Living Simply

November 15, 2018
This short, accessible guide offers a quick introduction to minimalism.Covering the history of minimalist movements, the environmental and human impacts of excess consumption, advice for ways to start living more simply, and basic guidelines for purchases and discards, the author demonstrates a connection between the current vogue for minimalism in the developed world and 20th-century minimalism in music, writing, and art. While her actual advice could easily (and more minimally) be presented in a magazine article, the variety of her approaches allows for repetition in ways that might make the content sink in without becoming boring (at least for those who haven't encountered these ideas before). The attractive, colorful presentation--large legible type, frequent subheadings, photographs, and mini-essays that offer breaks in the narrative flow--will encourage readers to embrace the content. Mostly young people, of varying races and nationalities, are shown in the images. Unfortunately there is a disconnect between the descriptions of the negative personal toll of consumerism in the developed world and the paternalistic portrayals of eco-friendly ways of life in developing nations. Sadly, the text and backmatter offer no citations for the statistics. As is often the case, when suggestions for re-use involve crafts, the product is likely to produce more waste. But overall, this common-sense guide will be useful.An invitation for teens and tweens to share in a popular movement. (source notes, glossary, selected bibliography, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

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November 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 McGraw discusses minimalism as a way of living for teens, and her book provides a number of suggestions and resources for teens who want to scale down their carbon footprints. After introducing the concept and providing a history of how people began to live more complicated lives filled with stuff during the rise of the Industrial Revolution and beyond, McGraw gets down to the practical issues. She offers sensible advice on how to manage the impact of mass production on our environment. She covers clothes, furniture, possessions, and transportation, among other topics, suggesting many ways to live more simply. Furthermore, she stresses that there is no one right way to be a minimalist. This appropriately slender book is packed with resources, photographs, and interviews with teen minimalists, plus a thorough bibliography, a glossary, and suggested resources for more information on the various areas covered, including websites and films. The index is dense and comprehensive, and the overall writing is lucid and accessible. This is a useful addition to any collection.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)