book club resource

Forgiveness: An Exploration

by Marina Cantacuzino

Since its publication in 2022, people have had many spirited and illuminating discussions about Marina Cantacuzino’s book ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’. We recommend it as a powerful non-fiction title to discuss in book clubs round the world.

In addition, we are offering a free resource to support book club members exploring the theme of forgiveness through this book.

Please click the buttons below to buy the book, download or view our free book club resource, and support our charity.

Scroll down to view the contents of the book club resource on this page

Scroll down to view the content of the book club resource on this page

book club resource

Forgiveness: An Exploration

by Marina Cantacuzino

Since its publication in 2022, people have had many spirited and illuminating discussions about Marina Cantacuzino’s book ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’. We recommend it as a powerful non-fiction title to discuss in book clubs round the world.

In addition, we are offering a free resource to support book club members exploring the theme of forgiveness through this book.

Please click the buttons below to buy the book, download or view our free book club resource, and support our charity.

Scroll down to view the contents of the book club resource on this page

Scroll down to view the content of the book club resource on this page

Table of contents

Click each point to jump to the corresponding section.

1. Preparing for the book club

2. Further resources

3. About the author

4. Book review

5. Next steps

book club resource

Forgiveness:
An Exploration

by Marina Cantacuzino

Since its publication in 2022, people have had many spirited and illuminating discussions about Marina Cantacuzino’s book ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’. We recommend it as a powerful non-fiction title to discuss in book clubs round the world.

In addition, we are offering a free resource to support book club members exploring the theme of forgiveness through this book.

Please click the buttons below to buy the book, download our free book club resource, and support our charity.

shop here
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donate now

Preparing for the book club

  • Why this book?

  • This book explores the limits and benefits of forgiveness.

  • The book is broken up into themed chapters.

  • The book invites readers to explore ideas and experiences through real stories.

  • The stories are woven together with additional fibres from literature, psychology, current affairs etc.

  • The book examines how and why people choose to forgive.

  • The author approaches forgiveness through a secular lens.

  • Read the book carefully

As you read, take notes of your thoughts, questions, and reactions. You may also want to note any quotes, passages or stories that stand out and that you want to discuss at your meeting. Or indeed any questions that you have about the book.

  • Prepare discussion questions

The host and/or members of the group may want to prepare discussion questions which will help to keep your discussion flowing. Please see some examples below.

  • How would you describe the book in one sentence? What is the main point or purpose of the book?
  • How would you challenge or debate the author’s approach to forgiveness? Did you find her arguments convincing?
  • How did the book change your opinion or perspective on the topic? Did it confirm or contradict any of your assumptions about forgiveness?
  • What was the most memorable or impactful story, anecdote or chapter in the book? Why did it stand out to you?
  • What was the most surprising or shocking thing you learned from the book? How did it make you feel?
  • How did the author engage you as a reader in the book? What did you like or dislike about the author’s writing style?
  • How did you respond to the author’s choice of how to frame and organize the themes of forgiveness?
  • What are some of the ethical, moral, or social implications of the book? How does it challenge or support your values or beliefs?
  • Did the book inspire you to take action, change your behaviour, or think differently about something?

  • Guidelines

Here are some guidelines for those who may be starting a book club for the first time.

  • Assign chapters

    In case members don’t have time to read the whole book, the host might suggest beforehand that each member of the book club read one specific chapter to share with the group and then discuss.

  • Welcome

    Welcome all members and have everyone introduce themselves if there are new members.

  • Set the rules

    Review any rules of discussion – e.g. giving everyone a chance to speak, staying on topic, and respecting diverse viewpoints.

  • Acknowledge the themes

    Acknowledge that the book’s themes could sometimes be difficult and that members should be aware of their own emotional triggers and be sensitive to those of others.

  • Open with a circle

    Start with initial reactions.  It can be helpful to go around the room and check on everyone’s experience of reading the book. This gives every member a chance to participate early on, and also gives you insight into what resonated or didn’t resonate with people.

  • Start the discussion

    If you’ve come with prepared discussion questions (see above), pick one to start with.

    You can spread questions out so each one builds in depth and others can see what topics are up for discussion.

    Pace the conversation by moving on when you feel the group has thoroughly explored a topic.

    Don’t be afraid of impromptu dialogue. The goal is an authentic, engaging discussion rather than sticking rigidly to your prepared questions.

  • Close with a circle

    Wrap up the discussion.  As you come to the end of the meeting, you may want to summarize a few key themes that came up to reinforce the most meaningful takeaways.

Further resources

Please see below for additional resources from The Forgiveness Project to support your reading of ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’.

Click each item to access the resources.

Please see below for additional resources from The Forgiveness Project to support your reading of ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’.

Click each item to access the resources.

  • Prologue

  • Chapter 1: A messy business

  • Chapter 2: The dark side

  • Chapter 3: Isolation

  • Chapter 4: The oil of personal relationships

  • Chapter 5: Forgiveness from the inside out

  • Chapter 6: Political forgiveness

  • Chapter 7: The hardest word

  • Chapter 8: Defeating hate

  • Chapter 9: Facing the enemy

  • Chapter 10: out of the straitjacket

  • Chapter 11: The mechanics of forgiving

  • Epilogue

Marina Cantacuzino, Founder of The Forgiveness Project
Marina Cantacuzino, Founder of The Forgiveness Project

about the author

Marina Cantacuzino

Marina Cantacuzino MBE is an author, broadcaster, podcaster and peace activist.  In 2004, after working for 15 years as a journalist, and in response to the invasion of Iraq, she founded The Forgiveness Project, a UK-based charity that works with personal narratives in order to help people break cycles of harm and create a more compassionate world.

Since then she has co-created The Forgiveness Toolbox, produced and hosted The F Word Podcast and in 2024 her second BBC series Forgiveness: Stories from the Frontline was aired on Radio 4. The latest of Marina's three books on the subject of forgiveness, Forgiveness: An Exploration was published by Simon & Schuster in 2022.

She has also worked as a tutor for the Arvon Foundation, a charitable organization that promotes creative writing, and recently devised and delivered a residential life-writing course called 'Turning Pain into Prose'.

book review

book review

“There have been few more appropriate and vital moments for this fascinating book to emerge than now as we bear witness to so many acts requiring forgiveness – the complexity of the practice of forgiveness, its meanings, its measure as a force for change are all here – and most of all, its power to prevent the repetition of the worst in our human behaviour and the possibility of finding freedom from hatred.”

emma thompson

Actress and Screenwriter

Next steps

Please click the buttons below to take your next steps.

1. Buy the book

You can buy ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’ on our website. To purchase the book in paperback or other formats, please click the button below.

2. Download our resource

Please click the button below to download our book club resource as a PDF. You are welcome to print and share copies with your members.

3. Support our charity

Our mission is to restore and humanise both ourselves and our communities. Please consider making a donation to support our small charity. We suggest a minimum of £10.