Join getAbstract to access the summary!

When the Gospel of Minimalism Collides with Daily Life

Join getAbstract to access the summary!

When the Gospel of Minimalism Collides with Daily Life

The New York Times,

5 min read
5 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Minimalism – the art of living clutter-free – is a luxury only the well-off can afford.

auto-generated audio
auto-generated audio

Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Eye Opening
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Minimalism – a lifestyle in which you boil down your possessions to only what is necessary – allegedly liberates people from capitalist overindulgence and allows them to pursue true happiness. But as journalist Jacoba Urist reports, some minimalist converts haven’t found the fulfillment they sought. Rather, the minimalist movement has turned into fixation, an austere style of living that only the relatively well-off can afford. getAbstract believes Urist’s article will provide adherents, aspirants and skeptics of minimalism with some necessary perspective.

Summary

People who subscribe to a minimalist lifestyle believe that owning little frees them up to live more fully and happily. Minimalism has gained traction as a counterweight to excessive consumerism, with millions of people following Instagram posts tagged #minimalism and #minimalist. Moreover, research in psychology has found that spending money on experiences rather than material things increases life satisfaction.

However, some people who enthusiastically embraced minimalism, got rid of all unnecessary possessions and moved into compact homes found that the new lifestyle...

About the Author

Jacoba Urist is a journalist based in New York.


Comment on this summary

More on this topic

Related Channels