Forgiving and Reconciling

August 1, 2003
A revised version of Worthington's out-of-print Five Steps to Forgiveness, this book incorporates further research and also specifically places forgiveness within a Christian context. Dealing not only with the theology but also with the psychology and even neurology of forgiveness, Worthington (psychology, Virginia Commonwealth Univ.; To Forgive Is Human) provides a grasp of both the process and the desirability of forgiving. Using diagrams and clear explanations, he divides the process into three major parts: "Why We Forgive," "How To Reach Forgiveness," and "How To Reconcile." He then gives very specific steps and encourages the reader to follow them, first for small injuries and then for progressively deeper wounds. The goal is detoxification and release from debilitating bitterness, as well as real interpersonal reconciliation. "Forgiveness is the twist in the plot that allows us to tell a story that helps us move forward," says Worthington. Recommended for public libraries and Christian-oriented collections where Five Steps To Forgiveness is not already available.-C. Robert Nixon, M.L.S., Lafayette, IN

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