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Elaine St James – Living the Simple LifeA Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying MoreAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Living-Simple-Life-Scaling-Enjoying/dp…Audio Books : Misc. Educational : MP3/128Kbps : EnglishLiving the Simple Life: A Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying MoreElaine St. James has come a long way since her days as a real estate investor. One day she realized her life was too busy and complicated. By cutting back on work and eliminating physical and mental clutter, she was able to focus on what mattered most in her life. St. James compiled her practices into a book titled Simplify Your Life. Her little hints have become a national movement of personal simplification.Living the Simple Life: A Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying More is composed of 100 little suggestions divided into thirteen sections. The titles of these chapters give readers an idea of the different ways our lives can be simplified.One: The Simple LifeTwo: Getting StartedThree: The Things That Really MatterFour: Some Things to Think AboutFive: Getting Rid of Our StuffSix: Changing Our Consumer HabitsSeven: Learning to Say NoEight: Some Inner StuffNine: Personal and Household RoutinesTen: Lifestyle IssuesEleven: Simple ParentingTwelve: Simple Wardrobe Ideas for WomenThirteen: Simple Wardrobe Ideas for MenThe final portion of this book contains several suggested readings on the topic of simplification. Unfortunately, the mid-1990’s copyright date means related web site addresses aren’t included. However, it’s quite easy to find any online information related to the subject.Not only is Living the Simple Life an ideal asset to your personal library, it also makes an easy and helpful gift.Following on the heels of St. James’s bestselling books, “Simplify Your Life” and “Inner Simplicity, Living the Simple Life” fuses both sides of her liberating philosphy into a powerful synergy of thought-provoking methods for leading a life of well-being and inner peace through simplicity. Like her other bestsellers, Living the Simple Life is written as a series of delightful and straightforward bite-size discussions. Simple and beautiful in its own right, Living the Simple Life is both the perfect primer for newcomers to the simplicity movement and an inspirational guide for old hands wanting to take simplification to the next stepPublished in hardcover in 1996, Living the Simple Life is simply a huge success. Still in high demand with over 135,000 copies sold to date, Living the Simple Life follows on the heels of Elaine St. James’s first two bestsellers, Simplify Your Life, a revolutionary guide to removing clutter and complexity that first launched the simplicity movement, and Inner Simplicity, inspirations for easily augmenting life with peace and spirituality. Now, in Living the Simple Life, St. James fuses both sides of her liberating philosophy into a powerful synergy of simple, thought-provoking methods for leading a life of well-being and inner peace. From simplifying how we manage our household, work, lifestyle, health, and finances, to powerful spiritual approaches toward living and dying, St. James’s third national bestseller is rich with the elegant, life-enhancing inspirations her fans have come to expect.Quote:5 Star Review from Amazon, By Holly Kincaid “Book addict” (Indiana, USA) (Top 500 Reviewer, Real Name)I wish I had written the date in the book of when I purchased this. I would guess I bought it soon after it was published in 1996. This is one of my favorite simplicity books of all time and I have just finished reading it for the fourth or fifth time.What this book is:Simple, straightforward little book with thirteen chapters and 100 simplicity ideas contained within those chapters. It is part simplicity philosophy and part practical advice on how to simplify. One of the great strengths of the book is that it allows you to define your own version of simplicity without dictating how that looks for the reader. For most people, simplifying in place and making adjustments to the current lifestyle is what we are looking for. I’m not interested (at this point) in selling everything and moving to the woods, but I am interested in taking control of my life and keeping it simple enough that I have time to do the things I really enjoy.What it is not:A “bible” with a perscribed path that the reader must follow in order to be successful. Some of the ideas fit some people and some ideas don’t. The whole point is to get the reader thinking about what is important to them/their family and then constructing a life that fits that. Great food for thought and reflection.This is a great companion to “Simplify Your Life” by the same author. This book is a bit more philosophical and the other is more practical. Working together they have really changed the way I make decisions and view the world. Things that were new to me the first time through have become part of my standard way of thinking, but I still need to go back periodically to make sure I’m not slipping on a regular basis. One of the concepts for me that has had the greatest impact is that there are only 24 hours in a day. It seems like a lot, but when you sleep 8 hours and work 8 hours that only leaves 8 hours for everything else — commuting, meal prep, grocery shopping, doctors visits, hair cuts, house cleaning, lawn mowing, etc. When I really wrote it down, I had about one hour per day that was truly mine left over after all that. It made be realize that by saving 15 minutes here or there (not chatting on the phone with people who like to talk) or turning off the nightly news that is filled with commercials I was able to double that to 2 hours fairly easily. More serious resctructuring has also happened with more to come once my daughter is on her own and we can sell the big house with the big yard (yea!).While I first read this when about age 35 and had already acquired a lot of the trappings of success, this book spoke to me about the truth that they are “trappings.” However, when talking to my daughter last night, I really think she should read this book upon graduation from college and again about a year later. It is so much easier to get started on the right foot and not fall into the more is better mentality. Getting rid of stuff and “time suckers” is good, but not acquiring them in the first place is better!Great, great book — I can’t recommend it enough ! Enjoy it.Alpha Pinky