The Not So Big Life : Making Room for What Really Matters
By Sarah SusankaHave you ever found yourself asking, “Is this all there is to life?” Or wondering if this bigger life you have created is actually a better life? And do you wonder how it all got so out of control?
In her groundbreaking bestseller The Not So Big House, architect Sarah Susanka showed us a new way to inhabit our houses by creating homes that were better–not bigger. Now, in The Not So Big Life, Susanka takes her revolutionary philosophy to another dimension by showing us a new way to inhabit our lives.
Most of us have lives that are as cluttered with unwanted obligations as our attics are cluttered with things. The bigger-is-better idea that triggered the explosion of McMansions has spilled over to give us McLives. For many of us, our ability to find the time to do what we want to do has come to a grinding halt. Now we barely have time to take a breath before making the next call on our cell phone, while at the same time messaging someone else on our Blackberry. Our schedules are chaotic and overcommitted, leaving us so stressed that we are numb, yet we wonder why we cannot fall asleep at night.
In The Not So Big Life, Susanka shows us that it is possible to take our finger off the fast-forward button, and to our surprise we find how effortless and rewarding this change can be. We do not have to lead a monastic life or give up the things we love. In fact, the real joy of leading a not so big life is discovering that the life we love has been there the entire time. Through simple exercises and inspiring stories, Susanka shows us that all we need to do is make small shifts in our day–subtle movements that open our minds as if we were finally opening the windows to let in fresh air.
The Not So Big Life reveals that form and function serve not only architectural aims but life goals as well. Just as we can tear down interior walls to reveal space, we can tear down our fears and assumptions to open up new possibilities. The result is that we quickly discover we have all the space and time we need for the things in our lives that really matter. But perhaps the greatest reward is the discovery that small changes can yield enormous results. In her elegant, clear style, Susanka convinces us that less truly is more–much more.
Book details
- Hardcover
- 281 pages
- English
- 1400065313
- 9781400065318
About Sarah Susanka
sarah susanka is a bestselling author, architect, and cultural visionary. her "build better, not bigger" approach to residential architecture has been embr Read More about Sarah Susanka
More Books By Sarah Susanka
People who bought this also bought
Food Rules: The Stuff You Munch, Its Crunch, Its Punch and Why You Someti: Stuff You Munch, Its Crunch, Its Punch, and Why You Sometimes Lose Your Lunch
Used Book
Soups, Stews and Casseroles - Food Writers' Favorites (Quick & Easy Recipes)
Used Book
Peace Child: An Unforgettable Story of Primitive Jungle Teaching in the 20th Century by Don Richardson
Used Book
30 Days: A thirty-day practical introduction to reading the Bible by Nicky Gumbel
Used Book
Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards
New Book
Surrounded by Narcissists : Or, How to Stop Other People's Egos Ruining Your Life
New Book
A Bibliography of Printed Battle Plans of the American Revolution, 1775-1795
Used Book
At the Hemingways : The Years Of Innocence
Used Book
Here's the Bright Side : Of Failure, Fear, Cancer, Divorce, and Other Bum Raps
Used Book
Nonsense: Red Herrings, Straw Men and Sacred Cows: How We Abuse Logic in Our Everyday Language
Used Book