Where is the line between justice and mercy?
One would think that after some 300,000 years of human history, someone would have figured it out. But somewhere along the way, we’ve accepted that there’s no perfect answer. There is no iteration of law that we can put up on a pedestal as absolutely good or true. There are, however, those who have witnessed the worst humanity has to offer and found power and purpose in justice despite that.
Bryan Stevenson is one of those people.
Just Mercy is a memoir depicting defense attorney Bryan Stevenson’s experiences with representing the condemned on death row. It is a raw, unfiltered look into the ugly reality of the justice system. This is not a sanitized fairytale about the inherent goodness of man; Bryan Stevenson holds nothing back when speaking about the failures of men and the law alike.
I’ve written a few book recommendations before, so here’s my recommendation: if you read one book this year, read Just Mercy.
The entire genre of nonfiction has this reputation of being dry. Boring, even. And I have to admit, for a while, I wholeheartedly agreed with that notion.
That’s where Just Mercy breaks the mold. Even if you’ve never touched a memoir in your life, even biographies repel you, give Just Mercy a chance. Whether it be through gut-wrenching stories or thoughtful philosophy, it will pry the full spectrum of human emotion from you, and leave you with lessons that you will never, ever forget.
Something Stevenson wrote that will haunt me forever, is that “each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
Just Mercy shows that justice, mercy, and redemption are always possible, even in darkness.
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.
