The Wisdom of Frugality: Why Less Is More - More or Less - Hardcover

by Emrys Westacott (Author)

Why philosophers have advocated simple living for 2,500 years--and why we ignore them at our peril

From Socrates to Thoreau, most philosophers, moralists, and religious leaders have seen frugality as a virtue and have associated simple living with wisdom, integrity, and happiness. But why? And are they right? Is a taste for luxury fundamentally misguided? If one has the means to be a spendthrift, is it foolish or reprehensible to be extravagant?

In this book, Emrys Westacott examines why, for more than two millennia, so many philosophers and people with a reputation for wisdom have been advocating frugality and simple living as the key to the good life. He also looks at why most people have ignored them, but argues that, in a world facing environmental crisis, it may finally be time to listen to the advocates of a simpler way of life.

The Wisdom of Frugality explores what simplicity means, why it's supposed to make us better and happier, and why, despite its benefits, it has always been such a hard sell. The book looks not only at the arguments in favor of living frugally and simply, but also at the case that can be made for luxury and extravagance, including the idea that modern economies require lots of getting and spending.

A philosophically informed reflection rather than a polemic, The Wisdom of Frugality ultimately argues that we will be better off--as individuals and as a society--if we move away from the materialistic individualism that currently rules.

Back Jacket

"In this book, Emrys Westacott delves into the conflict between the virtues of the simple life and the apparently irresistible economic imperative to grow. Economic growth has brought us longer, healthier, and more comfortable and varied lives. But Westacott makes the case that, given our present situation, the appeal of frugality is not mere nostalgia, but rather the route to a more meaningful way of life."--Diane Coyle, author of The Economics of Enough

"This profoundly thoughtful philosophical examination of frugality provides a thorough investigation of both simple and luxurious living. Emrys Westacott gives philosophical, psychological, religious, and economic arguments for and against frugality, and he has convinced me that the case for it is more complicated and more interesting than I had thought."--William B. Irvine, author of A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy

"What I especially like about [The Wisdom of Frugality] is the path Westacott lays out. He's teaching and preaching at the same time. He's an advocate for simple living but his research explores both the pros and cons of frugality. He gets you thinking about so many important questions."--Michelle Singletary, Washington Post

Author Biography

Emrys Westacott is professor of philosophy at Alfred University in New York.