Simpler Living, Compassionate Life

I am a pastor in the Church of the Brethren which is known for Continuing the Work of Jesus. Peacefully, Simply and Together. This books is an amazing small group resource with VERY doable action steps each week. The book is a collection of articles and essays that are relatively current and very well written. The lessons plans are brief but meaty and people find the quantity of reading appropriate and the discussion really rich. It can be done in a 6 week format or 12 week format. It is also good just as a personal study on Simplicity. I highly reccomend this book to anyone wanting a spiritual and/or intellectual challenge with the opportunity for genuine enlightenment on the subject of Simplicty.

I am reading this book for a five week class as part of my undergraduate degree. At first I thought I would hate the book because of the 'Christian' in the title, but it is good for the non-Christian reader as well. I also think it would appeal to people who have left the church but still hold their Xian beliefs. I just finished reading one part of a chapter that critisized the materialism of modern day churches. This book is aimed to help the reader get more out of life-- experience a more fulfilling existance. It has helped me to begin that process already. If you are having a hard time reading this book you might want to read it in a group. There are convenient group study queations included. One more good thing I'd like to mention is that each chapter is filled with a few essays or writings by different people so the reader can get many perspectives on the same topic.

This book is a true jewel!!! It has great introductions to issues pertaining to Christian simplicity. It is a good introduction to one of the ways that Christian Ethics can be applied to today's world. I actually picked this book up for devotional purposes however i must admit that i actually appreciate how academic and intellectual that it really is. If you are looking for a concise volume on the Christian aspects on simplicity, this is it! It points you in the direction of other wonderful resources as well. I would highly recommend this book to people who would be intellectually minded who want to think about how their actions effect the rest of the world. Some secular books that I would reccomend are: Culture Jam by Kalle Lasn as well as The Better World Handbook. Another Christian book on the subject that i found great is How Much is Enough:Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture by Arthur Simon.

This book has become very close to my heart, as it has opened up for me a whole new world of understanding. Living in a very "me-based" society, we are not accustomed to thinking of how our choices affect others. This book shows us the impact of over-consumption, and directs us toward a path of living that is more simple, balanced and compassionate. It's the perfect book for those who want to embrace a simpler life, but aren't sure where to begin. It's also great for those who have heard about voluntary simplicity, but desire more understanding of its concepts. I highly recommend it.

I found myself drawn into Simpler Living, Compassionate Life from the first words of the foreword by Bill McKibben. Reading this book helped me examine areas of my life that I didn't even know needed another look. It began a process of enrichment for me that I know will last forever.