The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall and Douglas Carlton Abrams

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

Author: Jane Goodall and Douglas Carlton Abrams

Publisher: Celadon

Release Date: 10.19.21

Publisher’s Summary 

In a world that seems so troubled, how do we hold on to hope?

Looking at the headlines--a global pandemic, the worsening climate crisis, political upheaval--it can be hard to feel optimistic. And yet hope has never been more desperately needed.

In this urgent book, Jane Goodall, the world's most famous living naturalist and Doug Abrams, internationally-bestselling author, explore--through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue--one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope. In The Book of Hope, Jane focuses on her “Four Reasons for Hope”: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit.

Told through stories from a remarkable career and fascinating research, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? Filled with engaging dialogue and pictures from Jane’s storied career, The Book of Hope is a deeply personal conversation with one of the most beloved figures in today’s world.

And for the first time, Jane tells the story of how she became a messenger of hope: from living through World War II, to her years in Gombe, to realizing she had to leave the forest to travel the world in her role as an advocate for environmental justice. She details the forces that shaped her hopeful worldview, her thoughts on her past, and her revelations about her next--and perhaps final--adventure.

There is still hope, and this book will help guide us to it.

My Review

I must admit that if I was given a book about hope and it was written by an author I didn't recognize I would have rolled my eyes and moved along. As a stereotypical Gen-Xer, I'm not one for super positive books and definitely would not have given this book a chance if it weren't for the fact that it is authored by Jane Goodall. Quietly moving and full of impactful insights, I am glad I read this and will be passing it along to a friend when I think they need a hopeful perspective in their life.