A Legacy of Hope: The Progressive Reviews Michael Ansara’s Memoir

In a thoughtful new review, The Progressive calls Michael Ansara’s The Hard Work of Hope “a compelling memoir that reminds us that the arc of history bends toward justice—but only if we push.”

Writer Eleanor J. Bader traces Ansara’s journey from campus protests against the Vietnam War to decades of grassroots organizing, calling the book “an unflinching portrait of moral courage, strategic struggle, and the lessons movements must learn if they’re going to last.” The review highlights the book’s relevance today, praising Ansara’s candor about both the victories and the missteps of the Left—and his continued commitment to building power from the ground up.

“The Hard Work of Hope is both history and handbook,” Bader writes. “It reminds us that organizing is about relationships, strategy, and perseverance. It’s about doing the work, even when it’s hard.”

It’s a powerful endorsement of a memoir that’s already being hailed as essential reading for activists, educators, and anyone committed to justice.

📖 Read the full review:
Michael Ansara’s Legacy of Hope – The Progressive

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