Not for Sale by David Batstone Summary

Not for Sale investigates modern-day slavery, exposing its global prevalence through real-life stories of trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation. David Batstone highlights systemic drivers like poverty, corporate complicity, and weak legal frameworks, while showcasing grassroots solutions from abolitionists and organizations like International Justice Mission. The book blends investigative journalism with actionable strategies to combat human trafficking.

This book is essential for activists, policymakers, and socially conscious readers seeking to understand modern slavery’s complexities. It’s also valuable for educators, students studying human rights or ethics, and business leaders aiming to build ethical supply chains. Batstone’s narrative style makes it accessible to general audiences interested in global justice issues.

Batstone argues that slavery persists due to economic inequality, corruption, and consumer demand for cheap goods. He emphasizes that slavery isn’t confined to developing nations, citing cases in the U.S. and Europe. The book stresses collaboration between governments, businesses, and NGOs as critical to dismantling trafficking networks.

The book dispels myths that slavery ended in the 19th century, showing its evolution into sex trafficking, bonded labor, and forced domestic work. Batstone reveals how traffickers operate in plain sight, often through legal businesses, and explains why vulnerable groups like refugees and impoverished communities are targeted.

Key groups include:

• International Justice Mission (IJM) (rescue operations and legal advocacy)
• Not For Sale Campaign (social enterprises empowering survivors)
• Grassroots initiatives like Peru’s Generación rehabilitating street children

Batstone profiles activists using technology and community-based models to disrupt trafficking.

Poverty creates vulnerabilities exploited by traffickers, with families in crisis often accepting fraudulent job offers. Batstone illustrates how economic desperation in regions like Uganda and India fuels cycles of exploitation, advocating for education and sustainable livelihoods as preventive measures.

Yes, the book encourages consumer awareness (e.g., ethical purchasing), support for antislavery NGOs, and corporate accountability. It promotes “smart advocacy” through storytelling, legislative pressure, and investing in survivor-led businesses. Batstone also founded the Not For Sale Campaign to fund abolitionist ventures.

As a tech entrepreneur, ethics professor, and founder of the Not For Sale Campaign, Batstone merges business acumen with social justice. His fieldwork in Central America and investigative journalism lend credibility to the book’s global case studies and solutions-driven approach.

Notable accounts include Louis Etongwem dismantling a U.S.-based child trafficking ring, Thai sex workers escaping brothels through microloans, and Peruvian activists protecting street children from organ traffickers. These stories humanize statistics while showcasing resilience and innovation in antislavery efforts.

While unflinching in its portrayal of exploitation, the book emphasizes hope through collective action. Batstone highlights successful rescues, policy reforms, and survivor rehabilitation programs, arguing that public awareness and ethical consumerism can dismantle trafficking economies.

The book critiques companies benefiting from forced labor in supply chains, urging transparency and fair wages. Batstone advocates for “values-driven” businesses that empower marginalized communities, citing examples where ethical practices reduced trafficking vulnerabilities.

Memorable lines include:

• “Slavery is not a relic. It’s reinvented itself in the shadows of our global economy.”
• “Freedom is a verb. To sustain it requires relentless action.”

These encapsulate the book’s urgency and call for proactive justice.

Unlike purely academic texts, Batstone’s work combines narrative storytelling with pragmatic solutions, similar to The Slave Next Door but with a stronger focus on entrepreneurial activism. It’s frequently paired with Kevin Bales’ Disposable People for comprehensive slavery education.