More Fun Less Stuff Starter Kit

Rating:
Summary: Great little book, but very comprehensive!
Review: More Fun Less Stuff is a deceptively simple title for a very comprehensive book. It was written by Betty Taylor, the executive director of the Center for A New American Dream. The book's thesis is short but seemingly difficult to implement. If Americans would only slow down, turn off their TV's/cars/stereos/computers, and get together with one another; then amazing things would happen for us, the environment, and the animals.

This book contains interesting bits of information designed to inspire the reader and spur them to action. From it we learn that "since 1940, Americans alone have used up as large a share of the Earth's mineral resources as all previous humans put together." Despite dire proclamations of American wastefulness there are plenty of suggestions on correcting the imbalance. Ideas such as "green" businesses, reduced meat consumption, developing alternative fuels, and a renaissance of the arts are proposed.

This book not only deals with the external world but also the internal world. It offers ideas designed to bring contentment without ever opening up a wallet or swiping a credit card. Suggested activities include holding a song circle, a story swap, or even just taking a sheet of homemade brownies to a neighbor and introducing yourself.

I enjoyed this book and the message it conveyed. The free response questions in the opening section of the book are of particular interest. I took the time to really think about my answers to questions such as "What makes you happy?" and "What do you want from life?" I came up with some interesting and even surprising answers. I am sure you will do the same if you read this little gem of a book. --Reviewed by Kristin Daniels

Rating:
Summary: Balanced Living Starts Here!
Review: This book is a breath of fresh air! In 96 short (and well-written) pages, it did what no other book has done for me before -- it motivated and empowered me to convert my general concern about the environment into action. It made me realize that there's room in my life for increased environmental responsibility AND that many of the actions I can take for the good of the earth are likely to increase my happiness and overall enjoyment of life.

Sound like a tall order? It is, but "The More Fun, Less Stuff Starter Kit" delivers.

Not only don't most Americans need all the stuff we have (take an honest look in your closets if you have any doubt about this!), but having less extraneous stuff in our lives stands a good chance of freeing up more of our time, energy and money for use on activities we really cherish. Instinctively most of us know we can get by without the latest gadget, and most of us own at least a few items we never use, but how many of us stop to think of the environmental costs of producing and disposing of it all? I hadn't.

This book offers loads of practical suggestions on how each of us can make small changes that'll help restore balance to both the planet and our lives, and it does it with a light touch. You'll find none of the gloom and doom of other environmentalists here. Instead, the book is filled with amusing illustrations, practical advice and a can-do attitude.