Updated 05/10/2024The grieving process is complicated because grief works in different ways. No two people experience it the same way, there’s no definitive timeline for it, and it’s impossible to fake your way through. What we do know for sure about grief, though, is that wewillget through it, even if it feels impossible right now.How you navigate the grieving process — and how long grief lasts — depends on many factors. Having a solid support system is instrumental in your healing.Online grief counselingand self-help tools can help, too. For some people, reading books about grief can be beneficial. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 17 therapist-recommended books on grief.If you or someone you love is grieving a loss, the following list of best books about grief can help.Grief Counseling OnlineYou don’t have to wait for help processing your loss. Access grief counseling within daysStart here
Updated 05/10/2024
The grieving process is complicated because grief works in different ways. No two people experience it the same way, there’s no definitive timeline for it, and it’s impossible to fake your way through. What we do know for sure about grief, though, is that wewillget through it, even if it feels impossible right now.
How you navigate the grieving process — and how long grief lasts — depends on many factors. Having a solid support system is instrumental in your healing.Online grief counselingand self-help tools can help, too. For some people, reading books about grief can be beneficial. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 17 therapist-recommended books on grief.
If you or someone you love is grieving a loss, the following list of best books about grief can help.
Grief Counseling OnlineYou don’t have to wait for help processing your loss. Access grief counseling within daysStart here
Grief Counseling OnlineYou don’t have to wait for help processing your loss. Access grief counseling within days
Grief Counseling Online
You don’t have to wait for help processing your loss. Access grief counseling within days
Start here
“We get to explore what it means to experience 87 of the emotions and experiences that dramatically influence us. And! What we can do about them when we get flooded out with them.”
Kübler-Ross first coined the fivestages of grief and lossfor us — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — andOn Grief and Grievingshares how we can walk through those stages with a comprehensive understanding of the grieving process. This grief book covers sections about sadness, dreams, isolation, and recovery.
“This book gives us a structured approach to grief and loss that allows for certain personality traits to grieve with a plan. It feels good to have a slice of control over our own grief journey.”
“Being in the present moment is a skill that we can learn to only process the things that are coming up for us now, rather than in the past or the future. It can reduce the overwhelm to live like this.”
The death of someone close is often so overwhelming that you feel alone in your pain.Cacciatore’s grief bookhelps readers understand their emotions and provides practical strategies for dealing with them healthily. Each short chapter can stand alone, walking with you as you navigate the grieving process.
The goal is healing and finding peace in life again despite loss — something that may seem impossible right now but can become a reality over time with dedication and effort.
How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Diesoffers comfort and support for people who are grieving. The book includes lessons on understanding your grief so you can let go, remembering how to take care of yourself along the way, getting through milestones like birthdays and holidays, and finding acceptance.
The Other Side of Sadnesstakes an unexpected look at and approach to grief. It goes beyond the traditional 5 stages of grief we’ve come to accept and anticipate, instead viewing the process as far from unpredictable. Bonanno acknowledges that we all have an incredible capacity for resilience as we face our grief.
Written for teens who’ve experienced a significant loss,Straight Talk About Death for Teenagersshares what to do when coping with loss at such a young age. Approachable and relatable, this is one of those books on grief where Grollman brings light to a much-ignored segment of grief. This also is the best book for young people that are dealing with theloss of a parent.
The pain of loss is amplified with each (and sometimes every) major holiday or significant date you must get through after you lose a loved one.Surviving the Holidays Without Yougives a roadmap to turn painful holidays into days that can help you heal.
Gary Roe makes our list twice with his book about how losing a spouse can cause a unique form of grief that’s both painful and, at times, explosive. InHeartbroken: Healing from the Loss of a Spouse, Roe helps you heal and get through the emotions common to this specific type of loss.
If the traditional self-help format doesn’t resonate as you cope with loss,Reasons to Stay Aliveaddresses grief through a memoir. Walk with Haig as he recounts his loss and survival, overcoming the crisis and personal health struggles that almost took everything.
Yet another Matt Haig book makes our list.The Comfort Bookis a thoughtful, reflective look at some of the darkest times Haig survived. His story is interwoven with references to historical, scientific, and worldly occurrences from our past, all in a true testament to the power of resilience.
Wray’s thoughtful look at her own loss acknowledges the difficulty of losing an adult sibling. While all losses are painful to overcome, there are unique challenges that come with siblings dying who are adults, have spouses, and possibly are already parents themselves.Surviving the Death of A Siblingexplores how to navigate this very specific type of loss, with advice for understanding and managing each stage.
A Heart That Worksshares comedian Rob Delaney’s poignant journey through the grief of losing his young son to a brain tumor. This book offers a raw, honest, and deeply personal account of his emotional rollercoaster, providing a unique perspective from a father’s viewpoint, which is often underrepresented in books on grief. Delaney’s narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, making it a significant resource for any grieving parent, particularly fathers seeking connection and understanding in their sorrow.
Notes on Griefis a powerful reflection on the personal nature of mourning, written after the sudden death of the author’s father. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie turns her formidable storytelling skills to her own grief, capturing the complex tangle of emotions that a grieving person navigates.
The book is both a tribute to her father and a narrative that explores the universality and uniqueness of grief. Adichie’s candid and heartfelt prose provides comfort and understanding to anyone grappling with the loss of a loved one, making it one of the best books on grief.
Finding Support for Grief With Talkspace
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