Minimalism Radical alternative to anti-capitalism?
Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin
Leo Babauta
Joshua Field Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Joshua Becker
Author of multiple books
Author of a popular website
Eating habits
Famous for his minimalist wardrobe
Met each other while exploring living frugally in Mexico
Vegan
Cooks in big batches to save time
Vicki came from a wealthy family but gave it all up to lead a frugal lifestyle. A case could be made for people seeking spiritual freedom are the ones who tend to turn towards minimalism.
Shaves his head as a time saving measure
Travels for weeks with a single backpack
Run a popular website and blog called “The
Minimalists"
Co-founders of Asymmetrical Press
He is influenced by the Vietnamese Buddhist activist monk Thich Nhat Hanh
Eventually became successful "motivational speakers" for people interested in Financial Independence.
Called for social revolts in the form of boycotting mediums which proliferate consumerism
This whole minimalist life style begun with realization of Milburn that there was something wrong with American consumerism.
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Joe sacrificed a lucrative Wall Street career to retire early. Extremely high rates of saving at the expense of the quality of life during that period should be considered. Frugality is one thing but being the cheapest person in the world is another.
Has a popular website
Learned about minimalism via his neighbor
Becker and his family sold or donated a big part of their belongings
(Personal Addition) Joe and Vicki are also the founders of the FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement.
Quit his job to write in his blog fulltime
Reduced consumption has allowed Becker and his family
to live on a much less salary and grow their savings
Encourage continually asking “Does X
add value to my life?” about purchases
Their goals are basically getting out of debt, reducing spending, and
making more time for meaningful pursuits
Minimalism is "an extension of simplicity". The two principles: identify the essential and eliminate the rest.
Established the New Road Map Foundation, a non-profit organization that endorses minimalism and promotes reducing consumerism.
"Your Money or Your Life" bestselling book that had the core premise of juxtaposing expenses and time spent at work against hours of your life. Every expense is compared to the time spent at work in order to earn the purchase.
Presents minimalism as a life philosophy that
aligns with Christianity.
They formed "The Hope Effect" to collaborate with Honduran social workers and church leaders to construct orphanages
Purchased US Treasury Bonds which are the most-low risk investment out there. Perhaps a former Wall Street analyst could've done better for himself.
A reaction to the specificities of US consumer capitalism
US minimalist movement can be considered as a response, which aims to reduce consumption, to the specificities of capitalism.
Different variations of minimalist practices
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minimalist wardrobes
minimalist child-rearing practicing
small house movement
One of the main reasons of an act against consumer capitalism is because people want the leisure time (due to the developments in technology) they were promised, yet the employers refuse to let them not work extreme hours.