A Life Stripped Bare: My Year Trying to Live Ethically

by Leo Hickman

It is hardly news that a growing number of people want to step back from the brink of Western consumerism and find a way to live an all-round cleaner existence. So how do we go about it? Most people resist giving up their cars, their toxic household products, their cheap washing machines, or dodgy, unethical bank accounts in order to make the world a better place, but Leo Hickman, resident consumer expert of the Guardian, reckoned he should give it a try and report back on whether it is possible to live a life that is Western but aware. Leo's fumbling but hugely well-intentioned and increasingly successful efforts to do the right thing can't fail to involve, educate, inspire—and amuse—his readers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sustainability, Ecology, Biography, Environment, Lifestyle, Food

289 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult one to rate with stars. On the one hand, the information it gives is a little bit life-changing. It has several voices, including Leo's, the ethical auditors, and a heap of letters from people who have tips on green alternatives. The way it is written gave me an easily digestible insight into some of the things households do wrong. Some of it was old hat - throwing out food waste, needless consumption etc, but some of it was new. I had no idea cotton was so bad for the environment, and I've been inspired to change to natural homemade cleaning products when I get back to Australia.

On the other hand, I really didn't like Leo. He spent quite a bit of time letting the reader know he wasn't some kind of tree-hugging hippie, and enjoyed watching football and drinking beer. He tended toward gender essentialism, and most references to his wife, Jane, were criticisms. I think they were supposed to be funny in that 'wink, wink, nudge, nudge, you know what women are like' way. Which isn't funny. And possibly alienates a large proportion of his potential readers. It's a shame that this would stop me recommending an otherwise great book.

[Ingrid Haunold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2005, and it's as relevant today as it was 14 years ago. I re-read it every few years, it's great motivation for trying to live an ethical live.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asjalikult ja realistlikult kirjutatud raamat, kus ajakirjanik võtab ette katse elada keskkonnsõbralikult. Läbi võetakse kõik olulised teemad - toit, riietus, ravimid, ehitus jne. Huvitav lugemine, mille juures oli nii äratundmisrõõmu kui uut infot. Lisaväärtuse annavad ka ajakirjanikule saadetud lugejakirjad (autor pidas blogi). Raamat, mida võiks kõik lugeda vähemalt korra, sest vähemalt mõne kasuliku nipi saab siit igaüks.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

expected more, not even sure what, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

[Epp Petrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kõigile ökohuvilistele (ja inglise huumori huvlistele). Minu seos selle raamatuga on see, et olin üks raamatu kahest tõlkijast.
Leo Hickman on Briti ajalehe "Guardian" kolumnist. See, millest antud raamat on kokku pandud, sai alguse mitu aastat tagasi - kui Leo bossid tahtsid, et Leo hakkaks elama eetilisemalt ja viiks enda ning oma pere peal läbi eksperimendi. Ta lasigi enda majapidamisse sisse nn ökoaudiitorid, kes sorisid igal pool ja esitasid igasuguseid küsimusi ning soovitusi. Audiitorite õpetuste järgi joondudes asuski Leo oma elu ümber muutma. Näiteks on detailselt kirjeldatud tema ja ta abikaasa esimest supermarketi külastust "pärast audiitoreid", kui ta toiduainete koostist ja kilometraazhi ja hindu uuris. Või kuidas ta lasi hinnata enda elustiili - kui palju õhureostust ta oma igapäevaelus saab.
Mõned Leo püstitatud teemad on küll eestlastele kauged, aga enamik asju on üsna üks-ühele meile üle võetavad. Ka meil müüdavad aerosoolid sisaldavad alumiiniumiühendeid, mis seotud rinnavähi tekke ohuga ja ka meie võime poest osta teiselt poolt planeeti siia lennutatud toitu jne.
Ning mis ka veidi võõraks meile jääb, see annab sellegipoolest huvitava sissevaade inglase ja londonlase ellu (nii et soovitan kõigile inglise kultuuri huvilistele, saab üsna omapärase sissevaate, käite ära Inglismaa prügimäel ja näete silmast silma inglise ülbeid rotte, kui seda raamatut loete ;).
Esialgu oli Leo Hickmani aruanne lihtsalt Guardiani rubriigiks, talle hakkasid kirjutama ka paljud inglased, kes üritasid oma elu "ökomaks" muuta (neist kirjadest on raamatus katkendeid, mõnes inspireerivad, mõned stiilselt skeptilised). Lõpuks kujuneski sellest kõigest kokku raamat. Tegevus toimub ühe murrangulise aasta jooksul. Lisaks rottidele ja Leole on tegelasteks näiteks kompostikasti ussikesed ja muidugi ta pisike tütar Esme ja abikaasa Jane, keda Leo vahepeal küll fuuriana kujutab... Kui Jane näiteks pole vaimustuses vetsupoti sidruniga hõõrumisest.
Tõlkides mõtlesin ma, et minu enda raamat "Roheliseks kasvamine" on teatud mõttes samasugune. Ka minu raamatus jutustab peategelane enda elu ökomaks muutmisest. On teemasid, mis minu ja Leo puhul kattuvad. Aga tundub, et minu raamatus on vähem huumorit ja rohkem... kuidas seda öelda... tõsist roheusku. Samas, ka Leo läheb oma aasta lõpus üha enam sellesse usku. See lihtsalt paistab olevat selline tee, kus liiklus on vaid ühesuunaline. Kui sa juba kord saad pihta, mismoodi näiteks aerosoolid su keha mõjutavad või kui hüperkiirelt prügimäed kasvavad, siis sa ei saa seda enam oma peast välja. Tee selle üle nalja või mitte...

[Jessica Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great list of things to think about. However, the author is really unlikeable in that way that only cynical journalists really can be. I disliked the way he spoke about his wife, I feel he bullied and guilted her into his lifestyle experiment.

I would have rather read a book written by his "ethics auditors" as it would have been more efficient and less whiny.

[Gerald Hickman]

My first question was - Is this guy related to me? I believe we all should live ethically but there are so many different definitions of the word. This is a book I should read if for nothing else then to learn about Leo's background to answer my original interest in the book.

[Anouk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic but which is very humorous and entertaining. Leo Hickman is very good at writing in a clear and enjoyable manner, so I think this book is great for everybody that is interested in a sustainable life and how far people go to reach goals they've set for themselves.

[Granny Swithins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable even if slightly dated - some issues such as access to recycling have improved, and the notion of trying to improve your environmental impact is perhaps seen as slightly less "out there" than it was when the book was published. However, it's still informative for anyone trying to figure out where to start in terms of improving their ethical credentials and the kinds of arguments and dilemmas that are out there - is it best to buy local, or to import organic, or opt for fair trade for example? Yes, it's a very white, middle class, London-centric viewpoint, but he's fairly affable. I'm curious as to whether he and his wife are still together, given their difference of opinions in this book! Most importantly, it did make me stop and think about areas in which I could improve my lifestyle to be more ethical and sustainable.

[Bookguide · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amusing and interesting account of Leo Hickman's attempt to live more ethically, dragging his wife along behind him, not entirely convinced. Initially full of enthusiasm, they soon realise that even the most obvious things such as buying organic is going to be difficult, and buying organic is not necessarily the perfectly ethical way to live as importing organic food from distant countries has a high cost in terms of air miles and carbon footprint. I was hoping for more practical information, but this book recounts more about the decision-making process and the experience of trying to live more ecologically, sustainably and to make a difference to the world. I enjoyed the humour, for example the trials and tribulations of a worm farmer were very funny. One thing which I did learn was that if it is not possible to buy organic, the next best choice is Freetrade, as the farmers in this scheme are encouraged to use organic techniques, as well as the advantages to local economies.

Even though we already do many of the things advocated in this book, I dread to think what a sustainability auditor would make of our lifestyle, with five people addicted to computers, video games and television, and one person who clocks up major airmiles for work. Hopefully we can offset it somewhat with our allotment and one adult who cycles everywhere, as well as recycling, composting and being aware of the choices when shopping. So I'm glad I read this book, as every little of bit of inspiration is welcome.

www.bookcrossing.com/journal/7919276

[penelopewanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, funny how these things run in series. I signed up for this ages ago, it seems, and likewise at some point I signed up for The Omnivore's Dilemma. That ring reached me last summer, and I enjoyed it thoroughly, purchased it for our school library, had my family read it, etc. Now this one came along... some similarities indeed. One difference is that I find Leo much harder to get along with, so to speak. (I often say I don't like reading books with main characters I don't like, because it's kind of like spending several days with someone I don't like...). While I appreciate his issues, for one thing his attitude to his wife Jane had me progressively cringing more and more. It seems he somewhat single-handedly decided to embark on an adventure that does rather turn their life style on end, and then he's chagrined when she has a moment of pause??? Anyway, when I could distance myself from his tone, I found the actual issues discussed very interesting. Having recently set up a compost bin outside our summer place (to which yes, we generally fly, as it's on an island. ..) and having had to contend with fruit flies, I appreciated his comments about his wormery... I did find myself having a think about how ethically my family lives, and while we don't pass with flying colors in all areas, we do live pretty simply on the whole. Well worth paying attention to.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started off this book wanting to do something more to help the world that we all live in, and needing a little bit more guidance. What I found was an amusing tale of a man who wants to do the same, and comes across the same kind of stumbling blocks that I've found in the past.

When I read a book I always bookmark passages that I've found useful, inspiring, or just simply think I might want to look back on again. This book must certainly come close to the record number of tags that I've placed. Whilst a lot of the advice is outdated, it really made me think about the way I live. The result was that, last week, I went shopping with a much shorter list which was accompanied by which companies I felt I could no longer buy from. The list was not directly from this book, but the author did point me in the right direction.

Read this book if you want to be inspired to help the world you live in! Read this book if you dare to know how your everyday life can affect nature and other people! Read this book if you want to have some fun amidst the struggle of your own ethical journey!

[Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this in 2006 and found it very useful and informative. I was able to make substantial household changes following the author's tips. He does his best to make quite a dry subject more entertaining and as a journalist he's good at engaging lots of experts in his quest for answers. He scrutinizes every aspect of everyday life from clothing to bog roll, so my overall feeling from reading was that true ethical living could become almost relentless.
Fast forward ten years to 2016 and I'm ready to up my game alittle more, but then so has ethical living (substantially) upped its game; so much so that when I re-read this book I found it too dated.
If you have absolutely no idea about where to start; you aren't all that familiar with recycling, veggie boxes, wormeries and turning your thermostat down etc then I would say go ahead and read this book because you will get more than just the basics from it. But if you're already doing more than the basics then I would recommend that you read something else - something more up to date. Its also worth noting that the author lives in London and the book is heavily geared towards city dwellers.

[Sally McRogerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this an amusing book as well as informative. It records a year in the life of an environmentally aware journalist, his wife and young daughter. (Bet you didn't guess that from the title!) It has to be said that she was rather less keen on the whole environmental thing than he was so there was some degree of friction between them. The book brought up scenarios very familiar to me about how difficult it is to be environmentally and ethically aware in all areas of your life unless you have plenty of free time and a copious amount of money. Ethical is not cheap! They started the year with a 'house audit' by a Soil Association council member, the campaigns director of Friends of the Earth and a researcher from Ethical Consumer magazine. Most of us have to muddle through unaided with a 'fingers crossed' approach and hope for the best. An enjoyable read that made me feel less inept with my own attempt at ethical living.

[Annett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo Hickmans Bericht über ein Jahr Experiment mit "ethischem" Konsumverhalten liest sich amüsant, zeigt aber auch mit aller Deutlichkeit auf, wie wenig der "Durchschnittsbürger" tatsächlich über die Auswirkungen seines Konsums weiss. Er ist sicher nicht der einzige (gewesen), der beherzt zu Obst und Gemüse aus Übersee greift, ohne sich Gedanken über den Anbau, die Arbeitsbedingungen der Menschen vor Ort und die Flugkilometer mit den entsprechenden CO2-Emissionen zu machen. Seine drei ethischen "Berater" zeigen in allen Bereich Lösungen auf (die Leo Hickman zum Teil einfach zu weit führen) und Briefe von Lesern und Leserinnen seiner Kolumne im Guardian enthalten weitere Beispiele wie jede(r) für sich das Thema umsetzt. Für Anfänger des "ethischen" Konsums ein guter Start um einen Überblick über die Materie zu erhalten, wenn auch vieles sehr stark auf englische Verhältnisse ausgerichtet ist und nicht alles eins zu eins auf den Kontinent übertragen werden kann.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Kate Lock's Confessions Of An Eco-Shopper last month, a friend recommended this book to me, so I grabbed a copy from the library to check it out. It's very similar in concept to Kate Lock's book, but goes into more detail overall, as Leo challenges himself to live more ethically for a year.

Leo's experience is recalled in a series of chapters where he invites 'auditors' to come into his home and offer advice to himself and his family on the changes that they can all make. Interspersed between these, are letters and emails from the general public who also wrote in with everyday and innovative ways in which he can live more eco-friendly and ethically, as well as sharing their own struggles and failures when they were starting out with making the switch to a more sustainable way of living. An interesting read and a great starting point for anyone interested in this subject.

[Tanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch liefert sehr gute Ideen, wo man in seinem Alltag anfangen kann umweltfreundlicher und ethischer zu leben. Es schildert auch ganz gut den eigenen Kampf, zwischen der Bequemlichkeit eines konventionellen Lebensstils, und des Ethischen. Zeigt aber eben auch Wege auf, dieses Problem zu lösen.

Was jedoch teilweise komisch ist, sind die Tipps selber. In einem Teil wurde behauptet, dass durch heißes Wasser in der Dusche und das Chlor im Wasser Chloroform entsteht.Das jedoch ist nur möglich wenn gleichzeitig auch Aceton im Wasser ist, selbst dann sind die Ausbeuten warscheinlich sehr gering. So sind einige der Tipps aus Naturwissenschaftlicher Sicht etwas merkwürdig.

Grundsätzlich ist mein Fazit, dass man sich selber informieren sollte, was man tut, aber das Buch kann einem wertvolle Ansätze geben.

[Yvette]

This book was originally published in 2005 (this edition in 2006) and it is surprising how dated it seems in some areas - we have made a lot more progress than we credit ourselves: or perhaps Australia is just miles ahead of the UK?

Once again I was struck at how lucky we are to have an abundance of produce grown in our own country, meaning we really do not need to trun to overseas-sourced fresh foods. There are food mile issues as northern and southern, eastern and western parts of our country exchange foods grown locally, however the local economies are all dependent on this and the variation in climates means no area could be entirely self-sufficient without sacrificing variety (you cannot grow sugar in the south!).

[S.P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit dated (first published in 2005) but a good introduction for those not familiar with ethical living (but you probably are if you are reading it!). Interestingly and entertainingly written, though perhaps not if you are his wife. Will it change my life? No, probably not, but I practice a considerable amount of what is discussed here already, although for different reasons (e.g. Green, rather than Ethical per se). There were a few issues that I was aware of in an abstract way, but had not spent much time thinking about; now, I guess, I will.

[VAle · Rating 3 out of 5]

preso in biblioteca

Dario di un cambiamento.
Un giornalista inglese (e la sua famiglia) alle prese con i primi passi in una vita più etica e sostenibile. Tra successi e fallimenti, Hickman affronta i temi più comuni per chi, come lui, inizia a percorrere questa stada.
Non è un manuale su cosa fare (o meglio, non principalmente), ma una "terapia" per affrontare i primi dubbi e difficoltà.
Interessante e ricco di spunti. In più punti mi sono trovata a chiedermi cosa farei io (o cosa posso fare...).

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read this is!! It's funny and easy reading but such an eye opener about how we live and are destroying the planet. I think EVERYONE must read this!!!!!We can all makes small changes each, which will make such a huge difference. Leo Hickman and his family try to make those changes for a year to start with. It is an amusing adventure! Please read this if you haven't already!!! I am off to read the follow up to this

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hickman and his wife come across as relatively shallow and self centred in this book about how they started to go Green. To be fair, they did do pretty well on some fronts, but when one of the major issues facing humanity is that of over-population and resource use, having two children in the period documented in this book, probably undoes everything else that he did towards being green!

[Wolfgang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Für alte Hasen auf dem Weg zum kleinen CO2-Fußabdruck und zu einem umweltverträglichen Leben nicht besonders viel neues. Interessant fand ich allerdings den Gedanken, was tun beim Notfall im Krankenhaus und die Überlegungen zum Thema elektronische Spielereien und Gadgets.

Leichte Pflichtlektüre für all jene, die gerne besser leben möchten, aber nicht genau wissen, wie anfangen.

[Lupurk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro davvero interessante! Per alcune cose un po' lontano da noi, ma in generale dà molti spunti su come rendere più "etica" la nostra vita. Bello soprattutto il lato umano, il senso di impotenza, di inutilità e la soddisfazione che per contro a volte si ha, nell'effettuare una scelta più sostenibile.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Leo did winge on a lot 'it's no fair' blah blah
I shook my head at his inability to keep a worm farm going and screaming like a girl at rats in the garden
Me thinks Leo needs to grow a pair.
Middle class green wash
Just read someone else review saying they were shallow. i defiantly argee with that one

[Ulrike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schon ziemlich alt, wenn auch nicht veraltet, sondern aktuell wie eh und je.
Leider habe ich nur die deutsche Übersetzung gefunden, und die liest sich grottenschlecht. ich habe aufgegeben und das Buch 'ausgewildert', an einem geeigneten Ort: http://www.basata.com

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exhaustive. Interesting in parts.

[Buecherest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amüsant und informativ - es ist so menschlich, was Leo erlebt! Absolut lesenswert!

[disastrino · Rating 4 out of 5]

interessanti, divertenti e ben scritte, le avventure di Hickman indirizzano piacevolmente nella giusta direzione.
un libro talmente pieno di buon senso da risultare davvero utile.

[Susann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it! And turn your mangetout moment into a mangetout momentum...