A Hygge-lism Book Review
**Caution** This review pays no mind to “spoilers”
“The Year of Less”, was written by Cait Flanders, is a story of self discovery brought on by a self-imposed challenge to simplify her life and live with less by going on a shopping ban for one year.
This is not a how-to or a log of how her year went, but more of a tale of experiences and discovery. The actual challenge of not buying anything for a year takes a back seat to the story of how and what she learned about herself and how she lived her life during that year.
It was incredibly entertaining, well written and motivational. The writing is relaxed, honest and almost conversational. She shares both the highs and lows that she experienced during this challenge, just as amazed as the readers as to how the challenge forced her to look at herself in a different light and from a different angle.
Her experiences are relatable and it is easy to put yourself in her position while you read the book, even when she refers back to past challenges that she has overcome from relationships come and gone, to drug and physical abuse and sharing the experience of the impending divorce of her parents with her siblings.
It is a great look into priorities, and a deeper look into the ways of life that have been adopted by most of society due to advertising, social media and trying to achieve the ideal unachievable lifestyle force fed to us on a daily basis. It challenges the status quo and questions our feelings that we need “this” to get “that” and be a certain “type” of person.
I thoroughly recommend that anyone read this book and then take a look around their living space to contemplate what they own and why. Did they buy certain items for themselves or for the themselves that want to portray. How much of other people’s perceptions influenced your spending habits and feelings of need.
Borrow this book from your local library, read it and reevaluate yourself and your habits for the better.
Hygge-lism 