From Optimism to Hope cover art

From Optimism to Hope

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

About this listen

Bloomsbury presents From Optimism to Hope by Jonathan Sacks, read by Daniel Epstein.

A newly designed edition of this collection of Jonathan Sacks’ favourite "Thoughts for the Day".

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was a regular voice frequently heard on the UK's most popular morning BBC radio news show. He regularly presented a "Thought for the Day" in which he addressed a current issue with characteristic brevity and clarity. His clear, calm voice brought hope and encouragement to all of us struggling to come to terms with modern, turbulent times.

From Optimism to Hope is a carefully selected collection of his favourite pieces from between 1995 and 2004, ranging in topics as wide-ranging as parenting, forgiveness, staying young and the Turner Prize.

The result is a book that still resonates today, and appeals to everyone, from people with religious beliefs as well as those with little or none.

©2025 Sir Jonathan Sacks (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Spirituality
All stars
Most relevant
Sad, so very sad. Sad both because the great Rabbi Jonathan Sacks died before his time, and also sad because the many terrible problems he spoke about in these short thoughts - Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo … - are problems that are with us still, if not in those places then in others. Rabbi Sacks prays for change, sees, prescribes and hopes how things might be, and yet nothing has really changed. We continue to blow it. Humans seem to have a death-wish, and seem blind to wise advice.

And yet this marvellous collection is inspiring and hopeful too. Rabbi Sacks was the wisest man of his generation, perhaps for several generations, and he spots what redeems, and gently encourages more of it. He shows a way forward in spite of our weakness and failures, and inspires hope that we can do it, that perhaps (just perhaps) all is not lost.

Well, still, we may have lost his warm, witty and wise physical presence among us - and what a loss that is - but we have not lost him. Here he is. Listen, smile and be inspired to make a difference - and thank God too for dear Rabbi Sacks and his life and message.

Sad, but hopeful too!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.