This took me forever to get through. While I agree with a lot of the information, it got repetitive and could have been maybe half the length or less and still gotten the points across. This is all about sharing your excess with others in your community and getting what you need from them. The book also discusses the impact of purchases on the environment. I love the idea behind this book and I think this can really work if you're in the right community, as it apparently has with the authors' community. Where I am? Not so much, I guess. The local group's admin is on a power trip apparently and picks and chooses where to enforce the sometimes ridiculous rules. I'd suggest checking out the app that doesn't have an admin and allows users to give and receive from a much larger area than the Facebook groups do.

From reading this book, it seems the authors have more to do with the Facebook groups than I thought. It might be time to reign some things in or cut ties. I've also seen a lot of comments about the authors themselves that weren't so positive so I'd be hesitant to give money to them by buying this book. I mean, shouldn't a book about getting everything for free be FREE anyway? Why not put this out as a digital file and let people download it? Unless the profits are going to charity... which isn't mentioned as what's going on here. I guess my impression of this book/movement was soured by my experiences in the group.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is all about reducing our carbon footprint. They tell you how to start a barter economy in your own neighborhood, so that we can reduce the amount of waste we create in our environment. The first step is to stop buying. The second step is give away items you no longer want or need to someone who does. The third step is to ask your neighbors for what you need. The final step is to use and wear out what you have. If we all come together, and give each other what we need and want, then we won't have so much waste and garbage floating around our oceans and environment. We all need to start some sort of bartering system in our neighborhood.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

You know, I really tried to follow along with the instructions and advice in this book, and it just didn't work for me. I guess I am not the type of person who would relate well to this type of book. But I did give it my best try.

The Buy Nothing Get Everything Plan came out a few weeks ago, and it feels like it was perfect timing for a book like this. With everyone still needing to be close to home for health safety, a reminder to take care of our homes, our neighbors, and our planet has never seemed so timely.

This book is firmly centered on sharing what we have with others. So it is not just about reducing our waste and spending, but about connecting with our neighbors over items freely given to help someone. The concept is terrific as it reduces trash, reduces spending, and reduces production, which then reduces pollution in various forms.

This book is different from many of those on the market as it is anti-minimalist and more about holding onto things because we can eventually give it to someone else. This is a struggle for me as I prefer to get rid of things I’m not using as soon as I recognize that.

I was already leaning towards donating items or putting out a free box on my porch, and I am more inclined to do that now. I have been inspired to make some other changes in my home and in my consumption habits after reading this book.

There is definitely some helpful information in this book such as the list of 50 things that the authors never buy and questions to ask before buying. It's a great way to expand your thinking of free solutions to a potential problem when so many of us just go online and click add to cart. The book makes Buy Nothing groups sound like the most generous experience and people. If I had not been exposed to Buy Nothing groups before reading this I would certainly find one immediately after I started reading. Unfortunately my own experience with those groups has not measured up to what they're describing. Because they want the groups to consist of people who live pretty close to the area you live in, you are limited to only joining the group for your area. If you live in an area with an awesome Buy Nothing group, you may have similar stories to the ones they tell. The group for my area has very little activity and I can't see relying on it for what I want or need. Based on this disconnect and because the book felt repetitive at times, I would give it 3 stars.

Some information at start and then how to incorporate steps. Different ideas and things from author and other people. How the project came to be and making better decisions.

This is a really good book and I recommend it for everyone. A lot of it is new in the genre because of the focus not just on not buying new stuff and reusing old stuff but on how to create a sharing community and why that is so transformative.

The authors have created "buy nothing" groups on small scales in their communities and have used them in really positive ways. They show you how this in-person giving is so much more meaningful than when we just drop stuff off at the thrift store. That really resonated with me, as I do frequently drop off bags and boxes at the thrift store but it doesn't feel nearly as good as when I give something to someone in person. They also show how these communities allow others to find something they can give (services, goods, whatever) so everybody is equal instead of creating an unequal charity environment.

The book is filled with examples of really wonderful things that happened as a result of the communities and networks that were created by these small buy-nothing groups. One actually brought me to tears, when they wrote about how they were able to get together $67,000 worth of tents, solar lights, emergency supplies and other needed goods directly to the people who needed it in rural India after a natural disaster, even getting it there largely for free (two airlines allowed people to bring extra duffels who were flying into the area, one pilot flew there on his own time, etc.). it was all stuff that others didn't need that these people specifically needed, and they were able to very quickly get it there through their networks and ingenuity. In another case, the sense of giving community ended up leading to a baby being adopted by a couple who had lived through 13 miscarriages and countless foster care adoptions that fell through, when they donated baby gear to a pregnant woman who turned out to be contemplating open adoption. Countless stories also reflected the friendships and even marriages created by the sense of community and friendship created through these networks, all while saving people a ton of money and helping the environment.

Two things that didn't work so much for me -- the parts on reusing things, what can be composted, why to buy less, etc. were all kind of preaching to the choir. Most people who'd pick up this book already know all that and it buried the better parts of the book. Also, I really felt the need for some concrete steps and Q&A for people to set up buy-nothing groups. They did give some good info, like limiting the number of people since you want small communities so there's a sense of knowing people and you don't get the greedy mass mentality. But there were so many areas where I wanted more info. What rules do you post? What do you do if someone just takes and doesn't give? What do you do if someone turns around and sells things they got for free? Are things given to the first who asks or the person the giver feels is the best fit? How do you set up a group like this as an introvert who's not inclined towards this kind of community building? I would have loved far more of this kind of nuts-and-bolts info.

All that said, this is a great book that's likely to be very inspirational. I'd love to see far more of these groups started around the world.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

First of all, I absolutely love reading these types of books. In our current political environment, books covering this topic give me hope. This book is extremely positive, and reiterates lessons that we have all come across before. But the lessons and positivity is worth repeating over and over until the world finally gets it.

I enjoyed this book! I’ve read many books on minimalism and a few on living a zero-waste lifestyle, and I liked how this encompasses these ideas and more. For many people, the journey into living a more environmentally-friendly and minimal lifestyle is a lonely one, fighting against a tide of people who can’t be bothered or for whom convenience can’t be sacrificed (for a variety of reasons). The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan reminds us not only that there are others out there who share the same vision, but that joining forces can have the unintended consequences of a more joyful, community-oriented life. I found this book inspiring and I enjoyed the tips and ideas throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan is a tutorial and philosophy guide which proposes practical ways to decrease our carbon footprints, live richly and simply, and provide ourselves with the things we *need* to do well. Released 14th April 2020 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

The pandemic and subsequent economic collapse have shown us what people have known for ages. Our current treadmill of ever faster and more frenetic consuming isn't sustainable for us or for the planet we share. We need to find another way to do better and we're really on the knife-edge of passing the point of no return.

The authors were the originators of the Buy Nothing Project and have seen their grassroots group grow to become thousands of groups and more than a million active members. The book has an engaging and accessible format with usable plans for reducing waste, buying little (to nothing), giving away excess to be used by other people in your area (thus keeping unneeded items out of landfills), and enjoying being surrounded by less clutter and the positive emotional benefits of direct generosity.

I found it worthwhile and thought provoking. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I am a fan of the decluttering/minimalism/reusing genre, so I was very interested in this book, which I received as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!). Many of points made by the authors, proponents of the "Buy Nothing" mindset, are not new to anyone who has read other books in this genre. What sets this one apart is the argument that people should start and/or participate in a local "gift economy," and the advice on how best to do so. The idea is that rather than buying something you want or need, you request it from your network, even if it seems an unlikely 'ask.'

This is where things got tricky for me. While I am all in on the philosophies of cutting consumption, spending, and plastic use, I was both fascinated and a little put off by the intimacy that such a network involves. Indeed, that is - for the right people - one of the other positives of this movement: the creation of community. It bears thinking about the benefits and drawbacks of sharing/borrowing objects during this time of pandemic. It seems problematic in obvious ways, but on the other hand, have we ever needed a sense of community more? Definitely food for more thought.

3.5 stars for this intriguing, if not entirely convincing, read.

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Seattle based authors, and founders of the "Buy Nothing" project have written a timely book to help others see how sharing what we have, using our resources wisely, can assist us in understanding that what we own doesn't have to own us. The premise of shared resources has become a movement in many larger cities. It's on Facebook groups and I know people who use it often. Never make a purchase again without thinking if someone has it, could I borrow it or ask for it from someone who isn't using it anymore. Well written and informative.

I hadn’t heard of the Buy Nothing Project til I began reading this book. While it’s a little different from what I usually review, it caught my eye when I was poking around Netgalley. I requested it because buying reducing my purchases of new stuff (especially plastic and single use items) is a goal of mine for 2020. I don’t buy a lot of stuff but I know I can do better – not jumping to ‘new’ or ‘plastic’ when I do need to purchase something.

"[Buy Nothing] is a philosophy that holds that the key to a joyful life of meaning and abundance on a healthy planet is to pursue every possible alternative before buying anything one wants or needs." (Loc 112)

I started reading with a dose of skepticism. Is this book going to be fluffy or practical? The first part of the book is a bit removed from what I was looking for. After the first three introductory sections, the authors lay out their seven step plan. They describing the logic behind the action, relate anecdotes and reflections on the step, and suggesting concrete actions to enact that step.

1. Give
2. Ask
3. Reuse & Refuse
4. Reflect
5. Make & Fix
6. Share, Lend & Borrow
7. Gratitude

At the beginning, I thought “Okay, this book is more about sharing once you’ve already stopped buying and less about the initial step of ‘buying nothing'”. The first two steps are give and ask. These are interesting and good ideas, but to my way of thinking, they didn’t address how to ‘buy nothing’ in the way I was hoping for. However, the steps and suggestions proposed do eventually get to the practical points which were of most interest to me. The book contains a lot of anecdotes, especially at the beginning, but they provide context for the actionable ideas shared later on. I particularly liked the lists (ex. “10 Things to Reuse Instead of Toss”, “50 Things We Never Buy”) that gave me ideas for some of the niggly purchases/waste I hadn’t yet resolved – such as giving away parcel packaging.

The book also has a more radical tone than I expected. The main takeaway is about supporting community connections through sharing. As the authors note, participating in a sharing economy rather than participating in capitalism has some inherent radicalism in it. I wondered whether the authors would address cultures that have sharing-based economies, or how women are often expected to give, give, give, or how poverty intersects with these ideas – and they do. I appreciate that their ideas aren’t just framed for one type of person.

"People who are struggling financially are bombarded with societal messages that their poverty is shameful, something to be hidden, and we internalize the message that only the financially well-off are “givers,” while those with fewer resources are inherently “takers.” […] Despite the fact that we all have needs and wants, and an innate ability and desire to both give and receive, there are no prescribed ways to do this on equal footing, person to person." (Loc 552 and 559)

This seven step plan hinges on idea of being able to participate in a hyper local sharing economy, where you can give and ask for items you would otherwise purchase. There are thousands of Buy Nothing groups organized on Facebook. I found and joined the one for my area. It only has around 40 members and isn’t very active. Other groups in different parts of the city have over 1,000; the authors point to 500 as the sweet spot for a successful sharing group. My sister joined the group in our hometown – it has 600 members. So your mileage may vary. The notion of fully participating in a sharing group may be idealistic for some of us, but I also found it inspiring. You have to start somewhere! You can see if your area has a Buy Nothing group here.

"This Buying Nothing paradigm shift has grown internationally, and scaled quickly, because it’s filling a deep need that’s been missing in our collective consciousness: the need to share, to connect, to conserve, and to strengthen our resilience through community." (Loc 2940)

The Bottom Line: While the sharing economy may not be the most practical option for readers looking to reduce their environmental footprint by purchasing less, The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan offers many concrete ideas for changing your everyday consumption while strengthening your community.

I loved the whole concept of this book and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

This book doesn't just talk about not buying "luxury" items or "wants" it talks about reducing our consumption as a society as a whole and without missing out on anything that we actually need to do or want to do. You'll still get your item, just not a brand new one. After all sharing is caring, and as someone that cares about the earth, about people, about myself, I am so on board with many of the notions described and discussed in this book!

As suggested in the book, I do think consumerism and the ease of "Amazon Prime" is the cause of a lot of our doom. As someone that is already mindful of purchasing and sometimes reuses and tries to reduce new consumption to the point of hoarding, I think having more people embrace a lot of the ideas shared in this book would be beneficial to our society.

That being said, I think one reason people enjoy "new" items is a fear of germs and dirt. Given our current state with the COVID19 pandemic, I think this fear of germs is exacerbated. Nonetheless, we have seen how the slow down of production has cleared the air and helped the earth (and us). Imagine the difference "Buy Nothing" could do if we all embraced this way of life. I think this book could benefit from a section on correctly cleaning and caring for products or resources to do so in order to engage individuals that have the fear of dirt or germs. As someone with an auto-immune condition, I know this is always a concern in my family, especially when sharing items.

I highly recommend reading this book, and before you make your next purchase, I encourage you to think about "Buy Nothing".

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is excellent and should be read by everyone. As a long time minimalist, this resonated with me. There are great ideas and helpful info here. Hopefully my enthusiasm is enough of an endorsement.

I'm so happy I got a review copy!! Thanks.

I am a thrift shopper enthusiast and have read many books about simple living and minimalism. I am not truly that good at it yet but we live in largely consumable society. It's so easy to go out and buy whatever we need. Then when we no longer need it, it goes to the landfill.

There is a huge movement of people donating items to thrift stores and letting them live another life, but the Buy Nothing plan let's them live another life for someone who has a great need for them.

It includes the idea of rehoming items I personally thought nothing of throwing away because who would want it? This book has opened my eyes because tons of people not only want it they actually need it.

When I saw this book Buy Nothing, Get Everything, I was intrigued. This book authors are the founders of the Facebook-based Buy Nothing non-profit group. It tells the story of founding this organization and many stories about people who have adopted the Buy Nothing philosophy.

It opened my yes to the power of community giving and sharing items.

I recently joined our local community Buy Nothing group and plan and am waiting as we speak for approval so I can offer my first items, boys clothes we no longer need, and a ricketycomputer desk I planed to throw away.

I recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in simpler living, saving money, or conserving our natural resources.

There are tons of ideas in this book for doing all of these things. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book was terrific! I try to live in way of mindful spending but this made me even more conscientious by reminding you of the environmental connection. I admit I was nervous when I began the book but as soon as I read the list of exceptions they include, I relaxed and was ready to apply much of what I learned. Bravo to the ingenious authors!

Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller both found themselves in a situation that could only be solved by someone else's generosity, but at the same time, they both had things that could solve someone's problem. Thus the Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan. Not only is this a book that helps the reader find "things" they need, but also this is a book that helps to create community among the people who participate in the groups.

This movement started in Washington State in the San Juan Islands and has grown nationwide. I think that building community is the more important concept of the book. Because with community, people gain more than the things they are looking for, they also gain new friends.

We live in such a consumable society that it's easy to go out and buy whatever we need. Then when we have used the item and no longer need it, it goes to the landfill. There is an awakening of people to the thought of donating items to thrift stores and letting them live another life, but the Buy Nothing plan let's them live another life for someone who has a great need for them.

This is a great book to help people understand just how much life is in the "things" we own. I give it four strong stars.

My thanks goes to NetGalley.com and Atria Books for providing the galley and allowing me to read and review this book.

I am a dedicated organizer, simplifier and thrift shopper and have read many books about simple living and minimalism. When I saw the title Buy Nothing, Get Everything, I was intrigued. This book is by the two founders of the Facebook-based Buy Nothing non-profit group. It tells the story of the founding of this organization as well as many stories about the lives of people who have adopted the Buy Nothing philosophy. The authors are not so much proposing simple living as they are avoiding buying new items.
Their seven step process includes 1. give, 2. ask, 3. reuse and refuse, 4. reflect, 5. make and fix, 6. share and 7. gratitude. I have been doing many of these things naturally as part of my life, but this book gave me time to pause and reflect on how I could do better. It opened my yes to the power of community for giving and sharing items. I recently joined our local community Buy Nothing group and plan to offer my first item, a wicker chair we no longer need, later today.
This book is recommended for anyone who has an interest in simple living, saving money, or conserving our natural resources. There are tons of ideas in this book for each of these things.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.