Reversing the Rivers: A Memoir of History, Hope, and Human Rights

William F. Schulz, who headed Amnesty International USA from 1994 to 2006, discusses the challenges to human rights, such as genocides, Guantanamo Bay, and the American justice system, in his book "Reversing the Rivers: Hope and Healing in the World's Most Dangerous Places." He uses poignant narrative and amusing anecdotes to discuss the day-to-day realities of struggling with life-and-death human rights crises and addresses profound philosophical questions about evil, force, and torture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 03 July 2023
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

From 1994 to 2006, William F. Schulz served as the head of Amnesty International USA, a period marked by significant challenges to human rights. During this tenure, Schulz and the organization faced a multitude of daunting obstacles, including the genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Sudan; the controversies surrounding the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the use of torture by the United States in the aftermath of 9/11; as well as growing concerns about disparities in the American justice system, encompassing issues such as police misconduct, racial discrimination, and the death penalty. Drawing upon his experiences encountering tyrants, the inspiration of courageous human rights heroes, and collaborations with renowned celebrities like Patrick Stewart and Salma Hayek, Schulz employs poignant storytelling and amusing anecdotes to delve into the day-to-day realities of navigating life-and-death human rights crises. Throughout his journey, Schulz not only survived an assassination threat in Liberia but also brought tears to the eyes of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and outwitted the self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff" on Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect.

Reversing the Rivers is a deeply introspective and action-packed memoir that offers Schulz the opportunity to explore profound philosophical questions. These include inquiries into the nature of evil, the cultivation of the "better angels of our nature," the justifications for employing force to prevent the use of force, the complexities of the prohibition on torture, and the ethical implications of retributive justice. Moreover, in an eloquent concluding chapter, Schulz addresses the most frequently posed question during his years at Amnesty: "Given all the horrors in the world that you witness day after day, how do you retain any hope in humanity?"

Through his compelling narrative and thought-provoking insights, William F. Schulz's Reversing the Rivers provides a powerful testament to the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of human rights, the need for global solidarity, and the transformative power of empathy and compassion. Schulz's journey is a testament to the power of one individual to make a difference and to the enduring hope that lies within the human heart.

Weight: 626g
Dimension: 161 x 238 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512824032