Synopses & Reviews
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. The collection creates a conversation among some of the most visionary and eloquent voices of our times, including Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Howard Zinn, Alice Walker, Jonathan Kozol, Diane Ackerman, Tony Kushner, Cornel West, Van Jones, and Desmond Tutu. After 22 printings, editor Paul Rogat Loeb has comprehensively updated this classic work on what it's like to go up against Goliath — whether it’s apartheid in South Africa, segregation in Mississippi, dictators in the Arab world, or greedy banks right here at home. These stories don't sugarcoat the obstacles to success; instead, they inspire hope and keep us moving forward.
Review
"An anthology of some of the most powerful voices of our time." Boston Globe
Review
"This inspiring collection is such a song of hope in these difficult times." Bonnie Raitt
Review
“For anyone worn down, The Impossible Will Take a Little While is a bracing double cappuccino.” Barbara Ehrenreich
Review
"An indispensable anthology of hope and inspiration. Put away your Prozac, and pick up The Impossible Will Take a Little While." Arianna Huffington
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"An anthology of some of the most powerful voices of our time." Boston Globe
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"Paul Loeb brings hope for a better world in a time when we so urgently need it." Millard Fuller, founder, Habitat for Humanity
Synopsis
More relevant than ever, this seminal collection of essays encourages us to believe in the power of ordinary citizens to change the world 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, V av 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.
About the Author
Paul Rogat Loeb is the author of Soul of a Citizen, which has 130,000 copies in print. He appears regularly in the Huffington Post and on national radio and TV and has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, and AARP Bulletin.