This diverse collection of poetry was masterfully woven together by James Crews to help readers recognize the abundance in our daily lives that we have to be grateful for. At times it was as if the different poets were carrying on the same conversation amongst one another while spread out over time. Then the 'reflective pauses' offered nice breaking points and welcomed its readers to contemplate what they've read to help it all resonate on a deeper level.

While there were a handful of poems I didn't connect with, this was overall the exact type of poetry that speaks to my soul and continue to inspire me for years to come.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection that includes poets such as Amanda Gorman, Mary Oliver, and Joy Harjo.

The magic words can weave is astounding. As I read the poems in this book, each one different, yet seemingly spun with the same sweetness and strength, I fell in love with words all over again.

Granted, like with any anthology or collection of works, some stand out more than others, while others seemed misplaced or a bit off. And also note I am yet to read all the poems in this anthology – there are many here and I ended up reading a couple of them a few times. But almost every one I read left me with a myriad feelings, a and inspiration to pen words of love and hope myself. (Though I need to complete this overdue post first!)

Themes range from parenting to friendships, from growing old to growing up, from the world around us to the one within, and more. So there is something for everyone.

While I only knew very few (like a couple) of the poets included here, I always treasure the opportunities that anthologies like these provide; the opportunities to read so many varied poems and to discover poets I did not know earlier.

I loved the reflections for pauses inserted at various points in the book that provide points to ponder about the poem just before the reflective pause page as well as an invitation to write and reflect.

Foreword from James Crews; backmatter includes a Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussions section as well as brief poet bios for all the included poets.

Some of the ones I have re-read (and hence still working to finish this anthology) are Alberto Rios’ When Giving is All You Have, Marjorie Saiser’s If I Carry My Father, Garret Keizer’s My Daughter’s Singing, and Hope by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.

In Summary
A glorious anthology of poems from a wondrous set of talented poets!

Source: Digital review copy from NetGalley

How to Love the World first drew me in for it's premise and it's gorgeous cover. But soon I was weeping right along with the gorgeous poems filled with care, compassion, and communal love. They would make great reflections especially during these divided times.

I received this as an ARC copy from NetGalley. I really love the simplicity in these poems. Some had a gentle sadness yet spoke of love and hope and things that give you pause. Even if I’m not a fan of Rona popping up in fiction I suppose we can’t pretend it wasn’t a big influence in writing and writers. Four stars.

Gorgeous and inspiring book that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. I purchased a copy for our library.

Skimmed through this collection. Love the cover and that it's engaging enough to appeal to high school students who may not want to commit to a whole novel, or those who have an interest in poetry.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

Beautiful poetry full of hope and compassion. Highly recommended to poetry lovers. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the copy.

This collection of poetry was beautiful and inspiring.

I welcomed the new year with this little book of poems and was not disappointed.

I especially liked how after some of the poems there were thoughtful reflections on the meaning found within some of the different works.

My attention was caught by the beautiful cover, but I stayed for the beautiful words within. I even bought a print copy for myself.

A great poetry collection published during the COVID-19 pandemic that encourages us to improve our connection with the natural world and those around us!

How to Love the World is a beautiful work of heart-felt poetry. The cover art and the poetry within are all breathtakingly well done. Great book of poems for any poetry lover!

I very, very much like this title. It is a collection of poetry that I read first thing in the morning, last thing at night or anytime that I want to feel better about the world and myself. Each poem is absolutely not abstruse and offers something to which the reader can relate. There are some poets known to me, including Amanda Gorman, but most are new discoveries. This means that each poem is an exploration, albeit a short one.

A brief quote from the first poem sets the tone:

Hope has holes

in its pockets.

It leaves little crumb trails

so that we,

when anxious,

can follow it.

If this excerpt appeals to you, you will want to own this book. It offers a promising way of viewing our universe.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope by James Crews is a delightful collection of poetry focusing on gratitude and hope. Nice read for reflecting on how fortunate we are. #HowtoLovetheWorld #NetGalley

How to love the world is an exquisite and moving assortment of verses from different poets that opens our eyes and hearts to the force of appreciation and bliss. I liked the manner in which the book is isolated into little determinations of sonnets, with each gathering followed by a reflective pause that would welcome the readers to compose and think about a specific part of bliss or appreciation. The biographies of poets are present at end of the book for further review of their works.

I discovered pursuing this assortment a particularly consoling encounter. I believe it’s intended to re-touch off expectation and appreciation of these troublesome occasions. I likewise partook in the little stops that the various areas of the book gave. The reflection on what you read and surprisingly the suggestions to pause for a minute to compose was exceptionally motivating, there were some truly wonderful pieces in this assortment. Some of my favorite poems are Gail Newman’s Valentine’s Day, Jane Hirshfield’s Today, and Ross Gay’s Wedding Poem. These were really an assortment of verses that made me grin, both joyfully and incidentally a piece sadly, yet consistently confident.

It’s hard to review poems in light of the fact that each time I get a book of poems, I discover something new every time I read it, something I didn’t see previously. This collection of stories will be useful for any individual who is hoping to be roused, somebody searching for trust.

Cover of the book-
Acclaim to the book cover’s originator; it looks magnificent! It coordinates with the appreciation this book offers, the expectation, and the straightforward day-to-day enthusiasm for the things we find whenever around us. I felt welcome to read this book because of the cover.

Rating of the book- 4/5
Rating of the cover- 4.5/5

The style of poems aren't for me. Thus, I was unable to fully enjoy it since it is not my cup of tea. My respect and admiration to the author for writing the book. I was kinda let down that a selection of the book is composed of pieces of poems from different authors. I admit it was me that did not read the book description properly. I did read some gems in there, thank you!

A nice collection of poems. Favorites: "Growing Apples" by Nancy Miller Gomez, "Mending" by Noah Davis, "Any Morning" by William Stafford, "Goldfinches" by Danusha Lameris, "Scratch, Sniff" by Katie Rubenstein, "the lesson of the falling leaves" by Lucille Clifton, "Winter Morning" by James Crews.

The cover is what caught my attention on this one, I don't typically read poetry but it is something I enjoy reading from time to time. The poems were great, I've been going through a tough time in my life and this book reminded me that there is still much to be grateful for.

A beautiful collection of poetry. Full of joy, love, hope and so many things that we all need when feeling low.

An easy companion to pick up when you need a piece of comfort. Would make a great gift for anyone feeling sadness, grief, or just needs a little pick me up