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Top of the pile
76
/100
I Index Overall Rating
Readers
71/100Critics
65/100Scholars
91/100Author:
Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams, Gail Hudson
Publisher:
Celadon Books
Date:
October 19, 2021
Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams explore one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope.
What The Reviewers Say
While The Book of Hope is marketed as written by Goodall and Abrams, that's a little misleading. The text is a skillful arranging of transcribed conversations between the two, with Abrams speaking in first person and Goodall directly contributing only the introduction and conclusion. This observation is not a complaint. On the contrary: This format makes perfect sense, and not because at age 87 Goodall needs to take it easy. She remains committed to a grueling schedule of public speaking and interacting with others about our planetary crisis.
... unfurls as a series of engaging conversations and fascinating stories that Goodall hopes will touch the heart as well as the mind, with Abrams teasing out her thoughts and ideas. Through substantive interviews, we get a sense of a lively woman of brilliant intellect, keen insight, and impish humor, soft-spoken and empathetic yet passionate. The book also clearly demonstrates that Goodall’s urgency surrounding the issue of climate change is allied with hope.
Her voice is reminiscent of that of the accessible and practical 16th-century nun St. Teresa of Ávila, or the 19th-century St. Therese of Lisieux, whose teachings are still prevalent today.
Abrams sets the scene for each encounter, ensuring that Goodall’s unique personality, poise, and inner strength shine forth. Their jousting discussions are passionate, candid, and very moving as Abrams asks difficult questions and Goodall responds with enthralling real-life stories shaped by her extensive knowledge, extraordinary experiences, and hard-forged wisdom. Without minimizing the daunting challenges we face as the climate crisis takes hold, Goodall explains that hope is a 'human survival trait' that requires 'action and engagement'.
