gracemessi's review against another edition
4.0
I really actually enjoyed this one! I’m starting a 4-6 month shopping ban and it was interesting to see someone similar to me doing it. I do wish it had had more content about the shopping ban than of the author’s life during it. But I still enjoyed it!
jrf1108's review against another edition
3.0
Short, decent book for someone who is interested in dipping their toes into a minimalist, mindful, and/or less wasteful lifestyle.
Some parts were very relatable, like the image of your bedside table becoming a blind spot wasteland of clutter. It's mostly basic advice, but attainable and achievable for the average person, especially considering this was done before the minimalist Marie Kondo craze. I appreciate how Cait has the willpower and self discipline to set herself challenges like this, or the self awareness to realize her drinking was problematic and the decision to stop drinking. Not everyone is like that.
Some parts I wasn't too keen on. The writing was slightly repetitive, though I think that was a stylistic choice on the writer's part that just didn't work well for me. I couldn't relate to a 30 year old woman being depressed for months over her parents divorce, while I'm sure it was difficult it doesn't read a one of those truly traumatic life changing events that books like these tend to push. And because Cait seems quite good at these types of lifestyle challenges and has a healthy amount of self discipline, this year long journey almost comes across as 'easy peasy' and not a struggle at all. Which makes the message less impactful overall.
Some parts were very relatable, like the image of your bedside table becoming a blind spot wasteland of clutter. It's mostly basic advice, but attainable and achievable for the average person, especially considering this was done before the minimalist Marie Kondo craze. I appreciate how Cait has the willpower and self discipline to set herself challenges like this, or the self awareness to realize her drinking was problematic and the decision to stop drinking. Not everyone is like that.
Some parts I wasn't too keen on. The writing was slightly repetitive, though I think that was a stylistic choice on the writer's part that just didn't work well for me. I couldn't relate to a 30 year old woman being depressed for months over her parents divorce, while I'm sure it was difficult it doesn't read a one of those truly traumatic life changing events that books like these tend to push. And because Cait seems quite good at these types of lifestyle challenges and has a healthy amount of self discipline, this year long journey almost comes across as 'easy peasy' and not a struggle at all. Which makes the message less impactful overall.
gasoline_allie's review against another edition
2.0
It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I hoped for a more practical guide to reducing consumption and living with less, but what I got was a personal memoir. While I understand what the author was trying to say about consumerism and addiction, as well as identifying and dealing with emotional triggers that lead to unwanted behaviors, I still felt irritated that we kept having to circle back to the concept of buying and living with less only after meandering through what felt like every memory of her 20s.
I did find some useful and thought-provoking ideas within. I just wish I had found more of them.
I did find some useful and thought-provoking ideas within. I just wish I had found more of them.
oatmilkmonica's review against another edition
inspiring
3.25
Warning: a lot of diet culture in a book that you wouldn’t think is filled with it
hazelrayson's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.75