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The Courage of Compassion

A Journey from Judgment to Connection

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The Courage of Compassion

By: Robin Steinberg, Camilo Ramirez - contributor
Narrated by: Robin Steinberg
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About this listen

"Powerfully insightful reading."—Kirkus Reviews

How would you like to be judged for the rest of your life by the worst thing you’ve ever done?

We all think we are compassionate just like we all think we are honest. But true compassion is not innate. Compassion for others, especially those that we don’t know or understand, must be learned. Our lack of compassion is perhaps most extreme in the exercise of criminal justice, where a person’s entire life, worth, and character are judged through the myopic lens of a single act. But no one, says Robin Steinberg, should be reduced to their worst moment.

From the founder and CEO of The Bail Project, The Courage of Compassion unveils how we can reimagine justice through compassion. Steinberg shares her journey as a public defender, representing people at precisely that time in their lives—their own worst moment. She recounts the heart-wrenching stories of her clients and invites us to interrogate our fears and beliefs about justice and punishment. Lastly, Steinberg reveals moments when she questioned her own capacity for compassion, as well as her ability to fight for better, more humane justice from within a system that is riddled with holes and seemingly interminable problems.

A gritty tale about confronting injustice and challenging ourselves to rediscover our shared humanity, The Courage of Compassion is an invitation to join Steinberg as she explores what it will take to move beyond our current justice paradigm. The criminal justice system reflects a history and power structure, but it also mirrors how we come into society and show up for one another. As she writes, the quest to improve this system will only truly begin “when we can finally see in the faces of those ensnared and imprisoned in our legal system, ourselves. And when we can see our children, in their children.”

©2023 Robin Steinberg (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Activists Law Social Sciences Compassion Inspiring

Critic Reviews

"Steinberg's uplifting vision will resonate with social justice reformers and any readers interested in the ongoing fight for justice in a broken system. Powerfully insightful reading."
—Kirkus Reviews

“The ocean is made of drops, and individually we can all make a difference. We each have far more leverage and power than we’d like to admit. Steinberg’s book will infuriate and inspire you in equal measure.” —Seth Godin, author of The Practice

“Emotional, heartbreaking, convincing, and challenging; this book is all of that and so much more. I encourage you to clear your mind and soul, pick up The Courage of Compassion, and walk the journey with ‘those people’ who Steinberg defends.” —Bruce Deel, author of Trust First and founder and CEO of City of Refuge

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A must listen for all, particularly those in politics and/or law

This is a thoughtfully constructed book that should be a must required reading for those studying crim. In an era where we are increasingly disconnected, Steinberg reminds us of the importance of connecting with the person behind our interactions.

Can be a bit slow at times, but trust the process, Steinberg weaves the story back to the principle of the chapter.

Well narrated. This is the type of book I would typically purchase a physical copy of, however I feel that you get more out of the narration by the author, and preferred the audiobook format.

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