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5174 global ratings
5 star 82%
4 star 7%
3 star 6%
2 star 3%
1 star 2%
Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in Without Going Crazy
byJoanna Macy
174 global ratings | 97 global reviews
From Australia
David Liddle
5.0 out of 5 stars InspirationalReviewed in Australia on 6 February 2019
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Joanna and Chris present an approach to life full of hope for the future, supported by many practical exercises to make this a reality. They provide a framework in which to view our world and guidance on how we can take control of our response to the challenges around us to build a positive future.
Jude
5.0 out of 5 stars A tremendous and timely work teaching us Active HopeReviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2020
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I could have saved myself years of depression had I discovered this book before now. It is incredibly supportive and informative in all ways offering a vital resource for this present moment and for the challenges we can expect in the future. I found this book fascinating, along with the resources section and the invitation of wonderful guided exercises throughout the book.
It has completely changed my outlook and my wellbeing, from despair to positivity.
I now have acquired skills to embrace pain felt for the world and let it go so that active hope can enter and thrive whilst giving valued recognition and steps towards healing our shared existence. I am profoundly grateful to Chris Johnstone and Joanna Macy for leading the way.
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Xia Leon Sloane
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing
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Xia Leon Sloane
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2020
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This is an absolutely incredible book. It is enlivened and enlivening, deeply insightful and rigorously researched. Someone asked not, after I mentioned it, whether 'Actiof Hoq' was a self-help book.
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This is an absolutely incredible book. It is enlivened and enlivening, deeply insightful and rigorously researched. Someone asked not, after I mentioned it, whether 'Actiof Hoq' was a self-help book.
To me 'self-help' suggests egocentrism and individualism.
That's not where Macy and Johnstone are coming from.
Though starting from the individual, it is a work ultimately offering the guidance and tools for collective transformation.
An absolute must-read for anyone passionate about the the world, or anyone who struggles with burnout or a sense of powerlessness.
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Kate
5.0 out of 5 stars just starting...and loving itReviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2019
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I can tell from the opening pages that this book is really important and very much what I need to read, to guide me forward in a positive way.
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Ms. Katherine R. Honey
5.0 out of 5 stars this book has helped me enormously
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Kate
5.0 out of 5 stars just starting...and loving itReviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2019
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I can tell from the opening pages that this book is really important and very much what I need to read, to guide me forward in a positive way.
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Ms. Katherine R. Honey
5.0 out of 5 stars this book has helped me enormously
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2012
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I can't recommend Active Hope highly enough. As someone who constantly felt depressed, frightened or in numb denial about the multiple crises facing humanity and life on earth, this book helped me reengage and reconnect with nature and other people, and draw from them a sense of joy and enthusiasm. Active Hope is about knowing you've done the best you can, no matter what the eventual outcome.
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I can't recommend Active Hope highly enough. As someone who constantly felt depressed, frightened or in numb denial about the multiple crises facing humanity and life on earth, this book helped me reengage and reconnect with nature and other people, and draw from them a sense of joy and enthusiasm. Active Hope is about knowing you've done the best you can, no matter what the eventual outcome.
It encourages you to be part of the Great Turning,
from a consumerist to a sustainable way of life for us all.
Published in 2012, this book is incredibly timely. Thank goodness for Joanna Macy!
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Lesley Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Hope Springs EternalReviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2017
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Comforting to know there are others in the world who feel strongly about the destruction of the planet and a message of hope that every one can make a difference if we pull together.
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H. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars A gift to humanity at this crisis point in our collective historyReviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 May 2012
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'Active Hope' is truly a gift to humanity at this crisis point in our collective history. This book succinctly describes the 'Business as Usual' model, which is systematically destroying the resilience of human cultures and the Earth's ecosystems, and yet offers an extraordinary vision of hope - the Great Turning towards a life-sustaining society, in which millions of people globally are now participating.
Holding the daily awareness of this precipice at which we stand requires enormous courage. This book offers clear insights and a tried-and-tested system to help us to develop the inner resources to cope. It feels like the most trusty companion anyone aspiring to co-create a sustainable future could acquire.
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Anke Maas-lowit
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely bookReviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2019
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This is a lovely book on environmental activism that takes a very personal and positive approach
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D Harrison
5.0 out of 5 stars A positive and inspiring bookReviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 November 2013
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Active Hope is a book for everyone.
Instead of just bemoaning the state of the world, Joanne Macy and Chris Johnstone offer a heart warming way to improve our own lives and those of others. Those of us that tend to get overwhelmed by the sheer size of the problems we face and become frozen into inactivity will find a wealth of comfort and sound practical advice.
The invitation of this book is to stop being overwhelmed and start living in a way that makes a difference even if it's small. The first steps in any journey are the most important.
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Rachel Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars A must readReviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2012
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Thinking about buying this book, then do it! This is the information and tools we need right here and now. It has been written in an open, easy to read non jargon way too. It feels like a gentle teacher is informatively guiding you through very straight forwardly how things are and what we can choose to think/feel/do about it. Like some books I don't come away feeling guilty that I'm not doing more or that what I'm presently doing is wrong its more of an 'oh yes that's a good idea, now I understand!'
If you facilitate any of 'The Work That Re-connects' (see 'Coming Back to Life') its a must have to bring greater clarity and understanding which you can pass on to the participants.
I love it and I'm recommending it to as many people as I can
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17 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Lesley Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Hope Springs EternalReviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2017
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Comforting to know there are others in the world who feel strongly about the destruction of the planet and a message of hope that every one can make a difference if we pull together.
5 people found this helpfulReport abuse
H. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars A gift to humanity at this crisis point in our collective historyReviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 May 2012
Verified Purchase
'Active Hope' is truly a gift to humanity at this crisis point in our collective history. This book succinctly describes the 'Business as Usual' model, which is systematically destroying the resilience of human cultures and the Earth's ecosystems, and yet offers an extraordinary vision of hope - the Great Turning towards a life-sustaining society, in which millions of people globally are now participating.
Holding the daily awareness of this precipice at which we stand requires enormous courage. This book offers clear insights and a tried-and-tested system to help us to develop the inner resources to cope. It feels like the most trusty companion anyone aspiring to co-create a sustainable future could acquire.
22 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Anke Maas-lowit
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely bookReviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2019
Verified Purchase
This is a lovely book on environmental activism that takes a very personal and positive approach
One person found this helpfulReport abuse
D Harrison
5.0 out of 5 stars A positive and inspiring bookReviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 November 2013
Verified Purchase
Active Hope is a book for everyone.
Instead of just bemoaning the state of the world, Joanne Macy and Chris Johnstone offer a heart warming way to improve our own lives and those of others. Those of us that tend to get overwhelmed by the sheer size of the problems we face and become frozen into inactivity will find a wealth of comfort and sound practical advice.
The invitation of this book is to stop being overwhelmed and start living in a way that makes a difference even if it's small. The first steps in any journey are the most important.
6 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Rachel Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars A must readReviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2012
Verified Purchase
Thinking about buying this book, then do it! This is the information and tools we need right here and now. It has been written in an open, easy to read non jargon way too. It feels like a gentle teacher is informatively guiding you through very straight forwardly how things are and what we can choose to think/feel/do about it. Like some books I don't come away feeling guilty that I'm not doing more or that what I'm presently doing is wrong its more of an 'oh yes that's a good idea, now I understand!'
If you facilitate any of 'The Work That Re-connects' (see 'Coming Back to Life') its a must have to bring greater clarity and understanding which you can pass on to the participants.
I love it and I'm recommending it to as many people as I can
10 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy
by
The challenges we face can be difficult even to think about. Climate change, the depletion of oil, economic upheaval, and mass extinction together create a planetary emergency of overwhelming proportions. Active Hope shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face this crisis so that we can respond with unexpected resilience and creative power. Drawing on decades of teaching an empowerment approach known as the Work That Reconnects, the authors guide us through a transformational process informed by mythic journeys, modern psychology, spirituality, and holistic science. This process equips us with tools to face the mess we’re in and play our role in the collective transition, or Great Turning, to a life-sustaining society.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published March 13th 2012 by New World Library (first published February 1st 2012)
Jul 18, 2012
Bob Stocker rated it
really liked itWe're headed for a disaster. Soil is being depleted. Oil is running out. Oceans are getting fished out. Species are dying off. Even the climate is changing. What can we do? Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone don't offer specific solutions, but they do offer hope, Active Hope, you might say. We have a choice of three stories to follow: we can continue gobbling up the earth's resources (Business as Usual); we can despondently bury our heads in the sand (the Great Unraveling); or we can become conduits for positive change (the Great Turning).
This is a spiritual book – at least as close to being spiritual as anything I'm likely to read. Macy and Johnstone don't tell us what to do. They offer tools to help us decide what we can do and, perhaps more important, they suggest how we can develop attitudes that will enable us bring about the Great Turning without slipping back into one of the other two stories.
After reading numerous books about environmental issues and the climate crisis, I was drawn to Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone.
The Bottom Line
The authors are well respected advocates for social and environmental justice. Active Hope is a thought provoking book that requires engagement from the reader. It's about expanding our view of ourselves and the world. My favorite quote from the book is from Arne Naess who wrote:
This wasn't quite what I was looking for. Feeling in tune with Gaia doesn't help with what I was concerned about: living near the former Rocky Flats plutonium plant and knowing that the soul of the entire northern metro Denver area has some degree of plutonium contamination from spills, leaks and fires while the plant was operating. What we do know is that there is plutonium in the sediment of the lake that is a drinking water supply for a nearby suburb, that some of the landfills at the plant were left after the "clean-up" (and given all the other sloppiness with regard to radioactive chemicals, they are probably leaking into the ground upstream from the water supply), and that developers are intent on digging up that area around it and could care less about dispensing plutonium particles on the wind to the communities to the east. The author makes some good points about taking action, but as one who's never shied away from getting involved, I felt like this was aimed at a different audience. (less)
Jan 06, 2020
Joanne rated it
it was okJoanna Macy is an ecological activist, and this book was co-authored more than five years ago, before the US withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord. I appreciate the author's use of Buddhist thought to inform her approach to solving problems that seem so big, as well as her detailed series of reflection questions to center and inform one's own thinking. At the risk of oversimplifying, I think the largest take-away for me is that rather get bogged down in despair over climate change, nuclear proliferation or any number of issues, perhaps we can each identify what matters most, join in community with others, and take one step at a time to change what we can. There seems to be a fair amount of repetition, and the material seemed very abstract at time, but on the whole, I'd say it is worth turning to this book if you're thinking about making changes in the world. (less)
Not really the kind of book I tend to find helpful. I find books like Solnit's "Hope in the Dark" and Klein's "This Changes Everything" more inspiring, both because of their detailed stories of victories against impossible odds (the stories in "Active Hope" are pretty anemically told), and for their better writing.
Jun 13, 2019
Karen rated it
it was amazingShelves: social-criticism, self-help, grief, climate, anthropocene, activism
This book is exactly what the title suggests: it offers a plan for how to face the reality of climate collapse, do what one can, and stave off despair. The advice is fairly simple: it's really about making some shifts in the way we see our situations. We remember that we are part of the earth, not separate from it, and we see the grief, anxiety, anger, despair we feel on behalf of the earth and its residents as the Earth crying out in us. We remind ourselves of the resources we have, our strengths, the people we know are supporting us. We don't worry about the end result, we do what we can each day. We see uncertainty as hopeful instead of destabilizing.
Active Hope is very much like an instruction manual or a workbook. It is laid out methodically and written in simple, clear language. Interspersed throughout the chapters are thought exercises to try either alone or in groups. In a few places are extended narratives from the authors' experiences that illustrate the mental/spiritual journey they are writing about. Although the thought exercises can be done by individuals on their own, the book is really directed toward people who are working with a group on climate activism.
The book has endnotes, a list of resources for further reading/inquiry, and an index. I recommend it for people who are dealing with climate grief/anxiety/depression and for people interested in (or who already are) taking action. (less)
Mar 22, 2013
Kelly Barth rated it
it was amazingFor those grieving from environmental crises–which the rest of the world seems ill-equipped to help us with and encourages us to ignore–this book offers deep honesty and the promise of healing. Years of pretending we aren’t worried, even despairing hasn’t worked. This book offers an alternative of feeling our despair and, therein, finding hope and empowerment once again. (less)
Dec 05, 2018
Ayelet rated it
it was okI had a hard time getting into this book. There were too many self-help pschyo-babble terms for me. I did appreciate parts, like focusing on gratitude, but I didn't like the catch phrases or understand how envisioning the future can be turned into practical actions.
Macy and her co-author provide a boost of encouragement to everyone worried about seemingly hopeless environmental and social crises. Practical as well as inspirational, the book includes numerous exercises to strengthen those qualities that will best serve us as we work toward a more life-sustaining world. Macy has been giving workshops on these ideas for many years, testing and refining her methods, and the book reflects the depth of that process.
The principles of her teaching, called The Work That Reconnects, were welcomed by the two groups I shared them with, who participated with interest in selected exercises. She affirms that it is not necessary to be optimistic about the future in order to be an effective activist, and proves it, while redefining activism as any act done with no expectation of personal gain. That makes most people activists at least sometimes, helping us to feel that we are not alone in working for change. Active Hope presents a valuable and much-needed approach to support and increase activism at this critical point in human history, and to make it maximally effective. (less)
Aug 12, 2012
Norm rated it
it was amazingLanguage is a little more accessible than Joanna's other books. Message is inspirational! We need to get together and start taking action rather than carry on with "business as usual".
WOW. I haven't devoured a book this quickly in a looooong time, and I say that as someone who reads a lot. The only reason it took me 2 days instead of 1 was I had to stop to take notes every 5 minutes and capture all that was here. Anyone who is involved in activism in any capacity should stop whatever they're doing and read this book. Especially if they're feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, exhausted, etc. This book helped me to understand how necessary hope is and how it can sustain us during lifelong battles for justice. And not in the kitschy toxic positivity way (smile more and your depression will be cured!!) but in a genuine manner that entails accepting the pain and suffering the world throws at us, honoring that pain, and still finding space to keep fighting.
I think one of the most important things this book did for me was to redefine and broaden the definition of activism. Activism doesn't have to mean being the next Angela Davis or Fred Hampton; activism means, "using our skills, experience, networks, enthusiasm, and temperament to the healing of our world." And when our activism aligns with our values, it can even lead to flow, a state described as, "[when] people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it." The thing about flow though, is that there must be a challenge enough to absorb us but not so difficult that we feel overwhelmed.
Emotional distress can be motivating, but if it goes beyond what we imagine we can cope with, we may just shut down. On the outside, we seem to be holding it together, but internally, our energy sags and our sensitivity is dulled. Failure to maintain our energy/enthusiasm leads to burnout or even permanent withdrawal. Activist burnout is a very real phenomenon and I'm sure a lot of people have felt such fatigue with all that's happening in the world right now!
I think a lot of the ideas presented in this book tie in beautifully with the things I learned in Braiding Sweetgrass as well. (another book I highly recommend). The authors frequently speak of a spiritual connection with Gaia (or Earth and all life on it). This had me pondering the spiritual experiences I've had and so many that others have shared with me. It seems that if you were to ask almost anyone to describe a spritiual experience, it would center on communion with nature, or connection to humans on either a very grand or very intimate scale. How then, can we expand our sense of self to include such? The authors use a 4 part framework for developing such a sense. They emphasize the need to look at where an issue overlaps with the self, the immediate community, society-at-large, and all of life on Earth. They speak of gratitude as more than just "politeness" but rather as a necessity in recognizing our place in the web of life. They also emphasize that connectedness with a healthy community brings out our latent, distinct gifts.
The authors also regularly emphasize two tools needed in order to change the world: compassion and insight into the radical interdependence of all phenomena. This book has helped me to develop these tools and to seek new ways to utilize them. It's given me the space to mourn all the atrocities of our day while also preserving hope for the better days ahead. One last quote that I just loved:
"If we stick only with what we know how to do, what we're comfortable with and confident about, we limit ourselves to the old, familiar ways rather than developing new capacities."
Apr 07, 2018
Deb Rudnick rated it
it was amazingThis book is a must read for anyone who aspires to engage more with the great challenges that face us or who is seeking more motivation, compassion and articulation for the hard work they are doing to repair our world. The authors offer a wealth of advice and guidance on how to approach challenging work to repair each other and our planet in voices that are kind, realistic and wise. I think it is difficult to read this book and come out of it untransformed or uninspired. Their thoughts on the power of collaboration, passion and vision ring beautiful and true. I had gotten this out of the library but I ended up buying it so I could keep it as a reference- I expect and hope I will refer back to it on an ongoing basis. (less)
A very important read for anyone facing the climate crisis and wondering how to process the emotions that come with that.
Feb 19, 2020
Emily Dufford rated it
it was amazingBeautiful and inspiring. Just what I needed in a moment of frustration and despair!
May 20, 2018
Laura rated it
really liked itI’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. (less)
Jun 14, 2016
Melissa Stacy rated it
it was amazingShelves: self-help, nonfiction, 2016-reads, climate-change
This is an EXCELLENT book. Recommended to anyone who is following the literature on climate change, is acutely aware of the devastating science involved, and suffers panic/grief/living terror every moment they think of the future. This is not a book that promises false optimism. This is a book that says to hope anyway. To keep reading the science, and doing everything you can to stay empowered, and to keep hold of a vision of change and survival.
This book is very much aware of how grim the situation of climate change has become. At no point do the authors shy away from the bitter truth of the peril and urgency involved in trying to save life as we know it on earth. But the authors make a powerful argument for embracing the fear and the grief, to feel our pain fully, and then the book provides the mental and emotional tools to create a vision for a changed humanity that is no longer on a course toward extinction.
This is a powerful, beautiful book. Highly recommended. (less)
Jun 05, 2019Dani Scott rated it really liked it
Very helpful as an introduction to Joanna Macy's philosophy and practices. At this point, some of the facts are a bit old, but the practices themselves are ageless. If you are interested in connecting more deeply with the Earth or connecting more with community that is interested in connecting more deeply with the Earth, these practices could really help. I appreciated the way the book built the concepts upon one another, starting with the personal, then spiraling out to society as a whole. Very heartfelt. (less)
