“The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.”

This penetrating & powerful memoir is infuriating, eye-opening and imperative for EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. to read! I read it in written form & audiobook which is narrated by Stevenson and it is BRILLIANT! I read this with my book club and we also watched the movie afterwards and it had touched us all.

This was an extremely hard read and while I give it 5 stars, I did not leave it feeling good. The abuse against children, women, and innocent poor people. Overly harsh punishment for nonviolent crimes, or punishing children for crimes they did when they were kids – forcing them to be abused while in prison with adults. Putting children and mentally disabled people on death row is cruel and inhumane.

“The death penalty is not about whether people deserve to die for the crimes they commit. The real question of capital punishment in this country is, Do we deserve to kill?”

Attorney Bryan Stevenson has dedicated his career and uses his gift to help the poor, incarcerated & the condemned. Mercy, Justice & Redemption is what he’s been fighting for his entire career. Stevenson, you’ve changed my perception, my heart and me as a person.

“Mercy is most empowering, liberating, and transformative when it is directed at the undeserving. The people who haven’t earned it, who haven’t even sought it, are the most meaningful recipients of our compassion.”