Having a love for paper often goes along with a desire for a simpler, minimalist life. That is true for me and I have enjoyed reading several blogs that focus on personal development, simplicity, decluttering, and minimalism. However, try to define all of that and you run into problems. Some of the blogs I once enjoyed in this sphere I have dropped all together because I saw a hypocrisy that didn’t sit well with me. Some of these bloggers became “celebrities” within their niche and quickly became everything that simplicity, to me, was not. I moved on to others. However, I have watched with a curious eye the latest developments among bloggers in this simplicity/minimalist niche and what I have seen is not the least bit pretty.
What is simplicity to you? What is a “minimalist” life to you? It is now a bone of contention among several of the “minimalist” bloggers just how one must live to meet their definition of “minimalism” or “simplicity.” Most are reasonable: You scale back until you are comfortable with what you’ve done. Get rid of a lot of junk we may have carried from place to place, clean out the closets with clothes not worn in years, empty the garage of things stored but never used, etc. To me, I am perfectly comfortable with that level of simplifying my life. But…welcome to the days of Complicated Simplicity. Blogs, ebooks and now, even published books preach the rules of minimalism. What many of them have done is to take all simplicity out of the idea of simplicity and replace it with rigid rules and “recommendations,” on how to simplify. Some take it so far as to say we should all strive to live with a certain number of items. Some of these bloggers decided 100 items (!) was the sweet spot, only to decide that was too much. Yes, they were true minimalists because they were now living with 50 items. Then, one particular blogger decided even 50 was too much and on and on it goes. To me, this sounded like scarcity rather than simplicity.
Now, we are being told that books are something to get rid of. Ruthlessly! Keep only books that are, “Desert island books.” Before, it’s always been along the lines of, “If you think you might have too many books, think about donating some of them.” Things have changed. I have noticed a downright hostile attitude toward books from some “minimalist” bloggers. In fact, I read a blog post yesterday that almost made it seem that if we wanted to keep all of our books, we deserved a diagnosis that you might find in the DSM-IV. Try this: “Honor your emotions. Your sentimental attachment to your books is not something to feel ashamed of or sad about. Acknowledging your emotions as you sort through your books can be the first step in helping you move past that attachment and towards a more minimalist reading habit.” All this complete with tips on helping us break this “attachment” to our “reading habit.” If a book has been on the shelf, unread, for 6 months – the advice? Get rid of it!
Obviously, the author of the blog post, as well-intentioned as she may be, is offering blanket advice to do what she would do. Have some of these bloggers never heard of a personal library? (See picture above and click to enlarge. It’s very nice and I wish it were mine!) The Personal Library – dedicated rooms to books and a fireplace. Or, simply, a wall of books. Or how about an office surrounded by books? The personal library has been around since the printed word has been around. I would like to have seen somebody try to explain to Thomas Jefferson that he needs to deal with his “emotional attachment” to books. It’s all gone too far.
Many simplicity/minimalist bloggers are also keen on ebooks, being affiliates for each others ebooks and marketing this whole idea of “minimalism” with such flourish that they have made “minimalism” something akin to the latest get-cash-quick scheme (simply, of course). I say, “enough.” I have dropped several of these blogs from my feed reader because I don’t want to read how what I have done to simplify and minimalize isn’t quite good enough. Some have taken it to such an extreme that they castigate those who dare have enough that they might burn an extra light bulb for too many hours in the day. Many of them connect themselves to the most radical of “green” groups that they go so far overboard as to be laughable, yet they fail to see the humor in their zeal.
This may have been harsher than I intended. I’m just tired of constantly being told I’m not doing something “right” because I’m not doing something the way some blogger is doing it. In this case, simplifying. Ironic, huh? The joy of simplifying and trying to live a more minimalist life is caught up in debate over how many things a person should own and how we should keep our book shelves limited to “desert island books.’ The post about books and the “emotional attachment” was just too much. Misplaced zeal. For the record, I say, Long Live Books. I hope they are around far longer than blogs suggesting we suffer from some psychological disorder if we choose to maintain a personal library!
Simplicity has become much too complicated.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I live a pretty simple life and felt inspired (at first) to read minimalist blogs over the last year. I stopped–right around the time that the entire niche began competing with each other over owning the least amount of items, fretting over books and family photos, and constantly pimping each others ebooks, all of which pretty much said the same thing.
Great article!
Bravo! I’m applauding you! You are amazing! You know why? Because you are not a sheep. You are thinking – and feeling – for yourself! So few people really truly do that anymore. They are afraid to say “no thank you, that’s not for me” – afraid to actually BE the individual they proclaim to be.
I’ve dropped several blogs that I have grown uncomfortable with. Their message was no longer resonating with me. It was tempting to comment and tell them off, but then I’d have been fodder for more of their snark. No, I just quietly dropped them and have moved happily on.
Again, I’m proud of you. Viva the free thinkers!
Awesome! I just read a blog post yesterday that had a “100 items I don’t own” on it. Ridiculous. I guess if the only places you want to sit are the floor and your futon, then fine. But don’t be looking down your snotty nose at me for wanting a bed, lamps, a coffee maker, couch and my personal library. I think you should have a post on here where everyone should send in their proud pics of their book collections!
Thanks for all the nice comments. At least I know I’m not alone!
I agree with you that when people begin to excessively talk about, write about, and make rules around what simiplicity and minimalism they are doing anything but keeping it simple. I think it is ridiculous to say that only owning 100 items or 50 items defines a minimalist lifestyle. What makes one person’s life simple may seem utterly chaotic and cluttered for another. I think that everyone needs to find their own balance between simplicity and clutter.
I have personal library myself where I spend much of my spare time reading and writing, and I have to whole-heartedly agree with you: long live books!
Your voice is certainly not one in the wilderness.
As one who has been trying to simplify my life for some time, I know too well that simplifying is a complicated business.
It is not just a simple numbers game. I read one of those 50 item posts, but noticed that the blogger did not actually reduce his belongings to only 50 items. He was selective about what he regarded as qualifying for inclusion, and, more importantly, for exclusion from the list. Things which were owned by the family, things which were essential etc. didn’t make it onto the 50 item list. Everyone has their own bench mark as to what the criteria are. As such, the 100 or 50 item list is meaningless.
The suggestions on decluttering books is also flawed. It may apply to novels, which you may not read again, but what about reference or how-to books which may only be picked up when needed, which is probably at random intervals? And what about that groaning shelf of books on decluttering? Minimalists may argue that you can always go to the library or go on the internet. That is all very well if you live in an urban environment or are tethered to your computer, but there are still many of us who rely on our own tools. Context is a very important part in making decisions. For that you can only follow your own rules.
I have certainly reduced my purchasing of books and other things, and been quite ruthless with getting rid of things, but at the end of the day, I had to make decisions based on my circumstances, not arbitrary rules. The driving force for me to get rid of stuff is that a lot of my stuff feels like a mill stone, space is very limited, and much of the stuff could be better off with someone else, which may stopp that person buying something new. My decision to not buy a lot of stuff is to stopp bringing more mill stones into my life and to not put unnecessary pressure on the environement with rampant consumerism. Most importantly, I pay attention to the reasons for doing things, rather than plucking some number out of the air and aiming for it.
Heather – I agree 100%. Believe it or not, many are still arguing the “right number” of things to own. No thanks. Too complicated!
Judy – Great thoughts! Your point about CONTEXT was a very important one. I imagine most of the so-called “minimalist” bloggers live like Kings and Queens compared to what you’re doing. I am absolutely fascinated with your level of love for our planet and your contribution to its care. I can only say “thanks” and express my great appreciation for your education and instruction at your most impressive blog. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here — and in general at ‘Judy Of The Woods’.
Nice post, but a little complicated. Couldn’t you have simplified it some? (wink)
I tried Note Booker, but I couldn’t say it in 140 characters!