Three Books One Theme

Last week I finished reading three books. All unrelated yet upon reflection they seem to have a common theme: longing for simplicity.

The first book, A Plain Life, I read about on Starry Sky Ranch's blog. Kim writes

Scott and his wife Mary Ann walked away from an yuppie urban existence to embrace a Quaker lifestyle as a result of their "pursuit of a more meaningful life together and the spiritual gifts... uncovered along the way." He tells the story of their journey in the context of his physical journey, by foot, from their small town in Ohio to the DMV in Columbus where he deposited his driver's license. His reasons for doing so, particularly since the day he arrived was the day the license was due to expire anyway were personal rather than practical and articulated as he walked.

Then I read about Beyond the Sky and Earth: A Journey into Bhutan on another blog and I can't remember whose. The book is sort of a memoir, written by a Canadian woman, who'd never traveled out of Canada yet decided she wanted "more" of life and signed up to teach in Bhutan. Before going, she did a bit of research on the country only to find that it hadn't changed much since it's beginnings: no electricity, running water.

Once there, the author had culture shock and difficulties adjusting but eventually fell in love with Bhutan - mostly, the simplicity.

sidenote: A few months ago, I borrowed from the library a BBC documentary on the Himalayas and learned about Bhutan's phalax fetish on their buildings as well as other interesting things about Bhutan. National Geographic also had an article on Bhutan in March.

The third book is Lone Soldier: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. I've been fascinated by special forces for a while. I just don't understand their drive and how they can endure the training let alone their job. My husband wrote a review of it so I won't bore you with the details.

However, the theme of simplicity seemed to ring in that book, too. The most important thing in life is not stuff but people.