The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu, Mpho Tutu

The Book of Forgiving

by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

The Book of Forgiving, written by the Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, offers a deeply personal testament and guide to the process of forgiveness. All of us have at times needed both to forgive and be forgiven - whether small, everyday harms or real traumas. But the path to forgiveness is not easy, and the process unclear. How do we let go of resentment when we have been harmed, at times irreparably? How do we forgive and still pursue justice? How do we heal our hearts? How do we heal the harm we have caused others? And how do we forgive ourselves? Drawing on his memories of reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu offers four concrete steps to forgiving and being forgiven: 1) Admitting the wrong and acknowledging the harm 2) Telling one's story and witnessing the anguish 3) Asking for forgiveness and granting forgiveness 4) Renewing or releasing the relationship Each chapter contains reflections and personal stories, as well as exercises for practising each step of the path.
The Book of Forgiving is a touchstone and tool for anyone seeking the freedom of forgiveness: an inspiring guide to healing ourselves and creating a more united world.

Reviewed by lovelybookshelf on

4 of 5 stars

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I picked this up to read during Lent along with the folks at Cafeteria Christian, but I'm not good at sticking to a reading schedule, so I finished it way ahead of time. I was frustrated by this book at first because it felt like it was barely scratching the surface. I wanted more details, more explanation, and just wasn't getting it. I'm so glad I stuck with it, though! Each chapter revealed another layer, and another, and yet another. The same stories circled back, but with a deeper understanding of the forgiveness process as the book moved on. I got a lot out of this book, and I'm sure I'll be rereading it and referencing it in the future.

Cafeteria Christian podcast: https://www.cafeteriachristian.club

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 8 March, 2020: Finished reading
  • 8 March, 2020: Reviewed