I’ve followed the Afrominimalist’s IG for a while so I was already familiar with her work. This was a quick read and I enjoyed her infusion of Black culture with minimalist ideas.

Platt gives a great overview of the ways in which living with less can add to our lives and tangible advice for beginning to unravel our collective obsession with possessing more and more. I have been working towards minimalism for a long time, but part of my feeling that I am finally approaching something close is having followed folks like her in the last few years.

Christine Platt--self-dubbed the "Afrominimalist"--was not always a minimalist. Through the process of a divorce and downsizing, however, she came to embrace the concept of minimalism. Hers is a particular brand of it, inspired by the African diaspora and devoid of rules around a specific number of items one can own or what color those items can be, instead opting for "authenticity over aesthetics." She documents this process in detail in The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less, which explores both the psychology of stuff (why we acquire it, and how we feel about it once we do) and the process of de-cluttering, with step-by-step instructions to start living with less.

Platt encourages readers to consider each item they own through the lens of "need, use, love." In focusing on what we actually need, use and love, Platt argues, we can whittle down our belongings to best "reflect our truest selves." "For the Culture" sections throughout address the "specific needs and concerns of Black people and [will] be relatable to other marginalized communities," though Platt notes that these call-outs should also be used by other readers to "gain awareness, build empathy, and... identify ways to help course-correct generational inequalities." Combining the psychology of purchasing and ownership with concrete, actionable steps, The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less stands out in the otherwise crowded genre of de-cluttering books. Grounded in the context of Platt's experience as a Black woman in a space often dominated by white voices, Platt's concept of Afrominimalism offers a flexible and approachable guide to crafting life with less.

I have been following @afrominimalist on Instagram for a while now so when I saw her book arc on @netgalley I jumped on it!

This is a short and sweet read, filled with insight and nuggets of wisdom. I’ve read several books on minimalism and simplification at this point, but there were two main features that stood out to me in this one.
1 - Christine’s vulnerability in sharing her own story and process

2 - the psychology behind attachment to material possessions and how cultural trauma and familial upbringing can influence your relationship to your stuff

3 - how she is straight forward in saying, discover, know, invest in, and be your own self. A decluttered house can be lifeless if there is no personality or values represented in your space!

I really enjoyed and appreciated the messages, practical steps, and reflection questions in this book and it is so cool to see someone from Instagram become an amazing author !

For me personally, the two strongest points of the book are Platt's excellent job exploring why we tend to over-accumulate stuff, and also her coverage of the specific challenges to the African American community. There are a lot of books on minimalism and home organization, but this book provides a much-needed alternative to mainstream minimalism.

For me personally, the downfall of the book is that it gets a bit monotonous over time. She tends to cover the same ground repeatedly. Also, she focuses pretty heavily on clothing and I wish she had branched out more with her anecdotes and examples.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Tiller Press for this eARC of <i>The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less</i> by Christine Platt in exchange for an honest review. I read this in one sitting as minimalism is a practice that I’ve been toying with for over ten years. When I was in my late teens and early 20s, minimalism for the young millennial was the “it” practice but my more jaded counterparts shot down those ideas because 1. It was too white. 2. It was too unattainable or expensive.

A lot of the muted, spare, and “clean” minimalist aesthetic can come off too perfect or unrealistic and so I was turned off to it. The pandemic has caused me to look within myself and I realize there are aspects of my life that I am unhappy with. I could blame different people or my circumstances but I had to get real with myself. I realize that my anxiety is pushed by my own depression as well as the reality of what it’s like for Black women in the world. These anxieties cause me to do things excessively and attach to items that I don’t need. My spending habits and just everything that I do is in excess.

This book hit close to home because it spoke of important things like looking at childhood relationships with money and objects as well as examining the cultural relationship with money within the Black community. I have been following Christine Platt for a little while but I was unaware that this book was coming out. While I think that some parts are a little redundant, I think it’s a good place to start for those looking to partake in a lifestyle that will change so much. I didn’t feel preached to, I felt empowered and I was left with nuggets to take with me moving forward.

This is an easy read, I did it in one sitting. Platt comes from a place that feels accessible to everyone. I particularly enjoyed the part about sustainable fashion as that is a cause that is close to my heart as well—especially in this new climate change era. I feel this is essential reading for Black people in the diaspora but non-Black people should be able to easily identify with this book, especially those who are from high consumer countries.

Great guide to how achieve the gift of living with less.The author share openly her path to minimalist living.From her overcrowded closets constant keeping up with the Jones’s and a divorce she changes her life patterns cuts down on overspending to my possessions.She has excellent advice I will be following.#netgalley #tillerpress

Oh I love this book I can’t wait to use all the principles in it in my house. I suffer from anxiety and sometimes just looking at all of the items I own provokes it. Simplifying your life and possessions is extremely important to well being.