I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One ASIN: 1891400274 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: EXCELLENT, well researched, helpful and comforting Comments: This is an excellent book on death, grief and loss. Sooner or later death will touch everyone's life. We may not all react the same but most will experience the stages of loss and grief from denial to acceptance. It can be a long often agonizing and lonely road to recovery. Sadly the impact of loss and death can leave many with a loss of their own will to live. This book does an excellent job of addressing a topic that most people choose not to address until they are directly confronted. I am an author of a children's book on death/loss/grief titled "ANGEL STACEY" and I personally know the impact on the loss of a spouse and raising young children who have lost a parent. This book is for the adult who struggles with their own feelings of loss and often has other family members to consider and to console. Grief has a tendency to creep up in the odd hours of the day and the night and can be overwhelming to those experiencing loss. To have a title, a book that you can reach out and grab at any hour offers comfort. I wish this title had been available sooner as it often was a book that comforted and calmed me most during my own deep dark hours of despair. Written from knowledge and from a place of understanding and guidance is sure to make this book a winner and a timeless treasure for anyone who has known a deep loss. It cannot take the pain and hurt away but it will help in the knowlege that those feelings are normal. Also that others have experienced the same and made it back to a seemingly normal existence. Death changes lives and changes people forever, many will grow and change for the better. I was never so humble and in essence never so pure and so good as I was immediately following the loss of my first husband and later the loss of my oldest daughter. It was only later with the anger and ultimately acceptance that I found myself once again on level ground. Death or loss can uproot your entire existence. This book is excellent and necessary.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic and International Bestseller; Revised and Updated Edition ASIN: 0062508342 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Extremely Useful. Comments: Whenever I read a book, I generally use highlighter and underliner to mark the sentences and words that convey the true meaning and essence of what the author wants to say. While reading The Tibetan Book of Living And Dying, I had to stop using the highlighter after a few pages only as the most of the words on each page were worthy of being highlighted. Indeed, the author has said so much precious on every page that a reader must read and re-read the book and with every reading she/he gets more and more knowing.The subject of death has been most puzzling and perplexing to humankind since the time immemorial. The Eastern way of looking at the death as only a 'transition' is explained by the author in a profoundly simple manner. The book certainly helps one to understand the true meaning of the phenomena called death. This understanding helps one to reduce the irrational fear of death. From the lives of the great men and women we know that those who 'lived' a life can only meet the 'death' with equnimity. Thus the author has first taught the art of 'living'. It is only through right type of living that we can 'live' the death also. I suggest that this book be read by all the Buddhist as well as by non buddhists also. Every one who reads it will find something for him/her. I salute Sogyal Rinpoche for giving us a wonderful gift of THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING.

The Grief Recovery Handbook : The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death Divorce, and Other Losses ASIN: 0060952733 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Essential before or after losses of all kinds. Comments: "So much of life depends on how well we deal with the inevitable losses that occur. It is wonderful to know that something as helpful as The Grief Recovery Handbook exists to help those who are dealing with death, divorce, and other losses." Jane Seymour, Award Winning Actress, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. "You don't know me, but you probably knew of my Dad, Michael Landon. I have known and been helped by John W. James and Russell Friedman, in seminars and through the incredible process outlined in The Grief Recovery Handbook. Whether your loss was recent or a long time ago, this book is invaluable in dealing with all of the feelings caused by significant losses of any kind." Leslie Landon Matthews, Ph.D. "I am familiar with the life affirming work of Russell Friedman and John W. James at The Grief Recovery Institute. I am pleased to recommend theri new book, The Grief Recovery Handbook. While we all know how to grieve, completing the pain caused by loss is essential. This book is the toolkit for recovery." Tom Campbell, United States Congressman. "The Grief Recovery Handbook is an oasis for anyone who finds themselves wandering in the desert of grief and loss. It is refreshing water to a thirsty soul." Rev. Bob Sands, Hollywood, FL. "I have referred many congregants to The Grief Recovery Handbook, they have all found it helpful. I will continue to use it in my counseling sessions." Rabbi Mel Glaser, N. Brunswick, NJ "As the bereavement care director for a mortuary, I find The Grief Recovery Handbook an invaluable resource. One of the strong points of the book is its respect for widely varying religious and professional principles when dealing with unresolved grief issues." Agnes Lestico, Lompoc, CA

Healing Conversations: What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say ASIN: 0787960195 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: This Book is for Everyone! Comments: As a recent graduate from Tufts University ('02), I took a Communication class that Nance Guilmartin (Tufts '75) taught. By far, I learned more from Nance's class than in any other class. Everything she taught us could be used in everyday conversation. How to really listen and hear what someone is saying to us - and that there is a difference between what someone says and what we hear and how to recognize the difference. There were students in the class who thought they were good listeners but realized throughout the course that we really weren't. Nance's book should be bought by the trunk-full and given out as gifts. I bought copies and gave them to friends. This book isn't just for executives or those in the healthcare profession - it's for anyone who wants to having "healing conversations". From college students to parents to teachers to neighbors.

On Death and Dying ASIN: 0684839385 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Everyone Should Read This Book Comments: I knew my Mother was going to die from her cancer, and I needed help understanding what was going to happen. This book is a classic for good reason. It talks about stages of grief, giving examples by talking with actual dying patients, of each of the stages. It helped me to deal gracefully with what I saw my Mom going through, and to be able to be understanding and supportive instead of feeling lost and afraid. I recommend this book highly.

Understanding Grief: Helping Yourself Heal ASIN: 1559590386 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Solace and Wisdom When You Feel No One Understands Comments: This book has been a great comfort to me during many moments of extreme loneliness and pain. Grieving can make you feel misunderstood, misplaced and lost -- and this author truly understands. Reading this compassionate book helped me realize that all of the extreme feelings one experiences while grieving are completely normal. The many written exercises in the book can be tough to work through, but they are healing. You could easily skip all the exercises and find comfort in reading the text alone. I also found this book very helpful in understanding and dealing with people who expect you to just "pick up the pieces" and get on with life right after the funeral. The book makes the point that Western society in general is guilty of encouraging those of us who mourn to cut our grieving process short. This book is perfect for the person grieving a loss, as a gift for a family member or friend who is grieving, or as a primer for those who are walking with someone through grief and would like some insight into the process and experience of grieving.

Sad Isn't Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing With Loss ASIN: 0870293214 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: a wonderful, helpful book Comments: This book helped us explain the death of their grandpa, what was to be expected etc. Our children ages 5,8 and 10 asked for this to be read repeatedly. It helped answer questions and brought forth some very interesting observations. It truly helped in a very trying time. It was written in a very forthright manner yet in language children easily understood. It was our most read book for the weeks prior to papa's death.

Grace Disguised, A ASIN: 0310219310 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: A must read for anyone who has experienced loss! Comments: Gerald Sittser has written one of the best treatments on how to respond to any significant loss that happens in life. He is clear to point out that living brings with it suffering. Life includes both sorrow and joy, pain and pleasure. A person must learn to live with both. How we respond to the our pain is a choice that we must make. He carefully and gracefully reveals how a person can embrace the pain and grow from the experience regardless of how tragic the event. As we embrace the pain and learn to live with whatever has brought the pain by the grace of God, we will become whole people once again.

Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins: A Journal for Teenagers Experiencing a Loss ASIN: 1561230561 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: A great book Comments: This is a wonderful Journal for kids. On my first read through I felt it was geared a little more toward 9 to 13 year olds, rather than older teens. However, the content is excellent and the ideas and exercises will really help grieving teens work through the difficult grief process.

Unspeakable: The Truth About Grief ASIN: 1886298149 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Achieving and embracing peace of mind and peace of heart Comments: Unspeakable: The Truth About Grief by Herb Orrell is an unusual "self-help" book written specifically for those people who find themselves entrapped in endless grief. Orrell (an ordained pastor with years of experience helping people to deal with grief in all its forms) offers informative guidance regarding the healing process, as well as cogent advice for when grieving includes being angry at God, at oneself, or at others. Unspeakable: The Truth About Grief is strongly recommended as being a powerful, meaningful, reader accessible guide to finally achieving and embracing peace of mind, peace of heart, and peace of spirit.

Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies ASIN: 1577490851 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: My 6 and 8 year old thrived on the art therapy approach--Dee Comments: What a beautiful book. My 2 girls are watching their father slowly die of ALS--Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a painfully slow and tortious death in that he has slowly lost the use of his legs, arms and can no longer speak or eat by mouth. I used this book to help get them through this process. The art therapy approach honestly helped my 6 year old explain things she could not verbalize and the 8 year old enjoyed it for a type of relaxation. Thank you

Write from Your Heart: A Healing Grief Journal ASIN: 0966640519 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Learning to heal Comments: I needed a guided journal to help me put my thoughts on paper. This book leads me down paths that I do want to explore but hadn't thought of. I agree with the book when it says: In Write from Your Heart: A Healing Grief Journal, instead of being pushed to "get over" the loss of a loved one, you will be encouraged to embrace and record the memories you hold of that special person. So many people were pushing our family to move on when we were still deep in grief. Many people don't understand what grief feels like and don't know what to say to those who are grieving. One of the main things I now understand is that it is OK to grieve at my own pace under my own terms. Everyone is different and everyone grieves differently. Some people may choose to keep a loved ones belongings close to them while others want to get rid of everything. I look at the verses, quotes and stories as bonus features of this book. I LOVE this faith based journal. I am healing a little at a time. The healing activities are helping me. The daily prompts are guiding and helpful. I don't feel as though I have to write every day. I write when I need to and it does help. Now I send a journal instead of flowers to anyone who is grieving. Only people who have lost someone of their own will understand how important a book like this is.

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