The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear
496
The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear
496Paperback(Second Edition)
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Overview
In today's turbulent world it's hard not to feel like we're going backwards; after decades of striving, justice and equality still seem like far off goals. What keeps us going when times get tough? How have the leaders and unsung heroes of world-changing political movements persevered in the face of cynicism, fear, and seemingly overwhelming odds? In The Impossible Will Take a Little While, they answer these questions in their own words, creating a conversation among some of the most visionary and eloquent voices of our times. Today, more than ever, we need their words and their wisdom.
In this revised edition, Paul Rogat Loeb has comprehensively updated this classic work on what it's like to go up against Goliath -- whether South African apartheid, Mississippi segregation, Middle East dictatorships, or the corporations driving global climate change. Without sugarcoating the obstacles, these stories inspire hope to keep moving forward.
Think of this book as a conversation among some of the most visionary and eloquent voices of our times -- or any time: Contributors include Maya Angelou, Diane Ackerman, Marian Wright Edelman, Wael Ghonim, Váav Havel, Paul Hawken, Seamus Heaney, Jonathan Kozol, Tony Kushner, Audre Lorde, Nelson Mandela, Bill McKibben, Bill Moyers, Pablo Neruda, Mary Pipher, Arundhati Roy, Dan Savage, Desmond Tutu, Alice Walker, Cornel West, Terry Tempest Williams, and Howard Zinn.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780465031733 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Basic Books |
| Publication date: | 04/29/2014 |
| Edition description: | Second Edition |
| Pages: | 496 |
| Sales rank: | 604,157 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d) |
| Age Range: | 13 - 18 Years |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
A Note to the Reader 19
1 Seeds of the Possible
From "The Cure at Troy" Seamus Heaney 22
Introduction 24
1 A Slender Thread Diane Ackermaim 29
2 Ordinary Resurrections Jonathan Kozol 37
3 Standing Up for Children Marian Wright Edelman 44
4 You Are Brilliant and the Earth Is Hiring Paul Hawken 54
5 Political Paralysis Danusha Veronica Goska 60
2 Dark Before the Dawn
From "September 1, 1939" W.H. Auden 70
Introduction 71
6 The Optimism of Uncertainty Howard Zinn 78
7 On Being Different Dan Savage 87
8 The Dark Years Nelson Mandela 97
9 An Orientation of the Heart Vaclav Havel 106
10 Reluctant Activists Mary Pipher 113
3 Everyday Grace
"The Peace of Wild Things" Wendell Berry 124
Introduction 125
11 Gate A-4 Naomi Shihab Nye 131
12 Mountain Music Scott Russell Sanders 133
13 The Sukkah of Shalom Rabbi Arthur Waskow 140
14 Getting Our Gaze Back Rose Marie Berger 145
15 Fragile and Hidden Henri Nouwen 148
16 There Is a Season Parker Palmer 150
4 Rebellious Imagination
"Celebration of the Human Voice" Eduardo Galeano 160
"Last Night as I Was Sleeping" Antonio Machado 161
Introduction 162
17 Childhood and Poetry Pablo Neruda 167
18 TO Love the Marigold Susan Griffin 169
19 Walking with the Wind John Lewis 175
20 Rough Translation Toni Mirosevich 179
21 Jesus and Alinsky Walter Wink 181
22 Stories from the Cha Cha Cha Vern Huffman 193
23 Do Not Go Gentle Sherman Alexie 195
24 Despair Is a Lie We Tell Ourselves Tony Kushner 201
5 Courage Is Contagious
"To Be of Use" Marge Piercy 206
Introduction 208
25 The Transformation of Silence Audre Lorde 221
26 The Small Work in the Great Work Victoria Safford 224
27 We Are All Khaled Said Wael Ghonim 231
28 Arab Revolutions Stephen Zunes 241
29 Not Deterred Paxus Calta 247
30 In What Do I Place My Trust? Sister Rosalie Bertell 249
31 Faith Works Jim Wallis 253
32 The Progressive Story of America Bill Moyers 257
6 The Global Stage
"Imagine the Angels of Bread" Martin Espada 268
Introduction 271
33 Kids, Trees, and Climate Change Mark Hertsgaard 279
34 with a Postscript by Paul Rogat Loeb, Curitiba Bill McKibben 289
35 Come September Arundhati Roy 299
36 The Black Hole Ariel Dorfman 309
37 Behemoth in a Bathrobe Carla Seaouist 318
7 Radical Dignity
"HOW Have You Spent Your Life?" Jalaluddin Rumi 324
Introduction 325
38 Letter from Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King, JR. 331
39 The Real Rosa Parks Paul Rogat Loeb 338
40 Prisoners of Hope Cornel West 343
41 Road to Redemption Billy Wayne Sinclair 347
42 Resisting Terror Peter Ackerman Jack Duvall 353
43 Composing a Life Story Mary Catherine Bateson 363
8 Beyond Hope
"Origami Emotion" Elizabeth Barrette 374
From "The New York Poem" Sam Hamill 375
Introduction 376
44 Staying the Course Mary-Wynne Ashford 384
45 The Elm Dance Joanna Macy 388
46 Is There Hope on Climate Change? David Roberts 397
47 The Inevitability Trap K. C. Golden 401
48 Hoping Against Hope Nadezhda Mandelstam 403
49 You Have to Pick Your Team Sonya Vetra Tinsley, as told to Paul Rogac Loeb 406
50 From Hope to Hopelessness Margaret Wheatley 408
9 Only Justice Can Stop a Curse
"Still I Rise" Maya Angelou 414
Introduction 416
51 Only Justice Can Stop a Curse Alice Walker 423
52 The Clan of One-Breasted Women Terry Tempest Williams 430
53 Next Year in Mas'Ha Starhawk 439
54 The Gruntwork of Peace Amos Oz 444
55 No Future Without Forgiveness Desmond Tutu 451
Acknowledgments 459
Credits 461
Index 469
About the Editor 481
What People are Saying About This
"This might possibly be the most important collection of stories and essays you will ever read."
—top-10 2004 political book list, November 2004
"I'm reminded yet again of the incredible power individuals have.
Thank you for this inspiring book."
—cofounder of MoveOn.org
"This book can even make one hopeful about the future despite so many signs to the contrary."
"An indispensable anthology of hope. Put away your Prozac, and pick up The Impossible Will Take a Little While."
"Paul Loeb brings hope for a better world in a time when we so urgently need it."
—founder, Habitat for Humanity
"This inspiring collection from is such a song of hope in these difficult times."
"Extremely important."
"For anyone worn down by Bushism, The Impossible Will Take a Little While is a bracing double cappuccino."