The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less

Christine Platt--self-dubbed the "Afrominimalist"--was not always a minimalist. Through the process of a divorce and downsizing, however, she came to embrace the concept of minimalism. Hers is a particular brand of it, inspired by the African diaspora and devoid of rules around a specific number of items one can own or what color those items can be, instead opting for "authenticity over aesthetics." She documents this process in detail in The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less, which explores both the psychology of stuff (why we acquire it, and how we feel about it once we do) and the process of de-cluttering, with step-by-step instructions to start living with less.

Platt encourages readers to consider each item they own through the lens of "need, use, love." In focusing on what we actually need, use and love, Platt argues, we can whittle down our belongings to best "reflect our truest selves." "For the Culture" sections throughout address the "specific needs and concerns of Black people and [will] be relatable to other marginalized communities," though Platt notes that these call-outs should also be used by other readers to "gain awareness, build empathy, and... identify ways to help course-correct generational inequalities." Combining the psychology of purchasing and ownership with concrete, actionable steps, The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less stands out in the otherwise crowded genre of de-cluttering books. Grounded in the context of Platt's experience as a Black woman in a space often dominated by white voices, Platt's concept of Afrominimalism offers a flexible and approachable guide to crafting life with less. --Kerry McHugh, blogger at Entomology of a Bookworm

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