A fresh, inspiring book on learning how to forgive—with firsthand stories from those who have learned to let go of resentment and find peace

"When we learn to embrace forgiveness, it opens us up to healing, hope, and a new world of possibility." —Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt

Written with grace and understanding and based on more than twenty in-depth interviews and stories as well as personal reflections from Schwarzenegger Pratt herself, The Gift of Forgiveness is about one of the most difficult challenges in life—learning to forgive. Here, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt shows us what we can learn from those who have struggled with forgiveness, some still struggling, and others who have been able to forgive what might seem truly unforgivable. The book features experiences from those well-known and unknown, including Elizabeth Smart, who learned to forgive her captors; Sue Klebold, whose son, Dylan, was one of the Columbine shooters, learning empathy and how to forgive herself; Chris Williams, who forgave the drunken teenager who killed his wife and child; and of course Schwarzenegger Pratt's own challenges and path to forgiveness in her own life. All provide different journeys to forgiveness and the process—sometimes slow and thorny, sometimes almost instantaneous—by which they learned to forgive and let go.

The Gift of Forgiveness is a perfect blend of personal insights, powerful quotations, and hard-won wisdom for those seeking a way to live with greater acceptance, grace, and peace.

A PAMELA DORMAN BOOKS/VIKING LIFE TITLE

02/24/2020

In this affecting survey, Schwarzenegger Pratt (I Just Graduated… Now What?) explores forgiveness through 22 interviews with people who have experienced tragedy or suffered loss. Interview subjects include parents of children killed in the Columbine and Sandy Hook shootings; kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart; Tanya Brown, sister of Nicole Brown Simpson; and the wife of Chester Bennington, a rock musician who killed himself in 2017. Schwarzenegger Pratt weaves her own personal experiences and reflections throughout and shares lessons from each person’s story, such as practicing self-love, the power of using prayer, and the importance of releasing the burden of guilt or shame and respecting the process of grief. Schwarzenegger Pratt emphasizes that forgiveness happens one step a time: “Forgiveness starts with a choice, and then it becomes a process.” Most of the stories involve the subject’s deep yearning to be free of painful thoughts and emotions, and their movement toward forgiveness often requires honestly looking into memories and past choices. Schwarzenegger Pratt concludes with a helpful list of resources, including organizations and projects dedicated to spreading awareness about the power of forgiveness. Those looking for help with letting go and moving on will love this. (Mar.)Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated the author's last name and also the number of interviews included in the book.

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt is a New York Times bestselling author, animal advocate, daughter, sister, wife and step-mom. As a passionate animal advocate, Katherine works as an Ambassador for Best Friends Animal Society and the ASPCA, lending her time, voice and energy to spread awareness about animal rescue. As an author, Katherine has skillfully translated her own personal experiences into all four of her books that speak to her generation. Katherine lives with her family in Los Angeles.