A Human Being Died That Night recounts an extraordinary dialogue. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a psychologist who grew up in a black South African town...
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Apr 10, 2011
Bird Brian
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For over forty years (roughly 1948-93) state-sanctioned assassinations, kidnappings, rapes, and other torture were a regular occurrance under the Apartheid regime. For somebody who has not lived under this system, the resulting sufferring and heartache is truly unimaginable. Beginning in the 1990's, the perpetrators of these autrocities have been brought in to answer for their crimes. What did the victims and their relatives do? Did they rip these men limb from limb, to satisfy their desire for
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Oct 10, 2011
Shovelmonkey1
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I have to admit that this book dealt with a period of history which I am not well versed in. Apartheid ended when I was 13 so many of the key events in the history of this brutal period took place before I was old enough to grasp their significance. Of course, this is not an excuse for not learning more about the whole period as an adult but because of my work and research (and as someone who lives in Liverpool), my reading has always tended towards Colonial History and European interaction with
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Apr 14, 2011
Katrina
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Black clinical pyschologist Madikizela is taken through the Truth and Reconciliation Commitee to interview Eugene de Kock, a man commonly refered to as 'Prime Evil' who has come to symbolise the violence and aggression of the apartheid government.
Madikizela seeks to find answers with this man, including why some of his victims families have forgiven him and feel a sense of empathy for this notorious man. She finds de Kock to be a thoughtful and sensitive man; fighting with the things he h More...
Madikizela seeks to find answers with this man, including why some of his victims families have forgiven him and feel a sense of empathy for this notorious man. She finds de Kock to be a thoughtful and sensitive man; fighting with the things he h More...
Jun 21, 2009
Catherine
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This is a remarkable book - a reflective investigation of what constitutes good and evil in society, the limits and expansiveness of forgiveness, and the meaning of humanity by the only psychologist to be named a committee member for the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Much of Gobodo-Madikizela's book focuses on Eugene de Kock, the mastermind of many of the death squads who unleashed unbearable torment and killing in South Africa through the 1970s and '80s. She str More...
Much of Gobodo-Madikizela's book focuses on Eugene de Kock, the mastermind of many of the death squads who unleashed unbearable torment and killing in South Africa through the 1970s and '80s. She str More...
Aug 13, 2009
Courtney
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"...for in the end we are a society of people and not of ideas, a fragile we of interdependent humans, not of stances."
This is one of my favorite quotes from Gobodo-Madikezela's exploration into the limits of forgiveness of human beings who have experienced and carried out violations of human rights, more specifically, mass genocide or war. Her narrative takes shape around an interview with Euguene de Kock, a man who became known as "Prime Evil" as he orchestra More...
This is one of my favorite quotes from Gobodo-Madikezela's exploration into the limits of forgiveness of human beings who have experienced and carried out violations of human rights, more specifically, mass genocide or war. Her narrative takes shape around an interview with Euguene de Kock, a man who became known as "Prime Evil" as he orchestra More...
Mar 25, 2009
A.J.
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For a nonfiction book, this was a surprisingly easy read. Pumla Gobodo-Madizekela worked on South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission during the aftermath of apartheid. As a psychologist, she found a personal interest in one Eugene de Kock, mass murderer and strong arm of the apartheid regime. During her conversations with him, she brings to the reader a portrait of a deeply remorseful and changed man, and through him discusses the process of restorative as opposed to punitive justice.
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Apr 24, 2007
Ivy's Mom
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I visited South Africa in 1997 and what impressed me the most was the dignity of the people and their hope for a better future. This book speaks to that dignity and sense of hope. To be able to see your oppressor as a human takes a great deal of compassion...a great deal of humanity. A great thought-provoking read.
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Mar 12, 2008
Aaron
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This book can be hard to follow at times because she is such a brilliant woman and alot of it is written from a psycological point of view. But this book presents forgiveness in a whole new light. Everybody should be able to forgive and this book tells alot about how and why.
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Feb 10, 2010
Siria
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A Human Being Died That Night is Gobodo-Madikizela's account of her interviews with Eugene de Kock—a notorious state-sanctioned mass murderer who had helped uphold apartheid in South Africa. Interspersed with those interviews are tales of victims and aggressors from both sides—people whom Gobodo-Madikizela had met during her time as part of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Moreso than a narrative, the book is a meditation on what it is that enables someone to commit atrocities
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May 28, 2011
Douglas
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Not what I expected at all. I approached this book with a bit of trepidation because of the person who recommended it to me, but I am glad that I did read. It's a powerful little volume on the immense power of forgiveness and the national healing in South Africa in the wake of apartheid. Its as an important a book as Elie Wiesel's Night and should be on any reading list that includes Night.
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Aug 28, 2011
Stefan
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The post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings are powerful examples of what forgiveness can do. They do not exonerate the crimes committed, nor do they delay justice - but they do help heal both the victims and perpetrators involved in the dark history of South African aparthied.
Sep 01, 2009
Dad
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Ms Pumla's attempt to see and understand evil. this is a startling first person experience of coming face to face with DeKoch (spelling?) who defended apartheid with death to any who opposed being seen as less.
Dec 01, 2010
Sharon
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I heard Pumla speak at the National Cathedral. Her story was heart wrenching, yet inspirational as she reconciles the road of truth and at the same time is a story of the power of sympathy and forgiveness.
May 20, 2009
lisa
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Interesting... my copy was hardcover without a paper cover, so I actually had no idea what I was getting into with the story. A very interesting look at what makes a person human.
Apr 21, 2007
Kendra
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This book is capitvating, disturbing, insightful, and chilling. It's the account of a psychologist and panelist during post-apartheid South Africa's Truth & Reconciliation Commission hearings. The emotions of the victims and families of the victims extremely raw and accessible to the reader, as is the author's own inner turmoil, which is the heart of this book. She must reconcile her feelings about a notorious leader of the South African police and the atrocities over which he presided, and h
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Jun 27, 2010
Mfly
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I got 61 pages in. It is very interesting but other books kept grabbing me away. Heavy stuff is hard to read straight through.
Feb 06, 2012
Barry
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Some interesting insights into Apartheid and the mind of Eugene De Kock, otherwise known as Prime Evil.
Jun 18, 2011
Michael
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As far as the subject matter goes, this book rates with some of the most interesting things I have read in a long time. The work of the TRC in post-apartheid South Africa is compelling and draws the reader in.
The writing of this book, on the other hand, is of a rambling stream of thought that covers different stories and doesn't pull together into a coherent narrative until the very end of the book.
I would not recommend this book unless the reader already had a fairly well g More...
The writing of this book, on the other hand, is of a rambling stream of thought that covers different stories and doesn't pull together into a coherent narrative until the very end of the book.
I would not recommend this book unless the reader already had a fairly well g More...
Jun 17, 2010
Junyan
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I didn't make it through this book as the author's judgments (sentiments) of the criminal she was interviewing was so intrinsic to her writing that I didn't feel compelled to continue.
There is often a notion that criminals are not people. The label "criminal" allows us to dehumanize people like Hitler and other "notorieties". I do appreciate movies like Downfall however for helping us to remember that people are people. This book likely does the same as one conti More...
There is often a notion that criminals are not people. The label "criminal" allows us to dehumanize people like Hitler and other "notorieties". I do appreciate movies like Downfall however for helping us to remember that people are people. This book likely does the same as one conti More...
Dec 17, 2009
Charlotte
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Gobodo-Madikizela walks us through what it is to empathize with Eugene de Kock - a man that committed crimes against humanity. She moves beyond demonizing de Kock, and we are given the opportunity to accompany her as she reframes memory, violence, humanity... are all very powerful and shown in a fascinating, challenging light.
Mar 07, 2011
Laurie
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school book, jumps around a bit at the beginning. trying to adjust to the authors style.
Feb 26, 2008
Amy
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This is a very moving book about the meaning of forgiveness. It is written by a black, South African woman, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, who interviews Eugene de Kock, an officer in the death squads during apartheid, and explores what it means to be human.
Sep 13, 2011
Jessica
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Excellent thoughts and philosophies on forgiveness. It brought a whole new understanding to the nature of conflicts and healing. Anyone struggling with hatred, anger, rage, etc should read this book. It is also a great account of South African apartheid
Jun 20, 2007
Lauren
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A great book & a fast read. It was an insightful account of the complexities of trauma & informative about the intentions of the groundbreaking Truth & Reconciliation Committee in South Africa.
Jan 05, 2009
Rosa
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Thus far, the sections of the book analyzing the former killer is far more interesting than the author's analysis of her own ambivalence towards the experience of interviewing him.
Jul 28, 2007
calandra
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i read this a while ago and can't remember a lot about it. my only vague recollection is that the book was oddly written and not necessarily what you'd expect, based on the title.
