 The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change, by Rebecca Solnit.
This essay collection returns to a couple of Solnit's favorite themes. One is the interconnectedness of all life, how we are a part of nature and not separate from it. Popular Western philosophy long held that nature would give way to the conquest of "civilization." But we all eat, drink, and breathe, each act connecting us with the rest of the planet. Even our bodies are not separate, hosting other life forms such as bacteria. The other theme is how change is often incremental, and only obvious in retrospect. Even with sudden losses of rights (such as recent voter suppression measures), it's not possible to take away people's conviction that they still deserve those rights. Things that were controversial a mere generation ago (like same-sex marriage) are now accepted by the majority. Women now control our own money, and have laws against discrimination and harassment (even if they're not always well enforced). These things didn't happen by themselves; they took a lot of slow, persistent work with multiple setbacks. Political books age with remarkable speed these days. It was a little painful seeing her note small victories such as the removal of Confederate statues and place names - only to have the current administration putting them all back. 52 Book Club Challenge: Book published in 2026. Booklist Queen Challenge: Nonfiction bestseller.
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