The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

by Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams

"Looking at the headlines--the worsening climate crisis, a global pandemic, loss of biodiversity, 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 Douglas Abrams, the internationally bestselling co-author of The Book of Joy, explore through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human 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. Drawing on decades of work that has helped expand our understanding of what itmeans to be human and what we all need to do to help build a better world, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions, How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? What is the relationship between hope and action? Filled with moving and inspirational stories and photographs from Jane's remarkable career, The Book of Hope is a deeply personal conversation with one of the most beloved figures in the world today. While discussing the experiences that shaped her discoveries and beliefs, 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. And for the first time, she shares her profound revelations about her next, and perhaps final, adventure. The second book in the Global Icons Series--which launched with the instant classic The Book of Joy with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu--The Book of Hope is a rare and intimate look not only at the nature of hope but also into the heart and mind of a woman who revolutionized how we view the world around us and has spent a lifetime fighting for our future. There is still hope, and this book will help guide us to it"--

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Memoir, Audiobook, Environment, Self Help

365 pages, Library Binding

First published October 19, 2021

About the author

For the Australian academic and mystery writer, see Professor Jane R. Goodall.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace was a world-renowned ethologist and activist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world every single day.

Dr. Goodall was best known for groundbreaking studies of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, transformative research that continues to this day as the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in the world. Dr. Goodall was the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, a global conservation, advocacy, animal welfare, research, and youth empowerment organization, including her global Roots & Shoots program.

Dr. Goodall had worked extensively on climate action, human rights, conservation, and animal welfare issues for decades, and was a central voice in the work to advance environmental progress.

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the environment, animals, or just need to feel better about life, this is the book for you!

Hope is a book which is a discussion between Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams. Goodall makes an argument for hope in these challenging times. However, it isn’t fake hope or false promises. She highlights some of the positive changes that are happening in the world, and she shares stories of the exquisite wonders of nature.

This is one of my favorite books of 2021! First, who couldn’t use a big shot of positivity these days? I know I certainly could use at least two doses. For this reading, I practiced immersion reading (listening to the audiobook while following along in a printed copy). The printed copy was very useful because it had some incredible photographs to accompany the story: pictures of plants grown from seeds 2,000 years old, pictures of Jane with her beloved chimpanzees, photos of a painting pig, and so much more. The pictures are so awe inspiring that I would have to google each one to see more pictures! However, the audiobook was simply astounding. To set the stage, I had heard the name Jane Goodall, but I didn’t know who she was. Was she someone from Tarzan? The answer no. In 1960, Goodall along with her mum went to the African jungle to observe chimpanzees. These chimps are wild animals, and they kept running away from her. Armed with relentless persistency and courage, Goodall never gave up, and the chimps eventually stopped running away. From these observations, Goodall helped people from around the global better understand animal behaviors, personalities, and emotions.

Jane Goodall is an inspiration, and I don’t say that about anyone. She speaks so eloquently. Even though she is passionate, she isn’t pushy, acts superior, or shouts down at listeners. She is articulate, calm, and thoughtful. This book really meant the world to me because, as a woman, there are not enough female role models. Honestly, my best female role model is Olivia Benson from Law and Order SVU, and that’s a fictional TV show! There just is not a tremendous amount of veteran women in male dominated fields that are celebrated. Goodall is 87 years old. Every picture she is in, she is beautiful. Not hiding behind gobs of makeup, but she looks free, happy, and confident in who she is. She wears comfortable clothes (no ridiculous outfits where you can’t move or high heels where you can’t walk). She takes big risks and confronts big challenges head on. Imagine going into the African jungle in 1960. There is no cell phone to call someone if you get hurt. Goodall was attempting to perform work as a pioneer without a guaranteed safety net. Goodall describes herself as a naturalist versus a scientist. She clarifies that a naturalist “looks for the wonder of nature--she listens to the voice of nature and learns from nature as she tries to understand it. […] As a naturalist, you need to have empathy and intuition—and love.” Listening to Goodall is very calming and better than yoga for your spirit.

The stories themselves were very moving. Goodall prefers to share stories rather than give statistics because you are far more likely to remember a story than a bunch of random statistics.

Overall, pick this up! Give this as Christmas presents, give this to someone having a hard time (yourself included), give this to the environmentalist in your life, give this to your animal friend! Enjoy this as much as I did!

*Thank you, @CeladonBooks and @JaneGoodallnst, for a free printed copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. The audiobook mentioned above was purchased by yours truly.

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[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of a more timely book: Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams really 'drill down' and address the global challenges we are all facing. What makes this book so powerful is the calm way that Jane presents the situation: no hyperbolic 'chicken little the sky is falling' panic - just the measured voice of someone who has worked with nature to integrate the balance between four key concepts: 1). The Amazing Human Intellect 2). The Resilience of Nature 3). The Power of Young People and 4). The Indomitable Human Spirit. These concepts will (in my opinion) do much to shape our future for the next fifty years. Douglas Abrams does a fantastic job of asking questions that are then expanded on as Jane gives examples of each of the four above mentioned concepts. Should be required reading for all politicians. Highest recommendation.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re not moved by the words and wisdom of Jane Goodall, do you even have a heart?

In The Book of Hope, the saintly naturalist sits down with author Douglas Abrams to discuss - you guessed it - hope. This is somewhat of a follow up to Abrams’s 2016 The Book of Joy, which chronicled a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Hope and Joy? Yes please, I’ll take as many tips as possible to live a life embracing these emotions.

Through stories from her youth during WWII to her older years in the jungles of the animal kingdom, the book focuses on four reasons for hope: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit.

I love what Abrams is trying to achieve, but as with The Book of Joy, the format wasn’t entirely successful for me. Reading a book of what’s essentially a conversation felt choppy at times, and it was hard for me to suss out the ultimate thesis let alone the evidence to support it. Lengthy discussions on climate change, deforestation and extinction also were downright depressing! Still, I’m glad to have spent time in the company of Ms. Goodall and applaud the effort to help others look on the sunny side of life. If she’s speaking, I’m listening.

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

[Sean Barrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rest in peace Jane Goodall, thank you for giving me hope.

“Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so.”

Jane Goodall is a shining beacon of light in a dark world; her words radiate hope, wisdom and integrity: she is nothing less than an inspiration.

I find her story truly remarkable. As a young woman, with next to no qualifications or experience, she found herself in a position many would dream of. Because of her strength of character and belief in the intelligence of non-human animals, she was granted the opportunity to observe Chimpanzees directly in their natural environment. Her discovery, the fact that they use tools like humans, awarded her a PhD and led to multiple campaigns directly addressing the use of animals for vivisection.

Jane has been a lifelong vegetarian and recently turned vegan (hurrah!) She understood the consequences of eating meat on the planet and eventually made the decision to ditch animal products entirely. This is monumental because not only is she a person of great influence, but the move also fully matches her actions with her beliefs. It signifies so much and it suggests that you are never too old or too set in your ways to change your behaviour and better represent your own morals. This gives me hope. And for those that claim to love animals, Jane is an excellent example to follow.

“If everyone starts to think about the consequences of what we do, for example, what we buy – and I am including young people thinking about what they ask their parents to buy from – if we all start to ask whether its production harmed the environment, or hurt animals, or is cheap because of child slave labour or unfair wages – and, if so, we refuse to buy it – well, billions of these kind of ethical choices will move us to the kind of world we need.”

Jane has worked so hard to affect change and to educate people; she has dedicated her life to improving the welfare of others through multiple initiatives. Fundamentally, she hopes for a kinder a fairer world and she has changed these hopes into action. The young generation hold the key to change. Jane writes these words as a rallying cry; she wants the young generation to act, as she did; she wants them to work for a better world for all living beings. Jane is also deeply spiritual. She believes, well she knows, that her path was one of purpose and it was chosen for her. She had a calling and she answered it with all her enthusiasm. She simply knew what she must do with her life; she knew what change she could affect if she tried, so that’s precisely what she did: she gave her work her absolute all, and she has done so much good in this world.

I especially like the way in which she gets her message across. She is clever and careful and uses stories to represent her beliefs. Rather than telling people her point, she shows the facts to them through a narrative and attempts to sway the reader (or listener) to her cause when they are presented with simple facts. Education is the key to change. And this can be difficult when the ones you are educating are the cause for problems you are so opposed to. Patience and understanding is the key.

“Its main message: every single individual matters, has a role to play, and makes an impact on the planet – every single day. And we have a choice as to what sort of impact we will make.”

I cannot quite express how important this idea is. We each have an individual part to play, and we are each individually responsible. I have read so many environmental books that believe the power to affect change belongs only with governments, and our key to affecting change is to get them to act. It’s not that simple. We must each individually make conscious decisions with our consumer habits. We cannot expect others to act for us. If we hope for a better world, then we must each do something about it. If anything, this is the key to Jane’s message and one of the most important pieces of advice you could ever listen to.

Jane Goodall gives me hope: this book gives me hope.

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[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say that I’ve been totally without hope these last several years which have brought personal loss as well as stress over things happening in the US and across the globe. I’ve certainly felt downhearted, sad, but mostly concerned and afraid of what the future holds for the next generations. Listening to Jane Goodall’s “invitation to hope “ made me more hopeful than I have been and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this.

Her voice is soothing. Her demeanor is calm. Her advice is wise. Douglas Carlton Abrams, with whom she collaborated, contributed to an excellent discussion between the two. I found it particularly moving as they shared their personal grief over loss of loved ones, as well as thoughts on the impact of events on humanity Goodall gives many examples of the resilience of the human spirit after adversity - WWII, 9/11, wildfires, to name a few . People coming together, her belief that if we work at it, things will be better . I hope she’s right.

“Without hope all is lost .”

[Lindsay L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

“Hope is contagious. Your actions will inspire others.”

Jane Goodall is a name that everyone knows. Having started her career living in the remote forest studying chimpanzees, decades later she is a highly respected professional who travels the world to raise awareness on our environmental crisis. Jane has the profound impact of inspiring younger generations who then encourage their parents to make change.

The author, Doug Abrams, writes this novel as a sort of conversation with Jane, offering up all of her life examples and insights to the reader. While I found many of the examples were touching, I did find that I got lost in some of them and my interest wavered. This was a book I had to be in the mood to pick up and feel ‘ready’ for, but each time I did pick it up, I found I took something important away from what I read.

My main takeaway from this book is that one tiny little glimmer of hope is all you need in order to move forward and make change. Jane believes there is hope for our world which is currently facing so much crisis and damage.

Overall, this was an important read. Do I think this was an all-consuming life-changing book? No. Do I think it was an informative, inspiring, feel-good, worthwhile read? Yes. Jane is a humble and inspiring woman who has undoubtedly made an extremely positive impact on our world.

Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted physical review copy!

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many reasons to worry —
It’s easy to be worried that our best days as species are behind us…..oppression still haunts us, political turmoil is prevalent, the rise of threat to our democracy is frightening , poverty, discrimination, racism, greed, corruption, climate change, lack of education, lack of passion, grief, abuse, addiction, depression, disabilities, financial concerns, are all obstacles to experiencing our own power - desire - determination and commitment — contributing — individually and collectively —in making a difference.

This audiobook was absolutely terrific—invaluable reminders of our humanity, our indomitable spirit, our intellect, understandings about how nature teaches us.

I loved learning about the ‘Roots and Shoots’ … a youth movement—from the Jane Goodall organization…..
inspiring children to get involved—empowering them with love, guidance and support —so that they discover their own ways to take actions — have fun with their projects - feel pride and powerful —socially, and environmentally….making a difference.
Children have indomitable spirits —
Some people will overcome the hardships and tragedies they experienced in childhood with inspiring resilience. They choose forgiveness rather than bitterness and revenge…..
they stay connected with their roots —choose healing and tap into their power to transform grief, abuse, sexual abuse, addictions, poverty, lack of education, etc.
And with this kind of spirit much is possible.
It’s sad - when people never do get over their pains and grief…..
but Jane talked about how sometimes these people can be aroused by inspiration….
I believe this to be true from my own experience.
When we can tap into our own power, let go of bitterness, regret, and righteousness….
choose to stay connected with family, friends, and community…work together — collectively — there are things we can do that actively makes a difference.

Jane leaves us with hope…..
thoughts to contemplate, wisdom and common sense solutions.
Jane shares some inspiring - funny- and touching true stories from her life.
Doug Abrams shared with us his grief from when his father died - during his time working with Jane on this conversational project.
We also get a remarkable experience of the partnership that Jane and Doug had working together on this book.
Jane leaves us with this message:
“We have a window of time”…. but we are running out of time, so we must act now”.

BEAUTIFUL -VALUABLE- AUDIOBOOK!!!

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Pandora opened her husband's box, out of curiosity, she unleased misfortunes and tragedies upon the war. She shut the box quickly, but it was too late, only one thing reminded, HOPE. In these last few years when so many things seem out of control: pitically, the environment affecting all, and world wide pandemics c where so many have lost their lives, what can be more important than the hope that things can get better. Who better than to talk about hope than Jane Goodall, this amazing woman, now in her late eighties, who has traveled the world giving talks on the importance of protecting nature, all nature including her beloved chimps. In this book she is giving us reasons on why despite all the distressful things that are happening, there is still time if we work together, there is still time for hope.

This is a marvelous book and one in which I highlighted so many quotes, I realized I needed to hold a copy in my hands. My own copy that I could highlight passages to read again and again, when needed.
An early Christmas present to myself. It is hard to finish this book without feeling uplifted and yes, hopeful.

"How addressing human injustices like poverty and gender oppression makes us better to create hope for the people and environment."

"True wisdom requires both thinking with our head and understanding with our hearts."

"The difficult is hard, the impossible just a little harder."

And Jane's rallying cry echoed around the world.
"Together we CAN! Together we WILL!
Yes, we can, and we will--for we must."

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Hope is a timely and deeply personal memoir by Jane Goodall. As an advocate for environmental justice, she offers a unique perspective in this area. The book is divided into sections, Four Reasons for Hope: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit.

This is the follow-up to The Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the best and most inspiring audiobooks I’ve listened to.

The Book of Hope is filled with warmth and discovery you’ll want to share with others. I’m so grateful for my copy.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - still catching up! · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Many thanks to @CeladonBooks and @JaneGoodallInst for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 10.19!**

Although it seems like eons ago now, a presidential contender began his campaign with one word:

HOPE.

He not only captured the attention of the nation, but our world. What was so special about this message? How could such a small word make such a monumental impact?

Cut to 2020, where Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams take their own crack at defining this abstract concept in a time where Hope is needed more desperately than ever before...and they absolutely succeed!

The Book of Hope is one of many in a Global Icons series started by Abrams, where he has spoken with such prolific minds as the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu to explore the concept of Joy, and here turns to the world's most famous naturalist to break down the components of what makes hope function. You may know Jane best for her work with chimpanzees, but after reading this book, you will be shocked, stunned, and thoroughly inspired by the breadth of Jane's work throughout the world, from her charity Roots and Shoots, to her fascinating arsenal of stories from all corners of the globe and all walks of life. She is able to sum up her thoughts by exploring her Four Reasons for Hope and breaks this book into four neat sections:

*The Amazing Human Intellect: We all have the power and potential to think, change, and adapt to our circumstances. Scientists learn and grow every day, and our potential is limitless.

*The Resilience of Nature: As much as we have put this planet through, it is still standing (for now). Concerted efforts have brought species back from the brink of extinction, reforestation can help to regrow trees that have been lost, and a focused determination to eliminate factory farming globally could have a tremendous impact on how our world functions. Like it or not, we are all part of a global ecosystem and what hurts the smallest of us, hurts all of us.

*The Power of Young People: Children aren't born cynical-we make them that way. Greta Thunberg might be the best example of how one voice speaking out against climate change and simply stating it is unacceptable and bringing unflinching determination to make a change even by 'striking' against the generations that let her and all of our children (and grandchildren) down. She is but one example of the change possible by allowing our youth to embrace their innate optimism and belief in a better world.

and last but not least...

*The Indomitable Human Spirit: This last piece of the puzzle is probably the most important in light of the seemingly endless COVID pandemic. To truly LIVE hope and be messengers of hope, we must rely on our inner strength, the fighting spirit that keeps people holding on when it would be easier to give up and give in. We can overcome ANY adversity, and life CAN be better, if we only put the faith back into ourselves where it truly belongs.

I could go into more detail about these sections, but Goodall's words are worth the read all on their own. She is a soft-spoken yet articulate storyteller, telling tales of her childhood, her introduction to working with chimps, and anecdote after anecdote about the fascinating animals and people she has met through her 80+ years on the planet. Though her conversations with Abrams got disrupted, first due to the pandemic, and later when Abrams suffered the tragic loss of his father, her message never wavers.

If you care at all about the future of our planet Earth (and let's face it, you should...it's the only one we have!) and are searching for a sign, consider this it!

In the words of Jane and Doug:

Doug:"...But doesn't it feel like a drop in the ocean, given the overwhelming autocracy or tyranny that people are facing around the world?"
Jane: "But millions of drops actually make the ocean."

Hope checkmate.

Checkmate, indeed!

#TheBookOfHope #CeladonReads #partner

[Izzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Jane this isn’t a reflection on her as a person or her work!!

DNF at 70%

I was really enjoying this book on audio for the first 8 sections. I bookmarked so many parts that I really loved. I went to school for conservation but never knew much about Jane’s life or work so I really enjoyed that.

I didn’t mind the back and forth conversation style of the book like many people do, I found it easy to listen to because the audiobook is narrated by the authors. I can imagine it would be difficult to read physically though.

I don’t feel like Doug Abrams added much to this book besides being someone that Jane could explain things to, but she could have done that alone in her own book and just addressed the reader. A lot of his questions were so simple and boring and you could predict what Jane would say. Ugh this would have been so much better if she wrote it by herself.

I like the message of this book and agree with a lot of what Jane was saying but after a while it became so repetitive. I already knew about a lot of the things they talked about but still was loving it because of Jane’s perspectives.

What made me DNF this book on Track 9 was all of the inspo porn (Watch Stella Young’s Ted Talk from 2014 on the Tedx Talks channel called: “Inspiration porn and the objectification of disability” if you need clarity). They kept going on and on and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I also didn’t like any of the conversations about resilience in the face of adversity, a lot of that came off as extremely ignorant. (I don’t mean “ignorant” in a mean way, in a lack of knowledge way) I also didn’t like how they talked about indigenous people and people of color in some parts of this book. There were definitely some undertones of white saviorism… mehhhh

They mentioned the words “racial inequality” and “poverty” multiple times but the way they talked about it made me feel like they aren’t very educated on these topics as affluent white people. It made my red flags go up. I would love to know more about Jane’s education on these topics, I’m not assuming anything, I could be misunderstanding.

There are quite a few quotes I’ll take away from this but overall it didn’t deliver and I’m super disappointed.

[Maede · Rating 4 out of 5]

امتیاز اصلی: ۴/۵

امید برای خیلی از ما واژه‌ای شده که از دایره لغاتمون خارج شده. هر سال که سر کلاس‌های زبان از شاگردهام در مورد آینده و امید و آرزوهاشون می‌پرسم، جواب‌های خالی‌تر و نگاه‌های سردتری تحویل می‌گیرم. اگر زندگی در جهانی که توسط پندمیک، جنگ، تغییرات اقلیمی، و نابودی محیط‌زیست سیاه شده کافی نیست، ما در کشوری زندگی می‌کنیم که برده‌ی ظلم، فساد و تحجر شده. پیدا کردن امید در این بحبوحه کار آسانی نیست

برای همین بود که تیتر این کتاب حسابی چشمم رو گرفت. «کتاب امید». البته دیدن این تیتر کنار عکس جین گودال بود که تاثیر عمیق‌تری گذاشت. گودال از کلیدی‌ترین فعالان محیط‌زیست جهان و حامی اصلی شامپانزه‌هاست. زنی که تمام عمرش رو صرف تغییر و آگاهی‌بخشی کرده. با خودم فکر کردم که چطور ناامید نشده؟ چطور ادامه میده؟ به چه امیدی؟ یعنی فکر می‌کنه که روزنه‌ی نوری برای آینده‌ی بشریت وجود داره؟


خواندن این کتاب همزمان با یکی از سخت‌ترین ماه‌های زندگیم شد. ماهی که انقدر اتفاق بد افتاد که روان من زیرش بالاخره خم شد. اما از بین کلمات جین گودال و خردی که اندوخته‌ی سال‌ها زندگی پربارشه، آرامش پیدا می‌کردم. همینطور که آروم آروم با مثال‌های زیاد چهار دلیل اصلیش برای امید به آینده‌ی زمین و انسان‌ها رو شرح می‌داد و از زندگی خارق‌العاده‌ش می‌گفت، من بارقه‌هایی از نور امید رو می‌دیدم

نمی‌خوام بگم که این کتاب من رو امیدوار کرد یا دلیل عجیب و غریبی برای امید به آینده داشت. ولی صحبت در مورد موضوع امید و اهمیتش بهم کمک کرد بیشتر فکر کنم. از اون زیباتر البته جهان‌بینی جین گودال بود. متوجه شدم که مدتیه کتاب‌هایی رو می‌خونم که همه از یک دریچه به دنیا نگاه می‌کنند و زوایای دیگه رو فراموش کرده بودم. نگاهش به مسئله‌ی spirituality برام جالب‌ترین بخش این کتاب بود

کتاب رو با صدای شیرین خودش و مصاحبه کننده گوش دادم که باعث شد برام مثل یک پادکست طولانی بشه

این کانال جدیدیه که بعد از بسته شدن قبلی درست کردم و کتاب‌ها و ریویو‌ها رو اینجا می‌گذارم
Maede's Books

۱۴۰۱/۶/۲۵

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Let us use the gift of our lives to make this a better world.’ - Jane Goodall

’Hope is a social gift. One that is nurtured and sustained by those around us. Each of us has a web of hope that supports, encourages and uplifts us throughout our lives.’ - Douglas Abrams

When I read that Jane Goodall had a new book coming out this year sometime last summer, I knew I wanted to read it and listen to the wisdom she has acquired in her 87 years on this planet. I hadn’t noticed, however, that this was written as a conversation over time with Douglas Abrams. I recognized his voice, although it’s been years since I listened to his The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a changing World with Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, I still remember the experience of listening to it driving through Vermont as the leaves were varying shades of red and gold, and knew I was in for another treat.

She continues speaking around the world about conservation, climate change, as well as her continuing plea for the humane conduct toward animals, as well as poverty and its affect on all.

Written as an ongoing conversation on various topics and people who are advocates of a better life for all, this is a book that addresses the need for hope that includes action, as she says - ’...real hope...requires action and engagement.’

Offering inspiration and advice as well as her general philosophy, this ’survival guide for trying times’ is both a wonderful glimpse into her life, as well as a mission to inspire, and educate others in order to return our planet to a safe environment for all in order that our planet, and future generations will survive, and hopefully thrive.

’Let us use the gift of our lives to make this a better world.’

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrated by the authors, this is a compilation of conversations/interviews between Douglas Carlton Abrams and Jane Goodall. The subjects addressed range from climate change, to the pandemic, to politics, and pretty much everything in between. I enjoyed listening to Jane Goodall's insight about current events and her outlook for the future.

[Mr. Shoemaker · Rating 1 out of 5]

As much as I admire Jane Goodall's life and work, I just couldn't stomach this book. It's mostly composed of what seems to be a very contrived "conversation" between the fawning co-author Douglas Abrams and an elderly Mary Poppins. Jane Goodall is a prominent thinker in the fields of animal behavior, ecology, and anthropology; there's little evidence of that here. I expected to read something more engaging than Hallmark Card sentiments. I felt talked down to so that a best-seller that won't offend anyone, nor make us think too hard, could be mass marketed to a crises numbed public.

Maybe it's especially hard to read this during the last week of May, 2022, as yet another fucker with an assault rifle has massacred yet another batch of school children. Resulting in yet another batch of politicians sending "thoughts and prayers" while refusing to even consider why children's lives are negotiable, yet the right to own military grade assault weapons has been guaranteed by both the NRA and Jesus himself.

[Luís · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immense scientist of international renown, Jane Goodall, forever demonstrated that the tool was not unique to humans. The story of this young woman living with chimpanzees in Tanzania in the 1950s fascinated the whole world. Still, it took her decades to convey the essence of her discovery: the human being is not the center of the world but a "sapiens" individual among all living species. This revolution in mentalities that it initiated above all now improves by the dramatic events affecting the planet:

.Global warming
.The disappearance of plant and animal species
.The increased poverty of populations

In this book, the famous United Nations messenger of peace draws on her life journey to deliver her reasons for hope to our reflection. It calls for a new universal moral code to meet the challenges posed by environmental threats to the entire living world and to redefine the links between humans and nature.

[Ink_Drinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way this book was written. Douglas Abrams shared with us his conversations with Jane Goodall on the subject of Hope. What is Hope? What does hope look like? And....how does it drive us? I felt like I was an observer on the sidelines, listening in on these most interesting of conversations.

If you only know Jane Goodall as the chimpanzee expert, this book shows another side of her and will give you some insight into how she sees the world. If you are familiar with the world’s most famous living naturalist, the beloved Jane Goodall, you will then be able to enjoy the deeply personal conversations and photographs of Goodall’s career.

[Cathrine ☯️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 💞💞💞💞💞
“Only if we understand can we care.
Only if we care will we help.
Only if we help shall all be saved.”

In 1971 I read Jane Goodall’s In the Shadow of Man and it changed my views about life here on earth, a woman’s perceived place in it, and began my personal walk into environmentalism, animal rights, and a deep love of nature.
A young woman with no experience living in the African jungle alone with only a notebook and binoculars to study chimpanzees in the wild was totally badass. Imagine.

When Douglas Abrams was finished interviewing Jane, now in her late 80s, for this book, he said
“I’ve had my brain challenged,
my heart opened,
And my hope renewed.”

The audio is mesmerizing though I missed out on photos included in the hard copy. Rather than using statistics, she speaks from her heart with stories of her lifelong encounters with animals and people. She’s never ceased in her work. Her foundation is educating and helping all over our world she still travels doing speaking engagements.
And even though I’m a hard sell on the idea of hope in these times, she pulled it off.
Thank you Jane, thank you.

https://www.goodreads.com/videos/1822...

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

I have long admired and been fascinated by Jane Goodall ever since writing a paper about chimpanzees way back when I was in about seventh grade. Now, I am reading about this amazing woman, who, at age 87, is still influencing students and adults all over the world. She speaks of her childhood, saying that as a child, she had grown up reading Doctor Doolittle and Tarzan stories and that her dream was to study animals in the wild. “Tarzan clearly married the wrong Jane,” she jests. When Louis Leakey invited her to join him, that was the beginning of a lifetime of passionate study and advocacy for not just chimps, but for all creatures and the environment.

The book is a discussion between Dame Goodall and New York Times journalist Douglas Abrams in a series of meetings, both in person and via remote access, in which they attempt to define hope, how we maintain hope in trying times, and her reasons for hope. I highlighted many, many sections of the book, too many to quote in a review. She speaks with so much experience, with incredible wisdom and empathy, and with humor. One would think that with the horrors she has seen such as chimpanzees confined in the smallest of cages for research – these highly intelligent mammals imprisoned for hours, days, weeks, years – forced to spend a boring existence, supposedly for the benefit of humans (mostly it did not prove beneficial, she says) – yet one of her fondest memories is of a female chimp being released onto a sanctuary island. As her cage is opened, Wounda emerges and clutches Jane in a warm embrace. Seeing the photo is quite moving; watching the video online moved me to tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzC7M...

I learned so much about this wonderful “being” we call Mother Nature. For instance, octopuses, which have brains that are totally different from those of mammals, can solve many types of problems. In fact, they have brains in each of their eight arms. And bees are quite clever; even bees that have not been trained can learn the same task just by watching other bees. There is one thing, however, that separates humans from, say, chimpanzees, who are so very genetically close to humans. Language. But I keep going back to that image of Wounda, the female chimp. They most certainly feel and express emotion.

About wisdom, she says, “The hallmark of wisdom is asking, ‘What effects will the decision I make today have on future generations? On the health of the planet?’” Later, she says, “In other words, there seems to be a disconnect between our clever brain and our compassionate heart. True wisdom requires both thinking with our head and understanding with our heart.” Does some of our wisdom get lost as we lose our connection with nature? Goodall believes that, yes, it does.

Why is she hopeful, then, about the future of the planet? I find it difficult sometimes to feel optimistic given the increase in temperatures worldwide, the severe hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters that are increasing yearly. “In a way, our disconnect with nature is very dangerous. We feel we can control nature – we forget that, in the end, nature controls us.“ Add in the reluctance and outright resistance of some elected officials to enact legislation that could greatly benefit the environment, and it is difficult not to be pessimistic. Goodall, however, points to the resilience of nature. She uses the Survivor Tree at Ground Zero as one example, and the two 500-year-old camphor trees that survived the bombing of Nagasaki, one of which still lives and grows new leaves! What I described above is termed “eco-grief” and is not uncommon, especially among those who live in Native communities. But, she says, Nature has a will to live and will adapt or perish. She goes on to describe the “tapestry of life, “which is a healthy ecosystem, that interdependency of species that each has in order to survive. Humankind is part of that cycle.

The Jane Goodall Institute headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, began a global movement for young people to use their collective voices to influence decisions and lead to changes in their communities. As someone who is, by nature, a shy person, she has been on this worldwide mission for most of her life because she feels called to do it. She compares herself to Saul/Paul on the way to Damascus. This is simply who she must be and what she must do. She is encouraged by the enthusiasm, energy, and power of young people.

Finally, she speaks repeatedly about “the indomitable human spirit.” This term is mentioned no less than 46 times! She gives examples of famous people as well as her own personal heroes. I would put Jane Goodall in that category as well. As for what she thinks her next adventure might be – I love her answer, but I think you should read it for yourself!

To those who love animals and being outdoors in nature, I recommend this book. To those who care about humanity and our planet, I recommend this book. To those who love an intelligent, compassionate dialogue, I recommend this book. The Book of Hope . I highly recommend it.

5 stars

[Betsy Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to listen to the authors read or speak this conversation of a book because Jane Goodall's voice puts me in a trance. The drawback is that sometimes I was so "gone" I had to re-listen for content. I also had to do this when I attempted to listen while painting my ceiling. I guess I am not a person who can multi-task and truly listen to content the way I like to. So I re-listened a lot.

But I think this is good. And I'd further like to extend the experience now by reading the book, which includes photos that I didn't get to see.

Jane Goodall is one of the most inspiring people I've ever encountered. I'd like to listen to/read this book 24 hours a day.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not ask to read this book, but I am incredibly grateful to Celadon books for letting me read it so I could give it my honest review. I think I needed this book. I’m at a point where hope seems pretty distant and it was nice to have those quiet threads of hope pointed out so well. This book was engrossing and so easy to read. It is primarily a series of conversations between Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams in which Jane talks about what hope is and why we should have it. To explain her thoughts she used amazing anecdotes and heart warming stories of hope and change.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hope is contagious. Your actions will inspire others. It is my sincere desire that this book will help you find solace in a time of anguish, direction in a time of uncertainty, courage in a time of fear." - Jane Goodall

I wrote my review and it disappeared!

"Hope...is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so."

Jane Goodall's four main reasons for her hope are the amazing human intellect, the resilience of nature, the power of youth, and the indomitable human spirit.

A universal moral code -"Do onto others as you would have them do unto you."

She says, "We need to come together and solve ...essential threats to life on earth. And to do so...
"First - we must alleviate poverty.
"Second, we must reduce the unsustainable lifestyles of the affluent.
"Third, we must eliminate corruption, for without good governance and honest leadership, we cannot work together to solve our enormous social and environmental challenges."

There were lots of quotes in the book that were meaningful to me.

"The difficult is hard, the impossible just a little harder"

"The hallmark of wisdom is asking, 'What effects will the decision I make today have on future generations? On the health of the planet?'"

"True wisdom requires both thinking with our head and understanding with our heart."

Together we CAN!
Together we WILL!
Yes, we can, and we will – for we must.

[Patricia Kitto · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried. I really did. I like Jane Goodall. I really do.
But the format of this book just didn't work for me. Written as an interview, the writing seemed forced and the "questions" were juvenile and something I felt anyone could answer.
I think I'll see if I can find a book about Jane Goodall's life and work instead.
Because I like Jane Goodall. I really do.

[S.V. Veen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book everyone should read. To really understand what we have done to our world and what needs to happen. To not only hope, but to take action. This is a message for us all. For the future of our children and of our planet.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I was in need of some hope. So that was a good reason to pick up this book by Jane Goodall, published in 2021. As she says at the beginning, these are dark days. Wars, terrorist attacks, hate crimes, and a swing toward right-wing dictatorships... things only seem to be getting worse. There's the ongoing widening gap between the haves and have-nots ( 1% of the population control more wealth than most of the people of the rest of the world). Environmental pollution and devastation seem to only get worse, with climate change affecting us now as well as being the greatest threat to all of the animals and plants on this planet ( including us). Not much reason for hope, right?
In this book, Jane Goodall explains why we have reason to have hope. She explores what it means and how she became a "messenger of hope." Growing up in World War II had an influence on her life. Although she was just a child, she was aware that the people of her country--Britain--were pulling together under the inspirational leadership of Prime Minister Churchill and standing up to what seemed the overwhelming power of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. She tells how she met the challenge of going to Africa to study the chimps and gained new insights about them--and the animal world. And she also tells why she had to leave the rain forest to become an advocate for the environment.
So much of her hope is based on what she calls "the power of young people." She firmly believes that young people are changing the direction we have been going. She's hopeful that they are becoming more engaged in decision-making, in participatory democracy. But is it enough? Will it be too little too late? Jane remains optimistic. She is certainly not going to give up, any more than Churchill deciding the fight could not be won and it would be for the best to surrender to Hitler.
I think we have no choice. To give up hope is to lose a planet, the only planet that we know that can support life.

[Ian M. Pyatt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was truly hoping for more "Hope" in this book, but found more despair instead as it described all that is wrong with the world, especially with all the global warming/climate exchange affects going on with green house gas emissions.

The loss of habitats for her beloved primates; how many humans still rely on various natural resources to keep themselves in their homes, traveling in their vehicles and feeding themselves on a daily basis.

I guess I was looking for solutions which she and other political leaders were working on to combat global warming/climate change, but we all know that not everyone (leaders of countries, natural resource companies, shareholders, etc) is looking for alternative solutions (electric vehicles, plant based food, etc) in the immediate future as it would hurt the financial bottom line.

The interviewer did a good job with his questions and as well transcribing it to this book. I enjoyed reading about her interactions with her primate friends and her "human" influences in her career. Her photos were a great addition too!

[Anne ✨ Finds Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️Jane Gooddall! And in this book she's as inspiring and hopeful and endearing as ever! I loved listening to her on audio, and getting a peak into her thoughts and experiences!

[Gayle Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though interesting, like Abrams Book of Joy, I find the format of the book annoying. Abrams isn’t the story, so his telling of it makes the entire enterprise a strange hybrid.

[Susanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to be inspired.

I do believe in the resilience of nature; I have only to look at the stubborn weeds in my back yard to be convinced of that. But yes, if we leave the Earth alone, along with it's flora and fauna, I have no doubt that it will revive and thrive.

I also believe in the human intellect. We are problem solvers by nature. Our brains are amazing instruments. I put a lot of faith in what we have, and have yet, to learn; it may take time, but we will solve whatever problem comes our way.

I have two teenage children, who are very concerned about the world and their places in it. Rightly, they are angry at past generations for taking and using without valuing the toll on future generations. As a child, I remember asking where the smoke from our wood fire went. The answer was that it spread out and became part of the air. But doesn't it pollute the air, does it go away, I wondered? There is so much air that you'll never notice it, was the answer. Here I am, 40 years later, and yes, I do notice it. I notice it and all the other pollutants building up in my environment. I never thought we'd have to stay indoors in the Pacific Northwest due to unhealthy air quality... I believe in the power of young people, but I also see their righteous disappointment and resentment at being forced into the position they are inheriting.

I also believe in the indomitable human spirit. But more than that, I believe, unfortunately, in insatiable human greed. We are about a year post-Trump, which were some of the darkest for me as an American, and while I hope that damage might now be caused at a slower rate, our systems (all of them) are focused on growth and profit. Little room is left for generosity, stewardship, unconditional respect of others and the environment; these things are just too expensive. There is no profit. I'm not suggesting that communism is the answer, but as long as 1% continue to hold a majority of our country's wealth, and continues to focus on business practices that put them in that elite position, and the rest of us continue to cut down the last tree and hunt the last fish to get by and feed our families... there is no hope.

Churchill's words are still true: with great power comes great responsibility. It is my belief that those with the most power are taking little responsibility. So, while I'd like to hold Goodall's book up as the "survival guide for trying times" that it states in the title - it is not. Small acts by the many won't be enough because many of us, especially since covid, are stuck in a survival cycle that leaves no room for making green choices. Many of us have already been reducing, reusing and recycling and buying fair trade and cage-free our entire lives. Our only real hope is for those who have the resources to demand big business overhaul their practices, and for the Jeff Bazos-es of the world to turn their aspirations from playing amongst the stars, both socially and scientifically, to apologizing and making amends with the world we all live in.

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Jane Goodall. We could all use this rear right about now. All of it. Loved it!