Take It Personally: How to Make Conscious Choices to Change the World [Paperback]

Anita Roddick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2001

Humanitarian consumers have been outraged to learn of the Gap's sweatshops, the young children who assemble Nike running shoes, and the deplorable demands put on agricultural workers by Starbucks Coffee. This book is a call to action to change business practices that hurt workers, children, animals, and the environment. Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, a phenomenally successful alternative corporation, believes that businesses can be both profitable and ethical. Her 1,700 stores in 47 countries sell environmentally friendly beauty products within a model of personal accountability and social responsibility. Inspiring consumers to think about what they buy and from whom they buy it, this book examines the issues driving globalization and the steps consumers can take to keep destructive elements in check. Contributors include the Dalai Lama, Peter Gabriel, Julia Butterfly Hill, Vandana Shiva, Paul Hawken, and Ralph Nader.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anita Roddick has many guises: successful business woman, outspoken political activist, worldwide traveller, grandmother. She has created a company with attitude that is known around the world for both its products and its principles. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Conari Press; 1st edition (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573247073
• ISBN-13: 978-1573247078
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #412,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent info, but it doesn't deliver the "how-to.", January 31, 2003

By 

WichacpiHoskila (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Take It Personally: How to Make Conscious Choices to Change the World (Paperback)

A fascinating, well-made, beautifully-printed gem of a book! Stuffed with color photos, eye-catching graphics, and the kind of quotes and data that makes you think, "Ooh, I gotta paperclip this page!" I'd like to buy a copy for many other people, if I knew they'd read it.

Unfortunately, the only criticism I have is also fairly severe: the sub-title is "How to make conscious choices to change the world." Sorry to say, but the book never really goes very far into that aspect. There's meticulous detail on the nature and origins of globalization, social injustice, environmental crises, and human rights, but actual guidance to make a difference is fairly slim.

That's too bad, too, because the book excels in its ability to outrage the reader and convert you to the agreement that "this stuff really matters! It's more important than I thought!", and yet I find myself dissatisfied with the few suggested answers against the many overpowering wrongs. It's not "an action guide," but rather a fascinating and invaluable textbook.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars We know what we have to do...but help !, May 29, 2002

By 

Clara Lucy Simpson (Seatlle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Take It Personally: How to Make Conscious Choices to Change the World (Paperback)

Wonderful book.I strongly agree with the comments from one of the reader regarding information/media activism. We have to move from thinking and talking to real action. As a young activist, I would love to be coached ( like so many others ). We need a system where we could share, get support and empowerment. We learn by action not by information. Sometimes I feel kind of upset, because I feel that people that have the power, network and interest in global issue are doing this for their own ego. Bono from U2 is doing a good effort but why is he not spending his money to help young leaders ? We should invest in those people that will have a tremendous impact localy and abroad. Why not using technology to create a powerful leverage. A place where people like me could get support, coaching in my project ?
It was a great book to read, but I felt more discouraged than emporwered...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Get off your Bum and Make a Difference, April 2, 2002

By 

W. Puckett "thehighlandway" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Take It Personally: How to Make Conscious Choices to Change the World (Paperback)

Ms. Roddick has managed to put together some important issues, outstanding commentators, and good information design in one place with this book. I read it through from cover-to-cover (I seldom do this) and found myself both enlightened and inspired. I recommend it highly.