To Forgive Is Human: How to Put Your Past in the Past

by Michael E. McCullough, Everett L. Worthington Jr., Steven J. Sandage

Forgiving can be one of the hardest things you'll ever do. Perhaps you sense deep down that it will be good for you and others to put the past in the past. But sometimes no matter what you do, you just can't seem to forgive and get on with life. You still feel hurt, bitter and angry. How can you break the cycle? Grounding their analysis and advice in the latest psychological research, the authors of To Forgive Is Human reveal how you can forgive and begin to repair broken relationships. Inside you'll discover Life is messy. Relationships are messy. And forgiveness is messy. But with this complete book on forgiveness, you can learn how to move ahead positively and constructively in ways you may never have thought possible. To err may be human, but so is to forgive.

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

Michael McCullough is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He directs The Laboratory for Social and Clinical Psychology and holds a secondary appointment in UM's Department of Religious Studies.

McCullough conducts research on the psychology and evolution of moral sentiments, including forgiveness, the desire for revenge, and gratitude. He is also interested in several aspects of religion, including how it evolved, how it develops over the life course, and its links to health, well-being, and social behavior. He has received several national awards for his research, including the early career award and the mentoring award from the Psychology of Religion Division of the American Psychological Association and a Templeton Positive Psychology Prize. His work has been covered in the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and many other outlets.

Reviews

[Horace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good stuff in there but I read it when I was dealing with issues of unforgiveness and it didn't really help me to forgive... that only came with time.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book filled with many deep thoughts on the importance of forgiveness for better health, better relationships, and more.