The Sunflower: On The Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness

What would you have done?

In 1943, Simon Wiesenthal was presented with an impossible choice: whether or not to offer forgiveness to a dying Nazi soldier for his crimes. He ultimately chose not to, but that choice continued to weigh on his mind long after. Even after surviving the Holocaust, the thought of what he could’ve, or should’ve done, still lingered and he decided to consult others for their opinion. 

The book starts with Wiesenthal detailing this experience and asking others, as well as the reader, to think about what they would have done in his place. The rest of the book is made up of essays from 53 people, including figures from various religions, diplomats, professors, Holocaust survivors, and others. The result is an incredibly enlightening and thought provoking book that made me seriously consider my own feelings towards forgiveness.