Joshua Becker

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.[1][6] Becker attended junior high and high school in Wahpeton, North Dakota between 1987 and 1992.[7] He finished high school at Burke High School in Omaha, Nebraska,[8] and stayed there to attend the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he would meet his future wife.[9][3] Becker attended graduate school at Bethel College and Seminary and completed a master's degree in theology.[10]

Becker began his career as a pastor in Vermont.[7][11] 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.[12][13] He cited that “the practical benefits of owning less are more money, more time, more calm, more freedom.”[14]

Becker has since downsized 75% of his possessions and written 5 books and a course detailing his experiences and methods of living a minimalist lifestyle.[15][16] Becker moved from Vermont with his wife and two children to Arizona, where they have remained since.[7][9]

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.[7] He also played the role of his pastor grandfather Harold Salem in the film Heart of a Shepherd.[6][17]

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.[15][18]

• 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