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Simply Terrific:
I read this book about 10 years ago, and it changed my life. I made a few small changes and a few big ones, and I couldn't have done it too soon. I recently read it again and confirmed that I am still doing somethings to simplify but needed to re-simplify in other ways. You may agree with all, some, or none of the points, but it is really a good way to get you thinking about how you could be doing things differently in your life. I also bought a few copies to loan or give out to people I care enough about to see leading a happy and simple life.
Simplify Your Life:
This book is the first of several by Elaine St. James that attempts to show how one can get rid of clutter from their daily life and change mundane rountines so we somehow gain the benefits of a simplified life. While I agree with some of her points, namely get out of debt and change spending habits, some of her other suggestions appear to be either unrealistic or unobtainable. I cut down on errands to one or two outings per week, but managing my recyclables is not really going to add much benefit to my life. I collect my plastics, papers, and cans and put them at the curb every other week. What else can I do? I do agree that I won't be a slave to either my yard or my job. Oddly enough she says nothing about the spiritual life, which is one area I've been focusing on in recent years. Maybe she thinks the spiritual life is not worth commenting upon. Anyway, this is a quick book to read and it does help one reflect on their own life, but it really should be taken with a grain of salt. I keep my clothes closet up to date while my wife has stuff in her closet from twenty years of marriage.
Simplicity at it's best:
Everyone should have a copy of Simplify Your Life as a reminder how full our lives become with everything that isn't necessary. Elaine St. James does a wonderful job of organizing the different areas of life and highlighting places to simplify.
SHE EVEN INCLUDES A MUFFIN RECIPE:
HEREIN SHE HAS A FEW GOOD SUGGESTIONS.....its a small book and has as many words as a long magazine article this is my composite review of 2 of her 'simple' books from another review her "This "simplification" book was written by a woman whose idea of simplifying is driving a BMW and getting her exercise by taking walks on the beach. " INDEED WOLCOTT GIBBS HER HUBBY WAS FORMER EDITOR OF 'YACHTING' MAG The entire first half of the book seems to be talking you into "getting started" simplifying your life. If I needed talked into it, I wouldn't have bought the book now would I? Also during this time, she states that you must do whatever it takes to free up time to "start" this process including lying to your boss by using sick days when you are obviously not sick. ACTUALLY I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE BOOK Apparently, marriage is also not a sacred thing to Ms. St. James as there were several references to it being possibly beneficial to dump your mate or your spouse due to incompatibility in the simplification area. Yes, she used the word ..... DUMP! I LOOKED FOR THE WORD DUMP BUT DID NOT FIND...it may be there To curtail your spending habits, she suggests keeping a 30 day list with you and when you see something you want, don't buy it right away but write it down on your list along with the day's date. If you look at your list 30 days from then and still want it, then it's okay to buy it. My advice? Forget the list ...... wait a month. If you can't remember wanting it, you didn't really need it in the first place! HER BOOKS ARE FULL OF DUMB IDEAS...SEE THE CHAPTER ON SIMPLE RECYCLING Most disturbing was her obvious disregard for others. Here's her advice on declining an invitation to a party or other social function: "There'll be enough people who show up because they want to be there, so you don't need to feel YOU have to. Of course, if no one shows up at all, perhaps it's an indication that the gathering wasn't necessary in the first place." SHES VERY NARCISISTIC AND HAS FOUND HER AUDIENCE....SHES A ONE WOMAN SIMPL INDUSTRY Her advice for staying in touch by phone is to inform everyone you know to leave messages on machines rather than picking up the phone and actually talking to each other ..... that would apparently be a waste of time (think of it as audio E-mail she says). INDEED SHE SEEMS VERY SHALLOW There is also a frightening letter included in the book from a 14 year old boy who was obviously searching for the meaning of life and battling depression and the advice he got from one of her books was to "look inside himself for strength and to get in touch with his inner self." THE NAME OF THE TEEN IS ERIN SO IT MAY BE A GIRL AND THIS PART OF THE BOOK IS ELAINE AT HER SCARIEST She informs us that she is an avid reader and has an extensive book collection which I would hazard a guess doesn't contain a Bible! EVEN IF SHE OWNS ONE DOES SHE READ IT.......?????
The original, and still the best:
To say a book changed the way I live my life is an awfully big statement, but this one truly did. Her book gave me the inspiration to chill out and slow down, even while living in a hectic, overcrowded city. The bite-sized chapters mean you can put her suggestions into practice whenever you want, and you will find yourself returning to it again and again for inspiration. And be warned: get a few extra copies, as friends rarely return it!
| Author: | Elaine St. James | | Binding: | Paperback | | Dewey Decimal Number: | 646.7 | | EAN: | 9780786880003 | | Edition: | 1 | | ISBN: | 0786880007 | | Number Of Pages: | 256 | | Publication Date: | 1994-05-01 | | Release Date: | 1994-04-15 |
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