Minimalism, or the idea of ‘living with less’, has reappeared throughout history in different forms. In his 2020 book, The Longing for Less: Living with Minimalism, Kyle Chayka explains that as a discipline, minimalism can be traced back to the Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece. The founder of the school was a wealthy merchant called Zeno, who decided to give up his material goods and dedicate his life to studying philosophy.
It’s easy to draw a parallel between Zeno and today’s leading voices in minimalism. Take Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus for example, who in their Netflix show ‘The Minimalists: Less Is Now’, explain how ditching their worldly possessions has brought them spiritual freedom and happiness.
