What is the main message of The More of Less?

The More of Less encourages us to embrace a minimalist lifestyle and find more joy and purpose in owning less.

How long does it take to read The More of Less?

The estimated reading time for The More of Less is a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

Is The More of Less a good book? Is it worth reading?

The More of Less is a worthwhile read for those seeking a simpler, more intentional life.

Who is the author of The More of Less?

The author of The More of Less is Joshua Becker.

The More of Less Summary of Key Ideas and Review

Name: The More of Less
Rating: 4.5 (520 reviews)
Author: Joshua Becker

Introduction

What’s in it for me? A minimalist model for clutter-free living.

Consumerism is out of control. In the 1970s, the average American saw around 500 adverts a day. Today, it’s closer to 5,000. It doesn’t matter what’s being sold, all ads tell consumers the same thing: buy more and you’ll be happier. That’s the message companies in the US paid an astonishing $171 billion for in 2013. It’s an effective tactic: the typical household now owns 300,000 items.

This addiction to consumption, Joshua Becker argues, is a problem. We can’t buy our way to happiness. In fact, what we usually end up with is clutter that drains our resources and distracts us from the things that really matter.

So what’s the solution? In a word, minimalism. A growing movement that’s captured the imagination of millions of people tired of endless consumption. It’s a lifestyle choice that takes the old saying that “less is more” to heart.

Decluttering isn’t just about freeing up extra space in our closets and garages, though – it’s about redirecting our time, energy and money to the things that really make life worth living.

In the following blinks, you’ll learn

why advertising is so effective at convincing us to buy even more things;
how to decide which objects to part with and which to keep; and
how to turn your family onto the minimalist lifestyle.

Key idea 1 of 8

Minimalism is about getting rid of possessions that stop you from doing the things you value most.

Have you ever looked around your home and felt overwhelmed by just how much stuff you have? You’re not alone. Millions of people slave away to buy the latest gadget only to end up feeling just as dissatisfied as before.

But things are starting to change. There’s a new movement on the horizon that’s taking on mindless consumer culture and embracing a more fulfilling life: minimalism. Its aim is to help you get rid of unnecessary possessions that stop you devoting your energies to doing the things that matter most.

The author embraced minimalism during the Memorial Day weekend of 2008. That was when he suddenly realized that consumerism was stopping him living his best life. This revelation came after he’d decided to sort through his family’s cluttered garage. It was supposed to be a quick affair, but it ended up taking hours of hard graft.

As he was sorting and cleaning, he thought back to all the other times he’d tried to impose order on his belongings. Why had he always come away from those cleaning stints feeling so despondent?

Just as he was pondering that question, his neighbor stopped by. Noticing his frustration, she told him about her daughter who’d just become a minimalist and was always reminding her that she didn’t need all of the things she owned.

That was an epiphany. There he was, wasting his time in the garage sorting through unneeded things rather than spending quality time with his family!

After talking it through with his wife, he decided to start reducing the number of things he owned. He then set up Becoming Minimalist, a blog that documented his new clutter-free lifestyle.

The site clearly touched a nerve. Today, it has over one million monthly readers and has converted thousands of people to minimalism.

In the following blinks, we’ll take a closer look at what minimalism is all about. As you’ll see, the popular perception that it’s about depriving yourself of the good things in life is wide of the mark.

Key idea 2 of 8

Minimalism isn’t about self-denial – it’s about getting more from less.

What is minimalism? Chances are, you’re picturing spartan interiors and a lifestyle that does away with objects for its own sake. But minimalism isn’t about self-denial. In fact, minimalists get much more out of their lives.

For example, do you want more flexibility in your life? Many minimalists have discovered that decluttering their homes means they are free to work and live wherever they want.

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Key idea 3 of 8

Give yourself an overview of your spending habits by understanding consumer culture and the power of advertising.

Adverts are everywhere. Whether you’re online, watching TV or driving through town, you see thousands of ads every day. So how much influence do they really have?

If you want to understand your spending habits, it’s a good idea to look at consumer culture and the roles of marketing and advertising. The big picture is this: Americans are buying more today than ever before.

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Key idea 4 of 8

Articulate the reasons you want to become a minimalist and begin by clearing out the easy stuff.

If you’re thinking of adopting the minimalist lifestyle, you might be wondering where to start. After all, the prospect of going through all that stuff or fighting with the kids about their old toys can be pretty daunting.

It’s true that the path to minimalism isn’t an easy one. That said, there are some strategies that can help get you there. The best place to begin your journey is to be clear about why you want to reach your destination in the first place. What is it, in other words, that minimalism can offer you?

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Key idea 5 of 8

Keep your most valued sentimental objects and experiment to see what you can live without.

So you’ve ditched your least meaningful belongings. Now comes the tricky part: deciding what to do with objects of sentimental value.

It’s normal to worry about clearing out things associated with precious memories or regretting throwing something out after it’s already gone. Therefore, your best bet is to take a systematic approach to decluttering. That way you’ll find an approach to minimalism that really works for you.

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Key idea 6 of 8

Navigate the seas of consumerism in your minimalist boat by establishing new habits.

You’ve taken the plunge and decided to embrace minimalism – great! Now it’s time to learn to navigate the vast oceans of consumerism in your minimalist boat.

Like captaining any vessel, it takes a sure hand and a strong sense of orientation. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can start changing your buying habits and avoid the choppy waters of consumption-driven public holidays.

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Key idea 7 of 8

Get the most out of owning less by shifting your focus from accumulation to giving.

Few things are more satisfying than helping others. And unlike the endless accumulation of possessions, generosity isn’t a quick fix; it’s a source of long-lasting contentment. That’s why you should think about donating your old belongings to a charity rather than trying to sell them.

When the author decided to go minimalist and declutter his house, he and his wife put their old stuff up on eBay and held a yard sale. They were convinced all those CDs, decorations and clothes they’d bought over the years would make them a pretty penny. Their takings after all that effort? A measly $135.

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Key idea 8 of 8

Build a minimalist family by setting limits on your kids’ consumption and by being patient.

If you’re already on board with the minimalist lifestyle by this point, you might be wondering how it might fit in with your family.

One common misconception is that minimalism is all about saying no to your kids’ requests for new toys. But minimalism and parenting is much more than that. In fact, it’s all about helping your children develop healthy consumption habits early on in life. That means establishing boundaries.

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