For every example of hope based on a win there may be a counter example of when campaigns have failed. One of the potential challenges of creating an argument for hope based on examples of successful and progressive social change, is that there are also many examples of times when people like Donald Trump have been elected. This forms the basis for most of the structure of her work and it is how she constructs her arguments for hope. Solnit has researched broadly and the examples of movements and campaigns are fascinating. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Solnit’s book are her many and varying, at times even obscure examples of activism and global movements. Each time she has refined her arguments and reflections, creating a succinct book that manages to roll from chapter to chapter. After experiencing incredible success touring her essay at various conferences, Solnit expanded her essay into a book, updating it with two more editions since 2003. Solnit writes that Hope in the Dark was first crafted as an essay in 2003 when protesting the Iraq War was boiling up into enormous rallies around the world. Gratefully I followed through and in an ode to Nick I have reviewed his recommendation. Sipping on a large green coconut, listening to my story of burnout and disenchantment with politics, he recommended I read Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit, a book written to help activists and campaigners find hope in times of struggle. Nick was a shirtless and pale carefree man and a newly retired journalist who had written the stories of the phone hacking scandal for The Guardian in the United Kingdom.

Sitting in a hipster yoga retreat in Bali, sweating and occasionally scratching the red mosquito bites clustering on my ankles, I met Nick Davis. Here Matt Ross reviews the American author’s arguments for keeping the faith in times of despair. Hope in the Dark was written by Rebecca Solnit to help activists and campaigners find hope in times of struggle.

Hope in the dark by rebecca solnit