The Book of Hope

Jane Goodall's latest book, co-written with Douglas Abrams, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, was the selection for my NJ book club this month. I alternated reading an e-book and listening to the audiobook and must say that I much preferred listening to the audiobook. The whole book is an extended conversation that Douglas Abrams has with Jane Goodall. It's a little try in the writing, but hearing Jane Goodall speak brings her words to live. Literally.

I didn't hate the book, didn't love the book. But I was disappointed that the book didn't make me feel any more hopeful once I'd finished it than I felt at the start. Most of the trying times the book deals with are related to the climate crisis and other environmental issues. Jane shares case after case of where people's lives have been turned around because they've been engaged in one environmental project or another, and in turn, their engagement leads to positive changes in the environment. That's all good and well. But not seeing that in action, and hearing the constant voices of climate change deniers, especially those in leadership roles, leaves me without hope. 

I think Jane's point is that if everyone can do a little bit towards improving our planet, our planet will flourish. I still don't see how we can get even a third of the population on board. Hence, my feelings of hopelessness.

I liked reading about the perceived difference between "hoping" and "wishing." Hope involves having a plan and a commitment to work hard towards whatever you're hoping for. Wishing is more like wishing for some magical act, like the cleaning fairy coming to your house while you sleep so that every morning you wake up to a spotless, organized home without you having to do a thing.

I lost hope early on in the book when Jane and Douglas where talking about good versus evil. That you need to be taught that something is wrong before you are punished for a wrong doing. Otherwise, violence breeds violence. I see kids riding in their parents cars giving people they don't like the finger. That makes me feel like too large a portion of the population is trying to instill whatever hatred they have in their adult hearts into the hearts of their children. So the cycle of hate continues.

I was really disappointed when I was unable to participate in the book club discussion last week. I figured that talking to others would have given me reason to think there is more hope than I see in my own little world.

 

(((Semitism)))

I'm going to start my review of (((Semitism))) by Jonathan Weisman (only hours after starting my reading) with a quote from Becoming, Michelle Obama's memoir that I finished immediatlely before starting this commentary. What she says, I believe, will explain the the experience of Jonathan Weisman.

As minorities across the country were gradually beginning to take on more significant roles in politics, business, and entertainment, our family had become the most prominent example. Our presence in the White House had been celebrated by millions of Americans, but it also contributed to a reactionary sense of fear and resentment among others. The hatred was old and deep and as dangerous as ever.

I think I might have been wrong about my first thought. I now don't really think that the uptick in anti-semitism is a reaction to Obama's presidency.

My daughter was the one who pointed me towards this book. I don't know where she heard about it, but she asked me if I'd read it. I looked into it, read some of the reviews, and put it on my library waitlist. I got it fairly quickly.

Now, just several hours after completing (((Semitism))), I don't think I can accurately summarize what the book was all about. Partly, I think because of the writing. Weisman, an editor for the New York Times, wrote this in the style of a newspaper column. But newspaper columns are limited in length. This was very long, very circuitous, somewhat repetitive. I often felt I didn't have ample background information to make sense of all he wrote.

Much of the content of the book was extremely disturbing. Weisman starts out by explaining the ((())) in the title. It's an internet thing. A way for Jewish surnames to be highlighted on the internet, allowing "bad guys" to effectively search for those people. The people with the Jewish surnames are then harassed online. He included lots of nasty anecdotes.

Weisman is a secular Jew. His first wife was a non-Jew and until one of his daughters asked to become a Bat Mitzvah, he was raising his children without religion. He pretty much clumps Jews into two categories. The religious Jews who focus more on the safety of Israel than on safety here at home versus secular Jews who care most about setting a moral compass and assisting those who need a hand up. Personally, I'm conflicted on the whole Israel thing. Where do I fall between those two clumps?

Ironically - or not - this book made more sense about the Jewish/Black organization that was a big part of the novel Single Jewish Male. The logic is that all those groups threatened by "the haters" need to band together and kind of scaffold each other. He feels that the Anti-Defammation League and Southern Poverty Law Center need to be strengthened.

I can ramble on a bit more, but I'll spare you. After reading this, I feel no more nor no less threatened than I felt before I read it.

This book was published in late winter 2018. I wonder how the book would be updated if it was written after attack in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life synagogue. Might google that now.

[Post google: I'm not sure I'm buying what he's saying now. His view seems so narrow. If you'd like to read what I just read, here's the link.]