Description

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Through the simple act of a haircut, readers are taken on a geographical and emotional journey into the lives of humans experiencing homelessness in different cities across the world.

“In this uplifting book, Coombes deftly illustrates how reaching out and listening can break down barriers in an often indifferent world.” —Booklist Online

“Joshua’s stories show the power that empathy and compassion have to turn a common, everyday act into something transformative. They are the revelations of connection.” —Michael Sheen, actor and activist

When you're on the fringes of society, being noticed can mean everything.

In 2015, while working at a London hair salon, Joshua Coombes took to the streets with his scissors to build relationships with people sleeping rough in the capital. This inspired him to begin posting transformative images on social media to amplify their voices. These stories resonated and thousands of people got involved in their own way. #DoSomethingForNothing was born--a movement that encourages people to connect their skills and time to those who need it. Via the simple act of a haircut, readers are taken on a geographical and emotional journey into the lives of humans experiencing homelessness in different cities across the world.



Featuring never-before-seen photographs and all-new writing, Do Something for Nothing explores themes of love, acceptance, shame, and perseverance, while inviting us to see ourselves in one another and dissolve the negative stigmas surrounding homelessness. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to organizations dedicated to assisting unsheltered people.

About the Author

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JOSHUA COOMBES is a British hairstylist and founder of #DoSomethingForNothing—a movement encouraging people to connect their skills and time to those who need it. When Coombes launched the project in 2015, his intention was to positively impact people’s lives by offering free haircuts to those experiencing homelessness. By posting transformative images on Instagram, his platform continues to grow as he amplifies the stories of many that go unheard. Coombes’s mission caught the attention of media outlets in Europe and has rippled worldwide. Coverage includes appearing in National Geographic’s new series The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, released on Netflix internationally. Today, Coombes continues his efforts in new countries, humanizing this issue globally. He currently resides in London, UK. Do Something for Nothing is his latest work.

Praise For…

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Coombes documents the transformation that comes over people when they are given a fresh look, a new perspective, some hope. The photos are inspirational as is every page of this uplifting book. Their smiles show relief as well as happiness. Sure, a haircut alone won’t solve all their problems, but it is a humanizing start. I’m so glad I read this book and urge you to do so as well.
— Seattle Book Review, 5 out of 5 stars

Coombes is a hairdresser, and he believes that small acts of love can make a big impact.
— Morgan Freeman in The Story of Us

A simple, big-hearted, and world-shaking idea.
— Nick Cave, singer-songwriter

The most vulnerable among us deserve our empathy, compassion, and advocacy. In leading by example, Joshua Coombes is both thought-provoking and inspiring, making us each ask what more we might do to better see and care for our communities. Joshua’s work has always struck a chord with me, and I’m certain this book will strike a chord in the hearts of readers everywhere.
— Sophia Bush, actor and activist