The quest for the simple lifeMorgan Housel’s newest book, ‘The Art of Spending Money,’ is a must-read. As Housel puts it, spending money has less to do with spreadsheets and more to do with psychology — envy, aspiration, insecurity and what we think other people think. Housel refers to William Dawson’s The Quest of the Simple Life (1907), noting that those who pursued wealth often remained unhappy, while those who embraced simplicity appeared more content. Dawson’s “simple life” is not defined by poverty or austerity; it may include comforts and luxuries. The goal is not to live without money, but to ensure that money does not overshadow meaning.
