Book Review: Book of Hope
Original review written 4/10/22
Title: The Book of Hope
Author(s): by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams with Gail Hudson
Narrated by: Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams
What's it about?
What is hope? Why do we have hope? How do we have hope? What is it that gives us hope? I'm sure, if we look deep enough, we all have our own answers.
This is the conversation between Ms. Jane Goodall, the famous naturalist known for her work with chimpanzees, and author Douglas Abrams as they discuss Ms. Goodall's definition of hope and her four reasons for hope as she retells stories and shares her knowledge and experience throughout her life which has inspired and created her view of life and the hope that gets us though.
Other Thoughts?
First of all, can we just take a second to bask in the awesomeness of hearing this book told by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams themselves? Sure, the chance to learn more about Jane Goodall herself was a large part of the appeal of this book, but listen to her speak with such warmth and so naturally as if she wasn't reading from a paper was phenomenal. Listening to her chuckle and laugh so authentically even though she was doing a performance of sorts was brilliant.
That, combined with her words and the stories she told, made me fall in love with her. I felt like I learned so much but I couldn't tell you one statistic. I could tell you about the tree at 9/11's ground zero. I can tell you about how Ms. Goodall's work helps to prove how interconnected humans, society and nature are and how, when you help to improve one aspect, you help improve the others. And I can tell you that there's a difference between a biologist and an naturalist.
But most of all, I can tell that, as crazy as it sounds, I found hope in hope. I was reminded how important, powerful and valid even when it can feel, and sometimes look, ignorant, naive and maybe even immature and pointless. And, I learned that Jane Goodall is an amazing woman and I have a new hero.
Rating:
I give this a
7
out of
10 chimpanzees
But that was just me. What did you think? Did you love it? Hate it? Find it a bit lackluster? Let us know in the comments.
