Recommended Reading
Grief Felt Before Loss
Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying.
(1992). Maggie Callanan & Patricia Kelley
The authors share their years of experienced caring for the terminally ill. “Through these stories you‟ll come to
appreciate the near-miraculous ways in which the dying communicate their needs, reveal their feelings and
choreograph their own final moments.”
On Death And Dying: What the Dying Have to Teach Doctors, Nurses, Clergy and Their Own
Families. (1978). Elisabeth Kubler-Ross M.D.
This book began the national conversation about death and dying. Dr. Ross was the first person to spend time
talking with the dying and gaining their perspective on what it was to be dying. It is still considered a classic. This
book introduces the model of the 5 stages of dying.
Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief. (2004). Harriet Hodgson, BS, MA & Lois
Krahn, M.D.
This book leads one through “early grief,” the feeling of loss before a loss or dreaded event occurs. The book is
organized in “healing steps;” a guide though your early grief journey.
Saying Goodbye: How Families Can Find Renewal Through Loss. (2011). Barbara Okun,
Ph.D. & Joseph Nowinski Ph.D.
A diagnosis of a life-threatening disease is not always an immediate death sentence, and one can survive months or
even years before succumbing to a terminal illness. This book introduces the phrase „the new grief,‟ which identifies
and organizes the experiences many families face when their loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
The Final Act of Living: Reflections of a Longtime Hospice Nurse. (2003). Barbara Karnes,
RN
The author shares her insights and perceptions from years of working with people during their final act of living.
This book gently explores the signs of approaching death from disease, the normal grieving process, living wills,
Durable Power of Attorney and other end of life issues.
Grief
A Grief Observed. (1961). C.S. Lewis
A Grief Observed is a collection of C. S. Lewis's reflections on the experience of bereavement following the death
of his wife Joy Gresham in 1960. It is a beautiful and unflinchingly honest record of how even a stalwart believer
can lose all sense of meaning in the universe, and how he can gradually regain his bearings.
Getting Back to Life When Grief Won’t Heal. (2007). Phyllis Kosminsky Ph.D.
If you‟ve ever felt that you‟ll never move on with life or that you‟re stuck in the grieving process, this book may be
helpful. The author is a clinical social worker specializing in grief and loss and shares her knowledge and
inspirational stories that demonstrate that healing from loss is possible.
Good Grief. (1962). Granger Westberg.
A short, simple explanation of what happens to us when we lose a loved one. It has a common sense truth about it
that is easy to focus on when grief compromises one's thought process.
Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner, Fourth
Edition. (2011). J. William Worden Ph.D.
This book by J.W. Worden, is the gold standard of grief therapy handbooks and received worldwide acclaim for its
sensitive, insightful, and practical approach to grief counseling. In this updated and revised fourth edition, Dr.
Worden presents his most recent thinking on bereavement drawn from extensive research, clinical work, and the
best of the new literature.
Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss, Second Edition. (2006). Hope Edelman.
Motherless Daughters explores the myriad ways that losing a mother can affect almost every aspect and passage of a
woman's life.
On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss.
(2005). Elisabeth Kubler-Ross & David Kessler.
This book uses Kubler-Ross‟s well established stages of death and applies it the grieving process. The stages of
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are woven together with grief theory, inspiration, and practical
advice to offer a useful way to process grief.
Surviving The Death of a Sibling: Living Through Grief When an Adult Brother or Sister
Dies (2003).T.J.Wray.
Based on the author's own experiences, as well as those of many others, this book helps adults who have lost a
brother or sister to realize that they are not alone in their struggle. Just as important, it teaches them to understand
the unique stages of their grieving process, offering practical and prescriptive advice for dealing with each stage.
The Orphaned Adult: Understanding and Coping with Grief and Change after the Death of
Our Parents (1999). Alexander Levy Ph.D.
Incorporating his own personal experience with the accounts of others who have lost their parents, psychologist
Levy examines this profound life-changing event with compassion and understanding.
The Soul in Grief: Love, Death, and Transformation. (1999). Robert Romanyshyn
“The Soul in Grief shows how moments of grief can help us move beyond false constructs of the ego...it expands
our idea of psychology to situate life and the soul within the greater fabric of the living universe."
The Year of Magical Thinking. (2005). Joan Didion.
From one of America's iconic writers, Joan Didion “explores an intensely personal yet universal experience: a
portrait of a marriage--and a life, in good times and bad--that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or
wife or child.”
Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your
Heart. (2003). Alan D.Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Dr Wolfelt is known across North America for his compassionate messages about healing in grief. This book
explores every mourner's need to acknowledge death and embrace the pain of loss. Also explored are the many
factors that make each person's grief unique and the many normal thoughts and feelings mourners might have.
The Understanding our Grief Journal: Exploring the Ten Essential Touchstones. (2004). Alan
D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
A companion workbook to Understanding Your Grief.
For Children and Adults with Children
For Children:
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia
What Happens when Someone Dies? by Michaelene Mundy
I Miss You, by Pat Thomas
When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Kransy Brown and Marc Brown
When Someone Very Special Dies by Marge Heegaard
For Adults:
A Child's View of Grief by Wolfelt, Alan
Healing Your Grieving Heart: Kids by Wolfelt, Alan
Healing Your Grieving Heart: Teens by Wolfelt, Alan
Living with Grief, Children, Adolescents and Loss by Kenneth J. Doka
Inspirational and Spiritual
90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Story of Death and Llife. (2004). Don Piper with Cecil Murphy
Assumed to be dead for more 90 minutes after a horrific car accident, ordained minister Don Piper, shares the
amazing story of his experiences in heaven. He also shares the story of his difficult and grueling recovery that tested
his faith and changed his life.
Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief. (1994). Martha W.
Hickman
For those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, here are strength and thoughtful words to inspire and comfort.
I Will Not Die An Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion. (2000). Dawna Markova
This book shares the author‟s story of learning skills of personal renewal. She “teaches us how to navigate our lives
from the inside out so that rather than being at the mercy of life‟s changes, we are able to offer to the world the gifts
that are ours alone to give.”
My Grandfather’ Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging. (2000). Rachel Naomi
Remen, M.D.
The author, “a cancer physician and master storyteller, uses her luminous stories to remind us of the power of
kindness and the joy of being alive.” My Grandfather‟s Blessings are about how we can recognize and received our
blessings and bless the life in others.
Man’s Search for Meaning. (1992). Viktor E. Frankl
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl‟s memoir of life in Nazi death camps and the lessons he learned for spiritual survival.
Frankl “argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move
forward.”
Necessary Losses. (1986). Judith Viorst.
Viorst examines each stage of life and the accompanying necessary losses, from the original loss of the mother-child
connection to the final loss which represents the finiteness of man‟s existence, death. Drawing on psychoanalytic
theory, literature, and personal experience, Viorst shows how we must let “go of our fearful and childish black-andwhite simplifications for the difficult ambiguities of real life.”
Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times. (2003). Neil Astley (Ed.).
A diverse mix of contemporary poets---Mary Oliver, W.H. Auden, Maya Angelou and more. Staying Alive is a
unique anthology that illuminates the vital force of our humanity, the passion of our aspirations, and the power of
our spirituality. From the enigma of death to the sweetness of friendship, these poems speak to life's mysteries and
consolations and help us navigate the most trying times.
The Four Things That Matter Most: A Book About Living. (2004). Ira Bycock M.D.
Four simple phrases -- "Please forgive me," "I forgive you," "Thank you," and "I love you" -- carry enormous
power. In many ways, they contain the most powerful words in our language. These four phrases guide us through
the thickets of interpersonal difficulties to a conscious way of living that is full of integrity and grace.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. (1999). Eckhart Tolle
The author believes living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. “Tolle's clear writing,
supportive voice, and enthusiasm make this an excellent manual for anyone who's ever wondered what exactly
„living in the now‟ means.”
Helpful Web Sites
Terminal illness and end of life issues
Growth House www.growthouse.org Comprehensive website offering resources for
individuals and families coping with terminal illness and end-of-life care.
Coda Alliance www.codaalliance.org Coda is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals
and families plan of end-of life care. Promotes exploring values and goals and facilitating
advance discussion with family members, healthcare team.
USA.gov: End-of-Life Issues www.usa/Topics/Seniors/EndofLife.shtml Extensive site with
inks for estate planning and wills, consumer guides for funeral homes and other services, hospice
care and the selection of a hospice, resources for caregivers‟, and legal issues.
USA.gov.Caregivers’Resources www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Health/cartegivers.shtml#vgnfind-help-providing-care-vgn Devoted to supporting caregivers with links to information of
assisted living, hospice and nursing home comparison, governments benefits, legal matters, longdistance care giving and support organization.
Grief and Support
GriefNet www.griefnet.org An online support community of individuals and families dealing
with grief, death and major loss.
Gilda’s Club Worldwide www.gildasclub.orf A network that provides social and emotional
support for families with cancer.
The Compassionate Friends www.compassionatefriends.org A national resource providing
support to families who have lost a child.
HelpGuide.org http://helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm In collaboration with Harvard
Health Publication, this non profit resource provides free online resources that are motivating,
balanced, and focused on information you can use to help yourself.
Hospice Care
Hospice Foundation of America http://www.hospicefoundation.org/ is a not-for-profit
organization that provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its
philosophy of care.