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A Year of Living Simply

The Joys of a Life Less Complicated

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A Year of Living Simply

By: Kate Humble
Narrated by: Kate Humble
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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If there is one thing that most of us aspire to, it is, simply, to be happy. And yet attaining happiness has become, it appears, anything but simple. Having stuff - The Latest, The Newest, The Best Yet - is all too often peddled as the sure fire route to happiness. So why then, in our consumer-driven society, is depression, stress and anxiety ever more common, affecting every strata of society and every age, even, worryingly, the very young?  

Why is it, when we have so much, that many of us still feel we are missing something and the rush of pleasure when we buy something new turns so quickly into a feeling of emptiness, or purposelessness, or guilt?

So what is the route to real, deep, long-lasting happiness?  

Could it be that our lives have just become overly crowded, that we've lost sight of the things - the simple things - that give a sense of achievement, a feeling of joy or excitement? That make us happy. Do we need to take a step back, re-prioritise? Do we need to make our lives more simple? 

Kate Humble's fresh and frank exploration of a stripped-back approach to life is uplifting, engaging and inspiring - and will help us all find balance and happiness every day.

©2020 Kate Humble (P)2020 Octopus Publishing Group Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Personal Development Stress Management Sustainable & Green Living Happiness Health Mental Health Inspiring Heartfelt Funny Feel-Good
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Critic reviews

"Simply wonderful." (Ben Fogle)

"Kate's book has the warmth and calming effect of a log fire and a glass of wine. Unknit your brow and let go. It's a treat." (Gareth Malone)

"Kate Humble pours her enviable knowledge into attainable goals. It's a winning combination and the prize - a life in balance with nature - is definitely worth claiming." (Lucy Siegle)

All stars
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Such a pleasure to listen to. I absolutely loved this book. Very honest and well researched. I highly recommend listening to it.

A beautiful book

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Beautifully written and read by Kate Humble. A journey through the author's adult life including encounters with many inspirational characters on the way.

A Treat for your Ears

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A wonderful reflection on what it takes to live a more simple life. Lots of inspiration for anyone. It's not without some hypocrisy (flying half way round the world to play building an eco house, Kate talking about refusing to buy online due to the faceless/impersonal nature but selling her own products on Amazon and in supermarkets...), but overall I really enjoyed the message of choosing a simpler life that strives to find enjoyment from the smaller things. Lots to be learnt. Some lovely recipes too!

Overall an interesting read

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I loved this book, totally sharing Kate’s aspiration to live more simply.
I was delighted to find that rather than it involving a major lifestyle change, involving something akin to desert island living, it can be found just by tuning into and enjoying a few of life’s more easily obtained pleasures.

The narration was beautiful, the stories peppered with a delightful humour, and I particularly enjoyed the honesty that not everything goes well, and that Kate has also baked inedible bread, and had many failures as well as successes with growing vegetables, and in trying to create a beautiful garden.

Instagram & lifestyle magazines paint impossible pictures of what a ‘simple, rural life’ should look like, but this book captured the reality wonderfully.
Would highly recommend!

Simply Wonderful!

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Lots of interesting well researched ideas but quite ploddy at times. It definitely needs the right audience in order to be properly enjoyed but would be soothing to anyone.

Good for the genre it's in

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