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Product Details
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; First Edition edition (September 1, 1999)
Having heard a lot about Jane Goodall and her work, along with several excerpts from her various writings, I wanted to read one of her books. I decided to start with this book because it seemed to be iconic of much of her work and summarized her life path that led her to where she is now. In general, I did enjoy the book, though there were some areas that felt like red herrings that didn't seem to fit into the larger picture. Goodall's style of writing in this book is very personal and sentimental. Rather than a commentary on external world events and environmentalism, this book reads more like an autobiography about a girl growing into womanhood. Goodall occasionally departs from the main storyline and seems to make defensive arguments concerning some of her past choices. Although these are meant to dispute past criticisms, I felt they were an unnecessary distraction, particularly because I did not agree with many of the past criticisms. Goodall tends to romanticize a great deal of her experiences and I did enjoy this for the most part, especially in her vivid descriptions of the jungle trails and interactions with wildlife. Some parts of the book read like a stream of consciousness as Goodall brings us into not only her hopes and dreams, but also her personal concerns, including some anxieties that would make anyone feel a bit neurotic, especially in social situations. This is really a personal history about Jane and her own life experiences, including her challenges and emotional responses to many of the events in her life, both positive and negative. It is a great history of the person, though for someone seeking a book about that person's work, I would look elsewhere.
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66 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey, by Jane Goodall with Phillip Berman, Warner Books, 1999, New York. by Marc Bekoff Reason for Hope is an amazing book by a most-amazing woman. Jane Goodall's autobiography is easy to read and will appeal to people of all ages. She writes about highly personal issues and reflects on science, religion, and spirituality. Goodall is clearly a "Jane of all trades and master of many." She wears many hats and she wears them well. Goodall is a naturalist at heart, can do multivariate statistics, write about God and spirituality, be a faithful and committed mother and wife, and find time tirelessly to share her experiences world-wide. There is so much between its covers that one can only offer a glimpse of the numerous topics that are considered in Reason for Hope. This very personal book touches on diverse issues ranging from practical matters we all face daily to more philosophical questions concerning the meaning of life and spirituality. We learn about the events in Goodall's development that led to her views of the world, the incredible importance of family and friends, her work with Louis Leakey (her incredulity when he chose her to begin studies of chimpanzees although, and perhaps because, she had no formal training and no degree), field studies of chimpanzee behavior, conservation biology, environmental ethics, evolution and its relationship to creationism, cultural evolution, the agonizing death of Goodall's husband, Derek, the ins and outs of how much science is done behind the scenes, science and politics, and how so many scientists shy away from confronting the ethical issues that are raised by "doing science.Read more ›
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Look man, Jane is tops in my book. She's a little older than me, so I was fairly young watching documentaries of this woman who seemed so dedicated, so thoughtful, that she became one of my heros. Reading her book was like talking to an old friend. Long may you run Jane.
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In this rich and rewarding autobiographical journey - from infant to wizened woman in her sixth decade - Jane Goodall shares her life-defining experiences including her mentorship by Louis Leakey, the observations of chimpanzees that made her famous, and her significant relationships. The reader is right there with her through learning experiences and personal struggles and may be surprised to know about the difficulties and sacrifices even the lucky, gifted and famous have to make. Jane Goodall frequently calls on her grandmother's favorite scripture for comfort in inclement times, "as thy days, so shall thy strength be." Goodall's accounts and insightful realizations give courage and perspective for dealing with the hardship and obstacles in our own lives. One of the things I value most about this book is that Goodall addresses ethical and spiritual dimensions of science and conservation. Most scientists do not publicly discuss these larger ethical dilemmas or they sometimes engage in them but lose perspective in balancing human needs with those of other living creatures. Jane Goodall is not only willing and able to discuss these complex dimensions, but the outcome is helpful and thought-provoking. If I were a professor in any of the sciences (esp. biology, genetics, and environmental studies) or ethics, I would leap at the opportunity to make this required reading. In her broad and clear way, Jane Goodall touches on many of the key issues and interrelations that scientists (budding or established) need to be aware of but will not find in a science textbook.Read more ›
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