Love Without Reason

The Lost Art of Giving a F*ck

When the world’s problems seem overwhelming, as they so often do, it’s easy to fall into feelings of helplessness. It becomes too painful to care, so we turn to the latest “how to not give a f*ck” self-help book. Yet caring about our world and each other is a natural instinct all humans have. What is it doing to our minds, bodies, and souls to ignore this part of our humanity?

In Love without Reason: The Lost Art of Giving a F*ck, LaRayia Gaston helps us connect with our hearts, reawaken our innate desire to make a difference, and then actually make that difference in a way that is both enjoyable and impactful. In other words, she teaches us how to show up and care about each other and our world.

Central to Gaston’s teachings is the idea that giving doesn’t have to be difficult, and you don’t have to go out of your way to do it. “Need is all around us,” she writes. “You’ll never know the ripples one small act of kindness can create.” Gaston calls these acts micro-gestures, moments when you stop, look around, and ask yourself how you can contribute in your own way. Throughout the book, Gaston pulls apart the stories we tell ourselves about helping—it’s too difficult, we’ll just be in the way, it won’t change anything—and provides strategies to help us get started. In the end, you’ll discover that showing you care isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about joy.