Simplicity and Success: Creating the Life You Long For (Paperback)

Bruce Elkin's new book does a great service for the simple living movement. Elkin draws on his extensive expertise as a personal coach and organization development trainer to engage the power of creative process to the work of fashioning a simple and fulfilling life. Intimate, practical, and positively focused, Elkin's book moves well beyond "hairshirt simplicity" and even simplicity as a "leisure expansion movement" to challenge readers to identify what really matters in their lives (their positive visions) and then set out methodically to realize them. In emphasizing creativity over critique, the book echoes Gandhi's sage advice that "we become the change we wish to see in the world." Elkin intuitively grasps the principle that only positive action has staying power; only authentic visions leading to fully creative acts can move us beyond consumer culture and help forge a constructive alternative to it.

Reviewed by: Mark A. Burch author of Simplicity: Notes Stories and Exercises for Developing Unimaginable Wealth and Stepping Lightly: Simplicity For People and the Planet.

The most useful idea comes right at the beginning: Think of creating instead of problem-solving. Problem-solving brings temporary relief. Creating changes your life. Elkin challenges the "clear clutter" advice we get so often and encourages us to look at what we really want in our lives.
He offers examples drawn from his coaching practice, such as the woman who created a house for herself on a shoestring budget. Some of the best sections included real-life examples, such as the "slightly rednecked" man who found a way to get what he wants without spending big bucks.

Elkin writes about his own search out of a career that, he says, was surviveable only with antidepressants and beer. Interestingly, he found his new path in the usual way: by serendipity and by being open to what was out there. Looking back thirty years, his path seems straightforward, but I suspect there were a lot of twists and turns along the way. And I'd like to hear more about the identity shift that would have gone along with the career change.

The sections on creativity and creative tension are especially well done. That part could be strengthened and expanded into an entire book. The analogies between creating a work of art and creating a life, and the difficulties of going from one to the another, are superb.

I recommend reading this book a little at a time. I would have liked to see more exercises and suggestions for actually doing what Elkin suggests.

This book would have been strengthened by focusing on a single theme, such as "Simplicity and success: managing the duality." Or "From problem-solving to creation." And while I applaud Elkin's ability to resist hype, we need more startling "Wow!" moments, especially in the chapter headings. Some headings are quite banal and I was tempted to skip with a "been there, done that." However, often the material under the headings was quite new.

I would also like to see more stories of real or composite clients to illustrate Elkin's points. Following one couple through a transition can be very effective -- but not everyone will relate to that couple.

The weakest section of the book comes in the implementation chapter. We are encouraged to work backwards: Think of a goal. And what would you need ... and what would you need for that... That's not really new and it's a lot harder than it looks. And sections on avoiding negativity offer little that's new, although they're presented with uniqueness and insight.

I hope Bruce Elkin continues to write and develop his ideas. This book has a lot that's valuable, and I'll be recommending it to many clients. And I hope we see the next one!