The Minimalists

Millburn was born June 29, 1981, in Dayton, Ohio; his family often lived on food stamps.{{cite book |last1=Millburn |first1=Joshua |title=Everything That Remains |date=2014 |publisher=Asymmetrical Press |isbn=9781938793189 |page=8 |edition=1 |url=https://www.theminimalists.com/etr/}} Nicodemus was also born in 1981{{cite book |last1=Nicodemus |first1=Ryan |title=Everything That Remains |date=2014 |publisher=Asymmetrical Press |isbn=9781938793189 |page=V |edition=1 |url=https://www.theminimalists.com/etr/}} and raised as a Jehovah's Witness; his parents separated when he was seven. His family moved around when he was a child, eventually settling in Ohio when he was eight years old.{{cite book |last1=Nicodemus |first1=Ryan |title=Love People, Use Things |date=2021 |publisher=Celadon |isbn=9781250236517 |page=24 |edition=1 |url=https://www.theminimalists.com/lovepeopleusethings/}} Both Millburn and Nicodemus experienced alcohol and drug abuse in their childhood homes. They became close friends as elementary school students.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/profile-the-minimalists-ryan-nicodemus-and-joshua-millburn.html|title=The Minimalists want you to be happy with less|last=Chayka|first=Kyle|website=The Cut|access-date=2020-06-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zachconway/2017/03/06/the-important-things-an-interview-with-joshua-fields-millburn-of-the-minimalists/#4b10b1a62e87|title=Joshua Fields Millburn of The Minimalists lives a deliberate life with less|last=Conway|first=Zach|website=Forbes|access-date=2020-06-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/does-a-less-is-more-life-bring-happiness/article6318598/|title=Does a less-is-more life bring happiness?|last=Posner|first=Michael|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2020-06-05}}

By age 28, both Millburn and Nicodemus held managerial positions at a regional telecommunications company. Millburn was the director of operations in charge of 150 retail stores; Nicodemus handled sales and marketing.{{Cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3936587/minimalism-brings-maximum-satisfaction|title=Minimalism brings maximum satisfaction|last=Raymond|first=Ken|website=The Oklahoman|access-date=2020-06-05}} Millburn had everything he ever wanted and bought things he did not need, but he was in debt and unhappy.{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Catherine |title=Meet the successful people stepping back, taking stock and letting go |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/letting-go_n_4980357 |access-date=2020-06-05 |website=HuffPost}}{{Cite magazine |last=Sanburn |first=Josh |title=Minimalist living: when a lot less is more |url=https://time.com/3738202/minimalism-clutter-too-much-stuff/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511193300/http://time.com/3738202/minimalist-living-when-a-lot-less-is-more/ |archive-date=May 11, 2017 |access-date=2020-06-06 |magazine=Time}} A reporter for the Birmingham News called them "the embodiment of upwardly mobile, busy, fashionable, unhealthy, wasteful young professionals."{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/living/2014/02/would_you_give_away_all_your_s.html#incart_river_default|title=Would you give away all your stuff? Two guys say they did, and it turned them into minimalists|last=Garrison|first=Greg|website=Al.com|access-date=2020-06-05}}

Millburn's mother died of lung cancer in October 2009. In the same month, his marriage ended. Rather than renting a storage unit for his late mother's possessions, Millburn donated them.{{cite web |last1=Millburn |first1=Joshua |title=Letting Go: Dealing with the Death of a Loved One |url=https://www.theminimalists.com/dealing/ |website=theminimalists.com |access-date=9 May 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Sentenac |first=Hannah |title=The Minimalists: five ways to be happy with less stuff |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/the-minimalists-five-ways-to-be-happy-with-less-stuff-6485426 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=Miami New Times}} He then discovered Colin Wright, a minimalist and traveler. Millburn connected with other minimalists—Leo Babauta, Courtney Carver, and Joshua Becker, among others—and began to adopt a minimalist lifestyle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/feature/the-pursuit-of-less|title=The pursuit of less|last=Yusof|first=Helmi|website=The Business Times|access-date=2020-06-06}} He moved into a smaller home and soon helped Nicodemus to do the same. Nicodemus adopted a similar philosophy to Millburn, organizing a "packing party" and disposing of most items he owned in a few weeks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2016/04/28/learning-happy-with-less/XEoOJESMGXh98FdqprYtCL/story.html|title=How minimalism teaches you to be happy with less|last=Sullivan|first=James|website=Boston Globe|access-date=2020-06-06}}{{Cite web |last=Yi |first=Nicole |title=How becoming a minimalist can help you live a happier life |url=https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Minimalism-Can-Make-You-Happier-43370994 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=POPSUGAR}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/22/minimalists-discover-more-in-living-with-less/|title=Minimalists discover more in living with less|last=Sholley|first=Diana|website=The Mercury News|access-date=2020-06-06}}{{cite AV media |last1=Millburn |first1=Joshua |last2=Nicodemus |first2=Ryan|url=https://www.theminimalists.com/podcast/#000 |website=www.theminimalists.com |url-status=live |archive-date=Jul 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705185635/https://www.theminimalists.com/podcast/#000 |language=en |access-date=1 August 2023 |title=Who Are The Minimalists? |type=Podcast}}

Millburn and Nicodemus launched their website in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/may/01/do-something-decluttering|title=Why tidying up could change your life|last=Buist|first=Erica|website=The Guardian|access-date=2020-06-17}} They have since published books, launched a podcast, and produced two feature-length documentaries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/a-life-with-less-why-everyones-throwing-all-their-stuff-out/news-story/dae723c60c78e5580e6e772e758e4d4d|title=A life with less|last=Gillan|first=Kimberly|website=News.com.au|access-date=2020-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/six-techniques-to-declutter-your-home-for-a-satisfying-start-to-the-new-year-1.218087|title=Six techniques to declutter your home|last=Hamburgh|first=Rin|website=The National|access-date=2020-06-17}} They have spoken at Harvard, Apple, and Google, and they have given two TEDx Talks: "A Rich Life with Less"{{Cite web|url=https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/8-ted-talks-aspiring-minimalist/|title=8 TED Talks for the aspiring minimalist|last=Marano|first=Tessa|website=1 Million Women|access-date=2020-06-17}} and "The Art of Letting Go."{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecollegeagency.com/the-minimalists.html|title=The Minimalists |website=The College Agency|access-date=2020-06-17}}

In 2011, still working corporately, Millburn was asked to craft a plan to close eight retail stores and terminate 41 workers. Millburn chose to resign in protest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/minimalist-millennial-quit-job-and-shed-possessions-2014-1|title=Why this millennial quit his 6-figure job and gave away most of his possessions|last=Goudreau|first=Jenna|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-06-17}} Shortly after, Nicodemus was laid off.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/minimalists-simple-living-advice-lives-homes/story?id=51742806|title=How The Minimalists use their simple living advice in their own lives and homes|last=Lefferman|first=Jake|website=ABC News|access-date=2020-06-17}} Later in 2011, they self-published their first book, Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life, and went on a 33-city book tour.{{cite news |last1=Short |first1=Sharon |title=Duo's blog on minimalism grows well beyond minimal |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/entertainment/books--literature/duo-blog-minimalism-grows-well-beyond-minimal/9sKcM1DZsICZbVwGK1UiRI/ |access-date=9 May 2021 |work=Dayton Daily News |date=11 August 2012}}

In 2012, Millburn and Nicodemus left Dayton and moved to Philipsburg, Montana, where they wrote the first draft of their memoir, Everything That Remains.{{cite news |last1=Devlin |first1=Vince |title=Friends pursuing minimalist lives find Philipsburg fitting |url=https://missoulian.com/lifestyles/territory/friends-pursuing-minimalist-lives-find-philipsburg-fitting/article_1c5792ea-252e-11e2-b84e-001a4bcf887a.html |access-date=9 May 2021 |work=Missoulian |date=4 November 2012}} The Boston Globe referred to this experiment as living "like Henry David Thoreau, but with Wi-Fi."{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2012/12/19/like-henry-david-thoreau-but-with-wifi/AXbWgbzx9PLGwJ1jfgeQvL/story.html|title=Like Henry David Thoreau, but with Wi-Fi|last=Plumb|first=Taryn|website=The Boston Globe|access-date=2020-06-17}}

In 2013, they moved to Missoula, Montana and founded a publishing company, Asymmetrical Press, with minimalist Colin Wright; it has since has published more than 30 fiction and nonfiction titles for nine authors.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Asymmetrical Press |url=http://asymmetrical.co/ |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Asymmetrical Press}}{{Cite web |last=Bauer |first=Tom |title=Minimalists start unique publishing company in Missoula |url=https://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/minimalists-start-unique-publishing-company-in-missoula/article_2a33166a-7f0f-11e2-8715-0019bb2963f4.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2020-06-17 |website=Missoulian}} Asymmetrical Press republished Millburn's semi-autobiographical novel about a struggling singer-songwriter, As a Decade Fades.{{Cite book |last=Millburn |first=Joshua Fields |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1150018073 |title=As a decade fades |date=2013 |publisher=Asymmetrical Press |isbn=9781938793028 |location=Columbia, Mo |oclc=1150018073}} Also in 2013, Nicodemus, Millburn, and Wright went on two speaking tours: March's "Spring into Minimalism Tour" in the United States, and June's "Alberta Mini-Tour" in Calgary and Edmonton.{{Cite web|url=http://asymmetrical.co/go-1/|title=Upcoming Asym events|last=|first=|website=Asymmetrical Press|access-date=2020-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2479728546|title=The Minimalists|last=Rackow|first=Frank|website=CBC|access-date=2020-06-17}}

In 2014, the Minimalists published their memoir, Everything That Remains. To support the book, they went on a ten-month, 119-event bookstore tour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/artsandentertainment/two-widely-followed-minimalists-plan-ba-tour-stop-tuesday/article_f29e87f3-aa08-526d-bc82-94bc138b6d3b.html|title=Two widely followed 'minimalists' plan BA tour stop Tuesday|last=Watts|first=James|website=Tulsa World|access-date=2020-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://asymmetrical.co/everything-tour/|title=Meet The Minimalists during the 100-city Everything That Remains tour|last=|first=|website=Asymmetrical Press|access-date=2020-06-17}} During their 2014 tour, Millburn and Nicodemus established Minimalist.org, a website with 100 free local meetup groups in eight countries.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Minimalist.org |url=https://www.minimalist.org/ |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Minimalist.org}} Groups meet monthly to discuss minimalism, decluttering, careers, finances, relationships, and more.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Simon |title=Things to make you go mmm: Melbourne Minimalist Meetup brings together more people with less |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-13/melbourne-minimalist-meetup-attracts-more-people-with-less/6936360 |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=ABC News}}

In 2015, they published Essential, an essay collection promoted as "the best of the Minimalists." The book included many of their most popular online writings plus some new essays. That spring they were joined by several authors from Asymmetrical Press, as well as the musician Skye Steele, for their "Wordtasting Tour," visiting 42 cities across the western United States and Canada.{{Cite web|url=http://asymmetrical.co/wordtasting/|title=WordTasting Tour 2015|last=|first=|website=Asymmetrical Press|access-date=2020-06-17}} At the end of the year, they started The Minimalists Podcast, an audio and video show in which they discuss minimalism, decluttering, and simple living.{{Cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-minimalists-podcast/id1069757084|title=The Minimalists Podcast|last=|first=|website=Apple Podcasts|access-date=2020-06-17}}

Millburn and Nicodemus released the first episode of The Minimalists Podcast in December 2015. Originally recorded in a conference room at the University of Montana, it has been recorded at the Minimalists' studio in Hollywood, California, since 2018. On the podcast, Millburn and Nicodemus bring a guest into their studio to answer audience questions and to discuss "what it means to live a meaningful life with less." Previous guests include 2020 United States presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, actress Jennette McCurdy, former megachurch pastor Rob Bell, writer Glennon Doyle, columnist Dan Savage, and scientist Andrew McAfee, among others.

The Minimalists do not sell advertising time, believing it would be hypocritical to write about minimalism while advertising material products. Their podcast is listener-supported. They sometimes begin episodes of their podcast with the phrase, "This episode of the Minimalists is brought to you by nobody because advertisements suck." Millburn expanded on this stance in an essay entitled "Can We Have an Honest Conversation About Advertisements?"{{Cite web |last=Millburn |first=Joshua |title=Can we have an honest conversation about advertisements? |url=https://www.theminimalists.com/ads/ |access-date=2020-06-17 |website=The Minimalists}}

In 2016, the Minimalists released their first feature-length film, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things, directed by Matt D'Avella. The film features interviews with journalist Dan Harris, sociology professor Juliet Schor, and neuroscientist Sam Harris, among others, and follows Millburn and Nicodemus during their 2014 tour. Before its theatrical release, the Minimalists visited fourteen U.S. and Canadian cities on their "Documentary Tour" to premiere the film with live audiences.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newswire.com/news/gathr-films-acquires-minimalism-a-documentary-about-the-important-things-8122495|title=Gathr Films Acquires Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things|last=|first=|website=NewsWire|access-date=2020-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/06/gathr-films-international-canadian-release-documentary-minimalism-1201682645/|title=Gathr Films goes international with Canadian release of documentary 'Minimalism'|last=Erbland|first=Kate|website=IndieWire|access-date=2020-06-17}} Originally released by Gathr Films on May 24, 2016, it played in roughly 400 theaters in the United States, Canada, and Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2019/04/review-minimalism-convinces-audiences-to-focus-on-happiness|title=Review: 'Minimalism' convinces audiences to focus on happiness|last=Zhang|first=Ryan|website=The Dartmouth|access-date=2020-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.treehugger.com/minimalism-documentary-about-important-things-4858149|title='Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things'|last=Martinko|first=Katherine|website=Treehugger|access-date=2020-06-17}}

Millburn and Nicodemus partnered with Minimalissimo magazine and online publication 5 Style in 2016 to create Minimalism Life, a project that houses community journal articles, minimalist wallpapers, and a series of letters called Inside Minimalism.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Minimalism Life |url=https://minimalism.life/ |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Minimalism Life}}

In 2017, the Minimalists set out on their 50-city "Less Is Now Tour," presented by Live Nation, across America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Also in 2017, they moved to Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/the-minimalists-tell-us-how-to-do-more-with-less-20170912.html|title=The Minimalists tell us how to do more with less|last=Wyman|first=Carolyn|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|access-date=2020-06-17}} In 2018, Millburn and Nicodemus traveled to the U.S. South with a team of financial experts from Ramsey Solutions for their “Simply Southern Tour,” the theme of which was “money and minimalism.”{{Cite web|url=https://www.louisville.com/events/minimalists-simply-southern-tour-special-guest-chris-hogan|title=The Minimalists: Simply Southern tour with special guest Chris Hogan|last=|first=|website=Louisville Magazine|access-date=2020-06-17}}

In 2019, production began on their second feature-length film, The Minimalists: Less Is Now, also directed by D'Avella. The documentary was released worldwide by Netflix on January 1, 2021, and features interviews with radio host Dave Ramsey, Greenpeace USA’s executive director Annie Leonard, pastor and futurist Erwin McManus, and others.

In 2020, the Minimalists finished writing their fourth book, Love People, Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works, a relationship book that was written to “move past simple decluttering [and] show how minimalism makes room to reevaluate and heal the seven essential relationships in our lives.” Love People, Use Things was published on July 13, 2021, by Celadon (Macmillan Publishers Ltd) in the United States and Canada, and Hachette in the United Kingdom and Australia.{{Cite book |last=Millburn |first=Joshua Fields |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1249027207 |title=Love People, Use Things : Because the Opposite Never Works |date=2021 |publisher=Hachette Australia |isbn=978-0-7336-4585-3 |location=Sydney, NSW |oclc=1249027207}}

In January 2021, The Today Show selected Less Is Now for “Hoda and Jenna’s Documentary of the Month Club.”{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/video/hoda-and-jenna-s-documentary-of-the-month-club-the-minimalist-99457605735|title=Hoda and Jenna's documentary of the month club: 'The Minimalists'|last=|first=|website=The Today Show|access-date=2021-04-09}} In 2022, The Minimalists: Less Is Now, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy award for “Outstanding Directing Team for a Single Camera Daytime Nonfiction Program.”{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=2022-05-05 |title=Daytime Emmy Nominations 2022: Beyoncé Earns First Nod, 'The Young and the Restless' Tops 'General Hospital' |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/daytime-emmys-nominations-2022-beyonce-young-and-the-restless-1235258925/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} That same year, the Minimalists completed their 20-city Love People, Use Things book tour in North America.{{Cite web |title=The Minimalists - 2022 Tour Dates & Concert Schedule |url=https://www.livenation.com/artist/K8vZ9174mbf/the-minimalists-events |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Live Nation |language=en-US}}

In December 2024, The Minimalists were featured as an answer on the game show Jeopardy!: "Simple-living duo Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are proponents of this, where less is more."{{Cite web |title=Watch {{!}} Jeopardy.com |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/watch |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=www.jeopardy.com}}

The Minimalists have been covered broadly by the media. They have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, Time, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and they have been featured on the Today show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Nightline, and many other outlets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/26/fashion/gifts-experiences-four-seasons-hotels.html|title=Experiences with a bow on them|last=Kenny|first=Katie|website=The New York Times|access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-podcasts-are-the-new-self-help-books-for-stressed-americans-11566494128?tesla=y|title=Why podcasts are the new self-help books for stressed Americans|last=Diamond|first=Jason|website=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/columnist/2012/11/20/craig-wilson-final-word-minimalist/1699177/|title=Final word: pull up a box and have a minimalist holiday|last=Wilson|first=Craig|website=USA Today|access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Minimalism-Ryan-Nicodemus-Joshua-Fields-4132582.php|title='Minimalism': Ryan Nicodemus, Joshua Fields Millburn|last=DuShane|first=Tony|website=SFGATE|access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/07/living-with-less/374544/|title=Living with less|last=Rosen|first=Rebecca|website=The Atlantic|access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/video/meet-the-minimalists-who-made-life-better-with-less-1340838979559https://www.today.com/video/meet-the-minimalists-who-made-life-better-with-less-1340838979559|title=Meet The Minimalists who made life better with less|last=Kent|first=Jo Ling|website=Today|access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwrmPDYCk_Q&feature=youtu.be|title=De-cluttering your way to happiness|last=|first=|website=CBS News|access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/minimalists-simple-living-techniques-lives-homes-51759236|title=How 'The Minimalists' use their simple living techniques in their lives and homes|last=|first=|website=ABC News|access-date=2020-06-28}} The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called the duo "dogma-free exemplars of a less-is-more lifestyle that actually sounds sane as they explain it."{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Tony |title=Better living through podcast listening |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/tony-norman/2017/03/31/Tony-Norman-best-podcasts-Ezra-Klein-Show-S-Town-With-Friends-Like-These/stories/201703310209?pgpageversion=pgevoke |access-date=2020-05-31 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}

GQ estimated the Minimalists have a following of around 20 million people.{{Cite web |last=Bunker |first=Jordan |title=How to be a minimalist |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/expert-advice-on-how-to-become-a-minimalist |access-date=2020-05-31 |website=GQ}} In 2016, the Washington Post estimated the blog had a readership of five million readers.{{Cite news |last=Merry |first=Stephanie |title=Our memories aren't in our things |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/05/25/our-memories-arent-in-our-things-a-movie-explains-why-having-less-stuff-makes-you-happier/ |access-date=2020-05-31 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

The Chicago Tribune said, "They call themselves 'the minimalists,' but a more apt title might be 'the meaningfulists.'"{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-0101-minimalist-life-20130101-story.html|title=Paring down, branching out|last=Elejalde-Ruiz|first=Alexia|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2020-06-28}} Slate referred to the Minimalists as "the country's leading evangelists on the virtues of living with less."{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/05/the-minimalists-everything-that-remains-is-a-new-memoir-about-living-with-less.html|title=A new memoir about what happens when you get rid of all your stuff|last=|first=|website=Slate|access-date=2020-06-28}} And the Orlando Sentinel claimed that "Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus—The Minimalists—made minimalism cool."{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-osig-organize-your-mindset-20170613-story.html|title=Organize your mindset|last=|first=|website=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=2020-06-28}}

New York Magazine wrote that The Minimalists had become the ringleaders of the minimalist living movement due to the "charm of their buddy-act". Millburn and Nicodemus notoriously greet fans with a hug, often enough that they have been labeled "huggers" by certain media outlets.{{Cite web |last=Khvan |first=Olga |title=The Minimalists are coming to Boston |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2014/06/11/minimalists-boston/ |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=Boston}}{{Cite web |last=Friedlander |first=David |title=Interview: Joshua Fields Millburn of The Minimalists |url=https://lifeedited.com/interview-joshua-fields-millburn-of-the-minimalists/ |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=LifeEdited}}{{Cite web |last=Spicer |first=Emily |title=Being a minimalist has its limits |url=https://www.expressnews.com/lifestyle/article/Being-a-minimalist-has-its-limits-5311042.php |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=San Antonio Express-News}}

The Minimalists have, however, been accused of being "elitists" whose message is "aesthetically crafted from a place of privilege."{{Cite web |last=Zietsman |first=Gabi |title=The Minimalists: Less Is Now |url=https://www.news24.com/channel/movies/reviews/the-minimalists-less-is-now-20210107 |access-date=2021-04-09 |website=channel24}} After attending one of the Minimalists' live talks in Cincinnati in 2017, Kyle Chayka, a writer for New York Magazine, said the event was "halfway between a TED Talk and a hipster-megachurch sermon—the crowd [was there] for easy answers delivered in familiar patterns...[T]hough, on the surface, their message is more or less positive, there's a tacit pessimism to Millburn and Nicodemus's movement. Rather than trying to change this mindset of austerity (whether through therapy, politics, or protest), they advocate making do with the lack." Chayka also criticizes the Minimalists' "relentless self-promotion" in the same article.

Critiquing the privileged background of the Minimalists in the New Yorker, Jia Tolentino writes, "It is rarely acknowledged, by either the life-hack-minded authors or the proponents of minimalist design, that many people have minimalism forced upon them by circumstances that render impossible a serene, jewel-box lifestyle. Nor do they mention that poverty and trauma can make frivolous possessions seem like a lifeline rather than a burden."{{cite magazine |last1=Tolentino |first1=Jia |author-link=Jia Tolentino |title=The Pitfalls and the Potential of the New Minimalism |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/02/03/the-pitfalls-and-the-potential-of-the-new-minimalism |access-date=9 May 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=27 January 2020}} Like Tolentino, various critics see "minimalism as a lifestyle that smacks of privilege—a form of conspicuous un-consumption," according to the Star Tribune in Minnesota. "People who are poor have no choice but to get by with less....Indeed, images of curated spaces on Pinterest showing off white bedspreads and sparse furniture suggest that minimalism can become just another version of keeping up with the Joneses."{{Cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/no-couch-one-car-how-these-minnesotans-are-living-with-less/423184063/|title=How these Minnesotans are living with less|last=Shah|first=Allie|website=StarTribune|access-date=2020-05-30}}

In a New York Times op-ed, Stephanie Land called into question the class politics of decluttering. "Suddenly, decluttering is everywhere," she wrote. "But minimalism is a virtue only when it's a choice, and it's telling that its fan base is clustered in the well-off middle class. For people who are not so well off, the idea of opting to have even less is not really an option." She then accuses Millburn and Nicodemus's anti-consumerism movement of being "just another form of social shaming."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/18/opinion/the-class-politics-of-decluttering.html|title=The class politics of decluttering|last=Land|first=Stephanie|website=The New York Times|access-date=2020-05-30}}

Jillian Steinhauer, in New Republic, opined that the Minimalists overlook systemic causes of consumerism, writing, "Millburn and Nicodemus's 2016 film Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things combines footage of people storming big-box stores for sales with social scientists talking about how advertising drives us to consume, but the word 'capitalism' is never uttered during its 78 minutes. I caught one mention of 'inequality.' Instead of digging into systemic problems like poverty or exploring ideas of wealth redistribution, the film frames having less as an individual, moral choice with no political strings or implications."{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/156800/hollow-politics-minimalism|title=The hollow politics of minimalism|last=Steinhauer|first=Jillian|magazine=The New Republic|access-date=2020-05-30}}

Another Globe and Mail article, "Consumerism Is Good for the Soul," by Margaret Wente, outlines what she perceives as the Minimalists' hypocrisy: "[Millburn] bought a lot of stuff, but it didn't make him happy. So he ditched his job, his house, his car and his wife and moved to a cabin in Montana with his best friend, Ryan, who was also sick and tired of empty material success. 'Less is more,' he says. Now the two have launched a cottage (or cabin) industry advising other people on how to live minimally, which includes a book you can buy for $14.83 on Amazon."{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/consumerism-is-good-for-the-soul/article6387110/|title=Consumerism is good for the soul|last=Wente|first=Margaret|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2020-05-30}}

In an article titled "Your 'Minimalist' Lifestyle Is Quasi-Religious Anti-Poor Bullshit," Vice (magazine) condemned the Minimalists as "glowing examples of asceticism-as-solution," ascribing "deeply religious" motives to their movement and noting that they "just happen to be close friends with evangelical legend Rob Bell." The article goes on to claim that "'slow' and 'simple' stuff tends to be considerably more expensive and time-consuming than buying [things at] Walmart or Tim Hortons."{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/your-minimalist-lifestyle-is-quasi-religious-anti-poor-bullshit/|title=Your 'minimalist' lifestyle is quasi-religious anti-poor bullshit|last=Wilt|first=James|website=Vice|access-date=2020-08-13}}

Alongside Sarah and Joshua Weaver, Millburn and Nicodemus opened Bandit Coffee Co., a coffeehouse and cafe in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2016.{{Cite web |last=Stark |first=Michelle |title=A new wave of coffee shops is taking over Tampa Bay-—and they're serving much more than coffee |url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/food/2019/09/11/a-new-wave-of-coffee-shops-is-taking-over-tampa-bay-and-theyre-serving-much-more-than-coffee/ |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Tampa Bay Times}}{{Cite web |last=Habuda |first=Meaghan |title=Bandit Coffee's three-day buzz kicks off Saturday |url=https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/article/20764143/bandit-coffees-three-day-buzz-kicks-off-saturday |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Creative Loafing Tampa}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Minimalists' choice |url=https://banditcoffee.co/products/theminimalists |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Bandit Coffee Co.}}{{Cite web |last=Stark |first=Michelle |title=At Bandit Coffee Co. in St. Petersburg, coffee and community go hand in hand |url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/food/2019/09/11/at-bandit-coffee-co-in-st-petersburg-coffee-and-community-go-hand-in-hand/ |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Tampa Bay Times}}

With the support of their followers, the Minimalists contributed to various philanthropic projects throughout the 2010s. During that decade, they built two orphanages, provided relief to the victims of Hurricane Harvey, supported the survivors of the Orlando and Las Vegas mass shootings, funded a high school for a year in Kenya, installed clean-water wells in three countries, constructed an elementary school in Laos, and purchased thousands of mosquito nets to fight malaria in Africa.{{Cite book |last=Millburn, Joshua Fields |first=Nicodemus, Ryan |title=Love People, Use Things |date=13 July 2021 |publisher=MacMillan Publishers |isbn=978-1-250-23651-7 |location=New York, NY 10271 |pages=169–170 |language=en}}

In 2020, they raised money to help build Gem City Market, a nonprofit grocery co-op in their hometown, Dayton, Ohio, which has one of the largest food deserts in the United States.{{Cite web |title=Dayton Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com//dayton/news/2019/05/29/gem-city-market-moving-forward-with-planning.html |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}

In 2022, the Minimalists partnered with Ramsey Education to “teach personal finance to every middle- and high-school student in Dayton.”{{Cite web |last=Millburn |first=Joshua Fields |date=2022-04-06 |title=This Much Debt Is Gross! |url=https://www.theminimalists.com/foundations/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=The Minimalists |language=en-US}} Their efforts provided the Foundations in Personal Finance curriculum to many schools in Ohio.{{Cite web |title=theminimalists |url=https://www.ramseysolutions.com/sponsorships/schools/theminimalists |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Ramsey Solutions |language=en-US}}

• 2011, Minimalism (Asymmetrical), self-help
• 2014, Everything That Remains (Asymmetrical), memoir
• 2015, Essential (Asymmetrical), essays
• 2021, Love People, Use Things (Celadon/Macmillan), relationships

• 2012, As a Decade Fades (Asymmetrical), novel, by Millburn

• 2016, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (Netflix)
• 2021, The Minimalists: Less Is Now (Netflix)

• Simplify Everything{{cite web |last1=Millburn |first1=Joshua |title=Simplify Everything |url=https://www.theminimalists.com/simplifyeverything/ |website=The Minimalists |access-date=28 June 2023}}

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