The value of continue reading about the value of voluntary simplicity by richard gregg essay summary. Earlier writers who promoted the simple life had often used the term voluntary poverty, implying that even those who had plenty of money could gain. The implications of voluntary simplicity for a sustainable society. Nowmore than twenty years later and with many of the planet. Mitchell coauthored a report on voluntary simplicity with duane elgin that was published by sri in june 1976. Toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich morrow. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading voluntary simplicity second revised edition. Originally published in 1981 and hailed as the bible of the simplicity movement by the wall street journal, duane elgin s classic voluntary simplicity has been completely revised for our modern times. Host marcia franklin talks with duane elgin, the author of voluntary simplicity, and karen lanphear, the cofounded of the sandpoint transition inititative, about the simple living movement.
Voluntary simplicity by duane elgin detailed summary sloww. This book summary is based on the more recent fully revised and updated second edition that was released almost three decades after the original. The report was expanded and republished with a survey in coevolution quarterly in 1977, which was used as the basis the 1981 book voluntary simplicity vals. Although a second revised 2010 edition of elgin s book is available, the 1993 edition reflects a more original analysis predating popularizations and the green hyperbole of the 2000s, not oversimplifying simplicity. Toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich elgin, duane on. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As duane elgin has famously defined it, voluntary simplicity is a manner of living that is outwardly simple and inwardly rich, a deliberate choice to live with less in. Others think its not sufficiently grounded in religion. Perhaps you need to get out of the rat race and instead get to the top where the top is defined by you, not by society or your boss. Introduction for the past several years the popular press has paid occasional attention to stories. Still, it does acknowledge explicitly that simpler living integrates both inner and outer aspects of life into an organic and purposeful whole. Im updating the website with diverse writing, videos and other resources for our time of great transition. I first learned of richard gregg when i read duane elgin s book voluntary simplicity a couple years ago. Duane elgin born 1943 is an american author, speaker, educator, consultant, and media activist.
Peter russell author of the global brain and duane elgin. It illuminates the shift toward green ways of living. When voluntary simplicity was first published in 1981, it quickly became recognized as a powerful and visionary work in the emerging dialogue over sustainable ways of living. Voluntary simplicity by duane elgin is a book thats a little off the beaten path of what i usually talk about on the simple dollar, but it has had a profound impact on my thinking over the last few years. One cool lifestyle for a hot planet simplicity does not mean poverty. Publication date 1982 topics simplicity publisher toronto. Due to the sheer quantity of notes, im going to split them up into at least three different posts on the topic of voluntary simplicity. Voluntary simplicity second revised edition toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich.
Voluntary simplicity a path to sustainable prosperity in. Sam keen, author of fire in the belly originally published in 1981 and hailed as the bible of the simplicity movement by the wall street journal, duane elgin s classic voluntary simplicity has been completely revised for our modern times. Pdf voluntary simplicity download full pdf book download. Toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich, p. Summary of the value of voluntary simplicity by richard. Now, more than ten years later and with many of the planets environmental stresses having become more urgent than ever, duane elgin has revised and updated his revolutionary book. Elgin points out that happiness does not necessarily equate with income. Voluntary simplicity means that we keep our eye on what really matters in life. In 1981, this movement gained a new name with the publication of duane elgin s book voluntary simplicity, which espoused a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich.
The character of a whole society is the cumulative result of countless small actions, day in and day out, of millions of persons. Duane elgin writes about our living universe as an evolutionary pioneer. Pdf voluntary simplicity is not about living in poverty. Voluntary simplicity is not a book about living in poverty.
Toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich. Pete and duane s window is a series of seven, halfhour programs produced in 2009 and 2010 that explores our world in transition and includes topics such as. Living simply is not about living in poverty or selfinflicted deprivation. Duane has completely revised and updated this classic book. Im kicking myself for waiting so long to read greggs original writing where he coined the concept voluntary simplicity. Peril and promise peril and promise an interview with duane elgin by arnie cooper for the sun magazine, august 2002. Duane elgin is the author of voluntary simplicity 3. Book summary of the voluntary simplicity book by duane elgin, simple living tips, choosing voluntary simplicity, the history of simplicity, and. To live more simply is to unburden ourselves he says in defining his topic to live more lightly, cleanly, aerodynamically. As duane elgin has famously defined it, voluntary simplicity is a manner of living that is outwardly simple and inwardly rich, a deliberate choice to live with less in the belief that more life will be returned to us in the process.
Duane elgin is a speaker, author, and nonpartisan activist for media accountability. I hope they contribute to building a more sustainable and thriving future. Voluntary simplicity is not about living in poverty. Duane elgin popularized the term voluntary simplicity,which pacifist richard gregg had coined in 1936as a characterization of the modern simplicity movement. Duane elgin s book is a celebration of voluntary simplicity, and inspired my recent post on 10 myths about simple living. He is the author of voluntary simplicity, the living universe, promise ahead, and other books.
Duane elgin there is no special virtue to the phrase voluntary simplicity it is merely a label and a somewhat awkward label at that. Voluntary simplicity second revised edition duane elgin. By embracing the tenets of voluntary simplicity frugal consumption, ecological awareness and personal growthpeople can change their lives and begin to change the world. Voluntary simplicity by duane elgin and arnold mitchell the coevolution quarterly, summer 1977 i. Its about living an examined life where one has determined what is truly important and enough and then just let go of all the rest. I just wrapped up the book voluntary simplicity by duane elgin.
Not surprisingly, duane elgin s voluntary simplicity will not resonate with everyone who is trying to live simply. Mitchell created the values, attitudes and lifestyles vals psychographic methodology at sri international in the late. Adopting a voluntary simplicity lifestyle vsl contributes to a change in consumption patterns towards more sustainable. An article by duane and arnold mitchell, published in the coevolution quarterly, summer 1977. Pdf voluntary simplicity a path to sustainable prosperity. Voluntary simplicity toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich duane elgin revised edition volunt. Toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich duane elgin first published in 1981, voluntary simplicity was quickly recognized as a powerful and visionary work in the emerging dialogue over sustainable living. Toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich kindle edition by elgin, duane. A manifesto for the only kind of future that promises sanity and the possibility of contentment. This was initially published in 1976 as a report by the major thinktank, sri international, to give insight into grassroots changes underway as a growing number of people begin developing more sustainable and satisfying ways of living. He has been an explorer of scientific knowledge and spiritual understanding for more than four decades. Buy from an independent bookstore using store locator or buy from amazon. Toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich by duane elgin was first published in 1981.
If the inline pdf is not rendering correctly, you can download the pdf file here. Duane elgin voluntary simplicity pdf card carrying. I think i took more notes from this book than any other book ive read this year. Read download voluntary simplicity pdf pdf download. When we consider the powerful forces transforming our world climate change, peak oil, water and food shortages, species extinction, and more we require far more than either crude or cosmetic changes in our manner of living. But, if i ever get the chance or if she reads this, i would like to thank her for writing her thesis on voluntary simplicity. Voluntary simplicity toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich by duane elgin 240 pages, paperback, harpercollins, 2d ed. All content in this area was uploaded by duane elgin on feb 15, 2017. When voluntary simplicity was first published in, it quickly became recognized as a. First published in 1981, voluntary simplicity was quickly recognized as a powerful and visionary work in the emerging dialogue over sustainable living. These may include, for example, reducing ones possessions, generally referred to as minimalism, or increasing selfsufficiency. Voluntary simplicity by duane elgin what kind of stewardship fits our emerging world. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they have rather than want. He has worked on a presidential commission looking into the deep future.