Additional information
by Miriam Meissner (Author)
Less Is Not Enough examines the rise of minimalist self-help, showing how it depoliticizes middle-class frustrations with capitalist exploitation, and proposes a cultural strategy to channel minimalist desires into a more radical, postgrowth politics.
In the past decade minimalist self-help has exploded, from tidying guides to media detoxes which promise to help affluent middle classes navigate a world of excess-too much clutter, stress, and distraction. Here, Miriam Meissner exposes the limits of minimalism in addressing both middle-class overload and the environmental crisis. Through a critical analysis of self-help books, TV shows, and online communities, she argues that while minimalism is well-intended, it ultimately distracts from the root causes of the very problems it seeks to alleviate. Trends like decluttering and mindfulness depoliticize middle-class frustrations with the capitalist exploitation of labour, attention, and ecology for profit. In an era where climate justice and class struggle are inseparable, this book proposes an eco-political strategy that refuses to pit middle-class interests against the demands of a just green transition.Author Biography
Miriam Meissner is Assistant Professor of Culture and Political Ecology at Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Her previous publications include Narrating the Global Financial Crisis (2017), Global Garbage (2016) and The Routledge Companion to Urban Imaginaries (2018). Her current research focuses on postgrowth and cultural politics.
Number of Pages: 304
Dimensions: 0.69 x 9.21 x 6.14 IN
Publication Date: April 16, 2026
