We went through the top resources on minimalism. The minimalists, Minimalism Lab, the minimalist ninja, and more than 10 other resources. To see what kind of books on minimalism they recommended. And if there is a pattern. Are the best books on minimalism universally accepted to be the same? A good test is to see whether the experts recommend the same books. This article contains the top-recommended books on minimalism.
In total, we found 116 books – about the topic of minimalism – that was recommended. Many of them are probably great books on minimalism. But we are looking for the best of the best. The ones you should start to read if you wanna become a master of minimalism. In this article, we have highlighted 15 books on minimalism. With a clear winner. The More of Less – recommended by 75% of minimalism related book articles. An unusually high recommendation rate.
#1 The More Of Less
recommended by 75%
The More of Less delivers an empowering plan for living more by owning less. With practical suggestions and encouragement to personalize your own minimalist style, Joshua Becker shows you why minimizing possessions is the best way to maximize life.
Reasons To Read the Book
A life changing book. This is a very nice book about just starting off on your minimalist journey. It talks about how to get started and what to do and what not to do while starting on your minimalist journey.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
The result is a book that is too long and meandering, one can easily cut 50 pages from it. Extremely disappointed in this book. It wasn’t at all what I thought it would be.
#2 The Joy Of Less
recommended by 67%
The Joy of Less, a beautiful minimalism book, makes an ideal gift for any loved one on a mission to simplify their life. Francine has helped hundreds of thousands of people declutter their homes and simplify their lives with her best-selling book.
Reasons To Read the Book
This book has a no-nonsense approach and gets down to the nitty-gritty from the start. I couldn’t stop reading this book. I never write book reviews but this one is so fantastic, I want more people to discover it!
Reasons Not To Read the Book
This book is on the wrong track, or on the wrong track for me, not to mention all over the place. Too wordy, too philosophical, takes too long to get to the nitty gritty. I was actually very frustrated reading and ended up skimming. This book would have been better if the author focused on decluttering and got off her politically correct high horse.
#3 The Life-changing Magic Of Tidying Up
recommended by 67%
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles? Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever.
Reasons To Read the Book
The life changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo has been a very fascinating read. I read this book in one week and applied the principles she teaches that very same weekend (much to the dismay of my poor wife). This book is truly AMAZING!! It makes you think of the “stuff” that you have in a totally different mindset. And I recommend this book to everyone.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
This book is crap. The author feels the need to keep bringing up the fact that she is, apparently, the perfect organizer. I couldn’t get into the writing style and only read the bold font. This was not an enjoyable read.
#4 Goodbye, Things
recommended by 58%
Sasaki explores the philosophy and cultural history of minimalism from Buddhism to Steve Jobs.
Reasons To Read the Book
This book was a joy to read and I hope Sasaki one day writes another. I’m very happy I purchased this book, as someone who wants to reduce belongings and simplify life,
Reasons Not To Read the Book
I hated this book! All I learned is that he likes Apple products and spent his time buying things in gray, tan and white. Too minimal for me!. There are better books out there on minimalism, decluttering and simplifying.
#5 Minimalism
recommended by 58%
In their debut book, Joshua & Ryan, authors of the popular website THE MINIMALISTS, explore their troubled pasts and descent into depression. Though they had achieved the American Dream, they worked ridiculous hours, wastefully spent money, and lived paycheck to paycheck. Instead of discovering their passions, they pacified themselves with ephemeral indulgences—which only led to more debt, depression, and discontent. After a pair of life-changing events, Joshua & Ryan discovered minimalism, allowing them to eliminate their excess material things so they could focus on life’s most important “things”: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.
Reasons To Read the Book
The first time I read this book I borrowed it from the local library. It was a life changer for me. I loved the novel Minimalism, Live a Meaningful Life by Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. This book opened my eyes to problems I might be facing ten years from now.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
I love these guys and their values but this book isn’t what I thought it would be. It really has nothing to do with minimalizing but more to do with things they changed to have a happier life. I was disappointed.
#6 Essentialism
recommended by 50%
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. More than one million copies sold! Essentialism isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s about getting only the right things done. Essentialism is more than a time-management strategy or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter.
Reasons To Read the Book
For sure, this is one of the best books i’ve read recently. And it deserve the 5 stars. Through thoughtful insights, interesting stories and an easy to read style this book helped guide me back to a place where really only the essential gets taken into account and the rest becomes easier to eliminate.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
For a book about essentialism, it sure is a long book. Really repetitive, I didn’t get much out of it. Poor writing style. Not helpful. Not interesting at all, the author rambles and is dull. This really should have been maybe a four page paper.
#7 Everything That Remains
recommended by 42%
Everything That Remains is the touching, surprising story of what happened when one young man decided to let go of everything and begin living more deliberately. Heartrending, uplifting, and deeply personal, this engrossing memoir is peppered with insightful (and often hilarious) interruptions by Ryan Nicodemus, Millburn’s best friend of twenty years.
Reasons To Read the Book
Next to the Holy Bible and The Mystical City of God, I cannot think of a book that has changed my life more than Everything That Remains. In this book we are taught about the value of getting rid of the clutter in our lives (exteriorly and interiorly) in order to focus on the more important things in life, those things that add value to our lives.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
The writing in this book is extremely poor and trite. Great message with a very lackluster delivery. Heavy handed dialogue from a very unlikable narrator. This book was barely readable and I still have not finished it. All about the author and not very interesting at that.
#8 Clutterfree With Kids
recommended by 33%
Clutterfree with Kids is filled with practical strategies and deep wisdom. It is a must read for professional organizers and parents! He brings an important message to the world. His easy to read style, clear ideas, and inspiring personal journey, provide a great catalyst for reconsidering our lives.
Reasons To Read the Book
This was a very easy read / read it in a few sittings. There are a lot of perspectives in here-I especially like his thoughts on not taking too many photos. These book was very inspirational. I was in the process of packing my home for a cross-country move when I bought this and this book was the help that I needed to downsize while I packed.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
I felt like this book was more of a lecture than a legitimate “how” book. I was looking for specific strategies to get my family on board with reducing what we have. Very anecdotal and repetitive and filled with the author’s thoughts on the subject.
#9 Do Less
recommended by 33%
With Do Less, a happier, more serene life is just moments away. From your home to your finances, this straightforward guide teaches you how to scale back your possessions and commitments to just what you really need. With hundreds of ways to minimalize your life, you’ll quickly uncover the joys and rewards of paring down.
A must-have for any shelf, Do Less helps you rediscover the simple moments that have been buried beneath the piles of to-dos, to-knows, and to-buys.
Reasons To Read the Book
I think this is one of the best! There is just so much good stuff in this book!. The book Do Less, delivers a great and unique format to guide you through your minimalist endeavors. An excellent quick read. Well organized, simple, easy to implement without it seeming overwhelming.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
This minimalist guide seemed a bit too minimal for me. There were no surprises in the suggestions, but some of them seemed unduly harsh. Nothing new. A quick read, with a few good points interspersed between somewhat retreaded advice. Did not agree with many of the work tips as they seemed to based on trickery or managing others impressions as opposed to managing yourself.
#10 Minimalism For Families
recommended by 33%
Make room for what really matters. Minimalism for Families shows you the real costs of the things you own and helps you discover that cutting non-essential items makes for a happier, more satisfying home and life.
Spend less time stressing about your stuff and more time together. Filled with practical advice to help you and your family clear out your house, Minimalism for Families helps you build stronger bonds, spend more time together, and start enjoying the benefits of living clutter-free.
Reasons To Read the Book
This book got into the mechanics of minimalism for people who live with other people. She also helps you get through different rooms.Full of practical ideas. Love and highly recommend, exactly the help so many of us need.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
I can see this may work for some family’s, but after reading this it will never work for mine. I’d have to say I can’t honestly recommend this book. To each there own on this one.
#11 Zero Waste Home
recommended by 25%
The book that started the waste-free living movement, Zero Waste Living—relates Bea Johnson’s inspirational personal story and provides practical tools and tips to help readers diminish their footprint and simplify their lives.
Reasons To Read the Book
This is must read and an amazing book! The author Be a Johnson should be commended for initiating and marketing the movement of the Zero Waste Home.
The book gives great suggestions for reducing your environmental impact while giving you “permission” to tailor waste-reduction to your own lifestyle.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
This book will not stand the test of time. The lack of viable research to back up her assertions is deplorable at best. Not worth, I found no use out the book. Do not buy this book is incomplete.
#12 Soulful Simplicity
recommended by 25%
In this book, she shows us how to pursue practical minimalism so we can create more with less—more space, more time, and even more love. Carver invites us to look at the big picture, discover what’s most important to us, and reclaim lightness and ease by getting rid of all the excess things.
Reasons To Read the Book
This book helped me realize that my home has become a storage space. Not a living space. A must buy book! This was a very interesting, thought-provoking, and challenging book. I loved this book and the openness of Courtney’s journey and story. Courtney shares her soul in her journey to Soulful Simplicity which is appreciated throughout.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
This book is filled with repititious stories about and by the author. Nothing new here at all. I really wanted to like this book. I read and reread it looking for some magic but it just doesn’t deliver.
#13 New Minimalism
recommended by 25%
This book promises an opportunity for self-reflection and lasting change, by getting to the bottom of why we’ve accumulated too much stuff in the first place, therefore allowing us to transform our lives. Professional decluttering and design team Cary and Kyle of New Minimalism will take you through every step, from assessing your emotional relationship to your stuff to decluttering your home to then turning it into a beautifully designed space that feels clean and tidy without feeling sparse or prescriptive.
Reasons To Read the Book
This is a gorgeous book, both in its writing and its photos. It has been an extremely helpful and practical guide to simplifying and decluttering in life, without making me feel guilty or overwhelmed about the volume of stuff in my home. Full of practical advice.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
This book is very boring, limited photos and not good. Nothing new or inspirational here. You can find the same information simply by surfing the net. Good message, but disappointing delivery.
#14 Simplify
recommended by 25%
Simplify is a celebration of living more by owning less. Written by Joshua Becker, who inspires hundreds of thousands of people on his personal blog, this is a book that calls for the end of living lives seeking and accumulating more and more possessions by highlighting the enjoyment of living with less.
Reasons To Read the Book
This book is very inspiring to simplify so many aspects in life. The best part is that it has tips on how to do it but at the same time it’s not preachy. A good supplemental book to those interested in minimalist lifestyles.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
The book is full of unrelated stories. No clear/intense guidelines. Not a recommended book. It was quite boring not for young people. This was not all what they expected and looking for.
#15 The Year Of Less
recommended by 25%
Blending Cait’s compelling story with inspiring insight and practical guidance, The Year of Less will leave you questioning what you’re holding on to in your own life–and, quite possibly, lead you to find your own path of less.
Reasons To Read the Book
A great book with full of excellent advice. This book is very helpful, inspiring, and easy to read with. Definitely recommend this book to anyone.
Reasons Not To Read the Book
This book is not what they expected to be. The books is about alcoholism, not consumerism. This book was pretty boring and a waste of time to read.