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Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want Hardcover – February 18, 2025

by Courtney Carver (Author)

90 ratings

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From an expert on simplicity and minimalism, a collection of 30 practices to overcome chronic overwhelm, cultivate self-compassion, and find permission to do less–perfect for readers of Rest is Resistance and Wintering.

Being Gentle is about being grounded in self-compassion and a fierce commitment to less—becoming the Gentle You isn’t about taking the easy road. Organized into three parts—Rest, Less, and Rise—Courtney Carver's Gentle provides simple challenges and practices that will help readers radically and gently shift their pace, headspace, and heart.

Becoming the Gentle You is a practice of real self-care that, over time, will soothe your nervous system and strengthen your relationships.

Gentle is the “don’t do it all” self-help book that promotes less stress and more joy by standing in your light and honoring the person you are.

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WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

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"If you want to live more intentionally and feel liberated in your life, Gentle can help guide you there. This is a beautiful call in for us all."―Alexandra Elle, New York Times Bestselling Author of How We Heal

"Gentle will shift your assumptions about what it takes to live a ‘successful’ life. Rejecting the old rules of hustle culture, this book is an invitation into real self-care that goes way beyond face masks and bubble baths. The simple practices laid out in each chapter are the permission slip we all need to stop measuring ourselves by our accomplishments, instead trusting ourselves and embracing a rhythm that frees us to actually enjoy our lives.”―Camille Styles, Editor-in-Chief of camillestyles.com

"Courtney's honest and relatable storytelling, combined with practical steps and heartfelt wisdom, makes Gentle a must-read for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. Her message of prioritizing rest, letting go of unnecessary burdens, and rising with renewed purpose is not only empowering but also incredibly achievable. This book is a treasure for those looking to reclaim their time, energy, and peace.”―Dawn Madsen, The Minimal Mom

"Courtney’s beautiful book is the antidote to hustle culture and a must-read for anyone who feels too stressed and busy to enjoy the people and things that matter to them. With practical guidance and tiny steps to implement at the end of each chapter, Gentle can help you ease your way into a more peaceful life, with increased vitality, presence, and joy."―Lori Deschene, founder of Tiny Buddha

"If you need to free yourself from the grind, this book will show you the way. With her signature grace and compassion, Courtney offers one tiny step after another to a gentler, slower, kinder way of life—culminating in a book that feels more like self-release than self-help." ―Erica Layne, founder of The Life On Purpose Movement

“Talk about the right book, at the right time! Evergreen and enlightening, Gentle is a much-needed manual on not just how but more importantly why we need to be intentional about caring for our whole selves—now more than ever.”―Christine Platt, author of The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less

"Anyone who is burnt out should read Gentle. Courtney Carver’s three-part approach to taking your life back from overwhelm is transformative and refreshingly simple. If you’re looking for a permission slip to rest and a guide on how to do it without giving up on your goals, this is it."―Victoria Hutchins, author of Make Believe, forthcoming Spring 2025

About the Author

Courtney Carver is the author of Soulful Simplicity and Project 333, and bemorewithless.com and The Simplicity Space, a membership program and community full of mostly women who are reducing stress and simplifying life. She also co-hosts The Soul & Wit Podcast with her daughter, Bailey. She has been featured in countless articles, podcasts, interviews, including O, The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Vogue, Success, BBC, The Guardian, today.com, Good Morning America, CNN, USA Today, Forbes, PBS, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balance (February 18, 2025)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1538765217
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1538765210
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.91 x 0.97 x 8.42 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #33,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #76 in Personal Time Management
- #132 in Stress Management Self-Help
- #528 in Happiness Self-Help

Customer Reviews:
90 ratings

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Courtney Carver

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Courtney Carver writes things. She wrote a book called Soulful Simplicity and the simplicity blog, bemorewithless.com. She shares things that make her laugh and cry on Instagram (@bemorewithless). She doesn't know her Myers Briggs Type but she knows she's an introvert because she needs to be free from humans several times a day (cats and dogs are always welcome).

Carver doesn't have an impressive degree, awards, or a big, fancy home full of stuff. Instead, she selectively surrounds herself with her favorite things and people she loves. She does work she truly cares about, goes on adventures (in the world or in her own backyard) and likes chai lattes with almond milk while reading or writing.

Her newest book, Project 333 is about the minimalist fashion challenge she created in 2010 and how you can simplify your life by simplifying your closet. It will be available on 3-3-20 published by Penguin Random House.

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90 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book encouraging and easy to follow, with practical steps for reducing stress. The writing style is approachable, and the tone is kind, with one customer noting how it makes them feel calm. The book emphasizes tiny steps and permission slips for rest, and customers appreciate its humor and memorable content.

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Advice Writing style Tone Step size Restfulness Humor

24 customers mention "Advice"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's advice encouraging and practical, providing concrete steps to become less stressed. One customer describes it as a wonderful mentor in simplifying life, while another notes it offers a gentle approach to changing one's life.

"...is exactly what people want; more rest, less stress, and to have a life they want. Thank you, Courtney Carver for writing such a great, gentle book!" Read more

"Gentle reminders and roadmaps throughout this book broken down by topics divided into the main three sections of “Rest, Less, and Rise.”...." Read more

"...you need to hear to go on this journey of being gentle, of taking care of yourself, of having fun in life again, of feeling good on your journey to..." Read more

"...As always, Courtney has such a simple, gentle way of telling us exactly what we need to hear just when we need to hear it...." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing style"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as approachable and action-oriented, with one customer noting it's filled with gentle steps and another mentioning its focus on rest.

"One of the best books I have read in years. It is easy to read with all the information on how to put being "gentle" into action and with tiny steps..." Read more

"...Courtney is so kind and thoughtful in her writing. She has done her work and is willing to share what she has learned along her amazing journey...." Read more

"...I love that each chapter is a quick read, making it easy to understand and apply with suggested tiny steps along with an accompanying permission..." Read more

"...She has a marvelous way of putting into words what you need to hear to go on this journey of being gentle, of taking care of yourself, of having fun..." Read more

8 customers mention "Tone"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's tone, describing it as gentle and kind, with one customer noting that it makes them feel calm.

"...Courtney is so kind and thoughtful in her writing. She has done her work and is willing to share what she has learned along her amazing journey...." Read more

"...I have heard so many times before, and I am finding it to be a helpful little voice." Read more

"...I have both a hardcopy and the audiobook, and I love listening to Courtney in her own words and then making notes and tabs in my hardcopy book...." Read more

"...Courtney is so kind and thoughtful in her recommendations...." Read more

5 customers mention "Step size"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the gentle approach of the book, which includes tiny steps and permission slips for rest.

"...on how to put being "gentle" into action and with tiny steps and permission slips, it is simple to follow along...." Read more

"...is a quick read, making it easy to understand and apply with suggested tiny steps along with an accompanying permission slip reminding me to be..." Read more

"...I especially enjoy the 'permission slips' as a little voice telling me exactly the opposite of what I have heard so many times before, and I am..." Read more

"...The tiny steps and loving permission are just so good...." Read more

4 customers mention "Restfulness"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on rest, with one mentioning the concept of "Rest First" as a radical thought.

"...This book is exactly what people want; more rest, less stress, and to have a life they want...." Read more

"This book was a much-needed breath of fresh air. Such a radical thought to Rest First...." Read more

"“Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want” is a must read for anyone looking to make rest and restoration a daily practice..." Read more

"Permission to rest and to find your gentle life...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and memorable, with one mentioning it helps them have fun in life again.

"...life examples, research and expertise making it all approachable and memorable...." Read more

"...this journey of being gentle, of taking care of yourself, of having fun in life again, of feeling good on your journey to who you really are and to..." Read more

"...Gentle has substantive content, has a unique perspective, is interesting, and offers accessible steps to achieve what Carver refers to as 'living..." Read more

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Serena
Gentle
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2025
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One of the best books I have read in years. It is easy to read with all the information on how to put being "gentle" into action and with tiny steps and permission slips, it is simple to follow along. I've learned so much on how to actually live a simpler and more gentle life. This book is exactly what people want; more rest, less stress, and to have a life they want. Thank you, Courtney Carver for writing such a great, gentle book!

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2 people found this helpful

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Linda A. Bryan
This book is a Reference Book for LIFE
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2025
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I purchased the audible version and while I was listening to Courtney’s wisdom I knew I would have to purchase a hard copy so I could dog-ear the pages and write notes in the margins for future reference. This book is a keeper, it is written in an action oriented way. Courtney gives little steps to take after each chapter and if those feel to big, she gives you even smaller baby steps to take. Courtney is so kind and thoughtful in her writing. She has done her work and is willing to share what she has learned along her amazing journey. She writes in such a way that it helps you examine your belief systems without judgement. I am buying this for all my girlfriends! I absolutely loved this book.

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4 people found this helpful

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Theresa Diulus
Approachable and memorable
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2025
Verified Purchase
Gentle reminders and roadmaps throughout this book broken down by topics divided into the main three sections of “Rest, Less, and Rise.”. I love that each chapter is a quick read, making it easy to understand and apply with suggested tiny steps along with an accompanying permission slip reminding me to be gentle as I go. Courtney’s writing is friendly in style interspersed with real life examples, research and expertise making it all approachable and memorable. I kept finding myself marking sections to tell a friend or family member about that I thought they might find helpful or interesting before I was a third of the way through the book! The beauty of this book is you could open to any chapter you find of interest if you’d like - it doesn’t need to be read from front to back. You can read any one chapter and find great value. This would make a great gift book and I will be a using as a reference book to go back to, I know.

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4 people found this helpful

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Melissa Parcel
Lovely Book
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2025
Lovely book about creating space and peace in life.

Carver explores three larger topics: Rest, Less, and Rise, and has many chapters that focus on each of those in more detail. I loved that she starts the book with Rest, because that is the thing that I feel as if most women struggle with. We are always told to do more, and even our simplification tasks focus on the "doing." The author builds her case for being gentler with ourselves by focusing on rest rather than pushing to do more.

It seems counter-intuitive, but this book makes a great starting point if you're overwhelmed with stress and too much on your plate. Starting from a place of being rested, focused, and calm helps you to decide what is most important and eliminating the extras.

There are some things that I didn't care for and things I thought she spent too much time dwelling on, but I just chose to focus on what was important for me and what would work for me and set the rest aside.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer
Permission to rest and to find your gentle life.
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2025
Verified Purchase
Courtney Carver is a wonderful mentor in simplifying your life. She has a marvelous way of putting into words what you need to hear to go on this journey of being gentle, of taking care of yourself, of having fun in life again, of feeling good on your journey to who you really are and to how you really want to live your life. LOVE it!!

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Cynthia Lewis Yeo
A Much Needed Break
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2025
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This book was a much-needed breath of fresh air. Such a radical thought to Rest First. There is this constant push to do more, achieve more, buy more, be more, which leaves us tired, overwhelmed, and burned out. This book is the much-needed alternative to all of that doing. Instead of pushing through ease through, instead of doing more, be intentional about what you do, what you buy, and do less. As always, Courtney has such a simple, gentle way of telling us exactly what we need to hear just when we need to hear it. My best advice for this book, take your time with it and gently go through it, do all the tiny steps, and enjoy it.

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Ellen T. Siminoff
Type-A Achievers Read This :)
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025
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I'm a type-A achiever and I highly recommend this book if, like me, you've been thinking it's time to simplify. Not just decluttering, but your experience of how you go through your days. This book provides concrete ideas to be more gentle to yourself, delivered in a clear and non-judgmental way. I especially enjoy the 'permission slips' as a little voice telling me exactly the opposite of what I have heard so many times before, and I am finding it to be a helpful little voice.

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rshanks
The Most Practical and Readable Self-Help Book on the Market!
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025
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I'm a therapist and so I received an early recording of this book and had the pleasure (yes, pleasure!) of listening to the author, Courtney Carver, read it. I often get bored reading or listening to self-help books as they are repetitive, dry, and seem impossible to do most of what they suggest -- but Gentle is the opposite. Gentle has substantive content, has a unique perspective, is interesting, and offers accessible steps to achieve what Carver refers to as 'living the life you actually want." I love the "permission slips" that set me free from external pressures, to honor my own needs, guilt-free.

I have now purchased a copy of this book for every one of my clients, as this book has something to offer for everyone and is transformative on many levels. We can all benefit from tools to learn how to rest, do less and rise (the Gentle "seasons"). Becoming our best selves doesn't happen by pushing through, grinding or burning the candle at both ends.

Thank you, Courtney Carver, for giving us gentle practices and giving us all permission to live the life we actually want.

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Meghan Clifford
Great mind shift
Reviewed in Canada on April 5, 2025
Verified Purchase

Thank you so much for this wonderful book ! Cortney has made me think my priorities in many areas of my life to live in a more gentle life with ease

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Heather K.
We All Need More Gentle
Reviewed in Canada on February 20, 2025
Verified Purchase
Gentle by Courtney Carver spoke to me in a way that felt both calming and affirming. Her compassionate approach to simplicity, self-care, and intentional living aligns with the small, meaningful changes I’ve been making in my own life.

I appreciated her reminders to slow down, set boundaries, and focus on what truly matters without guilt or pressure.

While some concepts were familiar, Courtney's personal stories made them feel fresh and deeply relatable.

This book reinforced my commitment to living with more ease and authenticity, making it a perfect companion for my ongoing journey of self-discovery and transformation.

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Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want Hardcover – February 18, 2025

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great mind shift

5.0 out of 5 stars We All Need More Gentle

Great mind shift

We All Need More Gentle