A few days ago, we attended a candlelight concert in Amsterdam, featuring songs from Bridgerton. As soon as I arrived in the city, my first stop—once again—was Scheltema. One of the books I picked up there was The Book of Hope. In it, Jane focuses on the kind of hope that is active and action-oriented. You hope for something first, and then you act to make it real. Hope becomes the driver that moves you forward.
It’s a nice book, and I’d recommend it to anyone who needs a lift of optimism, especially about the climate crisis. I’ll admit—I’m one of those people. I hope more of us can realize that even one person can make a difference. Every time I choose the train over a flight, it counts. Yes, even when the ultra-rich keep flying their private jets. Maybe we can also unite and push for stronger regulations on those flights. The point is—individuals matter.
Two parts of the book especially caught my attention. The first was Jane’s early career. She started as a secretary to Dr. Leakey, and before she could begin her fieldwork studying chimpanzee behavior, the UK required that she not go into the forest alone. Dr. Leakey chose not to send a doctoral student with her—he wanted someone who would support her, not compete. So, Jane’s mother joined her in Tanzania. I found that incredibly kind. The world of academia, as many know but few admit, can sometimes feel like a pot of crabs scrambling to climb over each other. Of course, not every lab is like that—but it’s not unheard of either. Therefore, it was touching that Dr. Leakey anticipated this and acted protectively.
The second point was that Jane spent long periods alone in the forest. At least, that’s how I understood her account. It made me question the safety of such fieldwork. She occasionally encountered wild animals; luckily, nothing bad happened. Still, a single wrong move could have changed everything. So, I ended up feeling conflicted about Dr. Leakey—admiring his kindness but uneasy about the risks Jane faced.
Another thing that stood out was how much Jane accomplished through relationships and connections rather than formal applications. It seemed surprisingly easy for her to reach people and build networks (from * the start * of her career). Or perhaps she left some details out and it was not so easy for her either—who knows?
Anyway, let me know what you think of the book if you get a chance to read it!