Exerpt from "Living More-With-Less" book

**sunshine** · 01-23-2006, 12:23 PM

by Doris Jansen-Longacre

The Touble with simplie living is that, though it can bejoyful, rich and creative, it isn't simple. Less of what? For more of what? And for whom? Every day the average tradesperson or homekeeper makes a hundred small decisions which, if you stop to think about what causes what, become maddeningly complex. This book is unapologetically about such small decisions. For example:

Oh, not enough flour! I've got to take the car and run to the store. No, I'll walk. . . .I need the exercise. . . it's only a mile. But I need he flour now. The bread must start rising or it won't be done in time. I could buy hte bread, but I do want to welcome this family to our neighborhood with a nice meal. . . they seem lonely. . . the rest of my meal is rather plain. I'll just brab my purse and go before Ann gets home from kindergarten. . . oh, there's hardly time!
Look, why am I always in a hurry? I've got to slow down, take more time to think, see the couds, listen to Ann. . . and walking saves gasoline, engery. Everybody jumping into a car for simple errands is one reason we get that statistic . . . what is it. . . . 6 percent of the world's population uses 40 percent of the resources. That way of living makes other people poor.
But the flour. I need it. Now if the bike were here. . . but Bill took it to work. What I really ought to have is anohter bicycle just for my quick trips. But even good bikes cost plenty. The flour! If my nighbor were home I could borrow it. . . .but she never has whole wheat anyway. We want to eat more whole grains. . . I've got to take the car. No way out.
Wait. Back up. I don't have to make bread today. That can wait until I shop for the week. . . ther's enough flour here for that good muffin recipe. And, lucky me. . . I don't have to start that until five o'clock. Ann and I can take a walk. . . .

One tiny decision. Mothing that will change the world. But that's the kind which form the building blocks of our lives. it's that sort of decision on which we often falter if we slid unthinkinly in the groove of our socieity. More-with-less standards don't come naturally rifht now in North America.

**celina** · 01-23-2006, 12:48 PM

that was interesting...its not easy seeing past the moment, im working on that myself..i'll have to look for that book
thank you

**Mamaw** · 01-23-2006, 06:33 PM

Good point! I need to read that book

**baxjul** · 01-23-2006, 06:59 PM

Thanks!

**kittykatstrong** · 12-04-2008, 01:53 AM

Inside the mind of a female.

**imagine** · 12-04-2008, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by sunshine

by Doris Jansen-Longacre

The Touble with simplie living is that, though it can bejoyful, rich and creative, it isn't simple. Less of what? For more of what? And for whom? Every day the average tradesperson or homekeeper makes a hundred small decisions which, if you stop to think about what causes what, become maddeningly complex. This book is unapologetically about such small decisions. For example:

Oh, not enough flour! I've got to take the car and run to the store. No, I'll walk. . . .I need the exercise. . . it's only a mile. But I need he flour now. The bread must start rising or it won't be done in time. I could buy hte bread, but I do want to welcome this family to our neighborhood with a nice meal. . . they seem lonely. . . the rest of my meal is rather plain. I'll just brab my purse and go before Ann gets home from kindergarten. . . oh, there's hardly time!
Look, why am I always in a hurry? I've got to slow down, take more time to think, see the couds, listen to Ann. . . and walking saves gasoline, engery. Everybody jumping into a car for simple errands is one reason we get that statistic . . . what is it. . . . 6 percent of the world's population uses 40 percent of the resources. That way of living makes other people poor.
But the flour. I need it. Now if the bike were here. . . but Bill took it to work. What I really ought to have is anohter bicycle just for my quick trips. But even good bikes cost plenty. The flour! If my nighbor were home I could borrow it. . . .but she never has whole wheat anyway. We want to eat more whole grains. . . I've got to take the car. No way out.
Wait. Back up. I don't have to make bread today. That can wait until I shop for the week. . . ther's enough flour here for that good muffin recipe. And, lucky me. . . I don't have to start that until five o'clock. Ann and I can take a walk. . . .

One tiny decision. Mothing that will change the world. But that's the kind which form the building blocks of our lives. it's that sort of decision on which we often falter if we slid unthinkinly in the groove of our socieity. More-with-less standards don't come naturally rifht now in North America.

Simple living doesn't come naturally now in North America.

And imagine the author originally wrote this in the 1970's.

**C@rol** · 12-04-2008, 08:43 AM

Interesting. Sounds like a good book.
Thanks

**nuisance26** · 12-04-2008, 09:37 AM

~I've always lived in a more-with-less house;first my mom's then mine. It was a shock to me when dh and I were dating to see my in-laws live very differently. They both worked but MIL did all the housework. She would frequently be making dinner and run back into town,a 20 mile round trip, for one ingredient. Since I was raised in a more-with-less house I always suggested substitutions for her recipes but she always went out anyway. One particular case that drove me batty was for canned pineapple for sweet and sour sauce. She had orange juice on hand! DH is a product of this way of life too unfortunately. He's always offering to run to the store. Even though we live just 1.5 miles from a grocery store I rarely let him go.~

**Ceashels** · 12-04-2008, 09:58 AM

Very interesting. THank you for posting.

**Jeanna** · 12-04-2008, 11:31 AM

I need to pull that book out and re read it. I have gotten so off track this year. I really need to come back to that way of thinking.

**known2him5** · 01-27-2012, 02:44 AM

Just reading some of the old threads.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-27-2012, 03:01 AM

LOVE that book! I've had it maybe 8 years now. I've read it cover to cover 3-4 times. It's more than a cookbook, so much more. Gathering the fragments

Yes, gathering the fragments, a very profound approach to less waste that goes beyond food. Love that the author suggests that you think about offering a prayer (every time you make rice) for rice dependent nations. Amazing read in which the author explains the virtues of living your faith by your supper table, and great recipes to boot!

**crunchycon** · 01-27-2012, 07:31 AM

FYI, there's a new edition of Living More with Less for its thirtieth anniversary. Not so many tips, but a wonderful read nonetheless. Worth checking out, even if you've read the original.

**imagine** · 01-27-2012, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

LOVE that book! I've had it maybe 8 years now. I've read it cover to cover 3-4 times. It's more than a cookbook, so much more. Gathering the fragments

Yes, gathering the fragments, a very profound approach to less waste that goes beyond food. Love that the author suggests that you think about offering a prayer (every time you make rice) for rice dependent nations. Amazing read in which the author explains the virtues of living your faith by your supper table, and great recipes to boot!

Living More with Less is the companion book to the More with Less cookbook. same author different books

I agree with you though that the more with less cookbook is more than just a cookbook.