Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I will not be able to leave a review on this book.

Unfortunately, due to technical errors with downloading this book, I could not read it and therefore I am not in a position to provide feedback on this book at this time.
I look forward to reading or listening to a copy in the near future in order to provide a proper review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review as it is a book that I believe I would have enjoyed, I appreciate the opportunity to have received a copy.

The benefits of simplifying your life - doing the work to cut out things that don't work for you so you can build more of the life you want - is something I've been interested in a while.

The off the grid living described at the start of the book warned me that this author is prepared to go to extremes I'm not - and that aren't practical or attractive to most I think. Perhaps I'm misreading, but I thought the tone of the author's writing was - I've done this, stripping life to its essentials, I know what's important! I have to disagree there - what's important to you might not be to others and I think everyone should be allowed to set their own priorities. I did read on (although I DNF) but this wasn't a book that spoke to me, it didn't have anything new to say to me at this time in my life. I did smile at the idea of my teenagers living off the land - with no wifi - though!

This was such an utterly frustrating book. The premise sounded so appealing – get off the treadmill of modern life, find ways to make life, well, more simple. And there is a small amount of that here. Alas, there is also a huge amount of hippy, trippy talk (despite repeated assertions that “I know that sounds hippyish, but it’s not” – urm, are you sure?) that totally put me off. And I’d suggest that 90% of the book isn’t about making life simpler, but rather about becoming an ‘Earth Warrior’ and doing better by Gaia (insert eye rolling). There’s nothing wrong with that idea, but that is not what I picked this book up for.

Right from the word go I was having my doubts. The author seems to have had the kind of idyllic childhood not usually seen outside of Enid Blyton novels. So when he starts to extol the virtues of growing your own veg and going completely off grid, I think it has to come with a huge pinch of salt: it’s one thing reclaiming something you remember fondly from your youth, but I rather suspect your average townie would struggle a lot, lot more at the attempt. In fact, the idea that this is automatically ‘simple’ and happy-making is simply not true.

This ‘new way’ sounds much more like a very old way, and while there’s merit in that, it’s not what I’d hoped for from this book. This isn’t what I’d call advice on simplifying life so much as abandoning large swathes of it for something entirely different – and that is *not* a simple thing.

The advice given could be beneficial – things like reconnecting with nature, downscaling (decluttering), more mindful use of the internet etc – but also could have been presented far better, imo. Going too extreme was just a turn off. Also, the ’21 practices’ to help simplify life were highly repetitive, so I’d say there’s more like a dozen. None of it is particularly novel.

Overall, I had high hopes for this, and was utterly disappointed.

I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to start off by saying that overall, I liked this book. I think the author has good intentions and wants to make the world a better place, starting with the spirit-healing of those of us who live here.

Positives: I enjoyed reading about the author's suggestions about how to reconnect with the earth and its inhabitants. I particularly liked his section on shamanic healing and found it very interesting and thought-provoking. I also liked the running theme throughout the book of empowering and healing ourselves in order to improve not only our own lives but the lives of those around us.

Negatives: I have to admit, I did find the book a little bit preachy! Also, the author is extremely anti-technology/anti-internet, and this is repeated many times throughout the book. Of course, he clarifies that the internet is a useful tool but he is strong in his opinion that its use should be limited. I find it difficult to agree with this, as from my experience, the internet is a wonderful source of connection to like-minded people and an invaluable resource to use for personal growth.

Like I said, overall, I liked this book, and I would recommend reading it - just brace yourself for a little condescension...!

(Oh and a little shout-out to Rosie Balyuzi for the cute illustrations!)

The author of this book, Bob Hillary, directly addresses the reader in what feels like a conversation as he makes the case for simplifying  and slowing down our lives.  He points out that many of the things that were meant to save us time, are taking up so much of our time instead.  Think social media, for one.  The author observes that all of this has done little to make us happier so, over the course of this book, he suggests ways to change. 


The book is divided into parts with the first entitled Simplify; the second, Practices to Help You Simplify Your Life, followed by Being Who We Really Are, then Walk Your Talk.  In the part on simplifying, there are, for example, sections of simple food and unteching, among others. Ways to help simplify has sections on topics like meditation, learning to breathe and learning to say no.  In the part on who we are, the author's subsections suggest ways to be happy, be gentle, to know yourself and more.  The last section is about making our future.


The author knows whereof he speaks.  He has lived "off the grid" and pondered what he has learned.  He is eager to share this knowledge with readers.


Note that this book can be read straight through or dipped into anywhere you like.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

In the 21st century Britain, 2020 to be precise, the world is emphatically changing, we know this. Life it seems is moving faster than it's ever been; smartphones, emails, work, childcare, and an erratic need to 'live the best life'. SIMPLIFY offers a different take on life as we know it today, and I think it's well needed. Author / Musician Bob Hillary lives 'off-grid' having decided to quit the rat-race and in this book, Bob lists 21 practices to help us simplify our lives, the world, and in the end; humanity. It's a sobering read. Having recently ventured into the world of mindfulness meditation ourselves, a lot of this makes sense. How about digital detoxing, shamanic dancing, naturalism, foraging, saying no with intention, positivity, gratitude or simply living without materialism? It's a fantastic little handbook and in this modern world where extinction rebellion, Greta Thunberg, veganism, and the very real threat of climate change disaster, are movements that are progressing positivity, simplify does a lot of good in continuing to carry forward this message. Its a companion for the modern era, we all need to change and become warriors for a change! SIMPLIFY!

This book is brilliantly eye opening with plenty of food for thought for the reader. I found this book has and will help me immensely.

Slightly disappoited by this book to be honest.
I was hoping for a nice little book full of tips to, well, simplify your life. Take one step away from the busy, technology and pressure filled life.
And in a way, it does that, but it goes very far. It is a complete change of lifestyle and becoming a warrior.
While that is interesting, it isn't for everyone, and it isn't what I was hoping to gain from this.

I guess I was imagining something a bit more focused on mindfulness rather than the "earth warrior" anti-tech, pro-ecology content that was actually delivered. None of the advice was bad, but it didn't speak to my interests.

Based on his own experience living off the grid for two years, the author shares nuggets of wisdom on how to simplify your life and get back in touch with nature, etc. Some of the tips were nice but overall, I found the advice to be mediocre. It’s easy to give short tips but I was expecting more guidance on how to practically put steps into action.

This sweet little book offers good advice for those who are prone to worrying, doing too much, being too plugged in, etc. I found that I already did most of the things recommended in the book, but I don't have a very traditional life for modern times. The author is likeable and the advice is likely to help people who are feeling overwhelmed by everything from social media to over-commitment to climate change. Well recommended.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

While the author had some clearly good advice, I felt a little weird about taking advice from someone who lived in a yurt. Simplifying your life by taking things more slowly is a great idea, but some of the things were not necessarily applicable to my life.

I knew this book was aimed at people like me from this sentence: "Why do we let ourselves fall into these so-called "normal" ways of living, doing, being, without even questioning them..." I've been questioning that same idea.
Author Bob Hilary draws on his time living off the grid and reconnecting with the earth and its daily rhythms to share how we can all become "Earth Warriors" - people who honor the planet and take responsibility for its welfare. And if we can cut down on our own stress and overwhelm in the process, all the better.
The tips here are pretty standard for this kind of self-help book (don't take life too seriously, learn to say no) but it's all written in a down-to-earth and accessible style. He also includes tips for conscious internet and social media use (posting what you had for lunch...just no).