Tales of Good and Evil, Help and Harm

This book describes several types of risky, potentially self-sacrificing, life-saving behavior: a village in France that sheltered Jewish refugees during WW II, a German commander who looked the other way, a 19th-century Massachusetts sailor who saved dozens of people from shipwrecks, and a modern drug counselor (though her story doesn't really fit in with the other stories very well, since her efforts were apparently not as successful). The most interesting thing about this book is how little Hallie's heroes/heroines have in common: some were religious, some secular, some quiet people who led boring lives (other than the lifesaving of course), some wild and a little self-destructive. Ultimately, Hallie leaves the impression that this sort of self-sacrificing goodness is as much a mystery as is evil.

Tales of Good and Evil, Help and Harm by Philip Hallie is moving. I am a historian and never been one to read philosophy, and this book io one to be shared with others. Hallie describes how a German commander in France during WWII turned his back and allowed goodness to happen. (See Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed). This man, who was to be evil by being Nazi, had a large margin for goodness. Hallie uses the analogy of a hurricane to depict ones margin for goodness in a world of evil. People have the ablility to do good even when surrounded by evil and harmful events. How much goodness you have is up to you. After reading the book, I have a better understanding of myself and why I do good and of others and what might motivate them to goodness. Anyone who has the ablility to over come evil by being involved in good and helpful things should read this book.