The Lifer and the Lawyer: A Story of Punishment, Penitence, and Privilege

Michael Anderson is a broken man; a man broken by his felonies and a justice system that is equally flawed, but will he accept staying broken or undertake the journey to healing and redemption? This is the question cleverly answered in The Lifer and the Lawyer by George Critchlow and Michael Anderson, which chronicles Anderson’s harrowing childhood on Chicago’s South Side, his violent crimes, and his remarkable spiritual transformation over nearly four decades in Washington state prisons. The book explores the evolving friendship between Anderson and George Critchlow, a young, white lawyer assigned to defend him in 1979. Over five decades, their lives intertwine against the backdrop of race, trauma, faith, and justice. Critchlow reflects on how their relationship challenges conventional notions of punishment and redemption, while Anderson’s journey underlines the power of faith and self-awareness to heal wounds thought to fester forever.

The Lifer and the Lawyer was a great read, and I was fascinated by the author’s profound look at America’s criminal justice system, race, and morality. The story’s central message is that even those deemed irreparable can find purpose, love, and hope. The story is deeply moving, personal, and filled with intimate, heart-wrenching moments. I was immediately drawn in by the pathos that highlights the premise, the description of a chained man before the court, bent and looking sad. I knew I wanted to know his story, and it turned out to be an engaging, inspiring tale. Through the lawyer’s reflective eyes, I witnessed Michael’s journey from a violent, traumatized child to a devout, empathetic man seeking forgiveness and purpose. George Critchlow writes in beautiful prose and has an exceptional gift for character, offering a full portrait of a man whose childhood was marked by neglect, abuse, and racial discrimination. The finely drawn setting depicts the confines of Washington State prisons to the quiet, unassuming towns of Pasco and Kennewick, Washington. This emotionally rich, psychologically grounded narrative is a page-turner that will leave you asking many questions about the justice system.