Having seen anger, resentment, and despair destroy far too many lives, the writer of this extraordinary book on forgiving dispenses with glib pronouncements and lets the often untidy experiences of ordinary people speak for themselves. In Why Forgive? the reader will meet men and women who have earned the right to talk about the importance of overcoming hurt - and about the peace of mind they have found in doing so. "Hurt" is an understatement, actually, for many of these stories deal with the harrowing effects of violent crime, betrayal, abuse, bigotry, and war. But Why Forgive? examines life"s more mundane battle scars as well: the persistent hobgoblins of backbiting, gossip, and strained family ties, marriages gone cold and tensions in the workplace.