BOOK REVIEW No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity

No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity

by Ashlee Piper

Celadon Books, 2025 (288 pages)

In her empowering book, "No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity," sustainability expert Ashlee Piper delivers a witty and practical manifesto against mindless consumerism.  After a decade of refining her own "No New Things" challenge, Piper offers a blueprint for readers to break the cycle of overconsumption and find more joy with less stuff.  The book succeeds by making the prospect of buying nothing new for a month feel not like a punishment, but a radical act of self-care and creativity.

A former political strategist and marketing professional, Piper effectively critiques the "conditioned consumerism" that takes over our time, money, and mental bandwidth.  She explains how the post-WWII marketing industry created a perpetual desire for new goods, a mindset that now weighs heavily on our finances and our psyche.  Piper's approach is refreshing because she practices what she preaches, living in a home that's 98% secondhand, and her authenticity shines through on every pages.

Instead of just telling readers what to give up, she focuses on what they will gain: financial freedom, reduced stress, and more intentional living.  She outlines her "SUPER System", a series of strategies for a low-buy lifestyle: Shopping secondhand, Using, upcycling, or reimagining what you already have, paying nothing (through bartering or gift cards); choosing experiences instead of things; and renting, borrowing or sharing what you need.

While the 30-day challenge is the core of the book, its real power lies in the mindset shift it encourages.  Piper's message is that by taking care of what we own, we can challenge the feeling of "never having enough".  For anyone who feels overwhelmed by clutter, exhausted by constant shopping, or burdened by debt, No New Things serves as a welcome reset.  It's sharp, sassy and a genuinely inspiring guide to creating a life with more peace and purpose, proving that the most fulfilling things are not the ones we buy, but the ones we already have.

Ashlee Piper is an author, journalist, and former political strategist known for her work as a sustainable and eco-lifestyle expert.  She aims to make sustainable living accessible and approachable for mainstream audiences.