Timeless Simplicity: Creative Living in a Consumer Society - Brossura

Lane, John

Brossura

ISBN 10: 190399800X ISBN 13: 9781903998007

Casa editrice: Green Books, 2001

Riassunto

A delightful book, celebrating the wonders of simplicity and minimalism in a noisy, overwhelming world.

Our planet was once teeming with all kinds of life, but our grandchildren will inherit one with less than 20 per cent of its early forests still in tact, and thousands of plant and animal species extinct. Sooner or later, a more frugal lifestyle is not only desirable, but will soon be imperative. Life at the moment isn't what it should be – technological and economic progress has resulted in a delusion that material solutions will solve emotional problems, but a simpler lifestyle leaves space for spiritual renewal.

This is a book about simplicity – not destitution, parsimoniousness or self-denial, but the restoration of wealth in the midst of an affluence in which we are starving the spirit. There are many advantages to living a less cluttered, less stressful life than that which has become the norm in the overcrowded and manic-paced consuming nations.

Written by painter, writer and educator John Lane, Timeless Simplicity is an ode to having less and enjoying more. More time to pursue creativity, eat good food, relax with your family – and to just be yourself!

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Informazioni sugli autori

John Lane (1930–2012) was a painter, writer and educator. He was Chairman of the Dartington Hall Trust, founding director of the Beaford Centre and instrumental in the creation of Schumacher College. His other books include Timeless Beauty, The Living Tree: Art and the Sacred, A Snake's Tail Full of Ants: Art, Ecology and Consciousness and Devon's Churches.

John Lane (1930 - 2012) was a painter, writer and educationalist. He was Chairman of the Dartington Hall Trust, founding direct of the Beaford Arts centre and instrumental in the creation of Schumacher College. His books include The Living Tree: Art and the Sacred, Timeless Simplicity: Creative Living in a Consumer Society, Timeless Beauty in the Arts and Everyday Life and The Spirit of Silence: Making Space for Creativity. He lived in Devon for over 40 years.

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Timeless Simplicity

Creative Living in a Consumer Society

By John Lane, Clifford Harper

Green Books Ltd

Copyright © 2009 John Lane
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-903998-00-7

Contents

Introduction, 
Chapter One Why Voluntary Simplicity?, 
Chapter Two A Short History of Simplicity, 
Chapter Three Obstacles to Simplicity, 
Chapter Four Laying the Foundations for a Simpler Lifestyle, 
Chapter Five The Gifts of Simplicity, 
Chapter Six The Sacred Arts of Life, 
Chapter Seven Conclusion, 
References and Notes, 
Recommended Reading, 

CHAPTER 1

Why Voluntary Simplicity?

Always bear this in mind, that very little indeed is necessary for living a happy life. MARCUS AURELIUS

Frugality, we must remember, is to be conceived not as harsh austerity or poverty but an elegant frugality, as doing more with less. HENRYK SKOLIMOWSKI

The friends who had so often spent evenings with us in our London slum soon found their way here, and the house was often full at weekends. David would go to the station to meet them, and I would stay behind to finish a batch of cakes. Philip and I would hear the train run and in a few minutes we would see David and our friends coming up the lane that was a short cut to the station. Then I would whip off my apron and Philip's overall, take the cakes out of the oven, put on the kettle and spread the cloth on the kitchen table — for we had meals there — and be just in time to meet them at the gate. I looked forwards to these times, and the extra work they made was richly rewarded by the talks and walks and the friendly way in which everyone accepted our simple way of living. ... These were great days, and other days too there were when David was happy and eager and would take Philip on his shoulders, and I carrying the lunch, we would go to Thurnam Castle on top of the Downs, or to some lovely spot along the Pilgrim's Way. There we would spend the day, Philip playing in the grass and sleeping when he was tired; David reading to me, or going off for a little walk by himself — while I sewed — returning with something for Philip — a rare orchid, or a large striped Roman snail shell, or a piece of strangely shaped flint. Then down again in the evening and back to Rose Acre which after such a day of sweet contentment would look welcoming and homely. HELEN THOMAS

Man falls from the pursuit of the ideal of plain living and high thinking the moment he wants to multiply his daily wants. Man's happiness really lies in contentment. MAHATMA GANDHI

The attraction of simplicity is mysterious because it draws us in a completely opposite direction from where most of the world seems to be going: away from conspicuous display, accumulation, egoism and public visibility — toward a life more silent, humble, transparent, than anything known to the extroverted culture of consumption. MARK A. BIRCH

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE to live less cluttered, hectic and complicated lives? And what does the subject of this book, voluntary simplicity, actually mean? This chapter seeks to answer these questions both in terms of the quest for greater personal contentment and the continuous violation of life on Earth by a feelingless utilitarianism. For the sake of clarity, I have divided the chapter into two sections, but they are, of course, inseparable. What is good for the world will be good for us.

THE QUEST FOR PERSONAL CONTENTMENT

A good way of looking at simplicity might be a consideration of the standard against which accomplishment is mea

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Green Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2001
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 190399800X
• ISBN 13: 9781903998007
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero edizione: 1
• Numero di pagine: 112
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile