How did life begin? How does it end? What happens to those qualities that make each of us alive as individuals after the bodies they animated die and disappear?

Taking inspiration from Sir David Attenborough’s maxim ‘Nature wastes nothing’ and drawing on the wisdom of commentators as varied as NASA astronauts, the Dalai Lama, existential philosophers, a couple of prescient teenagers and even an engagingly ‘human’ gorilla – Hope . . . and the Hedgehog distils the thinking behind the principal interpretations of creation, before presenting them to the reader in an easily digestible summary.

This is not a religious book and nor does it extol religion – rather it offers the same kind of assurance Bear Grylls presents to his readers. In the same way, it helps unpick the enduring puzzle that prompted Steve Jobs, creator and co-founder of Apple, to enigmatically describe death as ‘Very likely the single best invention of life.’ Which reinforces the importance of hope addressed here.

My Thoughts:

I really had no clue what to expect from this book, I found it such a thought provoking and inspirational read, one that I will go back to time and time again. I really took my time to savour each page and the quotes I enjoyed reading, I feel they give the reader a guidance through life, personally I have found this book very helpful. After reading a chapter or even just a quote it makes me appreciate my life and what I have. It made me take some time out of my day to sit and think about what I had just read. I really hope it helps other people, it is such a positive book. Also I loved some of the illustrations in the book, it made it more special for me.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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