NO FUTURE WITHOUT FORGIVENESS by Desmond Tutu 
Image/Doubleday 1999 
ISBN: 0385496907 - Trade Paperback

Reviewed by Beverly Rowe, MyShelf.com
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Archbishop Desmond Tutu shares his experiences as chairman of the revolutionary "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" of South Africa. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for this work on the Commission and his part in ending Apartheid.  It is impossible for white Americans to understand what the South African blacks suffered during Apartheid. It is difficult to believe that in our modern world such atrocities could take place...the torture, imprisonment, tear gassing, exile and so much more. 

Apartheid was finally ended, and on April 27, 1994, Archbishop Tutu was allowed to vote for the first time, at the age of 62. 

He was appointed chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by President Nelson Mandela. This commission was formed to reconcile the people with their former oppressors. Amnesty was offered for those who confessed their crimes against human rights. 

There are lessons to be learned by all of us in this book as Archbishop Tutu recounts many of these confessions, and shows us how to move forward toward a more humane world and how to forgive transgressions against us without repeating platitudes about forgiveness. 

He recounts the political imprisonment of Nelson Mandela; literally making little rocks out of big ones, for twenty-seven years. He did not change during his imprisonment as most people would have, and was elected President of South Africa upon his historic release from prison. 

Whether you have previously been interested in the subject matter or not, this book is hard to put down.  It really puts South Africa's recent history in perspective, and gives you a glimpse of the wonderful personality of Archbishop Tutu...his compassion and humanity toward people, and particularly the oppressed.