The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

by Jane Goodall

“Hope,” Jane said, “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.”

Hope, on the other hand, is a stubborn determination to do all you can to make it work. And hope is something we can cultivate. It can change over the course of our lifetime.

“Hope does not deny all the difficulty and all the danger that exists, but it is not stopped by them. There is a lot of darkness, but our actions create the light.”

So many older people I knew spent a great deal of time focused on their aches and pains, but those who seemed healthiest and happiest were those who focused on something beyond their own troubles.

“I guess the depth of our grief is a reminder of the depth of our love.”

“Well, first of all, over the couple of million years that we have been humans, I do think we have increasingly become more caring and compassionate. And although there is much cruelty and injustice everywhere, there is general agreement that these behaviors are wrong. And more people understand what is going on thanks to the media. And when all’s said and done, I do honestly believe that a far greater percentage of people are basically decent and kind. “And there’s another thing, Doug. Just as only we are capable of true evil,” Jane said, “I think only we are capable of true altruism.”

Unfortunately, Doug, we have lost the long-term perspective, and we are suffering from an absurd and very unwise belief that there can be unlimited economic development on a planet of finite natural resources, focusing on short-term results or profits at the expense of long-term interests.

“First—we must alleviate poverty. If you are living in crippling poverty, you will cut down the last tree to grow food. Or fish the last fish because you’re desperate to feed your family. In an urban area you will buy the cheapest food—you do not have the luxury of choosing a more ethically produced product. “Second, we must reduce the unsustainable lifestyles of the affluent. Let’s face it, so many people have way more stuff than they need—or even want. “Third, we must eliminate corruption, for without good governance and honest leadership, we cannot work together to solve our enormous social and environmental challenges. “And finally, we must face up to the problems caused by growing populations of humans and their livestock. There are over seven billion of us today, and already, in many places, we have used up nature’s finite natural resources faster than nature can replenish them. And by 2050 there will apparently be closer to ten billion of us. If we carry on with business as usual, that spells the end of life on Earth as we know it.”

“Does some of our wisdom get lost when we lose connection with the natural world?” I asked. “I believe it does. Indigenous cultures have always had a close connection with the natural world. There are so many wise shamans and healers among the indigenous people, so much knowledge about the benefits of living in harmony with the natural world.”

He wrote a book: The Hidden Life of Trees. And I honestly think that this book has done for trees what In the Shadow of Man did for chimpanzees.”

“Her story helped me see that facing our grief is essential to combatting and overcoming our despair and powerlessness. The elders taught her that grief is not something to avoid or to be afraid of. And that if we come together and share our sadness, it can be healing.”

We must find ways to help people understand that each one of us has a role to play, no matter how small. Every day we make some impact on the planet. And the cumulative effect of millions of small ethical actions will truly make a difference. That’s the message I take around the world.”

Whenever you give her a chance, nature returns. Every tree planted makes a difference.”

“It’s extraordinary when we recognize our connection to the natural world,” Jane said, nodding.

‘Only if we can understand, can we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.’

“That’s wonderful, but doesn’t it feel like a drop in the ocean, given the overwhelming autocracy or tyranny that people are facing around the world?” “But millions of drops actually make the ocean.” I smiled. Hope, checkmate.

I was intrigued by that description and wondered aloud how the world might be different if all humans saw other beings and even rocks as worthy of respect and care as our siblings would be.

all life’s challenges are like our own individual curriculums that we must work hard to follow and master.”

Archbishop Tutu once explained to me that suffering can either embitter us or ennoble us, and it tends to ennoble us if we are able to make meaning out of our suffering and use it for the benefit of others.”

Psychological resilience is the ability to cope with crises and to remain calm and move on from such incidents without long-term negative consequences.

“Without meaning, life is empty and day will follow day, month will follow month, and year will follow year in mindless succession.”

“When you talk about spirituality, many people are uneasy or absolutely put off. They think of a touchy-feely tree-hugging hippie sort of thing. Yet more and more people are now realizing that we have become increasingly materialistic and that we need to reconnect spiritually with the natural world.