This book is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should consult his or her medical, health, or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.
Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.
Copyright 2018 by Ashlee Piper
Illustrations copyright 2018 by Paige Vickers except where noted.
Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the authors intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the authors rights.
Running Press
Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.runningpress.com
@Running_Press
First Edition: June 2018
Published by Running Press, an imprint of Perseus Books, LLC, a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, Inc. The Running Press name and logo is a trademark of the Hachette Book Group.
The Hachette Speakers Bureau provides a wide range of authors for speaking events. To find out more, go to www.hachettespeakersbureau.com or call (866) 376-6591.
The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
Print book cover and interior design by Frances J. Soo Ping Chow Illustrations: by GettyImages/kyuree
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017961282
ISBNs: 978-0-7624-6448-7 (paperback), 978-0-7624-6449-4 (ebook)
E3-20180522-JV-PC
Navigation
I love Ashlees honest and fun writing style. Its so refreshing to read the truth about topics people like to pretend dont exist. Big fan!
Daniella Monet, actress and activist
Become the superstar human you kind of knew you were but needed guidance on becoming read this book and you (and the whole, wide world) will be better for it.
Kathy Freston, New York Times bestselling author of The Lean, Veganist, and Clean Protein
Saving the world can seem like a pretty daunting feat without a guidebook to start you on the right path. This is that book. Ashlee Piper gives you all the inspiration, information, and instruction you need to make those small changes that can have a huge impact.
Annie Shannon, bestselling author of Betty Goes Vegan and Mastering the Art of Vegan Cooking
A smart, quick, useful, and, yes, hilariously profane guide to living in ways that will make the world a far better place. Who knew being good could be so much fun?
Suzy Welch, New York Times bestselling author of 10-10-10 and co-author of The Real-Life MBA
Give a Sh*t is like having every savvy article on going greenfrom how to properly recycle to tips on creating a non-toxic beauty routineall in one place. Its the perfect dose of eco-guidance for anyone craving real, no-BS advice.
Greta Eagan, author of Wear No Evil: How to Change the World with Your Wardrobe
This is the guide well-intentioned-but-overwhelmed people have been waiting for. Thoughtful, funny, and utterly practical.
Natalie Slater, author of Bake and Destroy: Good Food for Bad Vegans
Ashlee makes a strong case that its not so hard to give a shit. She makes it chic to be eco-friendly for a new generation of consumers who dont want to choose between efficacy and sustainability. This book is so on point!
Leila Janah, CEO and founder, Samasource and LXMI and author of Give Work: Reversing Poverty One Job at a Time
Ashlee Piper is a maven of consciousness, a conduit to kindness, and a green glamazon of the highest order. She preaches the ethos Ive been espousing for decades: you can look like a fox and still be truly good to the planet and all its inhabitants. This is a book all sustainable-curious, committed plant-eaters, and green fashionistas should have handy.
Chlo Jo Davis, founder/editor of GirlieGirlArmy
Fun, friendly, and girl-powered (but dishing out the skinny on some serious stuff), this book will chat its way into your heart and, more importantly, into your choices. Pipers plan for saving animals and the planet also has you spiffing your style and living to the fullest.
Victoria Moran, author of Main Street Vegan and Living a Charmed Life
Ashlee makes it easy to give a shit. This book is a simple, modern conversation with simple actionable plans to live by and really make a difference. None of us can afford to just suck air and take this life for granted. I think everyone needs a copy of this book!
Brook Harvey-Taylor, founder of Pacifica
MOM FOR THE COMPASSION.
DAD FOR THE COURAGE.
BANJO FOR THE PURPOSE.
We are the ones we have been waiting for.
ALICE WALKER
I like to believe humanity is composed of pretty well-intentioned folks. We have a hunch that, no shit, the planet is dying under the weight of industrialized consumption and disposable culture and that we might have a little something to do with that. So we recycle our hearts out, buy fancy organic produce when its on sale, and carry our colorful reusable water bottles to the gym (when we remember), all in the hopes of making a dent in an issue thats fast approaching DEFCON 1. But in a day and age when people claim to care increasingly more about sustainability, our planet is also in the worst state its been in, well, ever (well get to specifics on that . How can this be? Well, heres my hunch: the dissonance between our desire to be green and our sloth-like inaction stems from three factors:
An immobilizing belief that government regulation is more effective than individual action
Lack of clear, credible guidance on powerful personal solutions
The problematic stigma that sustainable living is expensive, inconvenient, socially isolating, and an all- or-nothing pursuit requiring absolute perfection
All of these limiting beliefs create and propagate a dangerous and defeatist ethos of why bother? So instead of realizing the precious individual influence that got us into this planetary pickle in the first place, we sit back and literally watch the world burn, hoping that some big shot will step in, pick up the pieces, or, at the very least, pour us a stiff drink.
WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE A SHIT
I had originally conceptualized this book to be about how to make eco-friendly living stylish and fun. Then, on the eve of November 8, 2016, whilst drowning my disbelief in endless glasses of raspberry vodka and soda along with millions of others around the globe, it became abundantly clear that the concept needed to shift because, holy crap, the stakes were raised exponentially in, like, four hours. Now, this isnt a political tome, but to cover sustainability while ignoring a US presidential administration that denies climate change or thwarts efforts to alleviate environmental burden would be to pen a fantasy fiction book. And that, this is not.