycheck.

Takeaway #7: Make life more purposeful by taking on work that contributes to society.

What are you going to do with your newfound freedom? True purpose comes from a meaningful life that allows for the contribution to society. Activities that are challenging, such as raising children or running a marathon, can make you feel uncomfortable during the activity but may provide more reward and significance. Doing difficult work with a strong sense of purpose can lead to a meaningful life.

Key sources: Amazon, Wikipedia