Kate Humble is an absolute national treasure and this alter offering doesn't disappoint. In turn brave fearless, loyal and funny this account will stay with me;

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I really enjoyed reading Kate Humbles experiences with a simpler way of life but it was in far less detail than I expected.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the digital copy to review.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I picked it up. I certainly enjoyed it but would say that the title is perhaps a little misleading. Kate certainly travels around and speaks to lots of different people about their lifestyles but I'm unsure whether that was the type of book I wanted to read/pick up. Overall though, a well thought out and interesting read.

An interesting insight into the year, but unfortunately failed to hold my attention. Best read as a dip in and out book.

This made me think more about how to live life more aware of what I am buying and the impact on the environment and how we can do more with less. Having more stuff is not necessarily the route to happiness. I have enjoyed some of Kate’s programmes and tv and really enjoyed this book.

I enjoyed this book, though it wasn't what I was expecting. I thought I would read about a woman who was advocating living simply and suggestions of ways to do that. Instead it was more of an experiment looking at ways that other people live, which was still interesting but not what I expected. After a break in France the author wants to buy property there. Then she learns more about eco houses in Amsterdam and Mexico. She covers self sufficiency and hiring people to help. She must have spent a lot of money to do all these things which made it seem less accessible but I suppose it could be argued she tried these things so that we don't have to. An interesting read even if wasn't about living simply in the way I thought it would be.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

It isn’t really ‘what is says on the tin’ because anyone with the means to just buy a place in France because they like the remoteness, or fly to Mexico to learn more about eco houses isn’t really living simply - you will not learn how to live a ‘simple life’ reading this book. However, it will get you to think about the importance of nature, of being able to walk in the fresh air, of growing your own fruit and veg.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not what I expected, and unfortunately came across as quite pretentious and arrogant. Not for me I'm afraid, which is sad as I was really looking forward to reading it.

This book by the popular tv presenter was not what the title proposed. I thought it would be a diary of tips and exercises in how to live sustainably but instead a essay of a middle class woman having the funds to travel.around the world to discover new ways of living.

Living simply by flying first class around the world? Give me a break. This was a middle class journey through back slapping and self congratuary hypocrisy, un aware of the luxury lifestyle the author is living.

There are plenty of books out there on minimalism but most leave you feeling cold and empty. A Year of Living Simply leaves you feeling like you've just had a warm cuppa with a friend and set the world to rights. It is inspiring and comforting.

I very much enjoyed this book, rather than being the manual to living simply I expected it was more of a diary which I liked the format of. The author is lucky enough to be able to go and experience different ways of doing things and I was interested to learn about the innovations in other countries for not only sharing resources but skills and how they are moving away from the throwaway society we have become. I would love to think this is how we could progress in the UK moving forward and apart from anything else it would surely form stronger local communities.

I reviewed this on the podcast I do with Liz Jones and recommend it as an interesting and engaging read.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Aster Publishing.

I've long admired Kate Humble and how she doesn't feel the need to conform to society expectations of how to live.

There were some sections in this book that dragged for me and didn't interest me, like the Earthship chapter. I was expecting the book to be more about Kate at home and how she lives her life.

My favourite quote:
"Our hands are made to make. But our society and the way we educate our children dismissed manual labour - it is only for those who have failed, who are not intellectually up to doing anything else."

I didn't read this but my husband did and he said he really enjoyed it so much so he wants to buy it.

This is definitely a guide to living simply if you have money and a lot of it. This can be no more than a novelty read as it doesn't at any point offer solutions or advice that your average joe can use.

Ridiculous

A book full of life lessons, inspiration, humour - and plenty of tasty recipes! A Year of Living Simply is ...simply brilliant!

This book is not what I expected at all, and not in a good way!

When I picked up this book, I was looking for inspiration but all I found was how to use your money to try a different lifestyle, which you decide to label as “living simply”.

Still a fun read but nothing more than that.

I would like to thank the Publishers, NetGalley, and the Author for sending me a copy of this book.

what a fantastic read! recommend if you are curious about living more simply - inspiring and a joy to read.

Kate Humble is a well-known TV personality – my family and I have watched her present Animal Park with Ben Fogle for years now and enjoy her cheery down to earth demeanour which is reflected in the style of this book. She shares with us a year on her Welsh smallholding and holiday home in France, while contemplating the joys and possibilities of a simple life. She quotes the famous naturalist Thoreau who famously lived for a year in a log cabin in a quest to live simply from the land, and although her log cabin in France is rustic bliss for a holiday, she realises some interactions with the modern world are necessary! She goes on to examines different aspects of a simpler, lower footprint life and talks to a range of interesting people, from all over the world, along the way.
Her description of decluttering her own cabinets and enthusiastic planting of heritage vegetables that fails miserably in spite of a professional gardener’s help is hilarious, honest, and helps you identify with her quest. I also enjoyed her description of walking her dogs out in nature.
After Covid and Lockdown, it was a tonic of a book to accompany our own rethink of how to live more simply. It’s something we have been trying to do with some time, and the array of people Kate encounters who build eco housing, repair and mend rather than consume, live in a community where resources (like knowledge and vegetable gluts) are shared, is all inspirational – she also provides links if you want to follow up on these at the end of the book so it’s informative without being preachy. As she says, we are all together on Spaceship Earth and a simple life is not necessarily a totally convenient one. Well done Kate and thank you Octopus for providing this book via NetGalley for review.