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Title details for The Longing for Less by Kyle Chayka - Available

The Longing for Less

Living with Minimalism

by Kyle Chayka
Christopher Ragland
Audiobook
1 of 3 copies available
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1 of 3 copies available
New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice "More than just a story of an abiding cultural preoccupation, The Longing For Less peels back the commodified husk of minimalism to reveal something surprising and thoroughly alive." —Jenny Odell, author of How to Do Nothing "Less is more": Everywhere we hear the mantra. Marie Kondo and other decluttering gurus promise that shedding our stuff will solve our problems. We commit to cleanse diets and strive for inbox zero. Amid the frantic pace and distraction of everyday life, we covet silence—and airy, Instagrammable spaces in which to enjoy it. The popular term for this brand of upscale austerity, "minimalism," has mostly come to stand for things to buy and consume. But minimalism has richer, deeper, and altogether more valuable gifts to offer. Kyle Chayka is one of our sharpest cultural observers. After spending years covering minimalist trends for leading publications, he now delves beneath this lifestyle's glossy surface, seeking better ways to claim the time and space we crave. He shows that our longing for less goes back further than we realize. His search leads him to the philosophical and spiritual origins of minimalism, and to the stories of artists such as Agnes Martin and Donald Judd; composers such as John Cage and Julius Eastman; architects and designers; visionaries and misfits. As Chayka looks anew at their extraordinary lives and explores the places where they worked—from Manhattan lofts to the Texas high desert and the back alleys of Kyoto—he reminds us that what we most require is presence, not absence. The result is an elegant new synthesis of our minimalist desires and our profound emotional needs.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 5, 2020

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781635576795
      • File size: 225059 KB
      • Duration: 07:48:52

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Christopher Ragland sounds like an approachable guy you might want to have coffee with. This warmth makes him an ideal choice for an audiobook that explores the practice of minimalism. Ragland comes across like a knowledgeable friend. Listeners will lean into chapters that examine the roots and benefits of minimalist culture. His quick, upbeat pace keeps his presentation on an explanatory, helpful plane and well away from a judging, preachy note that could put people off the topic. Ragland does well with the author's personal connections to the material, which are scattered throughout the audiobook as nuggets of reflection. He creates an intimate, personal tone that gives listeners the feeling we are listening to revealing ruminations. M.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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