Jeff Shinabarger

I did not realize this was a Jesus-folk-affiliated book before reading the intro, but kept listening anyway and it really didn't matter in the end. This book is about being decent, grateful, and giving to fellow humans while simplifying your own belongings and anxieties. Ideas from the book are applicable no matter what spirituality you adhere to, even if you don't adhere to any spirituality.

It's easy to get caught up in acquiring more stuff, and becoming obsessed with the idea of being constantly busy and "connected" to the people in your smartphone, but focusing on filling your life with stuff and busy-ness leaves you unable to recognize that most other members of the world are in need of the things we have a ridiculous abundance of. The author has taken some very simple, kinda crazy ideas - like gathering up almost-empty gift cards and donating that collective excess to people who can actually use it - that take first world problems of excess and turn them into clever and effective solutions for shortage. If that doesn't thrill your inner second-grader, something else in this book will.… (more)

original review: http://daydreamsandrainydays.blogspot.com/2013/02/more-or-less-choosing-lifestyl...

Do you have more than enough? Want to make a different in your life and others, and don't know where to start?

Jeff Shinabarger is a man full of ideas. And gratefully he has some pretty great ideas on how to be more generous in our daily lives. He inspires generosity by looking at our lives, and finding excess. By giving up that excess to help someone with less.

"Excess is the think I can give away today and it wouldn't change a single aspect of our tomorrow."
This book sort of reads like a how-to book. Each chapter focus on a specific topic: presents, clothes, time, etc. With stories throughout the book of ways his friends and neighbors have made a difference in their community. They looked for what they had more than enough of and then found a way to use it to help others.

The book forces you to reconsider what you have. What can you share with other? How can you rearrange your life to help those in your neighborhood who have less? How do you form stronger community ties? What can you give up that will help you better understand those that make do with less?

The book ends by challenging the reader to do the same. A plan of action. A guide to live a life of generosity.

It was easy to read, conversational in tone, and I really enjoyed reading his personal stories. They helped me relate to him, and feel this is something I can do with him. He never hit me over the head with his message.

While the book is written from a Christian perspective, it's not central to the book, and I think can be enjoyed and appreciated by anyone. I highly really recommend this to anyone and everyone to read.… (more)