Erin Doman on April 6, 2016 1 Comment While there are countless resources on the internet for those of us who choose to live small, some of us traditionalists still prefer the comfort and reliability of a book. Tiny house books are plentiful, and they offer a wide range of topics: from building plans to decorating tips, from information on the minimalist lifestyle to tips for downsizing and decluttering. If you are interested in joining the tiny house movement or if you’ve been a long-time veteran of the tiny life, you might benefit from the information in some of these tiny house books. Did we leave out your favorite book on minimalism or small living? Leave us a comment telling us what your favorite tiny house book is! 1. Tiny House Living: Ideas for Building and Living Well in Less Than 400 Square Feet Author: Ryan Mitchell Tiny House Living: Ideas for Building and Living Well in Less Than 400 Square Feet is a great book for anyone who is interested in joining the tiny house movement but hasn’t quite made the leap. This book offers information about the tiny house lifestyle, including how to find out if this style of living is right for you and your family. This book serves as a broad guide for someone who is transitioning into the tiny house lifestyle that isn’t already completely familiar with it. “This is a book that will appeal to many demographics: those readying for retirement, those wanting to pare down their belongings into a more meaningful and streamlined life, those just starting out in life post-college, those dedicated to living green, those excited by alternative housing and/or repurposed construction, those anticipating a mid-life career or housing change, those interested in cutting expenses, and many others.” Click here to read the entire review ⟫ Some of the unique elements of this book include information about building codes and zoning laws, worksheets to help you downsize efficiently, design tricks and tips, and information on 11 unique tiny houses to inspire you. This tiny house book has a 4.5/5 star rating on Amazon, and is currently listed for under $20. 2. Tiny House Floor Plans: Over 200 Interior Designs for Tiny Houses Author: Michael Janzen If you are looking for a collection of tiny house designs, then Tiny House Floor Plans may be perfect for you. It features over 200 design plans for tiny houses of a variety of sizes: from 8×12 to 12×24. This book serves more as a handbook for the building process than it does a source of information about the tiny house movement, so this would best suit someone who has financially committed to a building project but hasn’t quite begun. This book seems to have mixed reviews on Amazon, with an average score of 3.4/5 stars. This seems to be because some people were confused or felt mislead about the exact content of this book. If you are looking for a book that features sage advice about the intricacies of the minimalist lifestyle, this isn’t your book. If you are looking for a portfolio of tiny house designs, you will be pleasantly surprised with the usefulness of Tiny House Floor Plans. “This is a very simple book with page after page of floor plans for tiny (REALLY TINY) houses on or off wheels. It is ‘mind-candy’ for those of us who want tiny homes of our own.” Click here to read the entire review ⟫ While this book might not be as useful for those of us who are currently living in a tiny house, it is a great resource for anybody just beginning the construction process. 3. The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir Author: Dee Williams The Big Tiny is not a memoir to ignore. Not only is this a book detailing the personal struggles and trials author Dee Williams went through before making the decision to pare down and adopt the tiny house lifestyle, but it is also full of wisdom and knowledge that would benefit anyone who is yearning to live small. With a 4.6/5 star review from 200 people, The Big Tiny is certainly a celebrated book among the tiny house community. “Six years ago I had all of the things a successful young person was supposed to have, but I was unhappy and I wasn’t sure why. One fateful new-year’s eve, I stumbled across a YouTube video of Dee Williams and I felt a paradigm shift. I finally understood how to be happy. Since that time, Dee’s story has not only changed my life, it has launched an entire movement of voluntary simplicity through tiny house living.” Click here to read the entire review ⟫ Tammy Strobel, fellow author and creator of You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap), says that The Big Tiny is a beautiful story that is more than just a how-to for living simply. Strobel claims that Dee’s story “will touch your heart, make you laugh, cry, and change your life”. Dee Williams’ book, The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir, is available through Amazon on paperback (approximately $12.00), hardcover (~$21.00), Kindle (~$12.00) and audiobook (~$30.00). 4. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Author: Marie Kondo You’ve probably already heard about the #1 New York Times best-selling guide, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. This is an extremely popular book, with over 8,700 Amazon customer reviews and an average score of 4.4/5 stars. As of April 2016, this book is the #1 best seller in the Zen Spirituality category of Amazon. It is also listed rather cheaply: hardcover and Kindle are roughly $10.00 and paperback is roughly $8.00. In this book, you will discover tips for organizing and decluttering in a manageable and reasonable way, usually room-by-room. Marie Kondo created the renowned “KonMari” method of decluttering, which results in thorough and long-lasting results that will transform your life and get you in the place you need to be before you adopt the tiny house lifestyle. “This book is a cult. A totally reasonable, scary cult that works, doesn’t kill people (a bonus), but does drastically change your life. In this case–for the better.” Buzzfeed On a similar note, one reviewer from Amazon states: “I’ve always been drawn to books about cleaning, organizing, decluttering and minimalism, but this is by far my favorite and offers a unique, electrifying perspective.” Click here to read the entire review ⟫ 5. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Author: Greg McKeown Greg McKeown’s book is all about how to cut down on your belongings in a systematic and disciplined way. This isn’t just a collection of throw-away tips, but a guide to help you understand what is and is not important for your life and home. This is a concept near and dear to those of us who are a part of the tiny house movement–we know that less really is more. McKeown helps us go beyond understanding and helps us with the application of this concept. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown has been raved about by some extremely well known people: Ariana Huffington of Huffingotn Post stated: “Greg McKeown’s excellent new book is a much-needed antidote to the stress, burnout and compulsion to ‘do everything,’ that infects us all. It is an Essential read for anyone who wants to regain control of their health, well-being, and happiness.” Ariana Huffington, Huffington Post Another glowing review from Forbes.com stated: “Essentialism will give you richer, sweeter results and put you in real control, giving greater precision to the pursuit of what truly matters.” Forbes.com With glowing reviews like these, it’s hard to ignore this important book. 6. The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space Author: Azby Brown The reason so many people involved in the tiny house movement are interested in Japanese decorating and storage techniques is because houses in Japan are known for being especially small, at least compared to the McMansions we see here in the United States. It seems that the people of Japan are professionals at using their living space in the most efficient way possible, and so many of us are turning to their practices for guidance. This is why The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space by Azby Brown might just be your greatest companion if you are a tiny house dweller. From loft spaces to sources of natural light to how to design the perfect cozy kitchen, Azby Brown walks you through the steps it takes to live snugly yet comfortably in your tiny space. “[Azby Brown] hopes The Very Small Home will enlighten English readers on how to live contentedly in a tight situation. He even suggests that the small house is actually superior to its larger incarnations and that, given a choice, the truly discerning are opting for life on the squeeze.” The Daily Telegraph (UK) This book is available in hardcover through Amazon for roughly $23.00. With an average review of 4.3/5 stars, The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Spaces is absolutely worth its price. 7. Shipping Container Homes Author: John Peterson What is even more unique than a tiny house? Answer: a tiny house made out of a shipping container. Many people are adopting this cheaper and more environmentally-friendly way of designing their own tiny home, but that doesn’t mean the process is any less of a challenge than traditional tiny house construction. Shipping Container Homes by John Peterson can help get you started on your shipping container home construction–or just sway you in the direction of this unconventional way of living. This book is currently listed just for Kindle users, but you can download this title for free if you are an Amazon Kindle subscriber. If you aren’t, this book is still listed for a mere $2.99. This title is currently rated at 4.6/5 stars. “My first impression was: Container Living? No way! But after I read this book I must say that it’s an awesome idea put across in a brilliant way. [It is a] quick and easy way to build yourself a home [that is] energy efficient and eco-friendly. It also has nice actionable tips to keep yourself comfortable in that tiny house.” Click here to read the entire review ⟫ The reviews of this book are strikingly positive, from a range of skeptics to long-time tiny house lovers.
Carmen Shenk says May 22, 2018 at 4:08 pm Helpful list! I see one on there I don’t have so I’ll pop over to Amazon now. Thanks! Reply
