WHY WE BUY
and why it matters
How Our Everyday Purchases Can Create a More Human Economy
How Our Everyday Purchases Can Create a More Human Economy
releasing November 2026
Our economic system thrives when we make purchases without thinking. Yet, in a world built on speed and convenience, we easily lose sight of the people who make the products we buy and use every day.
Why We Buy and Why It Matters invites readers to slow down and see consumption for what it is - a sacred act of interdependence. It offers inspiring examples of mission-driven businesses and shows how simple changes in personal habits can lead to a groundswell of conscious consumerism.
For anyone who longs for their daily choices to reflect their values, Why We Buy and Why It Matters proves that the stakeholder economy isn't just a distant ideal -
It's already taking shape, one purchase at a time.
"At Pantsuit Politics, we talk constantly about what it means to be a citizen — not just at the ballot box, but in the texture of everyday life. In Why We Buy and Why It Matters, David is asking what it means to be a consumer. This isn't a book about consuming less or feeling guilty about what you already have. It's about consuming with intention — which is a completely different invitation. That reframe is both honest and hopeful, which is a hard combination to pull off. This book does it.”
— Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, co-hosts of Pantsuit Politics
Rethink
For over a century, the dominant economic model has prioritized extracting value from people, communities, and the planet. But that model is cracking. A stakeholder economy is already emerging, and this book helps you understand the shift that's underway.
Reclaim
You hold more economic power than you've been told. And you don't need to overhaul your life or your budget. This book gives you a practical framework for identifying businesses doing it right and making intentional shifts in the purchases you're already making.
Rise
The most lasting change happens when people practice conscious consumption together, with friends, in book clubs, around kitchen tables. When even a small percentage of people make deliberate choices in community, the research shows it becomes unstoppable.
about the author
David Gaines has spent over two decades at the intersection of business, ethics, and consumer choice. As owner and Chief Visionary of La Terza Coffee, he's built a company rooted in sustainable sourcing and community connection. A former National Chairperson of Social Enterprise Alliance and conscious business coach, David helps entrepreneurs align profit with purpose. His first book, Radical Business, challenged readers to rethink how companies can operate as forces for good. Why We Buy, and Why It Matters turns that lens toward consumers, making the case that our everyday purchasing decisions are a powerful tool for change. David lives in Cincinnati with his wife Beth and sons Parker and Lincoln.