Reviews
Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy by Joanna Macy, Chris Johnstone
janthonytucson's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book to be incredibly empowering and enlightening. It provides a narrative for identifying the wicked problems we face are not insurmountable.
My only gripe with this book is the title and cover art. It comes across as woo-woo when it is heavy on theories, and actionable policies that can transform society across multiple levels.
My only gripe with this book is the title and cover art. It comes across as woo-woo when it is heavy on theories, and actionable policies that can transform society across multiple levels.
mxmrow's review against another edition
1.0
I quite like parts like our part being part of nature protecting itself but ultimately the be thankful for trauma bit at the end (which is acknowledged as problematic) put me off.
erintby's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a very helpful, practical guide to maintaining healthy and functioning headspace in the midst of full awareness of the awful extent of the climate crisis. It includes meditations, self-reflection questions, and stories from the authors' lives. I was especially intrigued by the section on time. In the current era, we have become so focused on the minuscule increments of time that we seem to have lost the ability to look at timespan in the long term. When as a society we do try to take a "long term" approach, it usually includes a couple of decades at the most. We've neglected the perspective consistent with the Iroquois' Seventh Generation Principle (how will the actions we take today affect the world seven generations from now?). In contrast, oil companies willfully neglect needed repairs to prevent a catastrophe only a couple of years in the future just to prioritize quarterly profits today. While it was a small portion of the overall book, I found the authors' reflections of the implications of our abridged perspective on time and the necessity for an expansive perspective to be very compelling.
charzpov's review against another edition
3.0
I read this as a part of a book group with my environmental group - ironically starting just as quarantine kicked in. Perhaps it was the time I read it, but this book does itself a disservice by suggesting it focuses on the environmental crisis. This has some incredibly valuable advice and focuses on some difficult issues, rationalising them into normalcy. However, I'm giving it 3/5 because firstly it is very modernised and commercialised and lacks some of the emotional rawness I love in these kinds of books. Also it, for me at least, wasn't as memorable as other spiritual and mindfulness books I have read, but I do like the originality of the approach and the systematic organisation.
lauraportalupi's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve had this book for two years – carted it from Colorado to New Hampshire to Thailand and then back to New Hampshire, where I finally read it. As a cynic and a person heartbroken about what humans are doing to animals, the environment and other people, I didn’t believe I could face the mess we’re in without going crazy. This book helped, and I appreciated the examples and specific exercises. I couldn’t give it 5 stars simply because I still feel much resistance to hope in my own heart and body and mind. I do expect to return to this book again and again – I imagine its teachings will speak to me in different ways at different times.
Finally, I’ll add that I came across this book when looking for some writing by Joanna Macy. I was introduced to her concept of abundance (rather than scarcity) in my graduate social work program. I was very resistant to the idea of adopting an abundance mentality because I felt like it was simply not accurate given the suffering in the world. A wise professor tried to help me see that an abundance mentality could coexist with, and in fact help resolve, the very issues I saw contradicting it.
Finally, I’ll add that I came across this book when looking for some writing by Joanna Macy. I was introduced to her concept of abundance (rather than scarcity) in my graduate social work program. I was very resistant to the idea of adopting an abundance mentality because I felt like it was simply not accurate given the suffering in the world. A wise professor tried to help me see that an abundance mentality could coexist with, and in fact help resolve, the very issues I saw contradicting it.
charley0796's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I agree with Inkling’s earlier review - I found this book slow to get into and very reflective and spiritual una. Way. I prefer much more practical techniques. I highly recommend ‘A guide to eco anxiety’ over this, which is written by a qualified psychotherapist.
katrinadalythompson's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
katrinadreamer's review against another edition
4.0
Having read other books by Joanna Macy (and loved them) meant that there wasn’t a lot here that was new to me. However, for someone new to the idea of the Great Turning, and for those who wish to find ways to step into activism with heart and without burning out, this book is a good resource.
alicesp's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0