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Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey
Her revolutionary studies of Tanzania's chimpanzees forever altered our definition of "humanity." Now, intriguing as always, Jane Goodall explores her deepest convictions in a heartfelt memoir that takes her from the London Blitz to Louis Leaky's famous excavations in Africa and then into the forests of Gombe. From the unforgettable moment when a wild chimpanzee gently grasps her hand to the terror of a hostage-taking and the sorrow of her husband's death. Here, thoughtfully exploring the challenges of both science and the soul, she offers an inspiring, optimistic message as profound as the knowledge she brought back from the forests, and that gives us all...reason for hope.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
790 people are currently reading
8260 people want to read
About the author
Jane Goodall
244 books2,578 followersFor 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 674 reviews
July 22, 2009
Every so often, if you are lucky, you pick up a book that speaks to you. A book that seems to know what you are struggling with at that very moment, and that book somehow soothes your soul. That was this book for me.
As a kid, I thought Goodall was awesome. Living in nature with chimpanzees! Hoots!
A few years ago, my love for her was solidified while reading The Far Side. You see, Gary Larson had a cartoon of some chimps, the female is plucking a hair off the male and says, "Another blond hair! I see you've been hanging out with that Jane Goodall tramp again!" (or something like that) Well, someone wrote a scathing letter to Larson. MEEEE-OW! Only to discover that Goodall found the cartoon hysterical.
She's got a sense of humor. I really dig that in a person.
She also loves animals and fights for their rights. I dig that, too.
Anyway, in her book she talks about love, grief, nature, HOPE. Her words reminded me to see the beauty in the world around us. Because really, even with all the ugly stuff, we are surrounded by beauty.
Oh, hell. Maybe that's just the bunny hugging, tree worshiping, otter scrubber in me talking shit.
Whatever.
I loved this book and still love Jane Goodall.
As a kid, I thought Goodall was awesome. Living in nature with chimpanzees! Hoots!
A few years ago, my love for her was solidified while reading The Far Side. You see, Gary Larson had a cartoon of some chimps, the female is plucking a hair off the male and says, "Another blond hair! I see you've been hanging out with that Jane Goodall tramp again!" (or something like that) Well, someone wrote a scathing letter to Larson. MEEEE-OW! Only to discover that Goodall found the cartoon hysterical.
She's got a sense of humor. I really dig that in a person.
She also loves animals and fights for their rights. I dig that, too.
Anyway, in her book she talks about love, grief, nature, HOPE. Her words reminded me to see the beauty in the world around us. Because really, even with all the ugly stuff, we are surrounded by beauty.
Oh, hell. Maybe that's just the bunny hugging, tree worshiping, otter scrubber in me talking shit.
Whatever.
I loved this book and still love Jane Goodall.
April 6, 2024
3 квітня одна прекрасна людина святкувала 90-й день народження. Це була відома приматологиня та письменниця Джейн Ґудолл. Ще декілька тижнів тому я нічого не знав про неї, але в моїх руках дуже вчасно опинилась книга від “Бородатого Тамарина” (до речі, це перша книга цього видавництва, яку я прочитав), і тепер я дуже тішусь, що наше з нею знайомство “авторка — читач” відбулось.
Джейн написала доволі багато книг. Здається “У пошуках надії” — це перша книга, яку переклали українською. Зараз, прочитавши її, трохи сумно від того, такі цікаві та захопливі історії, якими Джейн ділилась зі світом в кінці 90-х, стали доступними для нас лише через десятки років.
Але добре, що це взагалі відбулось. Бо саме такі книги дарують віру в людство. Про віру в людство, власне, багато рефлексує і сама Джейн у цій книзі.
💔 “У пошуках надії” — це абсолютно світла автобіографічна книга. Джейн розповідає про своє дитинство, про те, як вона з сім’єю ледь не загинула від німецьких авіабомб (вона жила в Англії), як відчувала близькість з природою, як шукала сенси життя, намагаючись балансувати між релігією та наукою. Після дитинства — розділи про її дорослішання, перше кохання, початок дослідницької роботи з шимпанзе у Африці, і повне зачарування цими створіннями. Те, як вона описувала життя шимпанзе (нас з ними поєднує більше, ніж ви можете собі уявити), змушувало мене самого вмикати на Youtube якісь документалки, щоб поглянути, як ці наші далекі родичі живуть. Все, про що писала авторка, просякнуто щирістю та любов’ю, і це дуже відчувається через текст.
Були і розділи, які вибивали із зони комфорту. Наприклад, про те, як з’ясувалось, що шимпанзе не просто смішні та милі, а і можуть бути дуже жорстокими, вбивати та шматувати інших зі свого племені, навіть якщо це діти. Ще один важкий розділ, це як Джейн розповідає про те, як помирав від раку її чоловік Дерек (там і страх, і містика, і щось типу катарсису).
Мені ця книга нагадала дитинство. Немов цілий день гуляв з друзями в полі та лісі, змагались на палицях, немов це світлові мечі, а потім ввечері втомлений, але щасливий, читаєш щось про Тарзана чи Мауглі, відчуваєш атмосферу історій про Тома Соєра, занурюєшся в якийсь класний пригодницький сюжет…
Дуже хороший вайб та враження. Тотальне визнання любові до природи в час, коли технологічний прогрес не зупиняється ні на мить.
Джейн написала доволі багато книг. Здається “У пошуках надії” — це перша книга, яку переклали українською. Зараз, прочитавши її, трохи сумно від того, такі цікаві та захопливі історії, якими Джейн ділилась зі світом в кінці 90-х, стали доступними для нас лише через десятки років.
Але добре, що це взагалі відбулось. Бо саме такі книги дарують віру в людство. Про віру в людство, власне, багато рефлексує і сама Джейн у цій книзі.
💔 “У пошуках надії” — це абсолютно світла автобіографічна книга. Джейн розповідає про своє дитинство, про те, як вона з сім’єю ледь не загинула від німецьких авіабомб (вона жила в Англії), як відчувала близькість з природою, як шукала сенси життя, намагаючись балансувати між релігією та наукою. Після дитинства — розділи про її дорослішання, перше кохання, початок дослідницької роботи з шимпанзе у Африці, і повне зачарування цими створіннями. Те, як вона описувала життя шимпанзе (нас з ними поєднує більше, ніж ви можете собі уявити), змушувало мене самого вмикати на Youtube якісь документалки, щоб поглянути, як ці наші далекі родичі живуть. Все, про що писала авторка, просякнуто щирістю та любов’ю, і це дуже відчувається через текст.
Були і розділи, які вибивали із зони комфорту. Наприклад, про те, як з’ясувалось, що шимпанзе не просто смішні та милі, а і можуть бути дуже жорстокими, вбивати та шматувати інших зі свого племені, навіть якщо це діти. Ще один важкий розділ, це як Джейн розповідає про те, як помирав від раку її чоловік Дерек (там і страх, і містика, і щось типу катарсису).
Мені ця книга нагадала дитинство. Немов цілий день гуляв з друзями в полі та лісі, змагались на палицях, немов це світлові мечі, а потім ввечері втомлений, але щасливий, читаєш щось про Тарзана чи Мауглі, відчуваєш атмосферу історій про Тома Соєра, занурюєшся в якийсь класний пригодницький сюжет…
Дуже хороший вайб та враження. Тотальне визнання любові до природи в час, коли технологічний прогрес не зупиняється ні на мить.
January 16, 2012
The book is by the famous anthropologist Jane Goodall, whose studies of chimpanzees revolutionized how we think of our closest relative among living species and thus how we define being human. Her title signals this book is about a lot more than that groundbreaking work. This was found in the Nature section of my neighborhood bookstore, but was recommended to me as "inspirational non-fiction" on the Ultimate Reading List. Her credited co-author Philip Berman is a theologian and the project was first conceived as "a book of interviews--questions from a theologian to an anthropologist."
Reading this I could have wished for a lot more of the anthropological and less of the spiritual. This memoir of her experiences had its pleasures and moving moments. I loved the story about how Louis Leakey recruited Goodall, who at the time had never attended a university, to go off to study chimpanzees in the wild. And I certainly found moving her story about the death of her husband from cancer. I thought she was at her best though in chapters such as "The Roots of Evil," "Precursors to War" and "Compassion and Love" when she spoke directly out of her study and observations of chimpanzees. But there's a lot in her moral, political and spiritual outlook I find antithetical to mine that made it hard at times to hear her out. Frequently I found myself irritated, and found myself skimming large parts of chapters. I frankly squirmed reading about her psychic experiences. Her style is lucid enough, but having recently read Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa, Goodall's prose did strike me in comparison as prosaic--this isn't a memoir you read out of literary merit. And when it came to so many of her political and spiritual views, there was so little I felt I hadn't heard many times before--that didn't feel like boilerplate. It's because there was so much in the book I couldn't take seriously, things outside the scope of her expertise, that despite fascinating bits in the book I can't rate this higher.
Was there any point in her arguments on issues I disagreed with where she got through to me? Interestingly, yes. Primarily in the Chapter "On the Road to Damascus" regarding animal research. I think it's significant that this was an issue where I didn't feel she was just repeating what many others had said. Her experiences observing chimpanzees, and her discussion of the cruelty of how they're treated in laboratories--ones she actually visited--resonated. Precisely because she spoke with the authority of direct experience. She also deflected a lot of my defenses by admitting the good that animal research had done; her own mother is alive because of animal research and the pig valve implanted in her heart. Yes, Goodall would like to someday eliminate animal experimentation, but the thrust of her argument was for treating the animals in laboratories as humanely as possible, and looking for alternatives. She didn't give anything like the PETA line that "A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy." And she gained my respect because of how she related how she actually sat down with researchers and worked with them to better the conditions of research animals--she didn't just hurl rhetorical bricks from outside the walls. So besides the fascinating look here and there at the experiences of a pioneering women in the study of primates, I learned a little about what it is that can break down resistance to truly considering the other side of an argument. And despite my disagreements with Goodall, at the finish of her book she had my admiration, liking and respect.
Reading this I could have wished for a lot more of the anthropological and less of the spiritual. This memoir of her experiences had its pleasures and moving moments. I loved the story about how Louis Leakey recruited Goodall, who at the time had never attended a university, to go off to study chimpanzees in the wild. And I certainly found moving her story about the death of her husband from cancer. I thought she was at her best though in chapters such as "The Roots of Evil," "Precursors to War" and "Compassion and Love" when she spoke directly out of her study and observations of chimpanzees. But there's a lot in her moral, political and spiritual outlook I find antithetical to mine that made it hard at times to hear her out. Frequently I found myself irritated, and found myself skimming large parts of chapters. I frankly squirmed reading about her psychic experiences. Her style is lucid enough, but having recently read Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa, Goodall's prose did strike me in comparison as prosaic--this isn't a memoir you read out of literary merit. And when it came to so many of her political and spiritual views, there was so little I felt I hadn't heard many times before--that didn't feel like boilerplate. It's because there was so much in the book I couldn't take seriously, things outside the scope of her expertise, that despite fascinating bits in the book I can't rate this higher.
Was there any point in her arguments on issues I disagreed with where she got through to me? Interestingly, yes. Primarily in the Chapter "On the Road to Damascus" regarding animal research. I think it's significant that this was an issue where I didn't feel she was just repeating what many others had said. Her experiences observing chimpanzees, and her discussion of the cruelty of how they're treated in laboratories--ones she actually visited--resonated. Precisely because she spoke with the authority of direct experience. She also deflected a lot of my defenses by admitting the good that animal research had done; her own mother is alive because of animal research and the pig valve implanted in her heart. Yes, Goodall would like to someday eliminate animal experimentation, but the thrust of her argument was for treating the animals in laboratories as humanely as possible, and looking for alternatives. She didn't give anything like the PETA line that "A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy." And she gained my respect because of how she related how she actually sat down with researchers and worked with them to better the conditions of research animals--she didn't just hurl rhetorical bricks from outside the walls. So besides the fascinating look here and there at the experiences of a pioneering women in the study of primates, I learned a little about what it is that can break down resistance to truly considering the other side of an argument. And despite my disagreements with Goodall, at the finish of her book she had my admiration, liking and respect.
November 2, 2011
My absolute favorite book of all time. Science, spirituality, poetry, humanity, animal behavior, motherhood, our past and our future all wrapped into one beautiful story. Jane Goodall went to the jungle at a time when it was unheard of for a woman to do so, she studied science with such a passion although she had no degree whatsoever. She looked into the depths of the jungle while contemplating the infinite stars in heaven. She looks into the darkness of our past and finds light for our future.
April 28, 2024
Книга читалась легко, але не надто зачіпала, поки я не зустріла «свій абзац»:
«Після місяців у Гомбе я поглянула іншими очима на створений нами «цивілізований» світ - світ цегли та бетонного розчину, міст і будинків, доріг, авто і технологій. Просякнута духовністю і напрочуд прекрасна природа була так далеко, а створена людиною дійсність часто здавалась потворною та збіднілою. Цей контаст двох світів вражав, і щоразу, коли я приїздила з Гомбе до Англії, мене накривав дедалі більший смуток…»
А далі… дуже зворушили історії про шимпанзе, як вони переживали емоції. Звідки зʼявляється агресія. Чому люди жорстокі, чому війни.
Тут стільки тем. /// Про екологію і сталий розвиток я знаю з дитинства, бо вим займається моя мама. Я навіть корм для свого песика купую з приміткою «мʼясо тварин вільного вигулу», не кажучи вже про яйця і решту для себе. Тому багато питань - я знаю… /// але після лиш декількох абзаців - я вперше задумалась про вегетаріантство (або можливо, меншого споживання мʼяса… треба подувати) . Розділ про досліди над тваринами читався важко, хоч і розумію, що часом без цього ніяк, але цю правду корисно знати, цінувати.
Багато цікавого, легка подача, як жити після втрати, травми, про віру в Бога, - всі теми дуже ніжно і влучно описані. Приклад, коли таксист не мав здачі з чайових / і Джейн сказала, що ок хай буде- решту пожертвуйте в фонд допомоги, який таксист не визнавав і що було далі - це дуже цікавий підхід.
Багато доброти
і надії
«Після місяців у Гомбе я поглянула іншими очима на створений нами «цивілізований» світ - світ цегли та бетонного розчину, міст і будинків, доріг, авто і технологій. Просякнута духовністю і напрочуд прекрасна природа була так далеко, а створена людиною дійсність часто здавалась потворною та збіднілою. Цей контаст двох світів вражав, і щоразу, коли я приїздила з Гомбе до Англії, мене накривав дедалі більший смуток…»
А далі… дуже зворушили історії про шимпанзе, як вони переживали емоції. Звідки зʼявляється агресія. Чому люди жорстокі, чому війни.
Тут стільки тем. /// Про екологію і сталий розвиток я знаю з дитинства, бо вим займається моя мама. Я навіть корм для свого песика купую з приміткою «мʼясо тварин вільного вигулу», не кажучи вже про яйця і решту для себе. Тому багато питань - я знаю… /// але після лиш декількох абзаців - я вперше задумалась про вегетаріантство (або можливо, меншого споживання мʼяса… треба подувати) . Розділ про досліди над тваринами читався важко, хоч і розумію, що часом без цього ніяк, але цю правду корисно знати, цінувати.
Багато цікавого, легка подача, як жити після втрати, травми, про віру в Бога, - всі теми дуже ніжно і влучно описані. Приклад, коли таксист не мав здачі з чайових / і Джейн сказала, що ок хай буде- решту пожертвуйте в фонд допомоги, який таксист не визнавав і що було далі - це дуже цікавий підхід.
Багато доброти
і надії
November 21, 2010
I love Jane Goodall, but this wasn't quite as powerful as I expected it to be. It was interesting reading about spiritual views from a scientist, and I loved her detailed descriptions of her time in Gombe with the chimpanzees. Goodall really has experienced a lot of sadness and horror in her life and it was inspiring to see how she always managed to turn back to faith. But a lot of the book was just too preachy for me and (do I dare say this? Yes, I dare) too Christian. I guess when I picked up the book I expected almost a Native American type of spiritual view of the world rather than the same sort of Christian ideas that have been pounded in me since birth (though Goodall does learn to find God in nature more than anywhere else). Still, I found myself much more absorbed in her tales of Africa and sighing in frustration whenever she came to one of her long religious tangents. Also, the book felt very scattered and unfocused to me. But in the end, I still love Jane Goodall. I love what she has done for the earth, for nature and for animals, and this book really did make me love her even more.
April 30, 2024
цікавий факт: це дебютний переклад тетяни кідрук і одна з улюблених її книжок. ще один цікавий факт це сама джейн ґудолл, яка стала феноменом в науковому світі і першою жінкою, що без належної освіти вирушила в африку вивчати приматів, і зрештою відсутність освіти стала її перевагою, адже ніякі наукові обмеження не зупиняли її від інтуїтивного спостереження за шимпанзе.
це частково автобіографія самої джейн, на початку через це було доволі складно втягнутись, але це допомогло краще зрозуміти авторку як людину і як науковицю. чим вона керувалась у своїх спостереженнях, що впливало на її любов до природи і які люди оточували її у важливі періоди життя. але звісно, більшість тексту про шимпанзе, і це було дуже цікаво. вони єдині тварини які використовують знаряддя праці (раніше саме цей факт виділяв людей з-поміж інших живих істот), вони мають власні звичаї, емоції і міміку, вони обіймаються і сміються. це все дуже подібно до людської поведінки і це дивно усвідомлювати.
дуже багато людських аспектів (війна, мораль, сімейні зв'язки) авторка розглядала дотично до шимпанзе. їм теж притаманні ці речі, і в них вони не менш жорстокі (війна між групами доходить до згуртованих нападів 5 проти 1 і канібалізму) і не менш щирі (вони підтримуючі і чуйні). мій улюблений момент напевно той, де джейн відмовилась називати шимпанзе номерами, і кожному давала власне ім'я.
про релігію в книзі. її тут дійсно багато, авторка дуже релігійна і моментами може здаватися ніби свою релігію вона хоче нав'язати читачу, через це іноді важко читалось. але при цьому ця релігійність не заважає їй бути науковицею, бога вона сприймає як щось допоміжне, і своєрідна логіка в цьому є. загалом книга мені сподобалась, вона відкриває щось зовсім нове, знайомить з іншим світом і показує різних людей.
це частково автобіографія самої джейн, на початку через це було доволі складно втягнутись, але це допомогло краще зрозуміти авторку як людину і як науковицю. чим вона керувалась у своїх спостереженнях, що впливало на її любов до природи і які люди оточували її у важливі періоди життя. але звісно, більшість тексту про шимпанзе, і це було дуже цікаво. вони єдині тварини які використовують знаряддя праці (раніше саме цей факт виділяв людей з-поміж інших живих істот), вони мають власні звичаї, емоції і міміку, вони обіймаються і сміються. це все дуже подібно до людської поведінки і це дивно усвідомлювати.
дуже багато людських аспектів (війна, мораль, сімейні зв'язки) авторка розглядала дотично до шимпанзе. їм теж притаманні ці речі, і в них вони не менш жорстокі (війна між групами доходить до згуртованих нападів 5 проти 1 і канібалізму) і не менш щирі (вони підтримуючі і чуйні). мій улюблений момент напевно той, де джейн відмовилась називати шимпанзе номерами, і кожному давала власне ім'я.
про релігію в книзі. її тут дійсно багато, авторка дуже релігійна і моментами може здаватися ніби свою релігію вона хоче нав'язати читачу, через це іноді важко читалось. але при цьому ця релігійність не заважає їй бути науковицею, бога вона сприймає як щось допоміжне, і своєрідна логіка в цьому є. загалом книга мені сподобалась, вона відкриває щось зовсім нове, знайомить з іншим світом і показує різних людей.
April 18, 2024
5⭐️
Дуже пізнавальна книга. Авторка, якій зараз 89 (книга вийшла у 1999) - насправді дуже крутезна жінка. У книзі вона поділилась про своє «цікаве» життя, досвід Другої світової, коли їй було 5 років і як все на неї вплинуло у подальшому. Яка бореться за «права» тварин і має свій інститут для реалізації задуманого. Вона є дуже релігійно, присвятила практично все своє життя вивченню про шимпанзе, всі її думки дуже філософські та близькі мені. Книга, яку варто читати. Дякую сімейству Кідруку за цю книгу!
Рекомендую.
Дуже пізнавальна книга. Авторка, якій зараз 89 (книга вийшла у 1999) - насправді дуже крутезна жінка. У книзі вона поділилась про своє «цікаве» життя, досвід Другої світової, коли їй було 5 років і як все на неї вплинуло у подальшому. Яка бореться за «права» тварин і має свій інститут для реалізації задуманого. Вона є дуже релігійно, присвятила практично все своє життя вивченню про шимпанзе, всі її думки дуже філософські та близькі мені. Книга, яку варто читати. Дякую сімейству Кідруку за цю книгу!
Рекомендую.
July 19, 2010
A very serious book covering very serious subject matter. I found this almost exhausting to read, especially the last third. I even took a highlighter out at one point so I wouldn't have to search some of the text for quotes.
I believe most people my age are familiar with the work of Jane Goodall. In this memoir she gives some background into her childhood and describes her years observing chimpanzee behavior. She draws very interesting parallels to humanity and our struggle with the aggression that arises from our instincts for self preservation. She also draws conclusions about animal and human instincts for nuturing, care taking and altruism. She discusses her divorce and second marriage, motherhood and her eventual involvement in causes for animal cruelty environmental preservation, and pathways to understanding amid cultural and religious diversity.
The last chapters take you down to the worst of humanity and the evils we perpetrate against the animals, each other. This followed by her reasons in hope for the future, including using our creativity and intellect for the greater good and a firm hope in the ability and energies of our youth. She writes antecdotally and reflectively. You hear tinges of Buddhist and Native American philosophy.
The subject matter was so intense that I felt on overwhelm. Some of it was sheer guilt for what I don't do and how I can possibly change my lifestyle. Other times it was impatience with what felt like rambling and a page later I would be in wonder and inspired??? A small part of me feels cynical about our ability to overcome so many negatives in our society. My overwhelm comes from a long term personal struggle of discernment. Where I can use my abilities responsibly and effectively? I can't fix everything, even within my community much less globally. So what piece do I choose to give my time, talents and treasure to? I have quite mixed feelings.
I still highly recommend this book, but take it in pieces, with some time to digest and reflect, which I didn't have. !
I believe most people my age are familiar with the work of Jane Goodall. In this memoir she gives some background into her childhood and describes her years observing chimpanzee behavior. She draws very interesting parallels to humanity and our struggle with the aggression that arises from our instincts for self preservation. She also draws conclusions about animal and human instincts for nuturing, care taking and altruism. She discusses her divorce and second marriage, motherhood and her eventual involvement in causes for animal cruelty environmental preservation, and pathways to understanding amid cultural and religious diversity.
The last chapters take you down to the worst of humanity and the evils we perpetrate against the animals, each other. This followed by her reasons in hope for the future, including using our creativity and intellect for the greater good and a firm hope in the ability and energies of our youth. She writes antecdotally and reflectively. You hear tinges of Buddhist and Native American philosophy.
The subject matter was so intense that I felt on overwhelm. Some of it was sheer guilt for what I don't do and how I can possibly change my lifestyle. Other times it was impatience with what felt like rambling and a page later I would be in wonder and inspired??? A small part of me feels cynical about our ability to overcome so many negatives in our society. My overwhelm comes from a long term personal struggle of discernment. Where I can use my abilities responsibly and effectively? I can't fix everything, even within my community much less globally. So what piece do I choose to give my time, talents and treasure to? I have quite mixed feelings.
I still highly recommend this book, but take it in pieces, with some time to digest and reflect, which I didn't have. !
September 7, 2009
Reason for Hope is the single most inspiring book I have ever had the privilege of reading. Five out of Five stars is an understatement. Jane Goodall is kind, compassionate and honest as she writes about her life experiences, the human race, our duties as part of the human race. She speaks candidly about how we might go on hoping when so much of what we have created here on earth is harming the things we need most to take care of: mother nature, the wildlife, and each other. Her peaceful outlook on spirituality, religion and our position on this earth is not only refreshing and humbling, but moving to the core. Please, everyone, read this book. It will truly change your soul and invigorate your spirit.
April 1, 2024
Наскільки цікаво написано про дослідження шимпанзе і африканські ліси у першій половині книжки і як все сумно і наївно скотилось до бога у другій. Мала надію, що про спостереження іще буде далі, інакше б не дочитувала все
March 15, 2022
I've seen a documentary on Jane Goodall, but never read her books. This was my first one and I'm glad I did. The book gave a different perspective on the big events that we know and love from her. It's her thoughts on those things based on some journals. Yes, there was a religious theme to it and she applied certain passages of the bible to her thoughts on things happening. I thought it was well done and didn't seem like she was forcing me to listen to her position on God. The information is good at the end to give you more.
I will say that after I finished, I kind of felt despair for our humanity and planet seeing the way people reacted with Covid, especially the young and the legislation being passed in my state alone. It didn't inspire hope for our future. But then I got over it, because there are good people out there. And like Goodall says that we just need to reach a few.
She did repeat information and she tended to ramble. She should have ended at Chapter 16, Hope. The last two chapters went on and on and really didn't wrap up anything for me. I felt like the story just dragged on when Hope was the best conclusion chapter. For instance, the last chapter, she said, and now I come to the end and then wrote four more pages of rambling.
With all that, I did like the book and recommend it. I also have a few things to add to my own changes in the household to help with the environment.
I will say that after I finished, I kind of felt despair for our humanity and planet seeing the way people reacted with Covid, especially the young and the legislation being passed in my state alone. It didn't inspire hope for our future. But then I got over it, because there are good people out there. And like Goodall says that we just need to reach a few.
She did repeat information and she tended to ramble. She should have ended at Chapter 16, Hope. The last two chapters went on and on and really didn't wrap up anything for me. I felt like the story just dragged on when Hope was the best conclusion chapter. For instance, the last chapter, she said, and now I come to the end and then wrote four more pages of rambling.
With all that, I did like the book and recommend it. I also have a few things to add to my own changes in the household to help with the environment.
May 8, 2009
Before reading this book I only knew of Jane Goodall as “that woman who studies apes”. This autobiography is an open window into the soul of a woman who I now consider to be a very special gift to humanity… a gift to all living things on this earth. She takes us through her formative years and helps us to understand the origins of her compassion for animals. Goodall also writes with great candor about her marriages, her spiritual ups and downs, her victories and her defeats along with the great pain and immense joy that she has experienced. She also describes many of the deeply inspiring people she has met in her travels to virtually every corner of the Earth. Even if one does not agree with all she has to offer, the effectiveness of her delivery makes it seem impossible for anyone to read this book and put it down without having come to understand that we, in the big picture, are now in our most important stage of evolution as human beings… the evolution of our spirituality. In a world where we are bombarded daily by pain and suffering at every level of our existence this sweet and loving woman does indeed give us “A Reason for Hope”.
April 17, 2018
"Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other. Together we must reestablish our connections with the natural world and the Spiritual Power that is around us. And then we can move, triumphantly, joyously, into the final stage of human evolution- spiritual evolution."
Há razões para ter esperança.
Há razões para ter esperança.
May 20, 2023
This is one of those books that came at the right time - it seems as though it was given to me. And indeed this book is a great gift to the human race, and now more necessary then ever, more than two decades since its publication.
It is not difficult to find reasons for despair. Just turn on the news for a minute or two and you will soon be plunged into a deep depression, or you will so numb yourself to the pain that you can no longer feel the joy of love, of friendship, or blue skies, or sailboats on the sea in the early morning.
In a world where we are so often encouraged to despair, it takes courage to go against the current and choose hope. It takes courage to say, as Jane Goodall does at the end of each of her lectures, "Together we can, together we will!"
Jane Goodall has become something of a personal hero to me. I am grateful that she has been given to us. What is so encouraging about this book is not so much what she says but rather who she is, and how her person comes through in each page of this book. She has sought, in her life, to embody that great theological virtue given to us by St Paul - namely, hope.
I found it so encouraging to learn of her many, many struggles as she tried to chart her way forward in this life. It is so encouraging to know that she, like me, for many long periods has not been certain of her path in life. It was not until she was 26 that she was finally able to fulfil her dream of going to Africa. It was not until she was in her late forties, I believe, that she discovered her important mission of advocating for the dignity of chimpanzee life - and indeed, all natural life.
Over this past year I have been tormented by the ghosts of the Second World War. How is it possible that human beings, with souls, hearts and minds, could so dehumanise their brothers and sisters to see them as "not human"? It is heartbreaking. How is it possible that despite the many devastating events of the twentieth century, we so often fall back into our old ways, treating others with cruelty and not seeing the human face in the other person?
These are questions that do not admit easy answers. Perhaps the only answer one can give to such questions is to lead a life that so affirms the beauty and majesty of human life - and indeed all life - as to become an answer unto itself. To be a living embodiment of those great virtues that Christ embodied and St Paul put into words: Faith, Hope and Love. "But the greatest of these is love."
While Jane, as I will call her now, on account of the very deep connection I felt to her throughout this book, talks a great deal about hope, what inspires me more about her is how she embodies and practices that other virtue, that greatest of the virtues. And she does this without saying it - without saying the word. That four-letter word that is the great mystery at the heart of the cosmos. As soon as we say it, it loses its power. It can only be a hidden driving force, nestled deep within the human heart, driving us on as we go through life, manifesting itself through our silent deeds and our gentle words.
Jane gives me hope, and that is what we all need at this difficult time in human history. We need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We need to believe in our goodness and the goodness of our neighbour - or more than that, in our worth, in our dignity.
Jane makes an important point towards the end of the book, and I would like to end this review with it. She says that the way we relate with other life - human or otherwise - changes the kind of person that we are. When we treat the other with cruelty, we distort ourselves, thereby not only dehumanising the other but also dehumanising ourselves. It is important that we notice the image of the Creator in the person, or animal, or plant in front of us, and therefore treat him, her or it with dignity. We must apologise when we fail to do this. And this goes not only for others, but also for ourselves. We must apologise when we fail to act with dignity towards ourselves. Only kindness, only mercy, only forgiveness can heal the many wounds that have so deeply scarred our world. And in Jane we have a good example.
Thank you for reading this humble review and best wishes to you.
It is not difficult to find reasons for despair. Just turn on the news for a minute or two and you will soon be plunged into a deep depression, or you will so numb yourself to the pain that you can no longer feel the joy of love, of friendship, or blue skies, or sailboats on the sea in the early morning.
In a world where we are so often encouraged to despair, it takes courage to go against the current and choose hope. It takes courage to say, as Jane Goodall does at the end of each of her lectures, "Together we can, together we will!"
Jane Goodall has become something of a personal hero to me. I am grateful that she has been given to us. What is so encouraging about this book is not so much what she says but rather who she is, and how her person comes through in each page of this book. She has sought, in her life, to embody that great theological virtue given to us by St Paul - namely, hope.
I found it so encouraging to learn of her many, many struggles as she tried to chart her way forward in this life. It is so encouraging to know that she, like me, for many long periods has not been certain of her path in life. It was not until she was 26 that she was finally able to fulfil her dream of going to Africa. It was not until she was in her late forties, I believe, that she discovered her important mission of advocating for the dignity of chimpanzee life - and indeed, all natural life.
Over this past year I have been tormented by the ghosts of the Second World War. How is it possible that human beings, with souls, hearts and minds, could so dehumanise their brothers and sisters to see them as "not human"? It is heartbreaking. How is it possible that despite the many devastating events of the twentieth century, we so often fall back into our old ways, treating others with cruelty and not seeing the human face in the other person?
These are questions that do not admit easy answers. Perhaps the only answer one can give to such questions is to lead a life that so affirms the beauty and majesty of human life - and indeed all life - as to become an answer unto itself. To be a living embodiment of those great virtues that Christ embodied and St Paul put into words: Faith, Hope and Love. "But the greatest of these is love."
While Jane, as I will call her now, on account of the very deep connection I felt to her throughout this book, talks a great deal about hope, what inspires me more about her is how she embodies and practices that other virtue, that greatest of the virtues. And she does this without saying it - without saying the word. That four-letter word that is the great mystery at the heart of the cosmos. As soon as we say it, it loses its power. It can only be a hidden driving force, nestled deep within the human heart, driving us on as we go through life, manifesting itself through our silent deeds and our gentle words.
Jane gives me hope, and that is what we all need at this difficult time in human history. We need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We need to believe in our goodness and the goodness of our neighbour - or more than that, in our worth, in our dignity.
Jane makes an important point towards the end of the book, and I would like to end this review with it. She says that the way we relate with other life - human or otherwise - changes the kind of person that we are. When we treat the other with cruelty, we distort ourselves, thereby not only dehumanising the other but also dehumanising ourselves. It is important that we notice the image of the Creator in the person, or animal, or plant in front of us, and therefore treat him, her or it with dignity. We must apologise when we fail to do this. And this goes not only for others, but also for ourselves. We must apologise when we fail to act with dignity towards ourselves. Only kindness, only mercy, only forgiveness can heal the many wounds that have so deeply scarred our world. And in Jane we have a good example.
Thank you for reading this humble review and best wishes to you.
October 3, 2025
I listened to this book in audio version, narrated by the Dr. Goodall herself. A wonderful account of her research and a bit of insight into her vision for the world based on her knowledge and experience. What a big and brave life.
RIP, Dr. Goodall
RIP, Dr. Goodall
November 9, 2020
Science teaches us to explore the world logically, step by step, breaking down everything to its minutest parts and understanding each component. Think particle physics, microbiology, semiconductors. Knowing to manipulate nature, such as by identifying a cell’s chemical composition is thought akin to knowing the nature of the cell itself. Our prior knowledge sometimes precludes us from understanding or appreciating the complexity of nature.
The best of scientists such as Einstein and Darwin, however have been mystics. They listened to nature instead of being misguided by what they already know. Jane Goodall is one such scientist. As a child, she grew up among nature and was fascinated by animals. Although she lacked the financial resources to pursue higher education, she put herself on a path to go to Africa to work with animals by working in London as a secretary and saving up money.
In Africa, she happened to meet Louis Leakey an Anthropologist who was looking for fossils to learn about human evolution. After working with him for a while, Leakey sent her to Gombe, a forest in Tanzania to learn about Chimpanzees.
Goodall lived in the forests of Gombe for many years, and allowed the chimpanzees to teach her about themselves. Although they were not known to interact with human beings, as soon as they realized this human was harmless, the chimpanzees allowed her to follow them, and stay close during intimate moments. She, along with a growing team, learnt about their lifestyle, their moments of affection, and anger.
She was in fact shocked when she found out chimpanzees were highly territorial and sometimes killed each other brutally in territorial conflict. Do they attain pleasure in inflicting pain on others? If so, is it dissimilar from human tendency for the same? Think about it, why do we slow down to see an accident, how about America’s funniest videos? Why does it feel good to thrash Donald Trump after this election, to see him being booed, humiliated? This characteristic, common to humans and chimpanzees is called cultural speciation, explains Goodall. We see as ourselves everyone similar to us and those dissimilar we think to be lower than us. Oh, those dumb American villagers that vote for Trump!
The information when it became public was controversial. Some dismissed her stories as anecdotal. Some did not want her to publish these results since people will take it as validation for their aggressive behavior. This seemed like a precursor to wars, that only humans are capable of.
As she dug deep into her spiritual self to not only answer others but also herself, she realized that Chimps were capable of love as much as hatred, if not more. Love not only towards kin, which could be read as a mechanism to propagate their species, but towards strangers. If hatred is a common thread between primates so is love.
The second half of the book mirroring her life, leaves the forest and leads her into lecture rooms and policy discussions. She discusses animal testing and factory farming, some of the cruel methods humans use in their search for prosperity; and her efforts to educate people against such practices. She implores us not only to think logically and do what is profitable but also be one with Nature in spirituality, something that is slowly vanishing from our nature. Scientists do not have to follow the party line on God just because there is no repeatable proof.
In this very positive memoir, Goodall follows the thread of love and offers hope, through her own example and through other human beings who have been capable of love despite tragedy and suffering. She comes across as very humble, her language is simple yet powerful. It can move you to tears at many instances, yet is no where close to being a sad book. If you haven’t done so already put it on top of your must reads.
September 1, 2021
‘If only we can overcome cruelty, to human and animal, with love and compassion we shall stand at the threshold of a new era in human moral and spiritual evolution- and realize, at last, our most unique quality: humanity.’
A very moving and powerful book. I loved the stories about the chimps the most but (surprisingly, since I am most decidedly not a Christian) I think the spiritual chapters in this book were beautifully written too.
Although some parts of the book were terribly sad I do think the title Reason for Hope is still one that fits. The one thing that I just didn’t feel comfortable with though were her talks about race. I can’t pinpoint exactly why but it just felt weird.
A very moving and powerful book. I loved the stories about the chimps the most but (surprisingly, since I am most decidedly not a Christian) I think the spiritual chapters in this book were beautifully written too.
Although some parts of the book were terribly sad I do think the title Reason for Hope is still one that fits. The one thing that I just didn’t feel comfortable with though were her talks about race. I can’t pinpoint exactly why but it just felt weird.
September 21, 2025
Цікавлять примати - читайте Вааля
May 6, 2019
I enjoyed the insights into early chimp observation, but didn't really get into Jane's philosophy. Too much woo, and "call it god, call it a conscience" type of mysticism. I was pretty unimpressed with her grasp of evolutionary theory, particularly how natural selection operates, which is disappointing in someone who's rubbed shoulders with real scientists her whole life. She critiques Dawkins' The Selfish Gene, but she can't possibly have read it, because he directly answers those criticisms throughout the book. She also gives off a vibe that she's a little bit proud of being a researcher who had no silly formal training. I think it's more naivete than true hubris. She is, after all, sweet and endearing. But I can totally understand why 'real' scientists were critical and frustrated with her results, produced by methods that have long been shown to bias the outcomes.
April 1, 2024
Очікувала від книги іншого. Вона не про приматів, а більше про роздуми про життя, людство та шкоду, яку ми наносимо природі.
Тут є багато спірних моментів, особливо коли Джейн являються мертві люди, або "танок миру" від журавлів як послання від них під час бомбардування Іраку. Я розумію, що кожен може бачити і вірити в те, що хочеться, але мені це не відгукується зовсім. То просто сон і журавлі, які роками чи десятиліттями прилітають на річку і танцюють, а Джейн опинилась саме в цей момент там, тому це просто збіг обставин.
Як заклик почати більш уважно ставитись до природи — книга не погана, але все інше постійно викликало скептицизм у мене.
Тут є багато спірних моментів, особливо коли Джейн являються мертві люди, або "танок миру" від журавлів як послання від них під час бомбардування Іраку. Я розумію, що кожен може бачити і вірити в те, що хочеться, але мені це не відгукується зовсім. То просто сон і журавлі, які роками чи десятиліттями прилітають на річку і танцюють, а Джейн опинилась саме в цей момент там, тому це просто збіг обставин.
Як заклик почати більш уважно ставитись до природи — книга не погана, але все інше постійно викликало скептицизм у мене.
August 11, 2016
I was fascinated to learn about Goodall's life and her research with the chimpanzees, but could have done without all the religious stuff. Granted, it's probably not fair to get annoyed at all the religion in a book with the subtitle "A Spiritual Journey."
December 1, 2017
Há pessoas com histórias de vida inacreditáveis. Há pessoas que são uma enorme inspiração e eu tive a sorte de poder ouvi-la ao vivo. Foi um dia maravilhoso. Este livro conta a história da autora. Nele Jane fala sobre vários aspectos, desde a tortura aos animais, às questões climatéricas mas, sobretudo, o que mais gosto é a esperança que ela nos empregna. Com tanta coisa a correr mal no mundo, Jane continua a acreditar no poder que está em cada um de nós. Porque se perdermos a esperança paramos de lutar, e isso não deve ser considerado sequer uma hipótese.
May 18, 2023
4/5 ⭐️
I own this book but ended up listening to it on Libby since Jane narrates it herself. I loved hearing about her journeys and lifetime. Her mission for the chimpanzees is so inspiring and genuine. Love her to bits and pieces ❤️
I own this book but ended up listening to it on Libby since Jane narrates it herself. I loved hearing about her journeys and lifetime. Her mission for the chimpanzees is so inspiring and genuine. Love her to bits and pieces ❤️
April 14, 2025
A great read and an inspirational person and so brave.
January 17, 2019
I enjoyed hearing about Jane’s upbringing and how it has shaped her amazing worldview today. She also narrated the audiobook in her lovely soothing English accent!
May 27, 2021
Originally published on my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
I remember watching Jane Goodall specials from National Geographic when I was a kid. So, when I saw her 2000 book Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey at a book sale, I grabbed it right up. This is a memoir, but it’s also a treatise on how nature connects us to the bigger essence of spirituality around us. And it’s a discussion of how learning more about nature connects us to our own humanity.
Despite watching all those TV specials, I didn’t remember much about Goodall’s back story. And her discussion of growing up in rural England during World War II was interesting. The best parts of the story were her indomitable mother and grandmother, Vanne and Danny. Yes, she couldn’t say Grammy, but she could say Danny. Goodall carries those frugal values throughout her life, noting often that today’s younger generation doesn’t understand even slight deprivations.
Still, the best part of the book is hearing about the chimpanzees of the Gombe forest in Tanzania. She talks about learning to track them, and how they ultimately accepted her. Over and over, she compares the chimps to humans in terms of tasks, socialization, and emotion. Because we have much to learn about what makes the two species both the same and vastly different.
As the book progresses, Goodall switches gears and talks about her advocacy work. It started with a visit to a research lab using chimpanzees and now extends to broader issues like climate change. She effectively connects lessons learned during her time in Gombe and Africa with everything.
My conclusions
For me, the best parts of this book were the stories of Goodall’s life and her advocacy. The spiritual aspects of her thought process were interesting but not as compelling. As a child, she attended traditional Congregational church. But in her adulthood, her spirituality connects more to nature, including Native American and Eastern spiritual practices.
As she discusses man’s inhumanity, Goodall refers often to Nazi Germany. I suppose this is because that happened during such a formative time in her life. On the other hand, I was stunned to find only two or three references to the slave trade. Especially considering her long-standing relationships with Tanzanian staff and researchers in Gombe. She just never mentions how unspeakably cruel it was for the English and other white people to forcibly remove Africans from their home villages. Not to mention all the cruelties inflicted on them once they were sold into slavery.
Still, if you’re curious to know more about Goodall’s life and decades of work on behalf of chimpanzees around the world, read this book. It’s well written and interesting, if a little dated.
Pair with Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, another groundbreaking woman studying nature and science. Or try Other People’s Pets by R. L. Maizes for a fictional look at a woman with a unique connection to animals.
I remember watching Jane Goodall specials from National Geographic when I was a kid. So, when I saw her 2000 book Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey at a book sale, I grabbed it right up. This is a memoir, but it’s also a treatise on how nature connects us to the bigger essence of spirituality around us. And it’s a discussion of how learning more about nature connects us to our own humanity.
Despite watching all those TV specials, I didn’t remember much about Goodall’s back story. And her discussion of growing up in rural England during World War II was interesting. The best parts of the story were her indomitable mother and grandmother, Vanne and Danny. Yes, she couldn’t say Grammy, but she could say Danny. Goodall carries those frugal values throughout her life, noting often that today’s younger generation doesn’t understand even slight deprivations.
Still, the best part of the book is hearing about the chimpanzees of the Gombe forest in Tanzania. She talks about learning to track them, and how they ultimately accepted her. Over and over, she compares the chimps to humans in terms of tasks, socialization, and emotion. Because we have much to learn about what makes the two species both the same and vastly different.
As the book progresses, Goodall switches gears and talks about her advocacy work. It started with a visit to a research lab using chimpanzees and now extends to broader issues like climate change. She effectively connects lessons learned during her time in Gombe and Africa with everything.
My conclusions
For me, the best parts of this book were the stories of Goodall’s life and her advocacy. The spiritual aspects of her thought process were interesting but not as compelling. As a child, she attended traditional Congregational church. But in her adulthood, her spirituality connects more to nature, including Native American and Eastern spiritual practices.
As she discusses man’s inhumanity, Goodall refers often to Nazi Germany. I suppose this is because that happened during such a formative time in her life. On the other hand, I was stunned to find only two or three references to the slave trade. Especially considering her long-standing relationships with Tanzanian staff and researchers in Gombe. She just never mentions how unspeakably cruel it was for the English and other white people to forcibly remove Africans from their home villages. Not to mention all the cruelties inflicted on them once they were sold into slavery.
Still, if you’re curious to know more about Goodall’s life and decades of work on behalf of chimpanzees around the world, read this book. It’s well written and interesting, if a little dated.
Pair with Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, another groundbreaking woman studying nature and science. Or try Other People’s Pets by R. L. Maizes for a fictional look at a woman with a unique connection to animals.
May 26, 2015
The name Jane Goodall often brings to mind sentimental visions of Africa and an unimposing, tree-hugging scientist turned activist. Indeed, Jane Goodall spent much of her life in the African wilderness, alone but for the company of flora and fauna (including her famed chimpanzees) and continues, now well into her 80′s, to travel the world spreading awareness about a wide range of environmental issues. The stereotype of calm, collected, and relentlessly hopeful is grounded in truth. I’m apparently not the only one curious about her ability to maintain such graceful positivity and endless energy to change the world; she wrote this book in response to that question.
I’m ashamed to say I can be a bit of a defeatist at times. Particularly of late, burned out in my work with people and increasingly cynical, it’s hard for me to imagine winning this fight. Humans clearly don’t care about animals. They don’t care about the environment. They don’t care about anyone outside of themselves and their direct community (and, at times, not even that much). Our government and political systems are corrupt and utterly out of control and the citizens of this supposed democracy don’t seem inclined to get off the damn couch, let alone vote, inform themselves, or work to restore a healthier world. We’re greedy and fat and simultaneously self-centered and self-destructive. We’re killing ourselves and everything around us with our ignorance and apathy.
Goodall’s sense of hope in the face of such hopelessness is, to say the least, impressive. And despite my initial inclination to call it naive, I can’t help but wonder if it is better to live in cynical misery or (possibly false) hope. Which will do the world more good? Which will save me from my own self-destruction?
Although I don’t share Goodall’s belief in a traditional God, I do have a more vague sense of spirituality. I believe that we’re all connected to each other and to the Earth, and that doing good in the world ultimately means doing good for yourself. My Greater Power can be found in the inherent interconnectedness of all that exists. Which, according to Goodall, can be enough to propel oneself into optimism and advocacy.
Maybe that’s the truth. There’s a fluffy, cliche-loving piece of me that desperately wants to follow suit. I want to be hopeful and to work toward a better life, but it’s all so overwhelming. Despite her explanations, I honestly don’t know how she does it. How she finds her smile, keeps her temper, and patiently tries to inform a closed-off species of their own idiocy. It must be exhausting.
In the end, it seems that her spirituality, the possibilities associated with the next generation, and the genuinely good people in this world are enough to feed her and keep her moving forward; on to the next city, the next country, the next speaking engagement, environmental event, or award ceremony.
Moral of this story? I hope that one day I can hope like Jane Goodall.
I’m ashamed to say I can be a bit of a defeatist at times. Particularly of late, burned out in my work with people and increasingly cynical, it’s hard for me to imagine winning this fight. Humans clearly don’t care about animals. They don’t care about the environment. They don’t care about anyone outside of themselves and their direct community (and, at times, not even that much). Our government and political systems are corrupt and utterly out of control and the citizens of this supposed democracy don’t seem inclined to get off the damn couch, let alone vote, inform themselves, or work to restore a healthier world. We’re greedy and fat and simultaneously self-centered and self-destructive. We’re killing ourselves and everything around us with our ignorance and apathy.
Goodall’s sense of hope in the face of such hopelessness is, to say the least, impressive. And despite my initial inclination to call it naive, I can’t help but wonder if it is better to live in cynical misery or (possibly false) hope. Which will do the world more good? Which will save me from my own self-destruction?
Although I don’t share Goodall’s belief in a traditional God, I do have a more vague sense of spirituality. I believe that we’re all connected to each other and to the Earth, and that doing good in the world ultimately means doing good for yourself. My Greater Power can be found in the inherent interconnectedness of all that exists. Which, according to Goodall, can be enough to propel oneself into optimism and advocacy.
Maybe that’s the truth. There’s a fluffy, cliche-loving piece of me that desperately wants to follow suit. I want to be hopeful and to work toward a better life, but it’s all so overwhelming. Despite her explanations, I honestly don’t know how she does it. How she finds her smile, keeps her temper, and patiently tries to inform a closed-off species of their own idiocy. It must be exhausting.
In the end, it seems that her spirituality, the possibilities associated with the next generation, and the genuinely good people in this world are enough to feed her and keep her moving forward; on to the next city, the next country, the next speaking engagement, environmental event, or award ceremony.
Moral of this story? I hope that one day I can hope like Jane Goodall.
November 27, 2020
I had to read this for school for my environmental studies course. I personally was not a fan of this book and I practically counted the pages until I could end. I'm sure if I wasn't reading this as an assignment I would have enjoyed it more. I personally would not recommend, but this also personally isn't the type of story I gravitate towards.
July 5, 2020
This book was not what I was expecting, but I guess that's on me for not doing my research before I dived in.
Generally speaking, it was much more preachy and religious in tone than I anticipated. I loved learning more about Goodall's research and discoveries with the chimpanzees, but this book undermines her integrity as a scientist. Early on, she describes how Louis Leakey first hired her because she was "unbiased by scientific theory", but this phrase rubs me entirely the wrong way-- if you're doing science right, it can't "bias" you! That's the whole point of science (it's empirical, self-correcting, etc.)!
On the other hand, as a conservationist, Jane is still a paragon, and I absolutely respect and appreciate everything she has accomplished in that sphere. So, mixed feelings.
Given the title, I was hoping Goodall would offer some good "reason for hope" that things will turn out OK for the wildlife on our planet (I need a shot-in-the-arm of optimism every now and again because, let's face it, most conservation news is bleak AF), but given that her optimism is grounded so strongly in her faith-- which I don't share-- it wasn't much comfort at all.
Generally speaking, it was much more preachy and religious in tone than I anticipated. I loved learning more about Goodall's research and discoveries with the chimpanzees, but this book undermines her integrity as a scientist. Early on, she describes how Louis Leakey first hired her because she was "unbiased by scientific theory", but this phrase rubs me entirely the wrong way-- if you're doing science right, it can't "bias" you! That's the whole point of science (it's empirical, self-correcting, etc.)!
On the other hand, as a conservationist, Jane is still a paragon, and I absolutely respect and appreciate everything she has accomplished in that sphere. So, mixed feelings.
Given the title, I was hoping Goodall would offer some good "reason for hope" that things will turn out OK for the wildlife on our planet (I need a shot-in-the-arm of optimism every now and again because, let's face it, most conservation news is bleak AF), but given that her optimism is grounded so strongly in her faith-- which I don't share-- it wasn't much comfort at all.
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