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The New Good Life: Living Better Than Ever in an Age of Less Audiobook
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(3.04) - 268 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
How do you define the good life? For many, success is measured not by health and happiness but by financial wealth. But such a worldview overlooks the important things in life: personal contentment, family time, spirituality, and the health of the planet and those living on it. A preoccupation with money and possessions is not only unhealthy, it can also drain the true joy from life.
In recent years, millions have watched their American Dreams go up in smoke. The international financial collapse, inflation, massive layoffs, and burgeoning consumer debt have left people in dire financial straits—including John Robbins, a crusader for planet-friendly food and lifestyle choices, who lost his entire savings in an investment scam. But Robbins soon realized that there was an upside to our collective financial downturn: Curtailed consumerism could lead us to reassess our lives and values.
The New Good Life provides a philosophical and prescriptive path from conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption. Where the old view of success was measured by cash, stocks, and various luxuries, the new view will be guided by financial restraint and a new awareness of what truly matters. A passionate manifesto on finding meaning beyond money and status, this book delivers a sound blueprint for living well on less. Discover how to:
—create your own definition of success based on your deepest beliefs and life experience
—alleviate depression, lower blood pressure, and stay fit with inexpensive alternatives to high-cost medications
—develop a diet that promotes better health—and saves you money
—plan for, and protect yourself from, future economic catastrophes
—cut down on your housing and transportation costs
—live frugally without deprivation
—follow in the footsteps of real people who have effectively forged new financial identities
The New Good Life provides much-needed hope and comfort in a time of fear and uncertainty. Here is everything you need to develop high-joy, low-cost solutions to life's challenges. Practical and timely, this book equips you with the skills needed not only to survive but to thrive in these challenging times.
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"I really enjoyed this book. Robbins is an excellent storyteller, so the bits about his life were great. I read this to find a few ways to save money (which I did) but I found the information on how to live responsibly truly wonderful. It wasn't something I was looking for, but the bits about how eating meat is TRULY adding to the greenhouse gases, made me stop and think a bit. My husband is a meat eater, but I will figure out a way for our whole family to eat meatless at least one day a week. Very inspiring book!"
— Holly (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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There is today a profound hunger for precisely the information, the advice, and the perspectives in The New Good Life.
— Vicki Robin, coauthor of Your Money or Your Life -
“While we may not choose to live like Thoreau on a remote island (as Robbins did), this examination will make us consider how our consumer choices impact our family and, perhaps, society as a whole.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“There is today a profound hunger for precisely the information, the advice, and the perspectives in The New Good Life…John Robbins brings so many unique talents and perspectives that his book is sure to be a bestseller and a best-loved resource.”
— Vicki Robin, coauthor of Your Money or Your Life
The New Good Life Listener Reviews
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" Interesting story written by the Baskins-Robbins ice cream heir about how he walked away from his family's money to make his way in the world in an eco-friendly frugal way, only to make millions on his own without even trying. Good practical financial advice regarding how we can be more eco-friendly and he shows sensible ways to cut expenses in everyday life, i.e. moneysaving tips on buying autos, grocery shopping, etc. "
— Diane, 2/13/2014 -
" Useful, but I did skip the entire chapter on parenthood :) "
— Lydia, 2/6/2014 -
" He has a strong point, but he makes it early. The rest is reinforcement. "
— Sue, 12/26/2013 -
" Though I could accept why someone would want to turn their back on a large fortune and embrace voluntary simplicity, I just couldn't get over the fact that he could have used all that money and really made a difference in other folks lives with it. You don't want to own a Yacht named "The Thirty Second Flavor 2?" Fine! Then build a school in an impoverished nation - give to charities - create your own foundation and give it all away to those in need. Instead he just turned his back on the money and as far as I can tell, pretty much did nothing really for his fellow man. And then apparently accumulated quite a bit of wealth again and lost it all due to a really bad investment. Amazing how Karma works, doesn't it? "
— Nancy, 12/24/2013 -
" A nice blend of anecdotes, opinions, and tips about life, money, and voluntary simplicity. An enjoyable, thought provoking book that I will read again. "
— Thom, 12/24/2013 -
" This one is worth reading for the recipes and the cleaning product tips alone but is good through and through. I love and plan to live by the concept of "follow your bliss". "
— Amelia, 10/16/2013 -
" This was a great read. I totally embrace the concepts. For the next day and a half I was committed to changing my lifestyle (voluntarily), but alas and aleck, I am a material girl. Living with less is hard for me. Let me repeat however, I totally embrace the concepts. "
— Colleen, 9/24/2013 -
" "I make myself rich by making my wants few." - Thoreau "
— Anna, 9/15/2013 -
" Parts were very interesting & arguments compelling, but I found that a lot of the information was not exactly new or earth-shattering. "
— Stephanie, 7/13/2013 -
" What can I say? I'm in the choir and Robbins is preaching to me. "
— Marc, 6/16/2013 -
" Really like the way he thinks! I wish more people would want to follow his ideas...Read the book!! "
— Maggie, 4/3/2013 -
" I gave it four stars for the financial archetypes and the cleaning advice. Good and easy read. "
— Maria, 10/29/2012 -
" It started out really great and somewhere towards the middle I started to fall off a bit. "
— Traci, 5/31/2012 -
" Your mileage may vary. "
— Barry, 7/18/2011 -
" I read this for a book club...never made it to the actual meeting but found some of the ideas to be very interesting and eye-opening. Definitely worth reading to get a different perspective of how to change one's patterns of behaviors in relation to finances and life in general. "
— Alison, 5/1/2011 -
" Nothing new and/or that you don't already know, but still interesting nonetheless. I've been able to recommend to several others. "
— Michelle, 1/17/2011 -
" Everyone should read this, vegan or not. "
— Shelly, 12/16/2010 -
" A must read, well researched, thought provoking book written by a man with a long list of credentials. I recommend it to any and all. "
— Aubrey, 12/6/2010
About John Robbins
John Robbins is the author of Diet for a New America, the milliion-copy bestseller that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and numerous other widely acclaimed books, including Reclaiming Our Health. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Rachel Carson Award and the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award. Groomed to follow in the footsteps of his father, the founder of the Baskin-Robbins empire, he chose a different, more authentic path for himself. The founder of EarthSave International, he is widely considered one of the world’s leading experts on the dietary link between the environment and health. He lives with his family in California’s Santa Cruz mountains.
About the Narrators
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.