Simple and Free

7 Experiments Against Excess

By: Jen Hatmaker

Narrated by: Jen Hatmaker

Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Why do we pursue more when we’d be happier with less? In this updated edition of 7, New York Times best-selling author Jen Hatmaker tells the story of how she and her family tried to combat overindulgence - and what they learned along the way about living a truly meaningful life.

Simple and Free is the true story of how Jen Hatmaker (along with her family) identified seven areas of excess - food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, and stress - and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence. So, what’s the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased connection with God - a call toward simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better life.

In this new edition, written not just for listeners of faith but for everyone who craves a gentler, simpler life, Hatmaker shares how sustainability and generosity still impact and challenge her today. Annotated throughout with new reflections from the author, this book offers thoughtful insights on the vastly different world of Simple and Free from back when it was first published as 7, and considers the dramatically different space Hatmaker occupies now. Simple and Free is funny, raw, and not a guilt trip in the making. Come along and discover what Jesus’ version of rich, blessed, and generous might look like in your life.

©2017, 2021 Jen Hatmaker (P)2021 Random House Audio

Just keeps getting better and better

Love her books and stories! ineish i lived in Austin! thank younfor sharing your journey and life with us!

Good stuff!

Recommended to me, and so happy to get it! Great narration, enlightening & humorous. Touched your heart, mind, & soul.

Food for thought

As usual, this book left me examining many aspects of my life - not just what needs to be scaled back, but which need to increase. I particularly liked her comments from each update, giving a glimpse of what had changed for her since the original printing.

Life changing

Exactly what I needed. The best religious book I have ever read. Thank you Jen!

Love Jen, love the JHBC

Third book I’ve read by Jen. Love the audio versions, because Jen is so animated and hilarious. Five stars!

Loved it!

I listened to this every free second I could. And as soon as I finished it, I wanted to listen again! I especially loved the 2021 updates and "listener side notes".

I Loved 7 and this is an upgrade

love this book and love that the author reads it! you will learn a lot and be challenged

We all need to hear this

Jen is honest and humble about her learning and challenged me to think about my own ways of living in excess. She teaches such important lessons in Simple and Free but in an approachable and vulnerable way.

Growth of an evangelical

I was leary of listening, I thought I might listen to a chapter or two. But the discussion of what she knows now versus what she wrote made me listen through the entire book. I have changed my mind as to who the author is and it proves everyone has the option to grow.

Stories, Messages, Details

I really enjoyed the journal style of this book, even though Jen can get pretty wordy at times. Most of all I always like how she is so real with her readers and talks about her struggles and her triumphs as a Christian. The updates were a nice bonus to better understand where she was and where she is now in her walk to live simple and free. I definitely feel inspired to work toward a more simple and free life myself.