Here’s a short review of: A Year of Less by Cait Flanders and Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More and Live Better by Chris Farrell:
A Year of Less – Cait Flanders
My library app cycles me past the same titles. I guess I’m to blame, since I control the filter and sort functions. Still, I’m frustrated. I kept scrolling past A Year of Less without checking out the audiobook, thinking I’d find something a bit more exciting and come back to it eventually. I was sick of looking at it frankly. Just listen to the dang thing, OK? So, I did.
A Year of Less is a higly personal memoir of a female, shopaholic, alcoholic, blogger, who emerges from a cacoon of hyper-consumption to embrace her sober, minimalist, organizer inner self. It’s an impressive true story and merits a tip of the cap to the author, but I found it hard to relate to the struggle. I found myself (overly-) critical of her hyper shopping addiction. Just stop buying crap, geez! I’ve never had a problem with shopping, but I guess “shopping” could be supplanted with anything really (substance, habit, action, etc.) that represents some type of unvirtuous, self-destructive and/or addictive cycle. This is a real daily struggle for many.
The book bounces around chronologically, divulging deeply personal details, from relationships to career to family. I’d have a more nuanced perspective if I had followed her blog over the years. (I guess I can catch up with some binge reading!) Maybe more context would give me a greater appreciation for the subplots.
Flanders ends with a repledge to keep the shopping ban going for an additional year, tweaking the rules some, but really just fine tuning her approach, her new lifestyle maybe? In the very least, A Year of Less is a fascinating and commendable example of introspection and tranformation. It proves that people can change their circumstances, change who they are for the better, if they are willing to modify their priorities and behaviors.
Overall… it’s pretty good.
Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More and Live Better – Chris Farrell
I found Frugality differently. Remember that whole filter/sort thinger on the library app? Well, I must have changed something because, BANGO! There it was: Frugality landed at the top of the list. It stared back at me saying: “Dude, I’m right up your alley, read the crap out of me, right now, dammit!” So, I did.
NPR Money’s leading dad voice, Farrell, takes us on a tale exploring “the new frugality,” filled with history lessons, quotes, fables, witticisms and bookended with a neat burst of succinct bulleted admonishments to close each chapter.
Farrell gives notice his intentions of brevity related statistics and theory, but proceeds to get very specific on points of interest like, insurance and credit cards, for example. I disagree with some of his conclusions, especially regarding cards, pertaining to identity theft.
He speaks broadly about the merits of “responsible investing,” but does not define the term. Farrell provides little evidence to prove its value, beyond referencing a guy who knows things about stuff. He pushes bank-like products for fixed income and other lower risk investments.
After completing Frugality, I realized the book was published in 2009. Wow, this makes a bit more sense! And wow, it’s amazing how dated some of the advice seems just a decade later. I think his heart is in the right place, but some of his advice needs revision and/or is plain wrong. It’s tough to use a summary bullet structure when some of your bullets are swings and misses.
Overall, ssss’Okay.
Essentially, both books deliver the same formula to the reader:
Want less, need less = happiness
Yeah, not super mathy, but you get the point.
Although, I didn’t care for some of the stylistic elements of A Year of Less and some of the content found in Frugality, both books promote an ethos I enthusiastically support: live with less.
