Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read this book after I heard Michael Hyatt interview Greg on one of his podcasts.
I probably read it a few years too late (although it wasn’t yet written when I could have used it—when my kids were little and I was juggling parenting, running my home-based business, homemaking, and volunteering at church).
The book deals in an organized way, from idea to execution, with the topic of paring down one’s life. McKeown, it seems, has done this himself and so understands the obstacles—the desire to please, the fear of missing out, how available our technology has made us to everyone.
I read a library copy of the book and so didn’t have the freedom to underline that I would have with my own copy. However, McKeown has highlighted some of his major takeaway points in the book’s format. Here are some that grabbed m attention.
“The ability to choose cannot be taken away or even given away—it can only be forgotten” p. 36.
“We can try to avoid the reality of trade-offs, but we can’t escape them” p. 54.
“Our highest priority is to protect our ability to prioritize” – p. 101.
“If it is not a clear yes, then it’s a clear no” – p. 109.
“The Latin root of the word decision—cis or cid—literally means “to cut” or “to kill” – p. 159.
What I took from this book were some ideas that weren’t new to me but by reading them here, were re-emphasized. I also felt affirmed in that some of these principles I’ve discovered on my own and they’re the way I live. For example McKeown speaks of the freeing power of routine (Chapter 18). I love my routines for exactly the reason he says they’re important: they preserve my decision-making energy for the important stuff.
Though this book hasn’t inspired me to make any huge changes, it has made me aware:
– I can’t do it all.
– It’s okay to say no.
– When I say yes to a new commitment, I’m saying no to something else.
– Bu focusing on less there’s a good chance I’ll accomplish more than by spreading myself thinly over many things.
Violet Nesdoly 