Joshua Becker
{{Short description|American writer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joshua Becker
| image = Joshua Becker.jpg
| caption = Joshua Becker in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|12|11}}
| birth_place = Aberdeen, South Dakota, U.S.
| alma_mater = University of Nebraska Omaha
| known_for = {{Plainlist|
- ‘’Simplify’’
- ‘’The More of Less’’
- ‘’The Minimalist Home’
}}
| occupation = Writer, Pastor
| website = {{URL |www.becomingminimalist.com}}
}}
Joshua Becker (born 1974{{Cite web|url=https://lifeyourway.net/yesterday-today-tomorrow-in-the-life-of-joshua-becker/|title=Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow in the Life of Joshua Becker|last=Ehman|first=Mandi|date=2014-08-25|website=Life Your Way|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}}) is an American author, writer, and philanthropist.
Becker has written four books on minimalism and intentional living, which have collectively sold hundreds of thousands of copies and have been translated from English into several languages including Chinese, Spanish, German, and Polish. In particular, his books The More of Less and The Minimalist Home have been named best sellers by the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Audible, and Amazon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/303990/joshua-becker|title=About the Author: Joshua Becker|website=Penguin Random House|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}}
He has appeared live on Huffington Post Live, the CBS Evening News and the Wall Street Journal. Becker has spoken publicly on his writing and on minimalism throughout America and internationally.
He maintains the website Becoming Minimalist which was named one of the top ten personal development websites by SUCCESS Magazine in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://oetc.org/2016/09/joshua-becker/|title=OETC Community Interview: Joshua Becker|date=2016-09-16|website=Educational Technology Purchasing Consortium|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.success.com/and-the-2015-successblogstars-are/|title=And the 2015 #SUCCESSBlogStars Are…|date=2015-09-17|website=SUCCESS|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-22|archive-date=2019-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910230018/https://www.success.com/and-the-2015-successblogstars-are/|url-status=dead}} He is currently a contributing writer at Forbes.{{cite magazine |last=Valliant |first=Michael |date=2019-01-15 |title=Uncluttered:Less Stuff and More Adventure |url=https://issuu.com/tidewatertimes/docs/february_2019_tidewater_times_web_m/59 |magazine=Tidewater Times |location=Easton, MD |publisher=David C. Pulzone |access-date=2019-05-08 }}
Early life and education
Becker was born December 11, 1974, in Aberdeen, South Dakota as one of twins. With a sister born about a year later, the three were close in age and had a great influence on each other. His grandfather Harold Salem, a well-known pastor in Aberdeen, instilled a strong work ethic into the children. The family moved frequently.{{Cite news|url=http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/AberdeenAmericanNews/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=SZAMN/2017/12/04&entity=Ar00100&sk=5F934EB1&mode=text|title=Biopic captures pastor's deeds: From 10 to 96, Harold Salem has led a full life|last=Pharris|first=Kelda J.L.|date=2017-12-04|work=AberdeenNews.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-22}} Becker attended junior high and high school in Wahpeton, North Dakota between 1987 and 1992.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/4325861-distraction-happiness-writer-encourages-people-live-less|title='Distraction from happiness'Writer encourages people to live with less|last=Floersch|first=Alexandra|date=2017-09-11|work=The Jamestown Sun|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}} He finished high school at Burke High School in Omaha, Nebraska,{{Cite news|url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/cindy-lange-kubick-a-minimalist-comes-to-town/article_32837bbb-e9f3-5c66-a9fe-0c8df304f56c.html|title=A minimalist comes to town|last=Lange-Kubick|first=Cindy|date=2014-02-06|work=Lincoln Journal Star|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-14}} and stayed there to attend the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he met his future wife.{{Cite news|url=https://az.aaa.com/via/house-home/qa-minimalist-author-joshua-becker|title=Q&A with Minimalist Author Joshua Becker|last=Andrews|first=Avital|date=2019-03-07|work=AAA Via Magazine Arizona|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}} Becker completed a master's degree in theology at Bethel College and Seminary in Minnesota.{{cite book |last=Becker |first=Joshua |date=2016 |title=The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fGPhCwAAQBAJ&q=bethel+seminary+%22joshua+becker%22&pg=PA231 |location=About the Author |publisher=WaterBrook Multnomah |page=231 |isbn=9781601427960 }}
Career
Becker began his career as a pastor in Vermont.{{Cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/peoria/2018/12/15/minimalist-approach-holidays-peoria-resident-joshua-becker-shares-his-tips/2137150002/|title=Feeling holiday stress? Consider a minimalist approach...|last=Hall|first=Derek|date=2018-12-15|work=AZ Central for USA Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}}
In 2008, after a frustrating weekend of cleaning out the garage, Becker realized he was spending more time caring for his possessions than with his family. After this breakthrough, Becker became a writer and pioneer of the minimalism movement with his website Becoming Minimalist, which has garnered a following over a million readers a month and over a million fans on Facebook.{{Cite news|url=https://parade.com/736128/parade/the-top-5-ways-to-declutter-your-home-and-keep-it-that-way/|title=The Top 5 Ways to Declutter Your Home—and Keep It That Way |last=Becker|first=Joshua|date=2019-01-25|work=Parade|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-more-of-less-craft-an_b_10336956|title=The More Of Less: Craft An Intentional Life With Minimalism|last=Chandramouli|first=Devishobha|date=2016-06-08|work=The Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}} He cited that “the practical benefits of owning less are more money, more time, more calm, more freedom.”{{Cite news|url=https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/kids-parenting/how-to-raise-a-minimalist|title=How to Raise a Minimalist |last=Armstrong|first=Lisa|date=2018-10-22|work=Real Simple|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}}
Becker has since downsized 75% of his possessions and written five books and a course detailing his experiences and methods of living a minimalist lifestyle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rd.com/advice/saving-money/minimalism-saved-150k/|title=I Tried Minimalism—and I Saved $150,000 in the Last 10 and a Half Years|last=Black|first=Michelle L.|date=2019-03-26|website=Reader's Digest|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-30}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/realestate/the-gurus-of-tidiness-if-you-like-marie-kondo.html|title=The Gurus of Tidiness: If You Like Marie Kondo …|last=Kaysen|first=Ronda|date=2019-03-29|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-30|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Becker moved from Vermont with his wife and two children to Arizona, where they have remained since.
He shared his family's experience as minimalists in the 2013 film Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things, by American filmmakers Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known professionally as The Minimalists. He also played the role of his pastor grandfather Harold Salem in the film Heart of a Shepherd.{{Cite news|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/entertainment/movies/4431680-movie-premiere-about-sunday-morning-regional-tv-staple-whos-still|title='Movie to premiere about Sunday morning regional TV staple who's still preaching at almost 97'|last=Amundson|first=Barry|date=2018-05-13|work=Duluth News Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-23}}
Inspired by his wife Kim Becker's own experience being adopted, in 2015 Becker and his wife founded The Hope Effect, a non-profit organization for orphan care.{{cite web |url=https://frugaling.org/how-joshua-becker-plans-to-revolutionize-orphan-care-in-2-years/ |title=How Joshua Becker Plans To Revolutionize Orphan Care In 2 Years |author= |date= |website=Frugaling |access-date= 2019-05-09}}
Publications
- Clutterfree with Kids: Change your thinking. Discover new habits. Free your home (2014, Becoming Minimalist) {{ISBN|978-0991438600}}
- Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home & Life (2014, Digital) {{ASIN|B006431ADS}}
- The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own (2016, WaterBrook) {{ISBN|978-1601427960}}
- Polish Translation: Im mniej, tym więcej. (2017, Znak) {{ISBN|978-83-240-4541-9}}
- Chinese Translation: 极简：在你拥有的一切之下，发现你想要的生活. (2016, 天津人民出版社 Tianjin People's) {{ISBN|9787201108971}}
- Spanish Translation: Más con menos. (2017, Unilit) {{ISBN|978-0789923479}}
- German Translation: Weniger macht reich: Entdecken Sie die einfachste Art, glücklich zu leben. (2017, Gerth Medien) {{ISBN|978-3957342270}}
- The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life (2018, WaterBrook) {{ISBN|978-1601427991}}
- Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life (2022, WaterBrook) {{ISBN|978-0593193976}}
References
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Category:People from Aberdeen, South Dakota
Category:People from Peoria, Arizona
Category:University of Nebraska Omaha alumni
Category:Writers from Omaha, Nebraska
Category:Bethel University (Minnesota) alumni
Category:Simple living advocates