Lightning Review

The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

DNF

The Year of Less

by Cait Flanders

I loved the cover of this book, I was so curious about it, and I even thought about asking my library to order me a copy, but it was on sale for $1.99, so I grabbed it and started reading immediately. I ignored my ordered and dated to-be-read schedule spreadsheet, and I wish I hadn’t.

I love books that explore habits and behavior, and unpack and examine the minutiae of why we do things. In this book, the author examines her most destructive habits, which include blackout drinking and blackout spending to the point where she lost large portions of her memory of nights out, and carried tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt. Following the idea that complete abstention would work for her, she gives up drinking after a few false starts, and then decides to create rules for herself that would limit her spending. No shopping for an entire year, except for within specific parameters.

I was disappointed by the indulgent, overly meandering stories that grew and compounded like those topsy-turvy wedding cakes everyone used to put on Pinterest. Each chapter, which corresponded to a month in that calendar year, was more about the emotional upheaval and the writer’s complete personal history of whatever event was happening that month (e.g. Christmas, job travel, relationship ending, relationship restarting, job frustrations). Moreover, I was very frustrated with the minimal attention given to the underlying reasons for personally dangerous habits and the cavalier manner in which other treatment options and therapies were dismissed.

You know that feeling when you go to a food blog for a recipe and have to scroll through 10,000 words of the blogger’s personal history before you even get to the ingredients list? Every chapter of this book gave me that feeling of frustration and scrolling futility. (I fully realize that in terms of brevity as a blogger I have NO room to talk whatsoever.) I wanted to learn more about the reasons behind the decision to eliminate acquisition of stuff, and what was difficult about that experience. I didn’t want ten to fifteen pages of personal history that didn’t have much bearing on the subject.

I wanted to know more about the year of less. Instead, I received way, way too much about every year prior to that one, so I gave up.

SB Sarah

In her late twenties, Cait Flanders found herself stuck in the consumerism cycle that grips so many of us: earn more, buy more, want more, rinse, repeat. Even after she worked her way out of nearly $30,000 of consumer debt, her old habits took hold again. When she realized that nothing she was doing or buying was making her happy—only keeping her from meeting her goals—she decided to set herself a challenge: she would not shop for an entire year.

The Year of Less documents Cait’s life for twelve months during which she bought only consumables: groceries, toiletries, gas for her car. Along the way, she challenged herself to consume less of many other things besides shopping. She decluttered her apartment and got rid of 70 percent of her belongings; learned how to fix things rather than throw them away; researched the zero waste movement; and completed a television ban. At every stage, she learned that the less she consumed, the more fulfilled she felt.

The challenge became a lifeline when, in the course of the year, Cait found herself in situations that turned her life upside down. In the face of hardship, she realized why she had always turned to shopping, alcohol, and food—and what it had cost her. Unable to reach for any of her usual vices, she changed habits she’d spent years perfecting and discovered what truly mattered to her.

Blending Cait’s compelling story with inspiring insight and practical guidance, The Year of Less will leave you questioning what you’re holding on to in your own life—and, quite possibly, lead you to find your own path of less.

Nonfiction
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  1. booklovingirl says:

    So, basically TL;DR. I completely feel you. I hate “indulgent, overly meandering stories”, especially when you are looking to learn something. It’s almost guaranteed to make me put it down or skim to the end, both of which I try not to do. I guess she should have applied the rule of less to her writing? Or gotten a better editor.

    And BTW — your posts never feel too long — mostly because while you might go off on a brief tangent sometimes, you never really meander for no good reason. We love your posts!

  2. Loves Books says:

    Where can I find it for $1.99 and is it available in CD format so I can listen while I drive or to listen while laying down? Thank you.

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