welcome sustainable minimalists!
welcome sustainable minimalists!
Thank you for your interest in my upcoming book, Why We Buy and Why It Matters, publishing October 27th, 2026. It means a lot to me that you’re here.
I wrote this book out of a question I couldn't let go of: who is the other person on the other end of what I buy? I own a coffee company that buys directly from women producers in Honduras. I've been to their farms and I know them by name, and once you know someone that way, you start wondering about the story behind everything else in your house.
The harder part is that most of our buying doesn't feel like a decision at all anymore. So much of our habits are frictionless: one click purchases, auto-renewed subscriptions, and aggressive algorithms. But I don't think the answer is guilt. I think it starts with just noticing.
I hope the book is useful to you. If you'd like a copy before it's out, I've put together a few things below as a thank-you. Preordering is one of the biggest helps to an author like me, but either way, I'm grateful you stopped by.
With thanks,
David
Preorder retailers
Preorder Bonuses
A copy of Radical Business, my first book.
Your choice of a free digital copy or a physical copy at a discount. It's the foundation the new book is built on: how business can serve people, not just profit.
The Why We Buy Toolkit (digital download).
This Toolkit helps you take the ideas in the book and run with them, including:
The Plant, Water, Grow Journal, a companion to the book’s reflection sections,
A Book Club Discussion Guide for reading it with friends,
A 30-Day Kickstart Challenge to turn your intentions into habit,
The 5-Minute Greenwashing Check,
The Seven Seeds Company Evaluation Worksheet,
and The Conscious Consumer’s Personal Budget Worksheet.
Entry into the Ethical Brands Giveaway. ***
Everyone who preorders is entered to win a bundle of products from companies featured in the book, the kind of businesses voting with your dollar is all about. The grand prize pairs La Terza Coffee with a Cotopaxi bag, a Thistle Farms candle, and Soapbox soaps. Three more winners each take home a bag of La Terza Coffee plus one of the featured items.
***No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Open to legal US residents 18 and older. See official rules for the free entry method and full details.
Once you’ve completed your preorder, submit the form below to claim your bonuses:
Claim your bonuses
Step 1
Preorder your copy of the book at your preferred retailer.
Step 2
Submit your information and confirmation of purchase in this form.
Step 2
Spread the word! Share your recent purchase with your community.
About the Book
Why We Buy, and Why It Matters is a hopeful guide to conscious consumerism that shows how small everyday choices can create meaningful impact.
In a culture shaped by speed, convenience, and algorithms, it is easy to forget the people behind the things we buy. This book invites readers to slow down and see consumption not as a mindless transaction, but as a human act of connection and interdependence.
Drawing on cultural research, personal reflection, consumer history, and his experience as a small-business owner, David Gaines reframes buying as an opportunity to honor the people, labor, and stories behind everyday goods. Through clear, accessible practices, he offers a compassionate path toward more intentional choices—without guilt, perfectionism, or overwhelm.
Here’s what makes Why We Buy and Why It Matters a practical and hopeful guide:
• A Fresh Look at Conscious Consumerism: Reframes ethical consumption as human, relational, and hopeful rather than guilt-driven or out of reach.
• Small Choices, Real Impact: Shows how everyday purchasing decisions can support human dignity, stronger communities, and deeper connection.
• Practical Daily Framework: The “Plant, Water, Grow” structure helps readers build habits of awareness, care, and intentional buying.
• Accessible and Grounded: Real-world examples and budget-conscious steps help readers align their choices with their values.
Why We Buy and Why It Matters is a thoughtful book about conscious consumerism, ethical buying, and the small choices that help us reconnect with the people behind what we use every day.