Rational Simplicity
Setting Course to a Simpler Life
by
Tim Covell
2005
iUniverse
ISBN: 0-595-34214-0
Sometimes you just want to read a simple, straightforward book that gets right to the point. Ironically enough, it’s difficult to find simple books about simplicity. Some authors seem to think they have to spice up the simple message by adding lots of supplemental content: anecdotes, graphs, worksheets, etc. Not that there’s anything wrong with that and sometimes they fill the bill but sometimes it gets tiresome. It’s also common to find books about personal finance offering up continuing education in the form of workshops, websites, or cds.
Covell delivers his simple statement in 74 pages. He promises in the preface not to clutter up the book with extensive examples or anecdotes and he follows through on that promise. His personal story is summed up in an optional-read 13-page epilogue.
This book is worth reading because it records in a convincing way the value-shift of a thinking man from consumerism to what he terms rational simplicity. Covell starts out living life as many of us do, a youth with no thought of the future, some debt accumulation from going to school, a modest job, a desire to buy a house at some point. He tries thriftiness but makes little progress until he begins to change the way he thinks about money. As his thinking changes, his values change and he starts making progress with his debts and his net worth. Once he realizes his goals, he ceases to work for a salary and continues to live his life according to his new values, based on the lessons he has learned.
Covell does outline how he reached his goals but he stresses that each of us must find our own way. He doesn’t want to prescribe or direct, simply give us something to think about, offer suggestions and share the lessons he learned along the way on his own journey. “There is no single answer for what will bring happiness. Only you can define it” he states, “This book encourages you to spend less time pursuing material goods and more time pursuing your dreams.”
