The buy nothing, get everything plan Discover the joy of spending less, sharing more, and living generously

Liesl Clark, 1966-

Book - 2020

A powerful, environmentally-conscious guide to decluttering, saving money and growing a community inspired by the ancient practice of gift economies where neighbors pooled resources includes seven steps to learning how to buy less and give more.

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Location Call Number   Status
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Subjects
Genres
Nonfiction
Published
New York : Atria Books 2020.
Language
English
Main Author
Liesl Clark, 1966- (author)
Other Authors
Rebecca Rockefeller (author)
Edition
First Atria Books hardcover edition
Physical Description
269 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 241-246) and index.
ISBN
9781982113797
  • Introduction: How We Came to Buy Less and Share More
  • Why We Should Buy Nothing
  • The Plastic Age
  • A Clean Solution
  • The Psychology of Consumerism
  • Drowning in Stuff
  • The Unexpected Joy of Buying Nothing
  • An Invitation to Buy Nothing
  • Try Our 7-Step Buy Nothing Challenge
  • The Rules
  • Exceptions
  • Step 1: Give
  • Himalayan Teachings
  • The Importance of Having Something to Give
  • An Economy Built on Giving
  • Step 1: Give
  • How to Give
  • Regarding Gift Economies, Women, Poverty, and Wealth
  • How to Create a Gift Economy Group
  • Gift of Self
  • We Invite You to Give
  • Step 2: Ask
  • Money Separates Us, Gift Economies Connect Us
  • We've Forgotten How to Ask
  • A Buy Nothing Wedding
  • Step 2: Ask
  • All Gifts Have Equal Value
  • Unexpected Connections
  • We Invite You to Ask
  • Step 3: Reuse & Refuse
  • An Experiment in Buying Nothing
  • Why Shopping Feels Good and Buying Nothing Can Feel Better
  • Life Less Groceries
  • Step 3: Reuse & Refuse
  • 50 Things We Never Buy
  • Make Every Day a Special Occasion
  • We Invite You to Reuse & Refuse
  • Step 4: Reflect
  • The Thrill of Shopping
  • Step 4: Reflect
  • We Invite You to Reflect
  • Questions to Ask Before You Buy Something
  • Step 5: Make & Fix
  • Be a Producer, Not a Consumer
  • Step 5: Make
  • Fix It!
  • 50 Things We Make
  • We Invite You to Make & Fix
  • Step 6: Share, Lend & Borrow
  • Create Your Shareocracy
  • Step 6: Share
  • 50 Things We Share
  • 50 Things We Lend & Borrow
  • We Invite You to Share, Lend & Borrow
  • Step 7: Gratitude
  • Step 7: Gratitude
  • The Ultimate Gift
  • We Invite You to Express Gratitude
  • Just the Beginning: Buy Nothing for Life
  • Share Your Experience
  • Start Over and Over and Over Again
  • Challenge Yourself to Buy Nothing Longer
  • Buy Mindfully
  • A Vision for the Future
  • Giving Networks as Aid Organizations
  • Saving the Earth, One Give, Ask, Share at a Time
  • Real-World Sharing
  • Acknowledgments
  • Appendix
  • References
  • Index
Review by Booklist Review

Troubled by plastic waste littering the beach, Clark and Rockefeller began a campaign to reduce the use of plastics in their Washington State community. As they weaned themselves and their families from bags and wraps, they also began noticing just how many other things they purchased and eventually threw away. Concern for the environment led them to start the Buy Nothing Project, which strives to reduce trash and increase community connections by sharing or gifting used objects. The authors present a seven-step challenge that encourages readers to think before buying, gift unused items, borrow instead of purchase, fix still-usable items, repurpose leftovers, recycle what's left, and be grateful to those who share. Not only do members save space and money, they also often find themselves forming warm relationships between givers and receivers. Clark and Rockefeller offer specific steps on how to set up local groups (with or without social media), and participants share their heartwarming stories. Hopefully their work will inspire others with stuffed closets and storage lockers to do the same.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review

Cofounders of the Buy Nothing Project Clark and Rockefeller offer a seven-step manual that teaches readers how to buy less, give more, and live generously. Based on a project in which neighbors actually bought nothing but shared and pooled resources, this guide presents concrete suggestions on how to avoid buying plastic, create a gift economy group, and find inventive ways to lend and borrow different items. This book not only enlightens readers on the consequences of using disposable goods but encourages them to think outside the box and envision the unforeseen blessings of sharing and using less. VERDICT A great springboard to finding an antidote to consumerism.

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