The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda: 9780262539470 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books (2025)

FAQs

What is the law of simplicity? ›

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful.” John Maeda is a graphic designer and computer scientist. His book, The Laws of Simplicity, proposes ten laws for simplifying complex systems in business and life. Think of it as simplicity 101.

The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction. Organization makes a system of many appear fewer. Savings in time feel like simplicity. Knowledge makes everything simpler.

Simplicity is the state or quality of being simple. Something easy to understand or explain seems simple, in contrast to something complicated. Alternatively, as Herbert A. Simon suggests, something is simple or complex depending on the way we choose to describe it.

Simplicity avoids waste, teaches economy, avoids value clashes complicated by greed, fear, peer pressure, and a false sense of identity. From simplicity grows generosity and sharing. Simplicity is putting others first with kindness, openness, pure intentions - without expectations and conditions.

The principle of simplicity or parsimony—broadly, the idea that simpler explanations of observations should be preferred to more complex ones—is conventionally attributed to William of Occam, after whom it is traditionally referred to as Occam's razor.

The law of simplicity indicates that our mind perceives everything in its simplest form. The image below, for example, when studied in depth is made up of individual components that have no meaning when viewed separately, yet our mind automatically perceives them in combination to spell out the word 'logo'.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Simplicity

382 E) as being perfectly simple (haplous) and true, both in word and deed. In such "simplicity"--openness, sincerity, freedom from double-mindedness--man most resembles God and is most open to His visitation and blessing.

“Occam's razor, or the principle of parsimony, tells us that the simplest, most elegant explanation is usually the one closest to the truth.”