The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

How do Jane and Doug’s personalities and experiences affect how they perceive hope in Part 1? How do their views change and develop over the course of their conversations?

In Part 1, Jane and Doug talk about their differing opinions on whether “stories” or qualitative data are a better tool to convince people about the power and importance of hope. What is the difference between these two approaches in the text? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? Can they be reconciled?

What other emotions or motivations besides hope are useful for inspiring people to commit to change? What emotions, assumptions, or habits does the text suggest present obstacles to change?