Amy Buchanan has lived a somewhat thoughtless life until one of her friends is seriously injured. Caring for her injured friend in her home changes Amy, allowing her to look at her life and her acquaintences in a new way.
She starts to appreciate a previously despised co-worker, Ed. Ed teaches Amy about showing concern for others by only buying products made in a way that treats people fairly. Amy gradually comes to share his lifestyle. As their friendship develops, they fall in love and get married.
By seeming coincidence, they take in Mai, who has escaped from slavery. She was kidnapped from Thailand and sold to a wealthy Seattle man. The three of them continue to develop their life of compassionate consumerism.
They meet Joe, a wealthy retiree looking for a new challenge. He is intrigued by their ideas, and appreciates their integrity. Together with Amy's friend Dawn, they develop a non-profit organization, JustLife, which makes it easier for people to join them in changing the world through compassionate shopping. First domestically, then in adventures in Ed's native Indonesia and Mexico, these friends are able to better the lives of many people by helping others to think about how they spend their money.