Recommended Grief Reading
Here is a periodically updated list of our curated picks for grieving people and people who love grieving people.
A Grief Observed
C.S. Lewis
In the days and weeks following a loss, it can be extremely helpful to hear someone put words to the roller coaster of emotions that fresh grief imposes upon your being. This is a short, eloquent description of what you may be feeling. To relate deeply to someone else’s experience and know you are not the first or last to feel it, may help you feel less alone.
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief
David Kessler
David Kessler, who along with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross helped to create the 5 stages of grief, authored this book after a traumatic personal loss. In Finding Meaning, he explores the “sixth” stage of grief, which is all about turning the loss into meaning. For some, that’s advocating for a cause, and for others, it’s simply acknowledging what the loss taught them. This book is best to read after the initial shock and intense emotions have subsided a bit. It would be hard to connect with in the early stages of acute grief, yet is a wonderful tool for transforming the loss into something greater.
It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand
Megan Devine
In this book, author Megan Devine challenges us to look at grief completely differently. In our culture, we tend to view grief as something to “fix” or “get over”. Devine offers a new perspective, asserting that grief is sacred and can be tended to and cherished rather than rushed through. If you’re feeling like your grief isn’t understood or seen by those around you, this may be a great read.
The Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion
This book is acclaimed for presenting readers with a raw, honest, and relatable look at the grieving process. Many readers find both discomfort and peace through her brutally honest story. The criticism it has received is that Didion is more wealthy and privileged than the average person making her experience abnormal. However, if deeply relating to others is healing for you, it is worth a read.