Timeless Simplicity

Creative Living in a Consumer Society

John Lane

This is a book about simplicity—not destitution, not parsimoniousness, not self-denial—but the restoration of wealth in the midst of an affluence in which we are starving the spirit. It has to do with having less and enjoying more—enjoying time to do the work you love, enjoying time to spend with your family, enjoying time to pursue creative projects, enjoying time for good eating, enjoying time just to be.

Another theme of the book concerns the future of our home, the Earth. Our grandchildren will inherit an Earth with less than 20 percent of its original forests still intact, with most of the readily available freshwater already spoken for, with most of the wetlands and reef systems either destroyed or degraded. Sooner or later, a more frugal lifestyle will not only be desirable—it will become an imperative.

About the Author

John Lane is a painter, writer, and educator. He was chairman of the Dartington Hall Trust, founding director of the Beaford Centre, and instrumental in the creation of Schumacher College. His five previous books include The Living Tree: Art and the Sacred, A Snake's Tail Full of Ants, and In Praise of Devon.

"This is a real gem of a book, one that brings a smile to my heart with its authenticity and integrity. I know that I will be recommending it to many people."

—Duane Elgin, author of Voluntary Simplicity