The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify (Updated and Revised)

by Francine Jay

Overview

"An inspiring read for anyone wanting to downsize, finally park the car in the garage, or just clear out a few closets." —Rachel Jonat, TheMinimalistMom.com

Having less stuff is the key to happiness: Do you ever feel overwhelmed, instead of overjoyed, by all your possessions? Do you secretly wish a gale force wind would blow the clutter from your home? If so, it's time to simplify your life! The Joy of Less is a fun, lighthearted guide to minimalist living:

• Part One provides an inspirational pep talk on the joys and rewards of paring down.
• Part Two presents the STREAMLINE method: ten easy steps to rid your house of clutter.
• Part Three goes room by room, outlining specific ways to tackle each one.
• Part Four helps you get your family on board and live more lightly and gracefully on the earth.

Ready to sweep away the clutter? Just open this book, and you'll be on your way to a simpler, more streamlined, and more serene life.

Francine has helped hundreds of thousands of people declutter their homes and simplify their lives with her bestselling book, The Joy of Less.

Her advice has been featured widely in the media, including on CNN, BBC, Today, and in The New York Times, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, The Guardian, The Financial Times, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Le Parisien, ELLE Espana, House Beautiful, Woman's World, Dr. Oz The Good Life, and others.

The Joy of Less, a beautiful minimalism book, makes an ideal gift for any loved one on a mission to simplify their life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452155180
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	04/26/2016
Sales rank:	152,853
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Francine Jay is the bestselling decluttering expert and founder of MissMinimalist.com. She has helped hundreds of thousands of people organize their homes and simplify their lives, and has been prominently featured in national media. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Part 1 Philosophy 12

1 See your stuff for what it is 14

2 You are not what you own 19

3 Less stuff = less stress 24

4 Less stuff = more freedom 29

5 Detach from your stuff. 34

6 Be a good gatekeeper 39

7 Embrace space 43

8 Enjoy without owning 4S

9 The joy of enough 53

10 Live simply 58

Part 2 Streamline 62

11 Start over 64

12 Trash, treasure, or transfer 69

13 Reason for each item 75

14 Everything in its place 78

15 All surfaces clear 83

16 Modules 88

17 Limits 93

18 If one comes in, one goes out 98

19 Narrow down 102

20 Everyday maintenance 107

Part 3 Room by Room 112

21 Living or family room 114

22 Bedroom 130

23 Wardrobe 144

24 Home office 159

25 Kitchen and dining room 175

26 Bathroom 191

27 Storage spaces 204

28 Gifts, heirlooms, and sentimental items 219

Part 4 Lifestyle 234

29 The clutter-free family 236

30 The greater good 263

Conclusion 283

Acknowledgments 287

Editorial Reviews

"An invaluable tool for the veteran and budding minimalist alike." - David Friedlander, contributor, LifeEdited.com

"I loved the many words of wisdom in this book. The Joy of Less puts power back into the hands of all who feel like objects have overtaken their home or life." - Holly Becker, author and founder of decor8blog.com

"An inspiring read for anyone wanting to downsize, finally park the car in the garage, or just clear out a few closets." - Rachel Jonat, TheMinimalistMom.com

"Stuff and stress go hand in hand, and The Joy of Less demonstrates how letting go will make room for a happier life." - Courtney Carver, founder of bemorewithless.com

"I loved the many words of wisdom in this book. The Joy of Less puts power back into the hands of all who feel like objects have overtaken their home or life." - Holly Becker, author and founder of decor8blog.com

"An invaluable tool for the veteran and budding minimalist alike." - David Friedlander, contributor, LifeEdited.com

"Stuff and stress go hand in hand, and The Joy of Less demonstrates how letting go will make room for a happier life." - Courtney Carver, founder of bemorewithless.com

"An inspiring read for anyone wanting to downsize, finally park the car in the garage, or just clear out a few closets." - Rachel Jonat, TheMinimalistMom.com

From the Publisher

Narrator Teri Schnaubelt delivers this collection of intuitive strategies with straightforward confidence and flinty vocal clarity. Her pacing and enunciation sound hard and serious, but this firmness might be welcomed by listeners who, after all, are being asked to do hard things. The author takes a systems approach to the matter of how much stuff you have in your house: Much like dieting, it’s less about dramatic purging than about developing mindfulness and good habits—integrating what you accumulate and throw out with your soul as well as respecting the planet. But the audio is ultimately more practical than philosophical; once listeners absorb what’s possible and good, they have a long list of actions and practices to choose from, all designed to help them avoid the slippery slope of accumulation and reap the benefits of a simpler life. T.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2016 - AudioFile