Who Cares Wins: Reasons for Optimism in a Changing World

by Lily Cole

Overview

A rousing call to action, this book will leave you feeling hopeful that we can make a difference in the midst of an age of turmoil, destruction, and uncertainty.

The climate crisis, mass extinctions, political polarization, extreme inequality—the world faces terrifying challenges that threaten to divide us, yet Lily Cole argues that it is up to us to actively choose optimism, collabo- rate, make changes, and define what is possible. Cole writes: "We are the ancestors of our future. The choices we make now and the actions we take today will define and transform future generations." Having collaborated with experts working on solutions to humanity's biggest challenges, Cole distills a vision for a sustainable and peaceful future. She explores divisive issues from fast fashion to fast food and from renewable energy to gender equality, and interviews some of today's greatest influencers: Sir Paul McCartney (musician and activist), Elon Musk (CEO of SpaceX), Gail Bradbrook (cofounder of Extinction Rebellion), Farhana Yamin (climate change lawyer and activist), Emily Shuckburgh (climate scientist), Stella McCartney (sustainable fashion designer), Livia Firth (cofounder of Eco-Age), and Lisa Jackson (vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives at Apple, former Administrator of the EPA). The book also features a 32-page photo insert documenting Lily's experiences around the world, as well as the artists, activists, and others who have inspired her, and her own—as yet unpublished—photography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789344090
Publisher:	Rizzoli
Publication date:	03/21/2023
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	6.28(w) x 9.55(h) x 1.51(d)

About the Author

Lily Cole is an environmental activist, model, actress, and filmmaker. She holds an MA in history of art from the University of Cambridge, was an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Glasgow, for her contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes through social businesses. Cole has spoken at World Economic Forum in Davos, Google Zeitgeist conference, and Wired. She regularly writes for media including the Guardian, Huffington Post, Vogue, and Financial Times. Cole has directed multiple short documentaries. She was the Brontë̈ Parsonage Museum's creative partner for 2018, for whom she made her first fiction film.

Editorial Reviews

In her book, Lily Cole manages to make us feel responsible for our choices and only guilty if we don't start making better, more sustainable ones, for ourselves, our family, our planet. It is quite a feat and one borne of her honesty and vulnerability about what she has learned and how her beliefs and choices have changed over time. Who Cares Wins is full of generosity from the author and a call to its readers that more can be possible if we imagine it and care about who wins in every choice we make.” - Chelsea Clinton, author and advocate

“A positive, useful book – how to make choices. We need to get governments on board.  I wish Lily was world controller” — Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer and founder of Vivienne Westwood Ltd.

“Lily Cole’s Who Cares Wins is a roller coaster of a ride where, thanks to her excellent piloting, we get to see a varied landscape of ideas and schools of thought on how to tackle the climate and ecological crisis, each with their insights but also their limits. Thankfully, this isn’t another prescriptive “how to save the planet” book by doing your bit. Rather, it is an open and honest invitation by a curious mind for us all to build bridges. Cole rightly concludes so much more can happen if we explore our predicament and collectively allow ourselves to imagine a better future. – Farhana Yamin, founder of Track 0 and Rebel for Life.
 
“This is a book for the moment, to inspire us to create a better society after the pandemic. We must not return to the old normal. The optimism that Lily Cole articulates so well requires us to insist on a revival of the future.” 
– Guy Standing, author of The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class, The Corruption of Capitalism, and Basic Income: A Guide for the Open-Minded
 
“Who Cares Wins is a journey into the anthropology of radical optimism. Lily Cole delicately unpicks the silver linings from some of the many dark clouds that loom over us and weaves them into an irresistible vision of our future.” 
– James Suzman, anthropologist and author of Work: A History of How We Spend Our Time and Affluence Without Abundance: The Disappearing World of the Bushmen
 
“Lily Cole, through her personal experience, interviews with fascinating people, and a critical insight into our planet's problems, helps us understand the power of the individual and makes us fall in love with nature again. Without relentless, morbid doom mongering, Lily gives us so many reasons to be optimistic. She shows we can all make a difference, and together we can save our beautiful Earth”
– Mark Maslin, professor at University College London and author of The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene 
 
“Who Cares Wins is a literary submarine that allows you to descend into the deep depths of environmentalism to show you the truth with refreshing clarity and honesty. A deeply personal yet universal call to action on one of the most profound subjects of our time.”
– Bella Lack youth environmental activist and ambassador for the Born Free Foundation and the Jane Goodall Institute
 
“Too bad we can't clear up the environment as fast as Lily Cole can. She brilliantly explains why we're in this mess and what we can do about it.”
– Ruby Wax, author of How to Be Human
 
“A welcome and thorough overview of some of the many aspects of the crisis that humanity is now facing, alongside the visionary possibilities for change at our fingertips. If we don’t act, it isn’t for lack of good ideas.”
– Dr. Gail Bradbrook, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion
 
“A great read, fundamentally important subject elegantly explored through a personal perspective. I relished the optimism!”
– Steve Trent, co-founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation
 
“Lily’s commitment to a better future for fashion is legendary, and her first-hand experience of an exploitative and unethical industry has made her involvement both more poignant and pertinent. How wonderful to absorb her thoughts and knowledge on everything else, from food to fuels, politics and biodynamic farming. This book is a great insight into her mind, and into our world.”
– Orsola de Castro, founder and creative director of Fashion Revolution 
 
“Who Cares Wins should be the mantra of every citizen around the world: every revolution has been made by people who cared. The sustainability of ethical movement is about caring—for the planet and for the people—and Lily is a shining example of a person who always deeply cares and whose mind never rests until there is a solution.  There are people who have visions and there are people who act on visions. Lily does both, and this book is a true testament to that.”
– Livia Firth, creative director of Eco-Age, a brand consultancy that helps businesses create, implement, and communicate bespoke sustainability solutions

“Who Cares Wins is a compelling reminder that the future is in our hands. Lily’s book is a much-needed ray of light during a dark and unsettling time – a radical vision for a better future, infused with optimism at every turn. It’s a rousing call to action, but it’s up to us to dare to care – will you?” – John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK

From the Publisher