About Us
My name is Joshua Becker. We are a family of four living in Peoria, AZ. My wife and I are in our early-thirties. My son is 9 and my daughter is 5. We are just your typical middle-class family… minus the dog and physical possessions.
After a conversation with my neighbor on Memorial Day 2008, we decided to become minimalist. This blog is about our journey towards a rational approach to minimalism. (You can read more about the start of our journey here.) It is about the joys and the struggles. It is about the lessons we have learned. It is written to inspire you to intentionally live with less. And find more life because of it.
If you are looking for a good place to start, try some of our most popular posts of all time:
- The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in Your Life
- 15 Surefire Ways to Impress Others
- Benefits of Minimalism
- 101 Physical Things That Can Be Reduced in your Home
- The Unmistakable Freedom of Contentment and How to Achieve It
Or, if you really like what you see, take a stroll through the archives.
You can also read more about the lessons we have learned in our book wrtten to encourage others: Simplify. 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life.
Our seond book deals with the heart issues of a simplified lifestyle by focusing in on our most important relationships: Inside-Out Simplicity. Life-Changing Keys to your Most Important Relationships.
For interviews, guest post proposals, or general questions, you can contact us at becomingminimalist@gmail.com.
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Dear Mr. Becker,
On Amazon.com the e-book version of your book “Simplify” was listed at the price of $0.99…I must tell you your book was worth so much more to me than that, by far. After slowly sifting through (what I guess my preferred genre of reading would be), “self-help” books, throughout the past two years I have been and am determined to explore the many truths in how to enjoy life within our core being. There is one quote that I took from your book that I promise will stick with me as a moral for the rest of my life. You said, “If Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things that I most value, it is also about deciding what is most important in my life and removing the things that distract me from it”. I know I will evolve my life in time into the ways of my own version of Minimalism, but I must say I look for writing both complicating and simple and your book is the most clearest, smallest piece I’ve read that will carry a huge impact in my life forever. I”m slowly gaining powerful tools to truly comprehending the real values and reasons to enjoy today. I just wanted to let you know your book is one of the few “tools” I have found so far in my personal journey to my enlightenment. Thank you deeply, Koryn Wasielewski
Love your blog and enjoy following you on Twitter. Do you know of any good minimalism podcasts that I can listen to while driving? I’m always looking for good material to absorb traveling to and from work. Thanks again for your help and inspiration.
Don
I was loaned your book via Kindle. I read it all and enjoyed it very much. I like what you are saying and how you say it. You’ve got another fan.
Joshua, I wanted to just say that I appreciate your thoughts and blog so much. For many years I have lived like this, and enjoy the fruits and joy of not owning anything really. Recently in a wonderful pastoral, my bishop mentioned that indeed, all belongs to the Almighty. In all walks of faith, I believe that many that live this life with less, understand the more in many ways and facets of being here on this earth. Someone that taught me this early in life was Dorothy Day. In the morning with a bowl of what ever was handy at the ‘mission’, she rifled through a box for clothes for the day’s work, and did exactly that: lived for the day. Thank you for bringing that forward to me again. peace and much happiness to you.
I read your book, very practical and useful. Thank you.
Hi Josh! How is arizona? Miss you all up here in the snowey North!
As we have been de-owning our offices lately, I find I am accumulating stuff on my computer instead of hard copies. Have you written anything about minimizing our cyber life? Blessings to Kim and the kids!
Hi Joshua, your book was a great introduction to rational minimalism for me. I have de-cluttered and de-owned many thing in my home over the past 2 weeks and feel completely liberated. This was a significant life changing event for me and I will continue in this lifestyle. Thank you!!!
Do you have any hard copies of your book that i can purchase and give to friends?
Glad to hear you liked it. Currently, it is only available in digital format.
Great website…very inspiring! I think I found a typo on your home page:
“a life that can better appreciate the simply joys of the people and relationships around you right now.”
I believe you meant *simple* instead of *simply*
Keep up the GREAT work!
Joshua– I love your blog– found it a few months ago when I really started pushing ahead with reducing my belongings. I also have young children about to turn 2 and 4. My husband and I made a conscious decision on the first christmas with our daughter that we wanted her to understand the concept of “enough” as she grew up. She got 2 gifts from Santa and we have expanded that to 2 gifts each and one to share. Even that is nearly overwhelming to small children! Anyway, our desires to limit the material items our children have seems to be an uphill battle against grandparents, friends, etc. We have imposed a 2 gift rule w/ grandparents but they seem to find any excuse to give our children more “stuff”– Halloween, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, etc.! I continue to tell them how I feel and they think they are “good” and respectful of my wishes. My nearly 4 year old I would consider a hoarder, but part of me feels that is part of being a kid– a stage. I wonder if making her give up items and/or secretly getting rid of things she doesn’t use often makes her feel like the small piece of control she has over her own life is being taken away… just musings, but I would love to hear more of your thoughts regarding children and minimalism. Thanks so much!
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