The Minimalists
 | |
Type of site | Essays/Blog |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Website |
www |
| Launched | December 14, 2010 |
The Minimalists are Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, former corporate executives, now authors and speakers, who began pursuing the minimalist lifestyle in 2010. After experiencing significant improvements in their quality of life as a result of adopting and practicing the tenets of minimalism, the pair launched their website in December 2010 to help others by sharing their experiences. In late 2012, in the spirit of Henry David Thoreau, the pair moved to a cabin in Philipsburg, Montana, so they could focus on their writing. After four months in Philipsburg, they moved to Missoula, Montana, where they still live and work today.[1]
Website
Millburn and Nicodemus created their website in the hopes they could help others through writing and posting essays discussing their personal journeys adopting and practicing the tenets of minimalism. Topics on the website include simple living, health, relationships, and personal growth.[2] The site now has an annual audience of more than four million readers,[3] and it has been featured in the Wall Street Journal,[4] TIME, The Guardian, NBC, FOX, NPR, CBC, CBS This Morning,[5] and Good Morning America. In keeping with the tenets of minimalism, the website displays their essays in a simple layout and has no ads.
Asymmetrical Press
Millburn and Nicodemus, with author and traveler Colin Wright, co-founded Asymmetrical Press, an independent publishing company and author community, in 2012.[6] Asymmetrical Press currently publishes works by The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn, Colin Wright, Josh Wagner, Shawn Mihalik, Robyn Devine, Chase Night, and Robert Brown.
Joshua Fields Millburn
Joshua Fields Millburn (born June 29, 1981 in Dayton, Ohio)[7] is an American author,[8] writing instructor,[9] and minimalist.[10] He lived in Dayton, chasing the American Dream by climbing the rungs of the corporate America ladder, until he quit his corporate executive job in 2011 and moved to Montana in 2012. "Blindsided by the loss of his mother and his marriage in the same month, Millburn started questioning every aspect of the life he had built for himself. Then, he accidentally discovered a lifestyle known as minimalism…and everything started to change."[11]
Ryan Nicodemus
Ryan Nicodemus (born October 23, 1981 in Knoxville, Tennessee)[12] is an American author, personal mentor,[13] and minimalist.[10] Ryan's family moved several times but eventually settled in Lebanon, Ohio, when Ryan was eight years old. Ryan began pursuing minimalism after he was laid off from his job as a successful corporate executive.
Peer criticism
- "Like Henry David Thoreau, but with Wi-Fi."—Boston Globe[14]
- "Paring down, branching out."—Chicago Tribune[15]
- "A better life, by having fewer possessions."—Seattle Times[16]
- "Perhaps it's a good time to sit back and look at how we can all live with less."—USA Today[17]
- "The path to a richer, if less cluttered, life."—Globe & Mail[18]
- "Helping us end our obsession with stuff."—LA Weekly[19]
Bibliography
Fiction
- As A Decade Fades[20]
Non-fiction
Essay Collection
- Essential: Essays by The Minimalists[22]
Filmography
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things is a feature-length documentary film directed by Matt D’Avella, and is presented by Catalyst Media in association with The Minimalists, Asymmetrical Press, and SPYR. It examines the many flavors of minimalism by taking the audience inside the lives of minimalists from various walks of life. According to Gathr, the film’s distributor, the film is the number one documentary of 2016 (the largest U.S. box office opening for an indie documentary).
Tours
The Minimalists began touring in 2012 to both promote their books and to speak to groups on the topics of living with less, adding value to the world around you, and finding your mission in life.
- 2015: The Minimalists made over 35 tour stops in southwestern Canada and the western United States May–June to promote their newest essay collection, Essential, and to promote the newest works by the authors on the Asymmetrical Press roster: Considerations by Colin Wright, Shapes the Sunlight Takes by Josh Wagner, and Particles by Shawn Mihalik. The tour, WordTasting, also featured performances by singer-songwriter Skye Steele from his latest album, Up from the Bitterroot.
- 2014: The Minimalists made 100 tour stops in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, & Australia[23] to promote their book, Everything That Remains.
- 2012-2013: The Minimalists made 51 tour stops in the United States and Canada.[24]
References
- ↑ Nicodemus, Joshua Fields & Ryan. "About Joshua & Ryan". The Minimalists. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Bowers, Annie (2011-12-20). "Do As The Minimalists Do". Dayton City Paper. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ↑ Christenson, Stephanie Taylor. "Could You Be a Minimalist?". Mint.com. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ↑ Beck, Melinda (June 12, 2011). "Shop 'Til you Stop: How to Treat Compulsive Spending". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ↑ "De-cluttering your way to happiness" CBS This Morning, Retrieved July 25, 2013
- ↑ Vince Devlin, "Minimalists start unique publishing company in Missoula", Missoulian, February 24, 2013
- ↑ Millburn, Joshua Fields. "Joshua Fields Millburn - Author". Joshua Fields Millburn. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ "General Writing Class". The Minimalists. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- 1 2 Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan. "The Minimalists". Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- 1 2 Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan (January 1, 2014). Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists. Asymmetrical Press. p. 232. ISBN 978-1938793189.
- ↑ Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan. "About Joshua & Ryan". The Minimalists. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan. "Private Mentoring Sessions with Ryan Nicodemus". The Minimalists. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Plumb, Taryn (December 19, 2012). "Like Henry David Thoreau, but with Wi-Fi". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Elejalde-Ruiz, Alexia (January 1, 2013). "Paring down, branching out". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Brodeur, Nicole (December 16, 2012). "Ryan Nicodemus: 'We're not soulless; we're not against having fun'". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Wilson, Craig (November 20, 2012). "Pull up a box, have a minimalist holiday". USA Today. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Posner, Michael (December 13, 2012). "Does a less-is-more life bring happiness?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Friedlander, Whitney (December 17, 2012). "How Two Guys Known as 'The Minimalists' Are Helping Us End Our Obsession With Stuff". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Millburn, Joshua Fields (2013). As a Decade Fades. Columbia, Mo.: Asymmetrical Press. p. 284. ISBN 978-1938793028.
- ↑ Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan (2011). Minimalism : live a meaningful life. Columbia, Mo.: Asymmetrical Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-0615648224.
- ↑ Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan (July 27, 2012). The Minimalists: Essential Essays. Columbia, MO: Asymmetrical Press. p. 160. ISBN 978-1938793011.
- ↑ "The Minimalists". Eventbrite. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Previous Tours". Retrieved March 5, 2014.