6 Expert Books That Offer Perspective And Hope When You Are Grieving
I’ve always turned to books to help guide me through difficult life situations. It is through others’ experiences that we can receive the most sage advice and understanding. The following books are a mix of memoirs candidly written by people who have found themselves in grief’s dark woods and professionals who share their expertise and advice on the grieving process.
1. “Grieving: A Beginner’s Guide” by Jerusha McCormack
After McCormack unexpectedly lost her husband, she struggled to find resources that expressed her grief as she was experiencing it, so she wrote her own guide. McCormack offers signposts to guide those who are grieving onto a new path of transformation. She shares her own deep-seated pain and validates the notion that it’s okay to grieve in one’s own way. Even though grief can lead to personal growth, she acknowledges that it is exhausting and can create physical and mental pain. McCormack’s honest look at grief through the lens of a non-professional counselor makes her work less clinical and more authentic and relatable.
Suggested Read: Coping With The Death Of A Spouse
2. “Poor Your Soul” by Mira Ptacin
In this memoir, a mother and daughter both experience the loss of a child, one through a car accident and one through a nonviable pregnancy. Ptacin provides a candid window into the pain, guilt, and humor that accompany grief.
Suggested Read: How to Support Someone Who Had a Miscarriage
3. “The Way Men Heal” by Thomas R. Golden LCSW
This to-the-point book explores the masculine side of grief and healing. Using examples from well-known names like Michael Jordan and Eric Clapton, it provides insight into the ways men grieve. For example, men may be less vocal and more action oriented than women. The book also offers advice on how to help the men in your life through the grieving process.
4. “The Rules of Inheritance: A Memoir” by Claire Bidwell Smith
This heart-wrenching memoir traces the footsteps of an only child who loses both parents to cancer by the age of 25. The book is raw and gripping as it illustrates the challenges of being parentless and alone in the world as a young adult and the powerful lessons gained from them.
Suggested Read: A Long, Slow Loss To Cancer and World Cancer Day: Kiki’s Story
5. “The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss” by Russell Friedman, Cole James, and John W. James
For many of us, losing a pet can be as painful as losing a family member. Because of a pet’s unconditional love for us and our emotional attachment to them, our grief can be misunderstood, especially by people who have not had the privilege of owning a pet. This book acknowledges that losing a pet is a unique experience and provides suggestions on how to recover from the loss.
Suggested Read: Saying Goodbye To A Pet: 3 Ways To Make It Meaningful
6. “On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss” by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler
In this commemorative edition of her book “On Death and Dying” the authors include a new introduction and resources section. The book expands on the five stages of grief and offers practical advice, case studies, personal experiences, and spiritual insight to help readers through the grieving process.
Suggested Read: 5 Stages Of Grief – Why Everyone Grieves Differently
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