Why be a minimalist? Leo Babauta's explains at his website Zen Habits:
It’s a way to escape the excesses of the world around us — the excesses of consumerism, material possessions, clutter, having too much to do, too much debt, too many distractions, too much noise. But too little meaning. Minimalism is a way of eschewing the non-essential in order to focus on what’s truly important, what gives our lives meaning, what gives us joy and value. Read more on minimalism here. Below: Spalted Beech Table by Howard Werner.