Living More with Less, 30th Anniversary Edition

Writing in 1979, shortly before her untimely death, Doris Janzen Longacre "knew then what many people are just now discovering: living with less can bring more joy and contentment than living with a lot." Unfortunately, in the thirty years that have passed since the first edition of Live More With Less, most of our culture's trends have gone exactly against this philosophy. The go-go years of the 90s and early 00s led only to more and more consumption, larger houses, more clothes (did you know that census data shows Americans bought 75% more clothing in 2005 than in 1995?), and on and on.With the changed economic climate of the past couple of years, perhaps there is no better time than now to read through and act upon the many good thoughts in this challenging book. Christians in North America especially should find much to ponder, pray about, and then act upon, both personally and as congregational groups.This edition includes large sections of the 1980 text unchanged, but adds in a large number of essays and comments from Mennonites and others with suggestions for living "more with less" even, or especially, in the 21st century. Here you will find idea starters, suggestions, and examples of how many Christians around the world have been able to "live more with less" and have found great joy and fulfillment in the process.Definitely something to be considered for anyone seeking to live out their Christian faith winsomely and wisely.

This is an excellent book that covers so much more than the trendy minimalism or Toss-It-If-It-Doesn’t-Spark-Joy ideas that are so popular now. Ideas like buy fewer things in the first place, live simply so you can use your resources to help others, the importance of valuing relationships over making more money, being careful to purchase from companies that don’t exploit their workers, etc.This book is 30 years old, but despite some of the info being somewhat dated (this is pre-internet, pre-cell phones, pre-Amazon order everything at the click of a button) the book is excellent.As an aside, this book is written from a Mennonite (very conservative Christian) viewpoint. Loving God and serving others is mentioned often. I’m delighted by this, but I know that others might not be.

My first association with Doris Longacre's work was her More-with-Less Cookbook (1976), which isn't really as much a cookbook as it is "suggestions by Mennonites on how to eat better and consume less of the world's limited food resources" (Front Cover). My copy is from the 28th printing (February 1982) which suggests people were responding to Longacre's basic message that not only do we have a responsibility to conserve the world's resources, there are countless ways to do just that.Living More With Less (1980) follows the same format as her cookbook in that it compiles testimonials from a global community for sharing how others deal with scarce resources proactively, positively, and meaningfully using five basic values to situate her message: Do Justice, Learn from the World Community, Nurture People, Cherish the Natural Order, and Nonconform Freely. This is a helpful handbook for putting those values into practical application. I love it!

Hats off to the publisher for re-issuing an updated edition of this visionary and inspiring work. The challenge to us all to reconsider how we live our lives is as relevant today as it was when first published back in the 1970s, as a follow-up to the 'More with Less Cookbook'. This updated, revised edition has many new inclusions that provide background, context and the history underpinning the original book. There are also stories and practical examples of how readers of the original work have in the intervening years attempted to apply the Doris Longacre's guiding principles in their own lives and in today's world, thus informing and enriching the original text. If you are seeking a "do-able", positive answer to the questions "What's the biggest problem facing the world today, and what can I do about it?", then I recommend this new edition of 'Living More with Less'.

I bought this book on a hunch. Her cookbook Less with More was recommended to me by a friend and I reasoned to myself that this book would probably give me ideas on how to live frugally. My hunch was correct. Learning to live simply by rethinking choices is the basis of this book. It is a complilation of tips and ideas gleaned from many people. There were several ideas that I was already using and many more that I picked up and will try to use. With gas and grocery prices rising, we must be able to be happy with less. This books gives you many ideas to that end.

This was a good read but I would've preferred the original writings of the author only. Had I noticed the additional added content prior to purchase, I would've rethought buying. It seemed to me like it was a "toned down" version of the clear, forward message the original author, Doris, was trying to convey in her included excerpts. I walked away not feeling quite the urgency I had hoped because of the lack of directness and excessive filler. I wanted red meat and felt like I got chicken ceasar salad. None the less, it is a good book for today's contemporary crowd that doesn't want to fully commit to sudden or dramatic changes but subtle long term inclusions.

The author was Mennonite, and there are a lot of religious ideals here, but for me, they are pretty darned universal. I love this book--it is informative, yes...but it's enlightening and enjoyable reading. Very soul-soaring and makes one become introspective and delve deep into one's own value system. If you are frugal but NOT JUST because you're broke--if you feel a natural penury towards good earth stewardship, then try this book. If in doubt, check it out from the library first. I think you'll like it enough to buy it.

This book was good but not at all what I expected. I expected it to have a lot more tips than it did. I would not recommend it for money saving tips.

The title appealed because of my impending retirement, and we have got to cosider those things on which we can cut back, but this book goes much deeper and gives ideas and examples of how different people have learned through choice to live more with less

still cant live without my books, no way! but have cut back on other things I dont really need. Good read

I've had and used the More with Less cookbook since 1984 -- it's been my basic, go-to guide for everyday fare. I enjoy this book because it gives more of the context to the whole philosophy behind the cookbook. How and what we eat is only part of a whole lifestyle of living more intentionally and carefully, with regard for the people around us.

Lots of stuff that isn’t new or surprising. Not sure what I expected but I enjoyed the cookbook. It’s not the cookbook. Wish I saved my money

How to make a difference in the world. Looks at different lifestyles as examples of how we can make a difference in the world. This book was started by Doris Janzen Longacre and finished by her husband. This edition has additional material from a variety of authors. I think it adds to the book considerably.