New Book from Activist Steven Gould Addresses Environmental Aspects of Voluntary Simplicity

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(Free-Press-Release.com) March 20, 2010 --

A forthcoming book from environmental activist Steven Gould presents the concept of “voluntary simplicity” as a solution to some of the most burdensome problems of the new century, including the current environmental and economic crises. Gould argues that while it is widely recognized that the United States has become a society that is caught in the vice group of an all-consuming pattern of consumption and continued reluctance to view the scope of the societal and environmental problems it creates, there are few movements that are widespread enough to combat this “pandemic” as the current lifestyle is in direct opposition to the principles behind the definition of voluntary simplicity. Gould presents the argument that Americans believe they need more, and as a result, they buy more. While “affluenza”, the antithesis of the lifestyle of voluntary simplicity, has become an “all-consuming epidemic, there is an antidote: voluntary simplicity, which involves taking stock of one’s materials needs, distinguishing them from wants, and evaluating the cost of their acquisition—in terms of time, money, and the feeling it generates—against the non-tangible variables that really define the quality of life and choosing the latter. While voluntary simplicity is a lifestyle choice that is not appropriate for everyone, most people could benefit from applying some of its principles, and those who embrace it as a way of living report that they feel more fulfilled than they ever felt when filling a shopping cart. Gould, in conjunction with the book’s editor, Nicole Hemsoth, present a compelling argument in the context of both scholarly opinions and mainstream media with a tone that is informed and approachable.

Gould’s text will be available in mid-2011; publisher information forthcoming pending negotiation.