An overview of the most recent autobiography
“Tutu Authorized” by Allister Sparks and Mpho Tutu
Here is a wonderful scrapbook of the incredible life and ministry of the Anglican Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu, prepared in celebration of his 80th Birthday. In the face of danger, violence, and hatred, this courageous Christian leader stood up and spoke out against the racist schemes of apartheid in South Africa.
And if that wasn’t enough, Archbishop Tutu played an important role in setting up a new post-apartheid government and then went on to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This work modeled for the whole world the power of giving people the opportunity to speak and listen to the truth as the first step in reconciling former enemies. Although he has retired from his role as the Archbishop of South Africa, he continues to speak and write about the humanitarian issues which have been at the core of his global concerns over the years.
This book contains an authorized biography of Tutu by the legendary South African journalist Allister Sparks and previously unpublished interviews with his daughter, the Rev. Mpho Tutu. There are also letters and more than 200 never-before-seen photos of Tutu’s public and private life. To get an up-close and personal look at him, the authors have provided interviews with his wife, family and closest friends, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama who wrote the introduction to the book. To catch a glimpse of his interaction with leaders there are comments by Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Kofi Annan, and Bono plus other tributes by an amazing cross-cut of people from all walks of life.
Here are a few quotations from Desmond Tutu which reflect well on the man and his mission:
• “There can be no future without forgiveness.”
• “This God did not just talk . . . He showed himself to be a doing God. Perhaps we might add another point about God — He takes sides. He is not a neutral God. He took the side of the slaves, the oppressed, the victims. He is still the same even today. He sides with the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, and the victims of injustice.”
• “What faith you belong to is very largely an accident of birth and geography . . . It is not the faith that comes first, it is the fact of being human together. The revolutionary truth being that we are all equally loved by God.”
• “My humanity is bound up in yours and we can only be human together.”
This week at PRAY2DAY more quotations from Archbishop Desmond will give food for thought.
Tutu Authorised is published this month by HarperOne, Hardcover $29.99
ISBN: 9780062087007