A Philosophy of Simple Living By Jérôme Brillaud

Why are we so fascinated with simplicity today?
Why do we still sometimes resist simplifying our lives?
What is so revolutionary about a simple life?

Today, simple living is a rallying cry for anti-consumerists, environmentalists and anyone concerned with humanity’s effect on the planet.

A Philosophy of Simple Living charts the ideas, motivations, and practices of simplicity from antiquity to the present day. Bringing together an array of people, practices and movements, from Henry David Thoreau to Steve Jobs, and from Cynics and Quakers to the “slow movement,” voluntary simplicity, and degrowth, this book is as comprehensive as it is concise.

Written in elegant, spare prose, this book will inspire all who wish to simplify their lives and convince many that a good life is a simple life.

‘In this insightful debut, Brillaud analyzes the “simple life” by examining historical figures who “saw simplicity as a way of life.” . . . Those looking for advice on creating a “life governed by simple rules” will enjoy Brillaud’s inviting portraits.’

Publishers Weekly

‘This fascinating and well-written book by Jérôme Brillaud does not evangelise about simple living or tell readers how to think or live. Rather, it is a diverse and profound review of various perspectives on simplicity that have emerged throughout the ages, from the Ancient Greeks, through Christianity, to the modern Voluntary Simplicity Movement, with notable discussions of prominent figures including Diogenes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Henry Thoreau. Paradoxically, however, it turns out the notion of ‘simplicity’ is surprisingly complex, but readers will be both challenged and enriched by this paradox. Brillaud has made a fine contribution to the philosophical literature on a concept that is as important as it is neglected.’

Samuel Alexander / author of Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits (2015) and editor of Simple Living in History: Pioneers of the Deep Future (2014)

‘Thoughtful and beautifully written, A Philosophy of Simple Living is a rich portrait gallery of fellow humans — from Diogenes and Trappist monks to Prince Charles and advocates of Buen Vivir — attuned to the quiet activity of hearing the murmur of life. A must-read in our era of noise and distraction.’

Phillip John Usher / New York University

Living simply is not simply living.