Customer Reviews

Bone to Pick: Of Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Reparation, and Revenge

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Bone to Pick: Of forgiveness, reconiliation, reparation, and revenge was a book I was emotionally totally unprepared to read. The examples Ellis Cose showed made me revisit why I am so unwilling to forgive my own father. All of the atrocities Mr. Cose wrote about were horrendous and the people that allowed themselves to forgive the perpetrators of their deep anguish touched me in a way I never thought possible. This book is one EVERYONE who hates, wants dead, despises anyone who has harmed them needs to read. It just might lighten your load.

Ellis Cole is an excellent author. The book is well put together. His writing sytle is easy to follow. It actually give you somethings to think about. It's a very informative book. I'd suggest reading his books if you get a chance.

In my opinion, I thought this was a very good read. This book teaches you about forgiveness and reconciliation. Ellis Cose uses stories from other parts of the world to show the readers the struggles the people have been through in his stories. Holding on to hatred leads to more hatred and sometimes people need to let it go.

Mr. Cose is an editor of 'Newsweek' magazines and has written six other books. The Ford Foundation grant allowed him to travel to South Africa, Ghana, Peru, New Zealand, and othe places. He touches on slavery (how the past shapes the present) and KKK (the challenges of life). He wants justice, revenge, mediation, retribution for the crimes against victims of various wars and races.

We have all been unjustly harmed to some extent, and somehow we managed to deal with it. Yet to deal with pain or trauma is not the same as being free of it. He seeks repentance, negotiations, reparations (money) for unspeakable truths and harm. Forgetting is not an option as the hurt festers and must be addressed at the appropriate time to rectify the wrongs of the past.

Memories of the 'wrong' linger and must be dealt with in some fashion. Recognition of the wrongdoing is essential for reconciliation and forgiveness. You can choose to forgive, enjoy a sweet revenge, let go of resentments, or you can demand restitution for physical and emotional damages.

He gives his take on the surrender of Saddam Hussein. Ultimately, it comes down to t he human need for hope, the consequent capacity for faith, and demand for the ultimate punishment. Else society would be sanctioning wrongdoing.

He has appeared on 'Nightline, 'Dateline,' NPR, PBS News Hour, and ABC 'Good Morning America.'