Joan of Miami is much more than a meander through the career of a starry-eyed crusader, as the title might suggest. It continually surprises by opening into new, deeper and more relevant social spheres, spheres that encompass each of us, both individually and as a global living, breathing beast. From the seemingly insignificant atrium of a young woman’s idealism, we move from room to room to room, each bigger than the last and finally expanding into the great hall of human consciousness. This is a book that starts with its feet on the ground, firmly embedded in the grime of reality, and yet manages to lift us up and remind us of what is achievable and what the imperatives of that achievement are. An inspirational read that does, and should, fill its audience with hope, it is a remarkable foray into the daring world of optimism. Read it.