• The Minimalist Way

  • Minimalism Strategies to Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy
  • By: Erica Layne
  • Narrated by: Suehyla El-Attar
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (2,230 ratings)

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The Minimalist Way  By  cover art

The Minimalist Way

By: Erica Layne
Narrated by: Suehyla El-Attar
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Publisher's summary

Bring Minimalism to Your Home, Work, and Relationships 

Discover how to apply the minimalist mindset to every aspect of your life by changing the way you think about your home, career, relationships, family, and money. The Minimalist Way will help you take it one step at a time with simple exercises and activities. Ease into minimalism at your own pace and learn how to let go. 

Filled with practical philosophy and easy-to-use strategies for removing unnecessary distractions and stress, this is the essential guidebook for anyone looking to clear out their physical, mental, and emotional clutter. 

The Minimalist Way includes: 

  • Minimalist Philosophy - outlines the principles of minimalism and shows you how to define the practice to fit your life. 
  • The Minimalist Lifestyle - teaches you how to apply minimalism to your spending, food, clothing, family, leisure time, work, and more. 
  • Real Solutions - that help you spend time and energy wisely, including checklists, activities, and troubleshooting tips.  

Live simpler. Live better. Live minimalism. 

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2019 Althea Press (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Minimalist Way

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Minimalism. Lives up to its Title

This audiobook is OK,
It's not groundbreaking, in any way.
The title claims 2 things - 1) Minimalism strategies to declutter your life., and 2) Make room for Joy.
Unfortunately, these are not so much strategies as they are tips for minimalism. I found a few that
work for me, but I didn't find anything revolutionary or amazing.
The 2nd part of the subtitle promises to help you "make room for joy" and there are some tips that are
designed to help you experience a little more joy in your life, but really, this part of the subtitle is underdelivered.
There was not enough relating to why you would be more joyful if you were more of a minimalist.
If you find this on sale and you are new to the subject, go for it.
If you have already read a few other books on the subject, minimize your purchases and skip this one.

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198 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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LOVE LOVE LOVE!

This book gave such tangible actionable steps that are applicable in work, home, with family, your belongings and life in general. I listened to it 2x back to back just to hear it all again. This book is NOT about living in a house with one chair in it, its about finding what matters to you and making room for more of that and less of what doesn't matter. Bravo!

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114 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

A minimalism guide for "Lean In" fans

From the pretentious sounding narrator to the sanctimonious writing, I felt like I was being lectured to by an out of touch, upper-middle stay at home mom whose struggle was "not" real. Even as a $1.95 Daily Deal, I feel cheated.

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79 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Quick Read-Listen And Worth The Time

Erica Layne is a minimalist. Not much else to say. She lives life fully - just with less stuff. This book goes hand in hand with Essentialism by Greg McKeown. Both are good reads. I don't think I can get into Erica's scoring system for clothing, closets, etc. but I do embrace many of her thoughts and ideas. I found this read a beneficial use of my time.

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64 people found this helpful

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Read atomic habits instead....

Um... I doubt many people like the author, but then again, if you’re a housewife, and you’ve spent most of your life focused on your kids, and your husband makes “you/us” wealthy, well then I get it.
Self pity and delusions of grandeur

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53 people found this helpful

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Ironically packed full of useful info

Loaded with ways to help you declutter not just your home, but your entire life. Pare down, simplify. I could listen to this audiobook five different times and have a new Takeaway every time! Well worth the time!

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46 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Refreshing my memories

I like that it's short and get to the point. The most of the content is something I use to live already but it was nice to hear it again and also to find some new things to think about. I liked the narrator too that I believe did a good job to create the right tone for this book.

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38 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Life Changing!!♥️

this book is so inspiring. I am trying to simplify my life in every single way. I mostly just wanted to clean out my house, but this book addresses the way to live and think like a minimalist and every aspect of your life. I highly recommend it. and I have already recommended it to many friends and family. enjoy!

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23 people found this helpful

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Sadly Bereft of Original Thoughts or Perspectives

This reads like the author spent a couple of months reading most of what's out there on Minimalism and decluttering, and then regurgitated it, borrowing ideas and even structure from everyone else, and adding basically nothing of her own.

Don't get me wrong, one of my favorite books on this topic is Fumio Sasaki's "Goodbye Things," which itself adds almost nothing new to the topic, but I found his approach, personal story, and writing amusing and clever, so it was okay.

Given the good reviews, I suppose there are those who feel the same about this attempt by Erica Layne, or maybe it is their first book on the topic, and she does hit most of the major points, but from the beginning it sounded blatantly derivative and self-important, an effect enhanced by the deep vocal fry of the Narrator, who otherwise does a reasonably decent job.

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21 people found this helpful

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practical tips for whole life minimalism!

practical guide for wholelife minimalism to achieving happiness. listened twice already with notes. definitely a keeper!

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19 people found this helpful

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  • Sharlie Melly
  • 10-17-19

Awesome and easy to listen to

I really loved this audible. Its clear, to the point. An easy listen. And I took so much from it!

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  • Elisabeth
  • 02-26-23

To the point

I have been doing one of Erica’s courses, the «Declutter your Life», and although the beginning of the course and the beginning of the book is overlapping a bit, I’d say that the rest of the book suplements the course perfectly. I like Erica’s way of being direct and to the point, no unnecessary or boring smalltalk. Her strategies are inspiring, easy to follow and great for both beginner and experienced minimalists.

I will definitely listen to this book again when I need an inspirational boost for decluttering anything in my life.

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  • Filippo
  • 01-24-20

Becoming A Minimalist Produces Freedom.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The 'minimalist way' really is a better way of life. Why? Because the level of stress which is created as a result of having a clutter-filled life is overwhelming. Many people believe that if they don't let go of something, or if they take on more responsibilities and activities, they will find fulfilment in their lives. Over here in Western civilization we seem to be fascinated with high number rates e.g. how much... how long etc. At the end of the day we need to realise, when we really think about it, that we don't really need most of the things which we have in our lives. If you as the listener, are struggling in this area then you need to purchase this book. It will help you to gain clarity.

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