bookthia's review
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
It wasn’t what I was expecting. But it was good. I’m glad I listened. I mean, she’s Jane Goodall. Pretty much a perfect example of a human.
samantha_diluca_duckworth's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
kellyhook_readsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Best known for her groundbreaking research with chimpanzees in Tanzania, Jane Goodall shares decades of wisdom with Douglas Abrams in
pamiverson's review
4.0
A reporter shares his conversations with Jane Goodall, focusing on hope. How she transitioned from her work on chimpanzees to larger environmental and humanitarian issues, what has sustained her through personal tragedies and aging. Thought-provoking, occasionally profound.
dizzydes's review against another edition
4.0
Nature plays the long game, nature will heal itself we just might not be around for it. So much quotable material and very uplifting
mccanizales's review against another edition
3.0
There were definitely some good insights about maintaining hope in hard times in this book, plus Jane has some inspiring stories. Although I didn’t like the conversational format of this book. Also, I felt like at times she was almost too optimistic about the future our planet, and down-playing huge problems like racism and climate change.
divinediana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
babs_jellymuck's review against another edition
5.0
TLDR: I found the mediocre and "conversational" feel of this book inspiring and I hope you do too.
Perhaps mediocre isn't the word- this book felt like an unedited and human interaction and I found that aspect accessible and refreshing.
So, after responding to every Goodreads Giveaway that has been sent my way since 2014, I finally won an advanced copy of this book. Of all books! I have admired Jane Goodall's work and perspectives since childhood, and because of this inspiration I even found myself literally in Phalaborwa, South Africa at the age of 18 volunteering at a chacma baboon sanctuary. At the time, I wanted to be Goodall, which wasn't really my calling turns out-- but I have no regrets because following what I perceived to be her footsteps changed my world radically for the better. Now, over a decade later, I think it's because I fought really hard to make a meaningful difference, even when it required that I do things that scared me. This ability to meet my fears head-on is a gift that I often forget that I have.
Anyway, as I was progressing through this book, which reads more like a conversation, I was struck by the fact that I have never really read a book in what feels like, "real time." Certainly not a non-fiction book. I don't read an amazing amount of books a year, and I tend to let books come to me. This means reading bizarre books with good covers, or trying out recommendations from friends. Rarely do I go to the bookstore with purpose to read something because of a person, idea, or for the sake of newness. As a result my experience reading this felt purposeful and inspiring. There's even a letter written by Jane in February of 2021, just 7 months ago. They hash out things that we are all experiencing right now and I really needed to read it and connect my personal experiences with the outside world. I especially resonated with her discussion on coincidences and the unexplainable. People who know me have heard me describe my spirituality as an, "aspiring agnostic." I really want to believe, but my skepticism usually overshadows any mysticism that I am recounted or even experience. Somehow though, I started to wonder if it's possible this book fell in my lap for a reason.
In these uncertain times, I find myself shrouded in fears I have never thought I'd have. I find it hard to be hopeful, as my faith in anything spiritual seems to shrivel up alongside my faith in humanity. Right before reading this book, I listened to Goodall and Dr. Elizabeth Johnson discuss the idea of "hope" on the podcast, "How to Save a Planet." I keep going back to what Dr. Elizabeth Johnson says toward the end when asked what people can do to help the environmental movement. Her response was, "what are you good at?" which is something that Goodall echoes in this book. It has been easy for me to feel somewhat like a failure for not being successful in the animal rehabilitation, wildlife or veterinarian field- avenues I was sure I was meant to make meaningful change. Perhaps my path was always meant to lead me to art.
As a visual person, the imagery this book conjured up for me is like an electrical circuit, where the energy-- what Douglas Carlson Abrams and Goodall so often referred to as the "indomitable spirit"-- passes through people, sparked by their unique gifts for this world. I felt that we as people can all uplift and make meaningful change by doing that thing that we feel like we were meant to do. I graduated as an art major and started an art business in August of 2020, and the weight of the world made all my efforts feel so trivial and meaningless. To the point of depression, paralysis and often coming close to quitting. Thinking about my art as a tool has really helped me to find purpose and creatively think of ways I can use it to enact change. I'll admit the change is small, but I keep going because I realize I'm just a spark in a big circuit of energy. We all need to keep that energy going by harnessing our unique abilities to make meaningful change.
Perhaps mediocre isn't the word- this book felt like an unedited and human interaction and I found that aspect accessible and refreshing.
So, after responding to every Goodreads Giveaway that has been sent my way since 2014, I finally won an advanced copy of this book. Of all books! I have admired Jane Goodall's work and perspectives since childhood, and because of this inspiration I even found myself literally in Phalaborwa, South Africa at the age of 18 volunteering at a chacma baboon sanctuary. At the time, I wanted to be Goodall, which wasn't really my calling turns out-- but I have no regrets because following what I perceived to be her footsteps changed my world radically for the better. Now, over a decade later, I think it's because I fought really hard to make a meaningful difference, even when it required that I do things that scared me. This ability to meet my fears head-on is a gift that I often forget that I have.
Anyway, as I was progressing through this book, which reads more like a conversation, I was struck by the fact that I have never really read a book in what feels like, "real time." Certainly not a non-fiction book. I don't read an amazing amount of books a year, and I tend to let books come to me. This means reading bizarre books with good covers, or trying out recommendations from friends. Rarely do I go to the bookstore with purpose to read something because of a person, idea, or for the sake of newness. As a result my experience reading this felt purposeful and inspiring. There's even a letter written by Jane in February of 2021, just 7 months ago. They hash out things that we are all experiencing right now and I really needed to read it and connect my personal experiences with the outside world. I especially resonated with her discussion on coincidences and the unexplainable. People who know me have heard me describe my spirituality as an, "aspiring agnostic." I really want to believe, but my skepticism usually overshadows any mysticism that I am recounted or even experience. Somehow though, I started to wonder if it's possible this book fell in my lap for a reason.
In these uncertain times, I find myself shrouded in fears I have never thought I'd have. I find it hard to be hopeful, as my faith in anything spiritual seems to shrivel up alongside my faith in humanity. Right before reading this book, I listened to Goodall and Dr. Elizabeth Johnson discuss the idea of "hope" on the podcast, "How to Save a Planet." I keep going back to what Dr. Elizabeth Johnson says toward the end when asked what people can do to help the environmental movement. Her response was, "what are you good at?" which is something that Goodall echoes in this book. It has been easy for me to feel somewhat like a failure for not being successful in the animal rehabilitation, wildlife or veterinarian field- avenues I was sure I was meant to make meaningful change. Perhaps my path was always meant to lead me to art.
As a visual person, the imagery this book conjured up for me is like an electrical circuit, where the energy-- what Douglas Carlson Abrams and Goodall so often referred to as the "indomitable spirit"-- passes through people, sparked by their unique gifts for this world. I felt that we as people can all uplift and make meaningful change by doing that thing that we feel like we were meant to do. I graduated as an art major and started an art business in August of 2020, and the weight of the world made all my efforts feel so trivial and meaningless. To the point of depression, paralysis and often coming close to quitting. Thinking about my art as a tool has really helped me to find purpose and creatively think of ways I can use it to enact change. I'll admit the change is small, but I keep going because I realize I'm just a spark in a big circuit of energy. We all need to keep that energy going by harnessing our unique abilities to make meaningful change.
robinetta's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0