Forgiving and Not Forgiving - by Jeanne Safer (Paperback)

About the Book

Drawing on two decades of work as a psychotherapist, Dr. Jeanne Safer challenges popular beliefs on forgiveness and offers a penetrating look at the lonely and perhaps unnecessary struggle to forgive those who have hurt us the most, and she concludes that sometimes it is better not to forgive.

Book Synopsis

In our culture the belief that "To err is human, to forgive divine," is so prevalent that few of us question its wisdom. But do we ever completely forgive those who have betrayed us? Aren't some actions unforgivable? Can we achieve closure and healing without forgiving? Drawing on more than two decades of work as a practicing psychotherapist, more than fifty indepth interviews, and sterling research into the concept of forgiveness in our society, Dr. Jeanne Safer challenges popular opinion with her own searching answers to these and other questions. The result is a penetrating look at what is often a lonely, and perhaps unnecessary, struggle to forgive those who have hurt us the most and an illuminating examination of how to determine whether forgiveness is, indeed, the best path to take--and why, often, it is not.

Review Quotes

"A useful, intellectually and rhetorically nuanced work."--"Kirkus Reviews"A wonderfully readable book...nuggets of wisdom to be found on every page."--Maggie Scarf