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Rating: 
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: In a country that overspends, overworks, over accumulates, and wastes precious resources, it is refreshing to read Simplicity Lessons. Not only does this book address the issues on a philosophical level but it has many practical ideas on how to enhance your life by following many of her options. If you are looking for more passion and spirituality in your life, quality of time and relationships, ways to connect to community and nature, this book will show you how to accomplish it. Linda Breen Pierce doesn't preach but rather invokes ideas with a variety of solutions. I particularly liked her ideas on organizing study groups and providing worksheets to help make change. There is no question that the quality of your work-life will improve if you follow a few of her practical suggestions.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: In a country that overspends, overworks, over accumulates, and wastes precious resources, it is refreshing to read Simplicity Lessons. Not only does this book address the issues on a philosophical level but it has many practical ideas on how to enhance your life by following many of her options. If you are looking for more passion and spirituality in your life, quality of time and relationships, ways to connect to community and nature, this book will show you how to accomplish it. Linda Breen Pierce doesn't preach but rather invokes ideas with a variety of solutions. I particularly liked her ideas on organizing study groups and providing worksheets to help make change. There is no question that the quality of your work-life will improve if you follow a few of her practical suggestions.
Rating:
Summary: Best book on Voluntary Simplicity available!
Review: Voluntary simplicity is a growing movement in the US and in the world that focuses on living mindfully and pursuing what really matters to each individual, independently of external pressures such as advertising and societal "shoulds." There are dozens of books about the subject, but Linda Breen Pierce's "Simplicity Lessons" is by far the most updated, complete, and user-friendly of the bunch. Moreover, it is one of the very few books that places voluntary simplicity in a wider social and political framework. To change only ourselves does not suffice; we also need to help change the culture we breathe.The book's chapters focus on twelve major aspects of VS, including our focus on stuff instead of on non-material things that would bring us far more joy; our difficult relationship with money and how much we actually make per hour (a la "Your Money or Your Life"); how we can increase the time we have available to pursue our passions; the importance of community; the role of spirituality; the joys of passionate work; the importance of keeping our nest, the Earth, clean and healthy for future generations... and more. Pierce included an inspiring quotation on every page (by itself a wonderful read!). Her statements are supported with careful research and citations, and she provides extensive lists of updated further resources, in print and on the web. Hers is quite an impressive accomplishment, to offer this depth of scholarship expressed in a writing style that is so clear and easily comprehensible. "Simplicity Lessons" was written to be used as a workbook -- there are intelligent, useful, and challenging assignments after each of the twelve lessons. Whether you go through the book by yourself or, even better, with a Simplicity Circle (consisting of 8-12 adults who support each other), you'll find it a wonderful resource. If anyone wants to study this book with me in the Washington DC area, please feel free to contact me at . I'd gladly read the book again within a circle.
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