Books that make you want less

[GodolphianArabian]

I'm trying to break my feelings that my life should somehow be better. I have nothing really to complain about, healthy and happy family, financially we're good. I want to be out shopping all the time but to what end? It's terrible for the planet and most of the stuff I would shop for I don't actually need. I just want them. Any suggestions?

Not sure if this will help...
I found "The Art of Happiness" really good for this...to help me pay attention to all the things that I already have, for which some people would be on their knees with gratitude if they could swop with me.

The Alchemist?
Good thread subject, btw.

‘Wanting Everything’ by Dorothy Rowe. It’s excellent.

Jane Eyre/Oliver Twist. Makes you appreciate the basics like food and heat

The Siege by Helen Dunmore - although that did create an urge in me to stockpile Pasta.

I’m reading Little House in the Big Woods to the children at the moment and it’s definitely having that effect.

Stuffocation

Even reading g or watching Mary Kondo might help

There was also a good series on Netflix about minimalism

I don’t want to live minimally more than I do but I don’t want to be tempted into buying ‘stuff’

I think stuffocation really helps though. My DH read it and although he never was a big spender it made him realise that it wasn’t the ‘things’ that made him happiest and if he had money to spend he should spend it on doing instead

We had a simpler Christmas due to going on a big holiday this year (so no real deprivation!). We all liked it much more. We chose one present each for a set value. Some chocolate in a stocking. Job done. I've read 'No Logo' and similar - I think once you see the internal workings of this big industry that's trying to create stuff for us to buy it's harder to enjoy it.

Affluenza by Oliver James.

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
Memoir of a woman who loses everything she ownsbut finds happiness

Marie Kondo. Chucking out so much stuff has led to me wanting to buy less in the first place.

Haven’t read it yet but The Way Home: Tales from a life without technology by Mark Boyle is on my To Read list.

You know what I really love? The Summer Book, by Tove Jansson (author of the Moomins). Nothing happens in it, it's just tiny snapshots of a summer with a little girl and her granny staying in a tiny Finnish summer house on an island for a summer. They paddle in rock pools and eat sandwiches and watch the birds. It's just gorgeous, and makes you think about what's really important.

The Antidote by Oliver burkeman - an exploration of what happiness really means. He looks at stoicism, Eastern traditions & many others. It's a very light easy read but really thought provoking

There is a new book out called The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary - Catherine Gray (haven't read it though)

You may also enjoy Decluttering at the speed of Life - Dana White. She bought constantly and stored so much! She a mum with kids so it's much more relatable than Marie Kondo who talks to her socks!

This is a really interesting thread OP. I had a moment last week where is said to myself “ why can’t you ever be content?” I used to be a shopper and although I’m a lot better than I was I do still fill up my life with trips and plans and to do lists in some attempt to feel I’m living life to the maximum. I can never just “be” without feeling guilty

A bit different from the other suggestions but Our Hidden Lives: The Everyday Diaries of a Forgotten Britain, 1945-1948
by Simon Garfield

Real diaries in the era of the baby boomers being born, really brought it home to me how much less people had then and yet how rich their lives were. I have to say the joy of a couple who received a present from overseas of a hamper of food that was still on ration here brought a tear to my eye. They said they'd never had a present like it and it was a once in a lifetime gift

Set Free: A Life Changing Journey from Banking to Buddhism in Bhutan, by Emma Slade.
Not sure if it's quite what you are looking for, but to shake up your mindset this might be good. I found it really inspirational. It made me appreciate my life, who I share it with, and opened my eyes to how many different ways there are to live in this world.

The alchemist definitely had this effect on me and made me think about how we are always chasing what we don’t have and are not stopping to appreciate what we already have

@goldenwarbler that's strange! I was just thinking about Hidden Lives! I loved it. I love how well you got to know the different writers. Have you read the two follow ups? They weren't quite as good, but they were worth reading.

Twopence to Cross the Mersey by Helen Forrester. Always brings me down to earth if I'm feeling sorry for myself about my lack of spending money.