Best Grief Books to Help You Heal
It takes a lot of courage to heal from the loss of a loved one. For many of us, reading a good book about grief is one of many helpful ways to recover.
We at National Cremation believe that each person has a unique way of grieving, so we came up with a list of the best books to help your personal grieving process. We are with you during this difficult moment of your life.
If you have lost a loved one due to COVID-19, please refer to this article by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for grief support: Grief and Loss
1. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss
by Jerry L. Sittser
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audible, 224 pages, ISBN-13: 978-0310258957
It happened one fateful day in the author’s life. He and his family were driving home when a drunk driver smashed onto their minivan and instantly killed his wife, his mother, and his youngest daughter. The inspiration for this tragic accident became one of the most popular and best-selling grief books today.
Every chapter of the book is sprinkled with anecdotes, analysis, and passages from the Bible. In the end, the author not only helps the reader discover what to do during such painful circumstances but also how to appreciate the simpler things in life.
Available for purchase here.
2. On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss
by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, 272 pages, ISBN-13: 978-1476775555
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is a pioneering author – it’s not a surprise that this book about grieving (preceded by another bestseller On Death and Dying) is one of the best resources on grief and mourning available out there.
She teaches us how to take grieving as a process that eventually helps us live our future without pain. Kubler-Ross discusses the 5 Stages of Grief, the Inner World of Grief, the Outer World of Grief, and the different circumstances upon which appropriate grieving should be part of the process: the death of children, disasters, suicide, and more.
Available for purchase here.
3. Understanding Your Grief: 10 Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart
by Alan D. Wolfelt PhD
Formats: Paperback, Kindle, 176 pages, ISBN-13: 978-1879651357
It is recommended that you read this book a month or two after your loss because there is plenty of information that may take a while to get “digested” while you’re in the immediate grief process.
Consider the 10 Essential Touchstones as your step-by-step guide through healing. Write your feelings as you go through the book, for it includes sections on answering questions and offering advice at the same time.
The book teaches us that we are not above and bigger than death, and we are not completely in control of things that surround us; therefore, we must learn to surrender, understand our needs, and nurture ourselves.
Available for purchase here.
4. The Grief Recovery Handbook
by John W. James and Russell Friedman
Formats: Paperback, Kindle, 224 pages, ISBN-13: 978-0061686078
Moving on is the underlying theme of this helpful handbook. It also discusses how to recover not just from grieving from death but from loss due to divorce, health problems, alcoholism, financial issues, and other tragic circumstances.
The authors provide methods and exercises (usually with a partner) in an actual program that lets you openly discuss and reach out to a network. Some may find it uncomfortable to do this while grieving.
However, with the helpful facets introduced in the book, readers find that at the end of the program the goal of recovery is met with the added bonus of a lifelong perspective of acceptance so that they are better prepared for the possibility of loss in the future.
Available for purchase here.
5. I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping, and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One
by Pamela Blair, Ph.D. and Brook Noel
Formats: Paperback, Kindle, 292 pages, ISBN-13: 978-1402212215
This book succinctly offers advice on grief and what happens during the grieving process that may make you do unthinkable things. Many readers find that the focus is to take care of yourself because the sudden death of a loved one requires a special type of care for the bereaved person: You.
The authors show how friendship matters, how differently men and women grieve, the role of faith and religion, and their own experiences of a sudden loss of a loved one. It’s like having a friend that helps console, uplift, and comfort during a difficult time.
Available for purchase here.
We hope these books inspire and help you heal. If you have chosen cremation as an option for final needs, we are here to assist you.
All you have to do is talk to us and we can provide the information you need on prearranging cremation, immediate need, and burial services.
Contact us or for immediate assistance, call us at 855-469-9474. Our compassionate and expert staff is ready to help you 24 hours a day.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
National Cremation is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of simple and affordable cremation services. Whether you have an immediate need or want to plan your cremation services in advance, we’re always available to assist you and your family. Contact us online or call (855)-469-9474 today.
