Just one more week and then I’ll have two-and-a-half weeks off! I’ve blocked my calendar and boy do I need it. I basically haven’t had a vacation since August last year. This year I’m staying home. No worry about the vacation feeling: my house and its location make it feel like I’m on vacation every day :) Still, as my own boss working from home, I’ll need to force myself to actually have a vacation. But I’ll do my best! I plan on doing a lot of reading, preferably in my hammock. So, it’s a good time for some book suggestions for the vacation.
I’ve got a rather high pile of books I want to read standing ready for me. I started reading them but I just can’t find the time to continue with reading. These books seem promising, so I would like to recommend them:
Goodbye things (Fumio Sasaki)
‘Do you really need a book on decluttering, Marjolein?’. Sure, by now I know what to do, but I still find it interesting to read how others think about minimalism and decluttering. It inspires me to go through my own house again and see what might be eliminated. Because I still believe I have too many things. The whole world knows about Marie Kondo by now, but there are more ‘declutter champions’ in Japan. Fumio Sasaki is one of them. He takes it really far sometimes, but he also gives very usable tips on how to say goodbye to stuff you don’t need. He tells about his personal experiences and his road to minimalism: from gadget addict as a student to top minimalist. Even I can learn a thing or two from Fumio!
The BBC series ‘It’s not easy being green’ was and still is one of my biggest inspirations for a greener life. I just love jolly Dick Strawbridge who transformed an old dilapidated farm into a self-sufficient permaculture paradise. This book is a brilliant reference work for anyone that wants to live more sustainably and self-sufficiently, whether you live in a Tiny House or in an apartment on the 4th floor. Sure, in the last case you won’t be able to apply all the tips, but you can still have a worm tower on your balcony ;) The book explains a whole bunch on installations and techniques, supported with beautiful images and clear information. From starting up solar energy installations to keeping chickens, from growing mushrooms to building a composting toilet, Dick and his son James will tell you how to do it. This was a tip by Gerald Lindner from cc-studio, and boy did this man write a great book. I haven’t finished reading yet, but I’ve had tears in my eyes multiple times while reading. Everyone should read this book! Are there practical solutions for the many problems that humanity is facing? Yes, they are being devised and better yet, are being executed as well. John describes countless numbers of initiatives worldwide that are meant to restore earth and rebalance mankind. Initiatives concerning soil quality, water management, biodiversity, you name it. Initiatives that help restore balance for the land and the people. We don’t own this earth, but have it on loan. And we need to see ourselves as stewards of the land instead of ruthless autocrats. John’s book gives us hope. He paints a picture of the future that I and many people dream of, or long for actually. He lets us know we can do better than this, we ARE better than this. More and more people realise that and tackle the problems together. Do you ever lose courage and think it’s too late for us? Read. This. Book. The long-awaited sequel to Clever Usage of Space 1 is finally out, written by my good friend and TinyFindy partner Marcel van Mierlo! Part one was already an inspiring book about small architecture, but Marcel has really outdone himself with part two. This time it’s a digital book which of course benefits the environment, but also makes the book very interactive. It’s stuffed with background information, explanations on construction methods, gorgeous photos and illustrations, and links to educational how to-videos. Twenty particular projects, ranging from Tiny Houses on wheels to small houses on pull-out feet, from revolving garden offices to workspaces from straw bales, from tree tents and tree huts to garden rooms of clay and mobile hotel rooms. And it also features my Tiny House! You can buy the book here for only €8.95: http://www.bouwtotaal.nl/slim-ruimtegebruik-2/ Yes sir, it’s here, Netherlands own Small Living Magazine! The first edition is out and it’s a beauty, I read it in one stretch. You don’t have a subscription yet? Tsssk…money can’t be an object here, with only 2 euros per issue. The first issue has 108 pages full of fun and inspiration: about Tiny Houses, ‘van life’, living projects, experiences from residents, vegetable gardening on one m² and of course my very own column. My first column, how cool is that? Very cool! So be sure to buy this magazine if you don’t own it already :) https://www.tpshop.nl/abonnementen I think that’s enough to make it through the vacation, don’t you think? Or at least it’s a start. I wish you lots of reading fun and a very relaxing vacation! PS: if you decide to buy one of the books mentioned in this blog, please use the links on the right side of this page. Bol.com will then give me a Tiny commission ;) Thanks so much! Self sufficiency for the 21st century (Dick & James Strawbridge)
How to Thrive in the Next Economy – John Tackara
Clever usage of space 2 – Marcel van Mierlo
The first Small Living Magazine is out!
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