Radical Simplicity: A Philosophy of How to Live and Create an Authentic lLfe
I, like many other readers of Radical Simplicity, appreciate on a certain level what Dan Price set out to do, although it would not be a lifestyle we would choose. Living in NYC, I'm surrounded by modern conveniences and luxuries. The other day, I received a set of ladies left handed golf clubs, a symbol of city luxury and leisure. Golfing, an activity often associated with upscale living and manicured greens, stands in stark contrast to the off-the-grid life Dan advocates for. It's funny how the two worlds can collide in a single moment. On one hand, you have the raw, unfiltered, and minimalistic life Dan illustrates, and on the other, the polished tees and greens of a golf course close to the heart of NYC.
I must admit, even with the allure of the golf course and the comforts of city living, there's a charm in Dan's hobbit hole existence. While I may not be ready to trade in my golf clubs for a life in the wilderness just yet, there's a certain allure to the simplicity he promotes.
Nevertheless, living in NYC does have its benefits when it comes to just about any type of service you might need. It's a city of contrasts, and Dan's philosophy provides a refreshing lens through which to view it. I might take a break this evening to chill out and peruse Dan's quirky drawings in his book. They make me smile.
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About the Author
A former news and fine arts photographer, Dan Price is best known for Moonlight Chronicles, a series of hand-lettered and illustrated diaries which he self-published before finding sponsorship from Simple Shoes, a progressive footwear company. He lives in Joseph, Oregon, in ”an 80-square-foot underground room when not on the road pulling crazy stunts like walking across the state … or pedaling over 4,500 miles on a three-wheel racing tricycle to Key West.“ He just recently succeeded in raising two children with his life partner Lynne.
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REVIEWS OF Radical Simplicity
August 22, 2005
Paul Armas Lepisto | TreeHugger Living / Culture
First of all, a couple of confessions. 1.) I’ve been known to threaten family while watching latest Hollywood blockbuster on 30 inch Trinitron that we’re moving off the grid so start polishing up your library cards. 2.) I drove the mile to the library on a sunny day to write this review instead of taking my bicycle (time pressure was my excuse although I still managed to read a battery of periodicals before starting this). 3.) I was inclined to like Dan Price’s book Radical Simplicity and read it straight through. Of course, you can see by numbers one and two that I live in a delusional world where wishes and reality rarely meet and number three? Well, that’s just throwing gasoline on everything. And yet, that is one of the charms of Radical Simplicity. The author is very honest about some of the contradictions he presents (for example, he notes the critical importance of a life mate but cannot change the lifestyle that drives said life mate away - she wasn’t willing to live in a tipi complete with outhouse and sweatlodge), nevertheless, he conducts his life with a certain integrity that seems so sincere that to follow any other path would be the true lie. Another example. He sells his car, walks 350 miles home, praises the merits of riding a bicycle, but, when his life stumbles into a phase where he needs a car again, he gets a car. (For the record, the self-subsistence off-grid tome, Living the Good Life, states that the one thing they could not do without was their pickup truck).
Radical Simplicity is not really a guide to living a life where less is more, rather, one man’s story about evolving a lifestyle which reflects this attitude. If the advanced minimalist finds the philosophical component of Mr. Price’s efforts a bit thin, consider the fact that it is a twenty-odd year journey of self-discovery in which he doesn’t necessarily know the answers and doesn’t consider it a violation of his principles when he finally installs a hot shower of sorts or invests in an expensive copier [although his practice of dismantling, filling in and selling (as in tipi fabric), recycling or burning previous domiciles gives him a harsh introduction to the concept of equity when approaching the banker for copier loan]. And because we have the benefit of twenty years experimentation, the evolution of his less is more takes on a certain sophistication that lends itself to the phases everyone’s life passes through, or, in other senses, the reality that confronts his utopian lifestyle such as theft and ants.
When I summed the merits of this book up and asked myself whether or not it is worth $12.95, one thought flashed through my mind: You might not use Dan Price’s tips to help build your Hobbit hole, but if this book helps you trim 500 square feet off your next real estate purchase, then it’s a value.
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Available at Amazon
Radical Simplicity Paperback – September 6, 2005
Radical Simplicity is a hand-lettered, illustrated book that speaks directly and elegantly to that craving we all have for an authentic life, one that we’ve each “hand made” for ourselves, rather than one dictated by outside circumstances. Author Dan Price, a Thoreau for the twenty-first century, has helped champion a growing trend that’s been variously referred to as “downshifting,” “opting out,” or “simple living.” What makes his book so different and engaging is that he speaks from the authenticity of first-hand experience, for Price is an American original who has made his dreams a reality. His message is: “You can live a life of freedom, in harmony with the rhythms of nature, and your own internal rhythm and creativity. You can live very well with very little money. That’s what I’ve done, and I can show you how.” This is as much a “reading” book as a how-to guide, one that expresses its profound insights into carving out a life of meaning in a beautiful, practical way. It is bound to strike a chord with world-weary baby boomers as well as time-pressured but still idealistic members of the younger generation.
Amazon Reviews
September 8, 2005
*****
essential inspiration
By prinsing
Format: Paperback
This amazing little volume is quite simply (pun intended) brilliant! Whether the small nests you build for yourself are still in your daydreams or your pack is on your back as you head for the meadow of your dreams, this inspiring handbook can serve as guide, mentor and friend. As with all of Dan's books, and if you haven't read them all you "simply" must, they are solid reminders in a crazy world of what really matters, of how little we need to have everything. I just finished Radical Simplicty and my journal is on my lap, my pencil in hand, and I am a child again, making forts out of blankets under tables, sketching entire miniature worlds in which to live out my magic.
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November 5, 2005
*****
Man's Quest For Simplicity
By sketchalo
Format: Paperback
I think Dan Price's life is quite interesting. I would never live in the side of a hill like he does as I enjoy indoor plumbing, but simplifying one's life is something I am trying to do. I am slowing things down each day. I always enjoyed Dan's adventures and Moonlight Chronicle booklets. His life is full of adventure, but it isn't expensive to replicate. I love his drawings, and it makes me happy to know that someone is living on less money; that it is indeed possible nowadays. Gives me hope.
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December 2, 2006
*** Very Radical Living, But Respectful
By BookNerd Seattle
Format: Paperback
I can honestly say that Dan Price leads a radically simple life. I began reading his book, Radical Simplicity, hoping for suggestions on how to simplify my life. Instead, I was given a very enjoyable read about a man who lives similar to Henry David Thoreau in Walden.
When Price was young, he found a cupboard to crawl into with some blankets and a pillow for his Saturday morning nap. Since then, he has sought out small spaces to live. Price built and lived in many different contstructions in his lifetime including tipis, tents, cabins, and his ultimate dream house: a "hobbit hole". Great photos and sketches of these structures (inside and out) are included in this book.
Many people ask Price how he bathes. His solution was to build a sauna (a "sweat box" hut), cool off in the river, and then scrub himself down with biodegradable soap. Since he does not have a refrigerator, Price uses a food dehydrator for meat and plums. Yet he still has a van.
Yes, his lifestyle is too radical for me. Though I don't own a vehicle, I do need the hustle and bustle of a city. I'm more of an "indoor" kind of gal. Still, it's fun to read about someone's current life that's so extremely different from my own.
Given the choice of rereading Radical Simplicity or Walden, I'd pick Walden. But I'm glad I took a couple of hours to read Dan Price's book. If you are a Tolkien fan, you'll at least want to check out the sketches and photos of his hobbit-like home.
You can read more about Radical Simplicity on the book's website. Price also has a website for his other books and his 50+ issues of Moonlight Chronicles.
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May 4, 2008
****Real life escapism.
By T. Crowe
Format: Paperback
I often read Amazon reviews before I read a book. I also like to go back and re-read them after I've finished a book to compare other reviewers' thoughts with my own - sort of a low-end book club, I guess. Besides, the 1 star and 2 star reviews for books are just plain fun(ny) to read sometimes. I have to agree some with both the reviewers that liked the book and with those who didn't.
Many people will appreciate how Dan has chosen to live and many will no doubt have problems with the way he has decided to live separately from his family. Very few will be able to or want to duplicate his lifestyle, however, and there I think is the most valid criticism of the book. This book is not a practical recipe for living simply; but then the book is titled "Radical Simplicity," so I don't think it was intended to be.
This book is an autobiography of a man who has chosen to live a life very different than most people. On that basis I very much enjoyed the book.
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March 27, 2008
* What a flake!
By K. Fischer
Format: Paperback
I was required to read this book for school. Our entire class agrees : Dan Price is a flake who has no concept of simplicity. If everyone is the world lived as he did we'd be extinct by now. He abandoned his wife and kids because he couldn't hack it in civilized society. He claims to only need 80 sq ft of living space, yet he sprawls over 5 acres with a tipi, a sauna, and a studio to house his copy machine. The whole thing is wired for electricity and when he tires of a structure, instead of reusing the materials, he burns it. Very eco-friendly. He mis-quotes Zen philosophy, and has the audacity to compare himself to Thoreau. If you are seeking simplicity and balance in your life LOOK ELSEWHERE!
More Background On RadicalSimplicityBook.com
In an age dominated by consumption, convenience, and ceaseless connectivity, Radical Simplicity by Dan Price stands as a heartfelt counterpoint — a meditation on living with less and finding fulfillment beyond material abundance. The book’s companion site, RadicalSimplicityBook.com, reflects the same stripped-down ethos that defines Price’s work: an unpretentious, self-made portal devoted to his illustrated philosophy of voluntary simplicity, environmental harmony, and authenticity.
Both the book and the website serve as testaments to an artist who turned minimalism into a lifestyle experiment, long before the trend became a social-media hashtag. From his underground “hobbit hole” in Joseph, Oregon, Dan Price has inspired thousands through Radical Simplicity and his long-running Moonlight Chronicles, a hand-lettered journal that documents his daily life, sketches, and reflections on the human condition.
The Philosophy Behind Radical Simplicity
At its heart, Radical Simplicity isn’t a guidebook of rules — it’s an illustrated memoir and philosophical reflection on living meaningfully with less. Price’s message is grounded in the principle that happiness arises not from accumulation, but from deliberate reduction: shedding excess until only what truly matters remains. His journey began decades ago when he abandoned his career as a commercial photographer, sold most of his possessions, and began a lifelong experiment in “downshifting” — living off-grid, debt-free, and close to nature.
The philosophy aligns with movements like “simple living” and “voluntary simplicity,” but Price’s approach is more intuitive and artistic than prescriptive. Rather than offering rigid formulas, he tells stories: of building and dismantling tipis, cabins, and sod dwellings; of raising children without television; and of finding beauty in acts as mundane as boiling river water for tea. His personal narrative becomes a mirror through which readers can reconsider their own relationship to consumption and comfort.
About the Author: Dan Price of Joseph, Oregon
Dan Price is a former news and fine arts photographer who once worked in urban environments before retreating to rural Oregon in search of balance and authenticity. He is best known as the creator of The Moonlight Chronicles, a series of illustrated diaries begun in the 1990s that earned a cult following among artists, travelers, and environmentalists.
His storytelling style — raw, humorous, and visually distinctive — caught the attention of Simple Shoes, an eco-conscious footwear brand that sponsored his work in the early 2000s. That partnership helped him publish and distribute Radical Simplicity more widely, transforming what began as a personal notebook into an internationally recognized philosophy.
Price lives in Joseph, Oregon, in what he describes as an 80-square-foot underground dwelling — a hand-dug, turf-roofed “hobbit hole” that’s both home and art project. When not writing or drawing, he travels the U.S. by bicycle or trike, conducting lectures and workshops on creativity, sustainability, and personal freedom. He has also raised two children with his longtime partner, Lynne.
The Book: An Illustrated Manifesto
Published in 2005, Radical Simplicity: A Philosophy of How to Live and Create an Authentic Life combines drawings, handwritten text, and photographs to form what reviewers describe as an artist’s sketchbook meets personal journal. It’s part autobiography, part environmental tract, and part philosophical reflection.
Readers are introduced to Price’s experiments with minimalist architecture — from tipis and treehouses to the now-famous “hobbit hole” — and to his unconventional routines: bathing in rivers, cooking on open fires, and living without a refrigerator or conventional plumbing. His tone is candid and often self-deprecating, acknowledging contradictions between his ideals and practical compromises.
The TreeHugger review by Paul Armas Lepisto (August 22, 2005) described the book as “not a guide to living where less is more, but one man’s story about evolving a lifestyle that reflects that attitude.” Lepisto noted that Price’s honesty about failure and inconsistency gives the book an integrity often missing in minimalist manifestos.
Amazon reviewers echoed that sentiment. Some praised it as “essential inspiration” and “real-life escapism,” while others found the lifestyle too extreme — one calling it “radical but respectful,” another deeming it impractical for most readers. Even detractors acknowledged that the book’s artistic presentation and sincerity make it memorable.
The Website: RadicalSimplicityBook.com
The website RadicalSimplicityBook.com functions as a simple, low-bandwidth digital companion to the book — a reflection of Price’s minimalist sensibilities. It eschews advertising and commercial clutter in favor of personal essays, sketches, and links to his Moonlight Chronicles series.
The site emphasizes authentic communication over design flash, consistent with Price’s ethos of doing more with less. Visitors find excerpts from his writing, glimpses of life in Joseph, and purchasing information for his publications. Rather than acting as a brand platform, the site feels more like a public journal — an extension of his printed work into digital form.
There’s no elaborate e-commerce system or SEO-optimized copy. Instead, RadicalSimplicityBook.com conveys a rare sincerity: it offers readers an unfiltered connection to the author’s voice and philosophy, inviting them to consider how small acts — sketching, walking, or gardening — can restore meaning to modern life.
Location and Environment: Joseph, Oregon
The town of Joseph, located in northeastern Oregon near the Wallowa Mountains, has become inseparable from Price’s personal mythology. Known for its dramatic landscapes and artist community, Joseph offers a fitting backdrop for his philosophy of self-sufficiency and natural harmony.
Price’s underground home, frequently featured in media coverage and fan visits, blends into the hillside near a meadow he rents for a modest annual fee. It’s small enough to heat with candles and insulated with earth, making it a living experiment in ecological design.
Joseph’s cultural life — a mix of ranchers, artisans, and environmentalists — also shapes Price’s worldview. The local environment allows him to forage, bike, and document seasonal changes, all of which feed directly into his artwork and writing.
Public Reception and Cultural Context
Since its release, Radical Simplicity has achieved cult status among readers seeking alternatives to modern consumerism. It resonates with audiences from multiple generations — Baby Boomers nostalgic for back-to-the-land ideals, and Millennials exploring minimalism as a form of environmental activism.
The book predates the “tiny house” boom by nearly a decade, yet anticipates many of its core themes: compact living, handmade design, and freedom from debt. It also aligns with growing awareness of sustainability and burnout in modern work culture.
In academic and creative circles, Price’s work is discussed alongside Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire — though his tone is more whimsical and visually oriented. Whereas Thoreau wrote with transcendental gravitas, Price sketches daily life in pen and ink, finding transcendence in the ordinary.
Reviews and Critiques
Criticism of Radical Simplicity tends to fall into two camps: those who find it profoundly inspiring and those who see it as naively idealistic.
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Positive reviews highlight the book’s warmth, humor, and humility. Readers admire Price’s willingness to live his ideals and document his contradictions without apology.
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Skeptics question the practicality of his lifestyle, noting that his simplicity sometimes depends on privileges — access to land, modern tools, and a supportive partner — not available to everyone.
The debate itself underscores the book’s cultural impact. By provoking both admiration and discomfort, Radical Simplicity forces readers to confront their own definitions of need, success, and freedom.
Media Coverage and Influence
Beyond reader reviews, Radical Simplicity and its author have been covered in a range of media outlets, from TreeHugger and Utne Reader to regional publications in Oregon. Price’s Moonlight Chronicles were featured in independent bookstores, art festivals, and sustainability fairs across the United States.
While Price never sought mainstream fame, his influence has seeped into environmental art, zine culture, and the slow-living movement. His life’s work demonstrates that authenticity and creativity can thrive outside traditional publishing and media systems.
He has also been referenced in university courses on environmental ethics, illustration, and creative nonfiction, where Radical Simplicity serves as a case study in autobiographical environmental art.
The Broader Movement: Simplicity as Resistance
Radical Simplicity belongs to a lineage of resistance literature — works that challenge the moral logic of consumer capitalism. Yet it diverges from austerity-based minimalism: Price’s version is joyful, tactile, and playful.
His drawings of tiny homes, bicycles, and meadows evoke a world not of deprivation, but of freedom. He frames voluntary poverty not as punishment but as liberation — an act of reclaiming time, attention, and imagination from the demands of productivity culture.
This framing has given his work enduring relevance. In a world now dominated by screens and algorithms, Radical Simplicity reminds readers that connection — to self, to place, and to art — may require intentional disconnection from excess.
Legacy and Continuing Relevance
Two decades after publication, Radical Simplicity feels more prophetic than nostalgic. The minimalist movement it anticipated has since gone mainstream, yet few have matched Price’s sincerity or artistic voice.
Younger audiences discovering his work online find not just a lifestyle guide but a document of creative freedom — proof that art and life can be fused without corporate mediation. The website remains a quiet outpost on the web: free from advertising, SEO manipulation, or influencer aesthetics.
For those weary of digital clutter and social media performativity, RadicalSimplicityBook.com offers an antidote — a return to the handwritten, the hand-built, and the human.
Dan Price’s Radical Simplicity is more than a book or a website — it’s a living philosophy etched into the soil of Joseph, Oregon. Through words and drawings, Price invites readers to imagine an alternative to the culture of accumulation.
While few will follow his path into an 80-square-foot underground home, many will find in his example a renewed sense of perspective: that meaning, creativity, and happiness often thrive not in abundance, but in restraint.
RadicalSimplicityBook.com continues to preserve and extend this message — a quiet digital meadow where art, life, and nature coexist in simple harmony.