The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less

by Christine Platt Narrated by Christine Platt

Overview

Forget the aesthetics of mainstream minimalism and discover a life of authenticity and intention with this “warm, engaging guide” (Laura Fenton, author of The Little Book of Small Living) to living with less...your way.

When Christine Platt set out on her journey to live with less, she never intended to become The Afrominimalist. She just wanted to tame the chaos in her closet! But after struggling with the austerity and whiteness of mainstream minimalism, Christine realized why minimalism often seems unattainable for so many: the emphasis on all-white, barren aesthetics distracts from the practice of living with intention. And so, she decided to do things her way by curating a life of less influenced by the African diaspora.

In The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less, Christine gets right to the heart of how childhood experiences and expectations manifest in adulthood, the delicate dance between needs and wants, and the complicated weight of familial and societal pressures. A far cry from Konmaried closets, capsule wardrobes, and conspicuous consumption, Christine's brand of “living with less” is more than a decluttering regimen. “By detailing her own maximalist-to-minimalist transformation, Platt puts readers at ease” (The Washington Post) and presents a radical revisioning of minimalism, one that celebrates the importance of history and heritage, and gives you permission to make space for what really matters...your way.

Beautifully illustrated with original black-and-white prints and line drawings, The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less is a testament to the idea that anyone can be a minimalist and a warm invitation to a life curated with intention, perfect for readers of Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus (The Minimalists), Marie Kondo, Joshua Becker, and Courtney Carver.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

06/07/2021

Children’s book author Platt (Ana & Andrew) recounts her transformation from bargain-shopping maximalist to mindful minimalist in this inspiring guide. While “You can whittle down your belongings to fit into a single carry-on suitcase,” she writes, “unless you do the work to understand why you had so much stuff in the first place... you’ll end up back at square one faster than you think.” In each chapter, she presents questions intended to make readers aware of patterns (“Do I believe that owning certain items causes people to see or respect me differently?”) then helps readers whittle down their possessions using a four-step process: acknowledging that one has too much, forgiving oneself for past choices, letting go of possessions (by asking what purpose items fulfill), and paying it forward to charitable organizations. Platt eschews traditional minimalism and frames what she keeps in terms of an “afrominimalism” that’s influenced by the African diaspora (her “curated” belongings, for example, consist of “Ankara pillows, playful textiles, and mud cloth”), but her guidance will apply to consumers of any background. Readers looking for ways to happily live with less should check this out. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect. (June)

From the Publisher

This book is an extraordinary, life-changing invitation to live life on your terms. Christine Platt shows us that minimalism isn't a one-size fits all, colorless lifestyle but instead a way for us to live with intention, letting go of what doesn't matter and surrounding ourselves with what does. With warmth, wisdom, humor, and radical honesty, she takes us on a journey back to the essence of minimalism.” —Courtney Carver, author of Soulful Simplicity and Project 333

“Though titled a guide, what Platt has created is less of a script or scripture, and more of a Rorschach test for each reader—especially those of us who are Black—to see ourselves in it however we need to, in hopes to make living with less, living as more.” —Jason Reynolds

“Christine’s book is the one I wish I’d had at my side when I began my own journey to living with less. She is a warm, engaging guide, who frames minimalism in a new light—one that examines the why behind our consumption and is more about authenticity than aesthetics. Finally, there is a book about minimalism for people who don’t relate to an austere style!” —Laura Fenton, author of The Little Book of Living Small

“Christine has made accessible the very notion of living in a sustainable way from a cultural, historical and fashionable lens. Her approach to environmentalism is refreshing and necessary and is an important body of work at the intersection of racial and environmental justice." —Céline Semaan, founder of Slow Factory Foundation

“Less is a mindset of expansion, and in The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less Christine Platt gives us a new roadmap to curate the life you’ve always wanted." —Kate Northrup, author of Do Less and Money: A Love Story

"Christine Platt is a natural storyteller. She invites us to reimagine what we think we know about minimalism, our relationship to our belongings, and what we make space for in our lives. These four steps will change your life and gently usher you into your own physical and mental space of sweet simplicity." —Rachel Cargle, author of I Don’t Want Your Love & Light

"By detailing her own maximalist-to-minimalist transformation, Platt puts readers at ease — there’s no stuff-shaming — with humor and a heavy dose of 'been-there, bought-that, never-worn-it' empathy." —The Washington Post

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172829208
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	06/15/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	921,604

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