Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide
June 2001
Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey
by Jane Goodall
Beloved primatologist Jane Goodall writes about chimpanzees--and faith. Sustained in her work by a relationship with God, Goodall shows that throughout her career science deepened, rather than undermined, her faith.
- Reason for Hope is an autobiography, not a memoir. What do you see as the major differences between this book and the memoirs we have read?
- Jane's childhood and early adulthood was shaped by strong maternal influences. How does this connect with her later work as an observer of chimps? How are other important influences in her childhood related to her later work? As you look back to your own childhood, can you see its influences in certain aspects of your adult life, as she does?
- Jane's life seems to have turned on significant meetings at important moments. One of these was Louis Leakey, who is often called the "maverick" anthropologist, for his unconventional, experimental approach to understanding early humans. Why was Leakey so important to her? How did his insistence on using untrained observers (he also sent Dian Fossey to study gorillas) result in important scientific advances? What kind of difficulties did it create for Jane?
- Jane's evolving understanding of chimps underwent a change in the early 70s, at about the same time that her own life was changed. What did she learn? Why was it important?
- Another major change in her life occurred in 1986, at a conference to celebrate the publication of Jane's book, The Chimpanzes of Gombe. What changed her? She compares her situation to that of Paul on the road to Damascus. What do you think of this comparison?
- What did you like most about this book? What, if anything, disappointed you?