A Year of Living Simply: The joys of a life less complicated Mass Market Paperback – 3 Jun. 2021

Loved this book!

This is the story of Kate living simply, and the discoveries she makes about the joy of small things and experiences.I found it a bit repetitive in parts, but it's easy to read, and a good reminder of how we can find satisfaction and enjoyment in everyday life.

I have a simple life. I am working on a project to help establish a true sense of Community and my dream is to open a Wellbeing Centre by the sea in UK. Reading about all the incredible projects in this book has truly inspired me!

A very simple book in its concept of providing suggestions of living simply but perhaps more pertinent is the reminder that not only does life not need to be complicated but there really is pleasure to be had in the simple things.Written as always with Kate's friendly, approachable style - never highbrow but insightful nevertheless, Kate guides us on a journey of the joys of living simply; with insights into her own life and that of others and providing everything from recipes to the joys of blackberrying; alternative living and home comforts.I loved it and I suggest for anyone needing a reminder to slow down and just 'be' for a while, definitely one to read.

The book is well-written and gave me some food for thought about the speed of modern life, our separation from the natural world, how as individuals we can make our contribution to saving our planet from disaster. But always in my mind was the knowledge that it’s written by a very privileged, presumably wealthy person who owns several acres of land in rural Wales plus a property in France apparently bought on a whim with no apparent worry over financing it, and who can employ people to help her “simplify” her life. She also travels extensively without, it seems, any questioning of air miles, except when an interviewee raises the issue. I’m afraid she lives in a comfortable bubble and has no idea of what life is like or how constrained choices are for the majority of people.

A year of focussing on the issue of living more simply, perhaps. The listing of simple pleasures and pursuits that make a busy life less frenetic, certainly.This book is written in an easy to read and accessible style and isn't remotely pretentious in the way it and the author 'speaks' , in the voice that comes over as you read. Kate Humble jets here and there and has the life of a TV presenter who is well known, so there are some aspects of this 'simple' life that are rather less simple than an everyday person's life. Yet you know what she means...I liked this book and would happily rate it 4-stars as a result. I really liked the recipes and Kate Humble's rather self-deprecating manner in relating many, possibly most of anecdotes and points she makes. You can forgive much on that score but, happily, there isn't so much to forgive here. A pleasant read....

great book read, will buy again

An enjoyable book,showing how to enjoy the simpler things in life as a way of life. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

I would read this right before bedtime and found it to be an uplifting read on how we can slow down our lives and hep the environment at the same time.

Loved it . An eye opener to other people’s lives. Have now bought her other books

Really lovely book, I enjoy pottering through it

This is one book that I did not enjoy reading at all - it was so boring. I did however enjoy what she wrote about the earthship houses - that was interesting. There is just absolutely no story line, just jumping around from one thing to another and that is all the book was. So if you like to have a story line this is not the book for you.

This book was not quite what I expected. I still kinda enjoyed it, though.-I thought I was going to read about someone sharing her experience of her first year "starting a new simple life", sharing her tips, some kinds of "how-to's".Instead, we actually follow Kate Humble while she meets tons of people who have changed their way of living, and who tell her about their own stories and experiences.So, this book, instead of a self-help one, felt more like an interview one!It was still quite interesting, as we get to see a lot of different points of view, and read about many things from gardening to cooking bread to building your own house to sewing…Honestly, this book just felt really, really cosy to read—perfect for autumn, in my opinion!-I enjoyed how the book is written—somehow, it feels like you're having a chat with Kate Humble, just like you would with a friend.I also appreciated that not only does she share things that work—both for her and the people she talks to—, but also what didn't work for her—this is mostly the case when she starts gardening and making bread. She doesn't give up though, and comes out with with solutions or tries again. That was uplifting!What I also absolutely loved were all the passages where she shares the simple things in life that make her happy—a gentle reminder to celebrate even the smallest things!-What feels a little disappointing to me is that not everything that Kate Humble or the people she meets do is accessible to anyone—which can be a bit disheartening when you are reading this book in the hopes of starting to "live more simply".I personally wouldn't be able to do everything that the people she discusses with do. But I'll definitely pick up some ideas from theirs, and think and plan them for when spring days come back!-It was a very lovely read, and though I didn't know who Kate Humble was, I now know that would be more than happy to discover her other books!I recommend this book if you enjoy reading people's experiences, and want a nice cosy read for fall.