The Book
We talk about the good life or the American dream as if it were permanent, as if it were the finish line of a race. We say that we have ‘arrived at the American dream.’ We announce that we are ‘living the good life.’ And yet it has been my experience that, at least in our times, the good life and the American dream are more obsolescent than obtainable.
We buy things year after year, over and over again, in our pursuit of contentment. It has been my impression that these days, replacement is emblematic of our dreams more than ownership. This is a curiosity, for it is by endlessly acquiring the right things that we measure our distance from the good life. We are always getting, but never getting there.
That was my observation as well as my personal experience. For much of my life I endeavored not for objects I could settle down with and enjoy, but just for new stuff. Too often this was my achievement: not working hard to earn some special thing, but rather, after tucking that special something away, going back out to the mall to buy again.
The 100 Thing Challenge, which my book describes, was one of several responses to the unsettled feeling I developed after years of living a life filled with stuff instead of contentment — after arriving at a reasonable version of the American dream and still groping for more. I felt I might be chasing after what was not mine to have, and what I could never get anyway. It occurred to me that I felt less like myself and more like someone I should not be.
I was about to change that feeling. (From the Preface)
“I devoured this book in one sitting. . . . An enjoyable read. I have been very encouraged.” Eric – Amazon.com review
“It has given me pause, causing me to examine my own consumer behavior and how it compares to what I believe. This book reaches into the heart of the issues behind American consumerism and gives insight into getting our priorities where they should be.” Laura – Amazon.com review
“As I read the book, I felt as if I were sitting down across from Dave and he was telling me the story about his life over the past few years. His writing is so easy to read and keeps you engaged. He writes from his heart and lets you into his thoughts and feelings. I’m inspired by Dave and his story.” Michelle – Amazon.com review
“It’s a truly inspiring read and after finishing, I immediately started to tally my own possessions. I plan on taking the 100 thing challenge myself, and I would not have had the motivation to do it without this book.” Kelly – Amazon.com review
“The 100 Thing Challenge is a wonderful memoir of one man’s response to America’s consumer culture. In paring down his personal possessions to one hundred, Dave Bruno has a chance to reflect on the meaning of his things and how they interact and fail to interact with meaning in his life.” Tim – Goodreads.com review
“Motivating without being obnoxious.” Kirsten – Goodreads.com review
Dave Bruno offers compelling anecdotes and practical advice readers can use to resist consumerism and live a more meaningful life. The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul (Harper, 2010) provides an opportunity for readers to consider how positive life changes can occur when an individual chooses to defiantly hop off the treadmill of consumerism and start living a saner and more satisfying life.
“Living simply is only an ideal until someone like Bruno gets particular. The way he got particular should make everyone think hard, which is a very good thing.” – Mark Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame
“In a loving, wise, sometimes hilarious manner, Dave Bruno holds a mirror up to us and says to take a closer look at how we’re living. He’s no Don Quixote, tilting at imaginary windmills. His concerns and solutions are real and realistic. Reading this will lead you to a better life.” – Dean Nelson, Author of God Hides in Plain Sight and director of the journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University
Buy The 100 Thing Challenge from
- Amazon on a Kindle Thank you for the awesome reviews!
- Barnes & Noble on a Nook
- Borders
- Powell’s
Hold on! Should a guy who shuns consumerism be trying to sell thousands tens of thousands of books? Look for the ongoing discussion about writing and selling books in blog posts on the 100 Thing Challenge site.
Comments
Touche I say, but at least books can provide greater good than materialistic good
. . . but books are materialistic goods. That being said, I would rather buy and own books than anything else except wine
. I shop very little and procrastinate often about buying anything beyond the basic needs, i.e. TP. I am going to try and get this book from my library so I don’t have to buy it (reduce) and find a place for it on my bookshelves. If it is really incomparably good, I may break down and look for a 2nd hand copy (reuse).
Someday, when I need to downsize my books I could then recycle this book by giving it to someone else who will hopefully read it and then keep that ball rolling.
[...] excited to introduce you to a guy named Dave. Dave Bruno. Dave is the author of a new book, The 100 Thing Challenge. Dave and I met at Hutchmoot (The Rabbit Room retreat/conference/whatever) and spent a wonderful [...]
Also, you can borrow the book from the library and check it out as many times as needed
I LOVE the library and all its resources. It comforts my frugal soul.
As stated earlier the book may be a materialistic representation. of consumption …
But it can also endow readers more useful guidance.
Although a digital version would be a more environment friendly alterntive, allowing less waste of space usage
Just a suggestion for future editions
As an overall option, i mean, not as side option.
Even though you have a Kindle version which is already good let’s see if you can expand in more digital ways
Keep up the good work.
Great book. I’m about half finished. My favorite chapter is The Hardest Thing to Cut.
I downloaded a copy to my iphone instead of getting a paperback. Reading on the iphone has been a nice experiment in minimalism. It is working out terrifically. The phone is always at hand, so I find myself reading a few pages frequently during the day whenever I have a spare minute.
Is there a way to sign up to attend the launch party w/o Facebook? I’m not on FB but would love to attend Jan. 11.
We are finding that few *things* make the worth purchasing cut; this is one of them. I’m sure more versions will follow on the heels of it’s success. As an aside, while we love the library, when someone, such as Dave, Chris Guillebeau or eventually Tammy Strobel puts a product out with this much heart and soul and lifestyle impact we consider it an investment in ours and ultimately other’s lives. In this case, buy, gift, sow, share; more than worth it!
[...] intitola così il manuale (La sfida delle 100 cose: come mi sono liberato di quasi tutto, ho ricostruito la mia vita e mi [...]
[...] about half way there with my 100 Thing Challenge an idea created by Dave Bruno. In the beginning of this challenge the last time I had checked all my clothes fit into one large [...]
[...] Then perhaps you might like to try the 100 Thing Challenge. That’s the name of the year-long feat achieved by a Californian man called Dave Bruno, who managed to whittle down his belongings to fewer than 100 items — and lived to blog about it. That book’s now been turned into a book published earlier this month: “The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul.” [...]
[...] delle 100 cose‘ una corrente di pensiero inaugurata dall’americano Dave Bruno e diventata prima manuale poi movimento mondiale. Ridurre il proprio guardaroba, liberarsi degli oggetti inutili (magari [...]
[...] mean, think about it: it’s no accident that Dave Bruno’s 100 Things is so intriguing and inspired so many people to attempt to live with what seems like a radically [...]
[...] of the Brands" ( http://www.bonfireofthebrands.co… )"The 100 Thing Challenge" ( http://guynameddave.com/the-book/ ) 6 Answers Add AnswerAndrew Careaga, Marketing and PR professional, curren… 4 [...]
Dave, launch his book in Brazil, please.
I read your book , it was too long worded for me. if your are going to clean out your things than do it, don’t wait around and talk about it. in the middle of the book you start to clean out your stuff. spring cleaning is a all year around thing to do not just in the spring. I understand about not needing a lot of stuff, ( you can’t take it with you when you died) we all need a place to live, clothes, food, friends, family, the rest is to make life easy , to injoy. are the truey rich people happy with all they can buy???? thanks connie
[...] Read Dave’s book, The 100 Thing Challenge [...]
[...] of one thing a day proliferate, while hardcore declutterers aim for the goal set forth in the book The 100-Thing Challenge, by Dave Bruno: owning no more than 100 physical items, in total. The book's subtitle is typical [...]
Just picked up your book at the Vancouver airport and I found it both inspirational and humorous. I had not heard of you or your 100 Thing Challenge, but as a practical part to my 2011 New Year’s Resolution to simply, I decided that I would not buy myself any clothes for a year. So far I have enjoyed not wasting my time at the malls immensely!
[...] weeks ago, I was in Barnes & Noble waiting for a friend when I saw Dave Bruno’s book The 100 Things Challenge. Briefly scanning the book, it struck me as interesting. Thinking that buying the physical object [...]
[...] myself by reading minimalist blogs and admiring this man’s 288 things and that man’s 100 things. However it all seemed so unattainable to me. I have a family, no organizational ability [...]
[...] hat: einem Selbstversuch, mit nur 100 Gegenständen zu leben. Letztes Jahr hat er das gleichnamige Buch dazu veröffentlicht, das es bislang aber nur auf Englisch gibt.Everett Bogue kündigte 2009 seinen [...]
[...] there’s this book I’ve been reading. “The 100 Thing Challenge” (not an affiliate link). I’ll be reviewing it shortly on BdayDday.com but go now, check it [...]
Is there a possibility to be published in spanish? I bought and read it in english, but I’m interested in buy it for friends that doesn’t know english
So what about e-books? Would that still only be one “thing”, as in the computer? I am just wondering how you guys do your categorization because there could also be limits on computer items else it just becomes a virtual version of the consumerist life, if you know what I mean.
[...] a man named Dave Bruno has launched a blog called the 100 Thing Challenge. (It’s now a book, as well.) His whole concept is to try to get people to limit the things they own down to 100 [...]
another way to get the book is to ask your library for it. I’m reading my library copy right now. I’m a big reader, but plan to not own a single book soon. All my books are from the library and most are read on my Ipad. Ebooks are awesome.
[...] say 100 is the magic number. Colin Wright got it down to 51. Leo Babauta reached the 50 mark. Ev Bogue [...]