"Less is more" has become the mantra of modern minimalist gurus, who promise that getting rid of excess possessions is the key to solving most problems. Minimalism has gained immense popularity, with an entire industry emerging offering trendy interior designs, minimalist clothing brands, gadgets, books, and podcasts dedicated to this movement.

Kyle Chayka, a renowned cultural commentator, critic, and art historian, has been studying minimalist trends for many years. He believes that the reasons behind our desire to rid ourselves of excess are much deeper than we think.

This research leads the author to the philosophical and spiritual roots of minimalism, as well as to the stories of true minimalists—artists, architects, and musicians. Chaika explores their extraordinary lives, their ups and downs, and the places they worked—from Manhattan lofts to the Texas desert and the alleys of Kyoto—and concludes that getting rid of things and listening to themed podcasts won't instantly make you happier.

Minimalism isn't a disease or a cure; it's another attempt to live life mindfully and correctly.

Bringing order to the chaos of the surrounding world is much more difficult. How do we cope with noisy streets, crowds of people in big cities, and the intrusive images that advertising bombards us with indiscriminately? The digital space is also very noisy. We arrive at more or less clean offices or cafes and stare at our phones or laptops. And then our eyes are bombarded with social media, music or podcasts burst into our ears, and headlines or tweets enter our brains. Our heads are no less cluttered than our apartments.