Every Living Thing: Facing Down Terrorists, Warlords, and Thugs in West Africa―A Story of Justice

David Crane has written a riveting and moving account of his years at the helm of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which tried, convicted, and sentenced 16 individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out during years of brutal fighting in the 1990s in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Crane, after a long career serving in various national security and legal posts in the U.S. Government, arrived in war-torn Sierra Leone in 2002 with a small team, few resources, and a big mandate: try those most responsible for devastating the region. Within a few years, Crane had convicted warlords responsible for mass killings, rapes, and forced amputations. Though still fragile, these two countries today remain at peace, due in no small part to the measure of justice brought about by the Court. Also critical to today’s peace is former Liberian president Charles Taylor having received a 50-year sentence. The Court under Crane’s leadership and determination shattered the precedent of head of state immunity, essentially putting Taylor away for life, eliminating the threat of his reemergence as a warlord. This book isn’t a dry legal treatise. David Crane recounts his personal challenges with an impressive honesty. He is also generous is sharing credit with colleagues, government-backers, and regional leaders for the Court’s accomplishments. This fast-paced read is an uplifting and hopeful account of how justice can prevail when driven by a passion for the well-being of humanity.

I have read this book and it is shocking how we can still let such atrocities occur in our world. It is a book you will not enjoy, but must be read.