Kristin Reddington
April 19, 1999
Expository Writing
Hunting for Hope by Scott Russell Sanders
Boston: Beacon Press, 1998
191 pg $23.00
Scott Russell Sanders’ book Hunting For Hope details a man’s search for hope in a world which at times seems without it. The author’s two children, Eva and Jesse give him provocation to continue on in this journey. Sanders offers various sources of hope including: wildness, beauty, simplicity, body bright, family, fidelity, and skill. In a world often devoid of hope Sanders book is a refreshing look at the simple things of life which can bring great happiness.
Sanders’ idea for his book came from his son Jesse who challenged him on his view of the world.
"Your view of things is totally dark. It bums me out. You make me feel the planet’s dying and people are to blame and nothing can be done about it. There’s no room for hope. Maybe you can get by without hope, but I can’t. I’ve got a lot of living still to do. I have to believe there’s a way we can get out of this mess. Otherwise, what’s the point? Why study, why work-why do anything if it’s all going to hell?"
This challenge issued from Jesse causes Sanders to really look at his life and see there is reason for hope left in it. As he carefully observes what is going on around him he is able to see that there is indeed hope in the world if only one stops to look at it.
Sanders’ other work "Inheritance of Tools" focuses on the relationship that Sanders had with his father. It details the struggle that he went through to understand their relationship. The generation gap has been spanned as Sanders is now writing about his own children and the struggles they go through in their relationship. In this way it can be seen that Sanders has perhaps come to a deeper understanding of parent/child relationships as he now has children of his own to relate to.
Scott Russell Sanders masterfully weaves together various approaches including observation, personal experience, as well as quotes from authority. Sanders brings into his work many famous poets including Thoreau, Shakespeare, as well as Dickinson. He uses Emily Dickinson’s description of hope:
"Hope" is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tunes without the words-
And never stops at all-
Thus, Sanders is able to connect his ideas with those of the poets who have come before him.
Sanders’ subject matter appeals to all ages. The book intrigues the reader in that the perspectives of both the parent and child are explored. This look into the mind of the other person is very enlightening. The look at how three generations of a family fit together reveals a look at what seems to be the All-American family. Sanders is not pretending to have a perfect life, yet he makes the best of what he has been given, a refreshing change from today’s often pessimistic society.
Further, Sanders also examines the cheap ways that people try to amuse themselves.
Every time we jump in the car merely for the sake of motion, every time we browse the aisles of stores without needing a thing, or switch on the television to banish silence, or surf the Net for distraction, or pump ourselves full of chemicals in search of a jolt, we are hunting for a freshness that we’re far more likely to find in that place from which we set out, had we but eyes to see. In the scramble for money and things, we doom ourselves to frustration and darken our souls.
In this way Sanders suggests that the cheap items of this world may give temporary distraction, they will not bring happiness. This is not to say that happiness is not available. Sanders has found great happiness in those around him and in the simple pleasures of life.
Scott Russell Sanders’ book is an honest and refreshing look at life in America today. Too often people are plagued by the bad things in life and are unable to see the light. Sanders’, too, struggles with this but in this book he makes a conscious attempt to try to regain hope. This issue of hope in society may seem to be a tired topic but Sanders gives it a fresh approach, which makes it worthy of reading. This book is a quick read which takes the focus off the pressures of life and recenters them on what is really important.