American writer
Joshua Becker (born 1974[1]) 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.[2]
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.[2]
He maintains the website Becoming Minimalist which was named one of the top ten personal development websites by SUCCESS Magazine in 2015.[3][4] He is currently a contributing writer at Forbes.[5]
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.[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]
Career
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]
