Right Here, Right Now: Life Stories from America's Death Row

by Lynden Harris (Editor)

Upon receiving his execution date, one of the thousands of men living on death row in the United States had an “All there ever is, is this moment. You, me, all of us, right here, right now, this minute, that's love.” Right Here, Right Now collects the powerful, first-person stories of dozens of men on death rows across the country. From childhood experiences living with poverty, hunger, and violence to mental illness and police misconduct to coming to terms with their executions, these men outline their struggle to maintain their connection to society and sustain the humanity that incarceration and its daily insults attempt to extinguish. By offering their hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears, failures, and wounds, the men challenge us to reconsider whether our current justice system offers actual justice or simply perpetuates the social injustices that obscure our shared humanity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Sociology, Social Science, Memoir

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2021

Reviews

[Esta Montano · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Let me tell you something, death row is no place for no one. It's a place of pain, loneliness, heartache, tears, troubles, depression, problems, and suffering. But what I never thought would exist is there were brothers on death row that was good peoples who wanted to help us. So I was well loved by a family on death row, too" (232).

Even if you do not give a second thought to those who are incarcerated, you should think about reading this book! The short, original essays, (all anonymous) of nearly 100 men on death row paint a picture of their lives -- beginning as early as from their childhoods and throughout their life spans. Whatever the differences in their backgrounds, all share the fate of living on death row, of watching their friends be put to death, and of waiting for their own execution dates. What comes through these poignant and moving essays is their humanity.

While extremely heartbreaking, these essays allow us a window into a world about which we may have many misconceptions, judgments and assumptions. It is a captivating and necessary read.

[Peyton Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for a class on the death penalty and it really opened my eyes to our criminal justice system. Would recommend this book for anyone interested in educating themselves regarding the realities of our prisons and their focus on punishment rather than rehabilitation. The stories in this book were truly heartbreaking and these voices need to be heard.

[Elise Benware · Rating 5 out of 5]

hard read but it’s worth the pain to understand our most vulnerable community

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a deeply impactful and important book that everyone should read at least once in their life

[Izzy Raichert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right Here, Right Now: Life Stories from America's Death Row by Lynden Harris is a profoundly moving and thought-provoking book that offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the lives of individuals living on death row in the United States. Harris, a chaplain and compassionate observer, takes us beyond the headlines and the rhetoric surrounding the death penalty, giving voice to the men whose lives are defined by their sentences.

Through Harris's lens, we encounter a wide array of stories—each unique, yet united by the shared experience of life on death row. The book is not just a collection of tragic tales; it is a testament to human complexity, redemption, and the capacity for change. Harris presents each story with empathy and without judgment, allowing the readers to form their own opinions while challenging preconceived notions about justice, punishment, and morality.

The writing is rich with emotion, insight, and raw honesty. Harris doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of these men’s pasts but also highlights moments of growth, self-reflection, and, in some cases, profound transformation. His ability to capture the humanity of each individual while remaining respectful and non-exploitative is a rare gift, and it elevates the book beyond a mere exploration of the criminal justice system.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the American death penalty and the lives of those affected by it. Lynden Harris has crafted a work that is not only eye-opening but also deeply compassionate, offering a powerful argument for the need for empathy and reform. Right Here, Right Now is an unforgettable book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. Five stars, without question.

[Paul H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book after hearing Lynden Harris being interviewed by Palma Michel http://www.palmamichel.com/explorersm...
She came over as very genuine and also sensitive that the prisoners that she was involved with should be able to tell their own story.
The book is composed of 99 stories that deal with the prisoners lives from earliest memories to life on death row. The variety of stories keeps the reader interested. Especially as they are mostly stories from a childhood and life that is beyond my imagination, (thank goodness). The movement of the stories through time produces a strong sense that given the sort of life they had then I might as easily be in prison as them. We aren't born with a strong ethical sense and if your parents and relations are violent and amoral then where would the moral sense come from.
What adds to the sense of growing outrage that the book produces is that when the prisoners are on death row they experience a warm supportive and caring community with the other inmates and clearly this has an impact on their moral development. But the tragedy is that this is too late as the untold 100th story is the storytellers being taken to the execution.
This book should be on our schools curriculum.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harris’ artful editing gives this moving collection of narratives a special power. No narrator has a name or a location. Those would be distractions from the primary story being told. Rather, the essays proceed from childhood experiences, to post-arrest stories of jail, trial, and sentencing, to the witness from death row and solitary, and finally to the inevitable facing of execution. What emerges is not exactly a composite rendering of one life, but of the ways in which entrenched poverty and prejudice can warp any life, even when family is there (often, family members are distracted by their own problems), of how much injustice exists in the criminal justice system (so much abuse suffered by men in jail before they are even tried), an ultimately how wrong it is to take a life for a life.

Full disclosure: I didn’t need to be convinced of that. I’m very grateful to have read this book and to know that it is in the world. To quote from the book’s dedication, “We’re all strong men here, but not to have. Your suffering recognized is the greatest indignity to the human spirit. Thank you for breathing life into our weary, wounded souls.” Indeed.

[Nolan Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was solid and sad, but there were many parts that made no sense. Like yes the afterword is sad and very wrong, but how does that have anything to do with death row? I think the same thing can be said for most parts of foreword and intro before the stories. I also think the stories are sad, but I am not sure what the answer is? The book talks more about how bad prison is and how people miss out on so much, but what is the alternative punishment if someone takes another person's life? Good and interesting stories, would recommend.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of short essays by people on death row. They are grouped by time of life. Almost no one on death row had a happy childhood and these essays made me feel helpless but I’m glad I read them and have a little more insight into other people

[Rachel Kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a life changing perspective on the people who wind up on death row. I would recommend this book for anyone who is seeking to understand the criminal justice system and who it really impacts.

[Aliza Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly one of the most important things I have ever read. This book was filled with heartbreaking and exceedingly profound examples of humanity. Everyone should read this; people could learn a thing or two about compassion from some of these death row inmates.

[Haley Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

this made me cry so much. also rly solidified my belief against the death penalty.

[sarah mcgee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had to read this book for my death penalty class, so poignant and moving

[Drew Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harrowing. A terrifying portrait of the American prison system, and the country’s failings when it comes to class equality, education and racial equality.

[Abigail Barefoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology absolutely wrecked me.

[Courtney Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my death penalty class!

[cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was so impactful and a really incredible read. Highly recommend for anyone, but especially people interested in the American criminal justice system.

[gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

everyone should read this.