A Life Stripped Bare
Tiptoeing through the ethical minefield

Is it possible, in the twenty-first century, to lead a normal life - to have a job, kids, a mortgage, holidays in the sun - but at the same time be respectful to the planet and the people who share it? Over the course of a year, Leo Hickman conducted an unusual experiment to find out.

Most people fight shy of giving up their cars, their toxic household products, their cheap washing machines, or dodgy, unethical bank accounts to make the world a better place. Could Leo live a more ‘ethical’ existence?

As your average male consumer, he is no green warrior and an innocent abroad when it comes to ‘ethical’ living but he approached the experiment with real enthusiasm. Appealing for help and guidance on the internet, he was inundated with advice from the extraordinary to the extreme: ‘The most sustainable food source is skips!’ to ‘Having children is the most unethical thing you can do, so try ceasing that for starters.’

Leo then invited three ‘ethical auditors’ into his home. As they explored the murkier recesses of his life - his bathroom, fridge, holiday plans, shady DIY habits - he discovered that ethical living involved a lot more than changing his brand of washing-up liquid.

A Life Stripped Bare is the record of an extraordinary transformation. Both funny and inspirational, it is a mine of information for all of us with a conscience. Who knows it might change your life, too.

The author Leo Hickman is 31 - a journalist, editor and the consumer expert at the Guardian. He lives in south London with his wife, two small children and 3,000 worms.

"Refreshing and funny, this book overflows with ideas for a more sustainable everyday life."
The Ecologist

Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Size: 130 mm x 200 mm