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[Page 2] T H E J O Y OF [Page 4] T H E J O Y OF Over 1,500 Simple Ways to Make Your Life Easy and Content — At Home and at Work By Jeff Davidson Foreword by Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, Pennsylvania [Page 5] Notice The information presented in this book is based on information obtained from a wide range of au- thoritative sources. The author and Rodale Press, Inc., assume no responsibility for any injuries suffered or damages or losses incurred during or as a result of following this information. All in- formation should be carefully studied and clearly understood before taking any action based on the information and advice presented in this book. Copyright © 1999 by Jeff Davidson All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other infor- mation storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America on acid-free @, recycled paper @ Cover and Interior Designer: Joanna Reinhart Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Davidson, Jeffrey P. The joy of simple living : over 1,500 simple ways to make your life easy and content—at home and at work / by Jeff Davidson, p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-87596-527-X hardcover ISBN 1-57954-104-6 paperback 1. Simplicity. I. Title. BJ1496.D38 1999 646.7—dc21 98-39115 Distributed to the book trade by St. Martin's Press 6 8 10 9 7 hardcover 2 4 6 8 1 0 9 7 5 3 1 paperback Visit us on the Web at www.rodalebooks.com, or call us toll-free at (800) 848-4735. O UR P URPOSE We inspire and enable people to improve their lives and the world around them. [Page 6] To all of those people in my life — past, present, and future — who have shown me the path toward simplicity. To the authors, journalists, and speakers who stress the vital importance of simplicity in each of our lives. To my wonderful, now-departed parents, Emanuel and Shirley Davidson, for imbuing me with the seme to figure things out for myself. And to Valerie Davidson — eveiy little thing she does is magic. [Page 7] Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................ r K Foreword ....................................................................................... - x Introduction ................................................................................... ^ Part 1: A World Gone Complex Chapter 1: The Quest for Simplicity .................................................. 2 Yes, You Can Achieve Sanity in a Crazed World Chapter 2: Some General Principles .............................................. 20 Master the Science of Piles and Priorities Chapter 3: Anticipating Complexity .............................................. 35 Preventive Measures Will Cure a Tangled Lifestyle Part 2: Simplify Your Castle Chapter 4: Cooking Up Solutions .................................................... 54 If You Can't Stand the Clutter, Simplify Your Kitchen Chapter 5: Living Rooms and Dining Rooms ............................... 81 Make These Living Areas Wony-Free, Relaxing Refuges Chapter 6: Washroom Wizardry ................................................... 106 With These Storage, Decorating, and Cleaning Secrets, Things Will Bubble Along Chapter 7: