The More of Less Book Summary - The More of Less Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

The More of Less summary

Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

4.5 (503 ratings)
20 mins

Brief summary

The More of Less by Joshua Becker is a practical guide to decluttering and living a simpler life. It helps readers let go of excess possessions and focus on what truly matters, with tips and inspiration for creating a minimalist home and mindset.

Table of Contents

    The More of Less
    Summary of 8 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    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.

    Want to see all full key ideas from The More of Less?

    Key ideas in The More of Less

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is The More of Less about?

    The More of Less (2016) is the ultimate guide to getting more out of life by owning less. Written by a leading light in America’s growing movement against excessive consumerism and cluttered living, this is a practical book designed to help you free up headspace, resources and time so that you can pursue the things that really matter.

    The More of Less Review

    The More of Less (2016) by Joshua Becker is a book that encourages readers to embrace a minimalist lifestyle and find joy in owning less. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • The book provides practical tips on how to declutter and simplify our lives, helping us focus on what truly matters.
    • Through personal anecdotes and stories of others who have adopted minimalist practices, the author illustrates the transformative power of letting go of material possessions.
    • By questioning consumerist culture and offering a fresh perspective on happiness, the book challenges societal norms and inspires readers to live intentionally.

    Best quote from The More of Less

    In the 1930s, the average woman owned nine outfits. Today, she owns thirty.

    —Joshua Becker
    example alt text

    Who should read The More of Less?

    • Hoarders and shopaholics
    • Would-be nomads tied down by too many possessions
    • People who have had enough of overflowing closets and cluttered garages

    About the Author

    Joshua Becker is the founder of Becoming Minimalist, a blog that has inspired millions to declutter their homes and find greater meaning in their lives. He is a regular contributor to Time, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Christianity Today as well as a frequent guest on HuffPost Live.

    Categories with The More of Less

    Book summaries like The More of Less

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    33 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    The More of Less FAQs 

    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.

    What to read after The More of Less?

    If you're wondering what to read next after The More of Less, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • The Power of Less by Leo Babauta
    • Stuffocation by James Wallman
    • Let It Go by Peter Walsh
    • Love People, Use Things by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
    • The Joy of Less by Francine Jay
    • Work Smarter Not Harder by The Blinkist Team
    • Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
    • Deep Work by Cal Newport
    • The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
    • Phaedo by Plato