Listen free for 30 days

  • The Year of Less

  • How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store
  • Written by: Cait Flanders
  • Narrated by: Cait Flanders
  • Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (407 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Year of Less cover art

The Year of Less

Written by: Cait Flanders
Narrated by: Cait Flanders
Try for $0.00

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $30.69

Buy Now for $30.69

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

In her late 20s, Cait Flanders found herself stuck in the consumerism cycle that grips so many of us: earn more, buy more, want more, rinse, repeat. Even after she worked her way out of nearly $30,000 of consumer debt, her old habits took hold again. When she realized that nothing she was doing or buying was making her happy - only keeping her from meeting her goals - she decided to set herself a challenge: she would not shop for an entire year.

The Year of Less documents Cait's life for 12 months during which she bought only consumables: groceries, toiletries, gas for her car. Along the way, she challenged herself to consume less of many other things besides shopping. She decluttered her apartment and got rid of 70 percent of her belongings; learned how to fix things rather than throw them away; researched the zero-waste movement; and completed a television ban.

At every stage, she learned that the less she consumed, the more fulfilled she felt. Blending Cait's compelling story with inspiring insight and practical guidance, The Year of Less will leave you questioning what you're holding on to in your own life - and, quite possibly, lead you to find your own path of less.

©2018 Cait Flanders (P)2018 Tantor

What the critics say

"If you've ever felt there must be more to life than consumerism and its vicious cycle, you'll find inspiration to break free in The Year of Less. Cait's highly readable and personal story is encouraging, challenging, and unbelievably helpful." (Joshua Becker, author of The More of Less)

More from the same

What listeners say about The Year of Less

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    215
  • 4 Stars
    105
  • 3 Stars
    54
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    14
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    185
  • 4 Stars
    92
  • 3 Stars
    58
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    13
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    197
  • 4 Stars
    89
  • 3 Stars
    52
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    13

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not at all reflecting its title

I find it was just a story of her life and the « year of less » doesn’t seem to be in the center of the book. Very disappointed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved the Canadian contents :)

This title was on sale a while back, so I bought it, and I was pleasantly surprised that the author is from Victoria, BC, and lived in Port Moody, BC...possibly in the same high rise I now live in (there are not that many high rises in Port Moody)! The book reads like a biography, and I love that the author shared some of her weakest moments, which are very relatable...I wish I could read about what is in store for her future! The idea of living on less stuff is also one that should be more widespread in today's world...by no means is it an original idea, but koodos to the author for trying it! Overall, pretty nice and light read... I give this a 4/5 from me :)
#Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

This book is truly beautiful. An entire year narrated by the author of her experiences of living with less truly impacted my life and encouraged me and showed me that it is possible for me to do the same. Cait really sets the bar at an achievable level by not only helping you set goals but by also providing the transparency of how challenging living with less can actually be in a world where we are told to have so much. An absolute pleasure to read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So very inspiring

This book has literally stopped my habitual shopping in it’s tracks. Starting to mindfully make only necessary purchases and really ask those important questions when it comes to holding on to things.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I have always been fascinated by the minimalist and simple life movements. It sounds like Cait Flanders benefitted from her year and it helped her become more who she really is. That is admirable. I was left mostly bored though and can’t quite put my finger on why. Her narration is decidedly lacklustre which likely contributed but there was so much in there abut her sobriety and her parents’ divorce and her career choices which seemed very self-indulgent. The amount of the book that was about the actual purging and shopping ban was quite minimal. Much of it came across as justification for her feelings or choices which I just didn’t get invested enough to be interested in.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Like many of the other low reviews, I so badly wanted to like this book but it was impossible for me to enjoy. It screamed of privilege, it was repetitive, and the narrator’s tone was monotonous and unconvincing. Their inflection while reading this book could have the listener believing that it was the first time ever seeing the words when, in fact, the narrator is the author herself.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Inspiring

loved her story, was slow in places, solutions felt like it was repetative. Overall m inspired to go on a shopping ban now, thank-you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

inspiring when you had that in mind for a while

The story is great but I found it a bit long at the end. definately motivating thoug

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable and insightful

Really enjoyed listening to this book. Provided an opportunity for self assessment as Cait tells her story, examines her behaviours and describes her journey. Thank you Cait for sharing your experiences so openly and frankly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

I wanted to like it..

I was hoping that this book would inspire a regular person but unless you have at least $2000 in disposable income you will have NOTHING to relate to.

I was so disappointment - I don’t think that this author realizes that she was just simply spoiled and had to much to start with.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful