Love People, Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley September 21, 2021
Author Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus,
Distributor: Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780733645853
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Release Date: July 2021
Website: https://www.hachette.com.au
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Love People Use Things is a follow-on book from The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, which takes their original concept of clearing out the surplus ‘junk’ that is slowly but surely sabotaging your way of life, to be able to make way for the things that really matter; things that are not things, but people, love, harmony and happiness.
Millburn has used his recent journey into ill health upon which to base the premises which begins with a recap of their previous and very, very successful Minimalism: live a meaningful life which is excellent, but then he expands out into a wider concept of clearing out the emotional baggage that can be the drivers up the hoarding, buying, success driven pathway into debt, distress and eventual destruction (almost inevitable) at all cost, ‘successful’ life.
Nicodemus taps in at the end of each chapter with Coda’s designed to encourage a good deal of self-exploration, deep honesty with self and dare it be said, the requirement for either a large box of tissues to mop up the tears or a big bottle of something alcoholic to help deaden the pain of facing honest truths.
Cathartic, deeply emotional and in many ways helpful with understanding the drivers so easily discovered on the pathway to so called success, Love People Use Things is also deeply disturbing, as it ventures into a very grey area of psychology that could very easily have a seriously adverse effects on the person reading the book and trying to follow a new pathway of minimalism.
The concept is as always excellent; downsizing and understanding why and what you need to achieve to live a simpler, less cluttered, physical and mental, lifestyle which is becoming more and more important as the months drag by with the COVID pandemic now an everyday, but still extremely concerning, aspect of life.
Many are facing severe hardship, lifestyle change and job loss while still attempting to lead the same lifestyle as before life changed dramatically and in many cases irrevocably. From that perspective this book may help understand why there is the need to basically live within your means, emotionally and financially and the relaxation and happiness that can be achieved on a personal level when you choose wisely to Love People, Use Things in your everyday life.
A word of caution is to read carefully and wisely then take only from the pages the help needed. If it gets overwhelming seek the help of a professional to help you along the way.