See Me Interviewed in a Documentary About Not Much of Anything
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things is on Youtube and me along with it.
From 2011-2016, I kept a newsletter for the micro-housing startup, LifeEdited, which showcased ideas, projects, and people that demonstrated new models of living based on our less-is-more ethos. Two of those showcased people were Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, a couple friends, then living in Ohio, who called themselves “The Minimalists.” Since our blogs were in similar philosophical spheres, I wrote about and kept in regular touch with them. In 2014, they decided to make a documentary with director Matt D’Avella about —you guessed it —minimalism. They ended up interviewing me, my ex-wife, and ex-employer, among others for the doc (I also introduced them to my friend and former roommate, Colin Beavan, who was interviewed as well). The self-financed documentary might have faded into obscurity after making the film-festival rounds had Netflix not added it to their platform in 2016, where it was viewed 80 million times, according to The Minimalist’s site, before being taken off Netflix a year or two ago. Today, the documentary was put up on Youtube for free and without advertisements.
The cinephile in me can and has critiqued Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. The intellectual and philosophe in me can and has critiqued the oft-insubstantial message of the documentary’s protagonists and fellow interviewees. But apparently, the documentary was revelatory for many, many people, inspiring them to question and alter their lives that were theretofore dominated by the pursuit of stuff…so I’ll refrain sharing my critiques and let you judge for yourself.
Dear reader: if you enjoyed this post, please give it a like, share it to anyone you think might enjoy it, and subscribe to the newsletter if you are not already. Thanks!