Here's an interesting essay from the author of a book titled Voluntary Simplicity -- a label that also symbolizes a steadily growing sub-culture/social movement found in many post-industrial nations around the world. In the essay he briefly discusses the history of 'simplicity' as a lifestyle choice, and then goes on to detail several forms which that choice for simplicity tends to take in the United States. Though these 'diverse expressions' of simplicity are probably best read as arguments for simplicity... compelling reasons to choose a simpler lifestyle... since the distinctions that are made seem quite unclear, at times. The possible overlap of supposedly distinct expressions of simplicity, which the author concedes may occur, is really totally inevitable. Even for the simplest folks, it's impossible to do just one thing... and any one of these 10 approaches to simplicity would undoubtedly include or impact aspects of all the other 10 approaches. I guess that what I'm saying is that the essay seems unnecessarily complicated (ironic, I know), but it's still worth reading if you have the time.

read -- The Garden of Simplicity (continued...)