By Barbara gave me this and a handful of other books during our recent visit in State College. This was a perfect fit for my day full of airplanes and airports yesterday. I finished it as we touched down in Sacramento. Delicious.
Hope in the Dark was first published shortly after the United States invaded Iraq in 2003. There is an entire chapter that talks about the concept of walls versus doors and it is all too familiar given the situation with our own border wall. Creepy. The third edition that Barbara gave me has a new introduction and a few additional chapters, but otherwise she did not rewrite the book. So, given that context, this book is a series of helpful reminders that there is hope.
It might be a good idea to keep a copy of this by the bedside or near the computer or for perusing after watching the news.
Thank you, Barbara! This reading blog is feeling very alive this summer.
Open Arts Spring 2023 
PS- I was an organizer for Feb 15 2003 and I have to say it felt cool to read a chapter about the impacts of that day long after we stopped talking about it.
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I have to say, even ruminating on the title of this book offers potential for renewal. Thank you for that.
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I’m so glad you appreciated the book, Alison. I love Rebecca Solnit’s writing. She’s very bright and has a calm centered spirit that comes through when you hear her interviewed. The challenge for me is to stay present to the everyday assault on the least protected, including the planet itself, without feeling paralyzed. I try to remember that I am part of a much greater whole, a global community, that is working hard for justice. All of our thoughts and actions matter–even when they seem insignificant. Solnit’s book is a handbook for sustaining hope in dark times.
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Appreciating even more information re Solnit, Barbara. It is difficult to not feel paralyzed, to not lose hope, to not become ineffective with anger. I will definitely be checking this book out. Thanks you two
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