Is bigger really better when it comes to living? Is excess all there is anymore?

Architect Sarah Susanka, author of the bestseller The Not So Big House, tackles what is arguably the biggest area of all — life. In The Not So Big Life, Susanka shows readers how to slow down and minimize through simple exercises and inspiring stories. Susanka's tips create small shifts, but those small shifts are what create a larger movement of simplicity and peace.

Susanka, a bestselling author, architect, and cultural visionary, has been named a "Fast 50" innovator by Fast Company, a "top newsmaker" by Newsweek, and an "innovator in American culture" by U.S. News & World Report.

I'm not usually a fan of homework exercises, but although The Not So Big Life does have some homework (Susanka recommends creating a notebook to collect thoughts, and offers exercises that will assist the reader with making changes and improving their existence), it's well worth it. The work creates more than a to-do list--it's a life list that can be reflected on, refined and redefined again and again.

While I'm as guilty as the next person regarding packed, busy lives (especially when it comes to multi-tasking), after reading The Not So Big Life I've at least become more aware of it and am I taking steps toward being present, one task at a time.

So, all you Type-A personalities out there — I know I'm not alone — The Not So Big Life just might help you slow down and appreciate the finer points in life. It sure helped me.