Interview with Paul Borthwick
about "Simplify: 106 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life"

Added March 10, 2008

Joyce: Welcome Paul Borthwick to In the Library Reviews!

Your book, Simplify: 106 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life was very enjoyable to read and offered many practical insights.

Now, I need to ask a burning question: Why 106 ways? Is there a significance to that number?

Paul: The number has no specific significance. We listed our suggestions in each area (time - money - physical fitness - leisure, etc, and there were 106.

Joyce: Who is the target audience for this book?

Paul: Anybody who is feeling overburdened, stressed, overspent, overtired, and too busy to read a book like this! More specifically, it addresses directly followers of Christ who are doing a lot but who are missing the "rest for your souls" balance that Jesus promised.

Joyce: It hasn't been that long ago that life seemed so much easier. What happened within the last few decades that propelled us into the frenzied fast line of life?

Paul: Three things have happened somewhat concurrently. The massive increase in technology has dramatically increased our ability to communicate, be informed, etc. Second, we are living in the age of "overchoice" (an word coined by Alvin Toffler), and we love our choices, but choosing takes time and energy (if I go looking for a TV show to watch, I could change the channel once ever 60 seconds, and I would not exhaust my choices in an hour). Finally, our American expectations about life have added stress to our budgets and time; things that were once luxuries for the super-rich (mobile phones, multiple cars, etc.) are now commonplace and expected - but they add demands to our time and our use of money.

Joyce: Your book mentioned that people's patterns or habits could actually increase the chaos in their lives. What is the first step to changing this situation?

Paul: The first step is to do an analysis of how we got there (most do not become over-committed or over-spent overnight. Then, start making 1 or 2 applications to start the process back towards balance and simplifying.

Joyce: Why is "being still" such an important part of simplifying our lives? What role does spiritual well-being play in finding more peace and tranquility?

Paul: Being still and cultivating our spiritual well-being both point to what the Quakers called "centering down" - taking time to focus on God as the center of our lives. Ceasing our striving and realizing that God is in control can deeply help us win the battle against anxiety and stress.

Joyce: Money-related problems can certainly add stress to our lives. What are some ways we could begin to start fixing our finances?

Paul: Start by evaluating your budget and start working towards living within or below your means. Spending beyond our income is what gets us into mountains of anxiety-producing credit card debt. I also encourage people to buy slowly, beware the manipulation of advertisers, and limit purchases to things that will not involve taking loans (through credit cards especially) - with the possible exceptions of homes, education, and perhaps a car.

Joyce: You're a prolific writer and I hope to be reading and reviewing your next work. Are you writing a book now? Can you give us a preview of the topic?

Paul: Right now I'm working on an updated version of my book How To Be a World Class Christian, a simple guide that helps Christians understand how they can be more informed about and involved in the world.

Joyce: Thank you for answering my questions.

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This page was last updated on March 10, 2008

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