General Grief Literature
(Underlined/highlighted books are available from the A Place To Remember www bookstore.)

A Grace Disguised: How The Soul Grows Through Loss, Gerald L. Sittser, 1998. Zondervan Publishing House. After an accident claims three generations of his immediate family, the author concludes that we can come to the beginning of a new life through the grace of God.

A Grief Observed, C.S.Lewis, 1995. Reprint Edition, Harper, San Francisco, CA. Written in the moments of sadness after his wife's death, this book is an honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith. Summons those who grieve to honest mourning and courageous hope.

A Journey Through Grief: Gentle, Specific Help to Get You Through The Most Difficult Stages of Grieving, Alla Renee Bozarth, 1990. Comp Care Publications, Minneapolis MN.

Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live With Unresolved Grief, Pauline Boss, 1999. Harvard University Press. Although this book is mostly geared to those where the loss is uncertain (such as MIA) or where the loss is psychological and not physical (dementia, divorce, etc.) the book has meaning for those who have experienced loss that might be unrecognized fully (early miscarriage, blighted ovum, etc.) The book will help you reach consensus about how to mourn that which lost and how to celebrate that which remains.

Bereavement: Your Questions Answered, Ursula Markham, 1996. Element (Element Guide Series). A positive, sympathetic guide of help and reassurance, encouraging those "left behind" to deal with the range of emotions they experience.

Beyond Grief - A Guide For Recovering From the Death Of A Loved One, Carol Staudacher, 1987. New Harbinger Publications, Dept. B, 5674 Shattuck, Oakland, CA 94609. This book reaches out to serve as a guide and extensive aid to help people understand and resolve the feelings of grief following the death of a loved one.

Beyond Sorrow, Herb and Mary Montgomery, 1977. Winston Press. A short, easily read book with a Christian perspective that uses the Scriptures to help understand some of the questions people have after a tragedy.

Changing With the Seasons of Our Life, Goeffrey Alan Wells, 1984. Griefworks Publishing Co., Toledo, OH. A developmental approach to the process of learning to make adjustments to the many losses of our lives.

Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul: Stories about Life, Death and Overcoming the Loss of a Loved One, Jack Canfield, August 2001.

Comforting One Another: In Life's Sorrows, Karen Burton Mains, 1997. Thomas Nelson Press.

Comforting Those Who Grieve, Doug Manning. In-Sight Books, Inc., PO Box 42467, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, (405) 810-9501. This practical gook offers caring ways to help those in mourning. Common sense and a deep faith are blended in this insightful guide.

Concerning Death: A Practical Guide for the Living, Earl A. Grollman, et al. Beacon Press, Boston, MA. An excellent overview of death. Chapters on Jewish way in death, the Protestant way in death and Roman Catholic way in death add many insights into various support customs. Other chapters include funerals, insurance, the coroner and the law. Very interesting reading.

Coping with Bereavement, Hamish McIlwraith, 1998. Element Press.

Coping with Depression, Mayra Charre-Jones, 1981. Lion Publishing, England. Helpful, practical and sympathetic book for all who suffer from depression and for those who live close to them.

Courage to Grieve-Creative Living, Recovery and Growth Through Grief, Judy Tatelbaum. Lippincott & Crowell, 1980. This book discusses things to be done after a death occurs.

Cry Until You Laugh: Comfort & Guidance for Coping With Grief, Richard J. Obershaw, MSW, LICSW, 1998. Fairview Press, Minneapolis MN. Available from A Place To Remember, (800) 631-0973. Confronts the expectations, myths, attitudes and prejudices about grief that pervade our society. Blending gentle humor with down-to earth common sense, the author helps the reader come to see grief as a friend and ally as well as a reminder of the need to chance and redefine oneself at every stage of life.

Death: The Final State of Growth, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, 1975. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs. Essays presenting different views on death and dying. Makes you stop and look at your own feelings about life and death. Easy to read, interesting and very informative.

Don't Take My Grief Away From Me: How to Walk Through Grief and Learn to Live Again, Doug Manning, 1979. In-Sight Books, Inc., PO Box 42467, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, (405) 810-9501. A classic with over 250,000 in print. A practical, supportive and informative book for grieving family members. A real must! Starts with questions surrounding a funeral, and carries through with discussions about understanding death and grief and changes that they bring.

Everything You Need To Know About Grieving, Karen Bornemann Spies, 1997. Rosen Publishing Group. A Need To Know Library Series book, it is written for younger readers 12-18.

Footsteps Through The Valley, Darcie Sims. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. From the author of "Why Are The Casseroles Always Tuna" comes a book with a meditation per page with a strong message to take you through the valley of grief with tenderness.

Getting Through the Night, Eugenia Price, 1982. Dial Press, New York, NY. "This is a well-written book for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Its purpose is to give anyone who is in grief, for whatever reason, an assurance that there is help available-God's help."

Giving Sorrow Words - How To Cope And Get On With Your Life, Candy Lightner (founder MADD) and Nancy Hathaway, 1990. Warner Books, 666 7th Ave., New York, NY 10103. This book explores all aspects of the grieving process, including the significance of religious and cultural traditions. It explores what to expect, how to get support and coping techniques. Excellent book.

Good Grief: A Constructive Approach to the Problem of Loss, Granger Westberg, 1986. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, PA. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. The basic grief book—tremendously simple, direct and caring. A must for church groups.

Good Grief: Healing Through the Shadow of Loss, Deborah Morris Coryell, 1997. The Shiva Foundation. Easily read in an evening, this book is practical and well written, stressing the importance of relationships, centering images, breath, journaling, ritual, and the gift of time.

Good Grief: Rituals for Dealing With Grief, Elaine Childs-Gowell, 1989. Gowell Publications, Seattle, WA. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. Healing some of the negative feelings we all want to deny during the grief process, the author clearly explains various rituals (including new age and Native American rituals).

Grief, Hadden W. Roberson, 1976. Zondervan Corp. An excellent 23-page book directed at those left behind who have to work through their grief. Many authors and poems are quoted. A lot of interesting facts are brought to life.

Grief: A Natural Reaction to Loss, Marge Eaton Heegard. Available from Centering Corporation, (402) 553-1200. Looks at the whole process of grief, reducing fears, expressing anger and resolving guilt. Exercises and examples are sprinkled throughout.

Grief: The Courageous Journey, Caplan and Gordon Lang, 1993. CorAge Books.

Grief—The Mourning After, Catherine M. Sanders, 1969. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY. This book presents the phases that comprise the experiences of grief after the death of a loved one and provides the caregivers with basic ways to intervene that are appropriate to various situations. This book also emphasizes the fact that each individual has a need to express his or her own grief in a distinctly characteristic way and includes tasks that grieving individuals must undertake during the course of bereavement. (reviewed by Diana Towner, bereaved parent).

Grieving: How to Go On Living When Someone You Loved Dies, Theresa Rando, 1988. Heath/Lexington Books, Lexington, MA. Written by a noted psychologist. This comprehensive book describes the grieving process and offers valuable advice on what to reasonably expect of yourself and others. The author offers practical suggestions on dealing with the many problems shared by the bereaved. (Joan Strausbaugh, bereaved parent.)

Healing Grief: Reclaiming Life After Any Loss, James Van Praagh, 2000. EP Dutton. An inspiring new perspective on grief from a world-renowned medium who has become an expert at helping people cope with intense sorrow.

Healing and Growing Through Grief, Donna O'Toole, 1993. Compassion Press. Available from A Place To Remember, (800) 631-0973. A wonderfully colorful little booklet by that is a rainbow of hope for people grieving all kinds of loss. It contains concise, readable information, as well as quotes and graphics. Readers learn: how to identify loss experiences; that grief is a natural healing process; some common experiences of grief; how to help themselves and others grow through grief; and how, when and where to find help.

Healing Your Grieving Heart, Alan D. Wolfelt Ph.D., 2001. Companion Press. Offers suggestions for healing activities that can help survivors learn to express their grief and mourn naturally. Acknowledging that death is a painful, ongoing part of life, they explain how people need to slow down, turn inward, embrace their feelings of loss, and seek and accept support when a loved one dies.

HeartPeace: Healing Help for Grieving Folks, Richard Gilbert, 1996. Abbey Press, St. Meinrad. It is a very gentle book for the bereaved, and for caregivers, that carefully weaves the interdependence of spirituality and grief.

Help During Grief: Hope for Hurting, Kathy Ammerman and J. Mark Ammerman, 1996. An honest "you can get through this" and "you will be a survivor" while not minimizing the struggle and pain you experience.

Helping People Through Grief: When a Friend Needs You, Delores Kuenning, 1987. Bethany House Pub., 6820 Auto Club Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438, (612) 829-2500. A book dealing with all types of grief, written with a spiritual perspective.

Hope for Bereaved - Understanding, coping and growing through grief, Therese Schoeneck. Hope for Bereaved, 1342 Lancaster Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210.Handbook of articles written by bereaved people for bereaved people and those who want to help them.

How To Form Support Groups and Services For Grieving People, Therese S. Schoeneck, 1989. Hope for Bereaved, 1342 Lancaster Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210. A self help book for forming and maintaining support groups and for helping families with funeral/memorial services.

How To Say Goodbye - Working Through Personal Grief, Joanne Smith and Judy Biggs, 1990. Aglow Publications, Lynwood, WA. Practical, compassionate manual based on the Grief Release Seminars that have helped thousands recover. This book takes you step by step through the healing process and teaches you how to reach out and embrace life again.

How to Survive the Loss of a Loved One, Melba Colgrove, 1977. Bloomfield & McWilliams, Bantam. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. A short, readable book with poetry and practical suggestions.

I Know Just How You Feel: Avoiding the Cliches of Grief, Erin Linn, 1986. The Publisher's Mark, PO Box 3969, Incline Village, NV 89450. A light-hearted, yet serious book designed to help people know what to do and say to bereaved families. Excellent for the counselors and the consoled.

I Shall Not Leave You Desolate, Martha Whitmore Hickman. The Upper Room, Box 189, 1908 Grand River, Nashville, TN 37202. A bereaved mom shares her insight through the grieving process. Excellent.

If God Is So Good, Why Do I Hurt So Bad, David B. Biebel, 1995. Fleming H. Revell Co. This book helps bind up those who are broken-hearted, especially from unresolved hurts, by leading them to deeply trust God in spite of the dark times.

If I Could Just See Hope, Darcie Sims. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. Sims shares her personal journey through grief and gives suggestions for your own trip. You end up liking yourself by the time you finish reading this invitation to see the light at the end of your tunnel.

f I Could Mend Your Heart, Mary I. Farr, 2001. Book Peddlers.

Letting Go With Love: The Grieving Process, Nancy O'Connor, 1984. LA Mariposa Press, PO Box 3519, Apache Junction, AZ. Discusses stages and feelings of grief following the death of children, parents, partners, friends and other loved ones.

Life After Loss: A Personal Guide Dealing With Death, Divorce, Job Change and Relocation, Bob Deits, 1992. Fisher Books, Tucson, AZ. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. A positive and sensitive approach for recovering after painful loss provides emotional support and practical suggestions.

Life After Loss: The Lessons of Grief, Vamik D. Volkan and Elizabeth Zintl, 1993. C. Scribner's Sons, New York, NY. This book deals with both complicated and uncomplicated mourning, perennial mourners (when loss has no resolution), engulfed mourners (when grief turns to depression), and creative resolutions to grief.

Life And Loss: A Guide to Help Grieving Children, Linda Goldman, 1994. Accelerated Development Inc., 3808 W. Kilgore Ave., Muncie, IN 47304-4896, (317) 284-7511. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. Expensive, but probably one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly book on the topic of loss for children. Makes you aware of myths, cliches and speaks of techniques for grief-work and helping kids discover ways to commemorate loss.

Life is Goodbye, Life is Hello: Grieving Well Through All Kinds of Losses, Alla Bozarth-Campbell, 1986. Compcare Publications. This book provides a hopeful message and is written to help people grieve "well" through all kinds of loss.

Living Through Mourning, Hariett Sarnoff Schiff, 1986. Vicking Penquin, Inc, New York, NY. Excellent, practical, and reassuring book on how to cope with death, including separate chapters on each phase of the grieving process, and helpful information on how to go about rebuilding the lives of survivors. Includes a support group manual.

Living Through Personal Crisis, Ann Kaiser Steams, 1984. Ballantine Books, New York, NY.

Love is Strong as Death: Moving Through Grief, James Dillet Freeman, 2000. Unity Press.

Men and Grief, Carol Staudacher, 1991. New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 5674 Shatwick Ave., Oakland, CA 94609. A guide for men surviving the death of a loved one.

More Than Surviving - caring for yourself while you grieve, Kelly Osmont, 1990. Centering Corp., 1531 N. Saddle Creek Rd., Omaha, NE 68104-5064, (402) 553-1200. Written by a bereaved Mom to help other parents heal in a loving, healthy way. This book deals with grief and stress, exercise, touch, food and tears. The author stresses being gentle with yourself and taking care of your health as a way to honor the person you loved.

Mourning: The Journey from Grief to Healing, Patrick DelZoppo, 1995. Alba House, Staten Island, NY. "DelZoppo helps us recognize we Œknow' a good deal about grief, but we struggle when it comes to mourning. This is well written by a very gifted teacher and skilled clinician." On Connections "Top Ten" grief book list in 1996.

National Directory of Bereavement Support Groups and Services, PO Box 75115, Forest Hills, NY 11375, (718) 657-1277. Published and updated regularly, the directory provides a listing of support groups and services nationally, regionally, and locally to help you find resources in your own community. Available in many libraries, it is also available for a fee.

No Time for Goodbyes, Janice Harris Lord, 1990. Pathfinder Publishing, Ventura, CA. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. Coping with sorrow, anger and injustice after a tragic death.

No Voice Is Ever Wholly Lost: An Exploration of the Everlasting Attachment Between Parent and Child, Louise J. Kaplan, 1996 (Touchstone edition), Touchstone, Rockefeller Center, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. An exploration as to the link that remains between parent and child even after death.

Nothing Left Unsaid: Words to Help You and Your Loved Ones Through the Hardest Times, Carol Orsborn, 2001. Conari Press. ItÕs difficult for most people to find the right words when confronted with lifeÕs most troubling moments: illness or death of a loved one. Many self-help books deal with the aftermath of death, but in Nothing Left Unsaid Carol Orsborn provides counsel to those caring for a dying or seriously ill loved one.

Overcoming Your Grief, Donald W. Steele, Ph.D. The Center for Grief Counseling and Education, Inc., Box 1377, Madison, Wl 53701. A 14-page booklet containing practical suggestions for the grieving person.

Remember the Secret, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, 1982. Celestial Arts, Berkeley, CA. This book takes you beyond the fear of death by presenting death as only a transition to a better life. Suzy and Peter experience love, caring and death with two very special friends who guide them along the way.

Remembering with Love, Elizabeth Levang, Ph.D. and Sherokee Ilse, 1992. Deaconess Press, Minneapolis, MN. Available from A Place to Remember, (800) 631-0973. Over 300 short messages of compassion, comfort and guidance for those grieving the death of someone they love. Insightful, inspirational and a very good book to have around while working through the grieving process. Seasons of Grief and Healing: A Guide To Those Who Mourn, James E. Miller, 2000. Augsburg Fortress Publishers.

Shaking a Fist At God: Struggling With The Mystery of Undeserved Suffering, Katharine Dell, 1997. Triumph Books. The author proposes that God suffers along with us and explores the concept of redemption, offering a Christian response to the mystery of suffering.

Surviving Grief...and learning to live again, Dr. Catherine M. Sanders, 1992. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY. Very compassionate and supportive book written by a therapist and researcher who specializes in bereavement issues. This book helps you understand your feelings and provides you with the knowledge that what you are feeling is part of a natural process of readjustment and renewal following the death of someone you love.

Surviving Grief: 30 Questions and Answers for a Time of Loss, A. M. Brady Reinsmith, A. M. Brandy Reinsmith, 2001. Judson Press.

Swallowed By A Snake: Masculine Approach to Healing Grief, Tom Golden, 1997. Available from publisher, (888) 870-1785. Explains how men are likely to grieve using the metaphor of an old folk tale. Grief is all-consuming, must be dealt with a little at a time, and must be driven from the inside out. Compares methods of grieving in several cultures, including historical glimpses.

The Courage to Grieve, Creative Living, Recovery, and Growth Through Grief, Judy Tatelbaum. Harper & Row, New York, NY, 1980.

The Good Grief Guide: How to Come Through Bereavement With Hope for the Future and at Peace With the Past, Michael Dunn, 2001. How to Books Ltd.

The Grief Recovery Handbook: A Step-by-step Program For Moving Beyond Loss, John James and Frank Cherry, 1988. Harper and Row Publishers, New York, NY. This inspirational book is intended as a step by step recovery program to help anyone suffering from a loss. The authors use their own clear and poignant histories to help others take their three-step program and use them to recover and regain a sense of aliveness to go on living a positive and productive life. (reviewed by Diane Towner, bereaved parent).

The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses, John W. James and Russell Friedman, 1998. Harper Collins. Illustrates what grief is and how it is possible to recover and regain energy, spontaneity, and sense of aliveness.

The Healing Journey Through Grief: Your Journal for Reflection and Recovery, Phil Rich, 1998. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY. A greif counselor from Florida says that it is "so sensitive and accurate about the many feelings people experience when they lose someone close to them.. The journal entries, prompting the reader to write about their feelings about the loss, are exactly the kind of thing I suggest that the people in my grief groups do.

The Mourning Handbook: The Most Comprehensive Resource Offering Practical and Compassionate Advice on Coping With All Aspects of Death and Dying, Helen Fitzgerald, 1994. Simon & Schuster, New York, NY. "Fitzgerald's book is one of the most readable and useful compendiums of material about grief and for the bereaved. Must reading, as well as a very dependable starting point when seeking a printed friend." On Connections "Top Ten" grief book list in 1996.

The Next Place, Warren Hanson, 1997. Waldman House Press, Minneapolis, MN. Available from A Place To Remember, (800) 631-0973. An inspirational journey of light, hope awe and wonder, to a place where earthy hurts are left behind--an uncomplicated journey to a destination without barriers. While the book has the look and feel of a children's book, it clearly appeals to adults who will find peace in its message.

The Path Through Grief: A Compassionate Guide, Evelyn Gladu, Marguerite Guzman Bouvard, Sandra L. Berman, 1998. Prometheus Books. Grieving is a painful journey but a normal part of living. This difficult experience ultimately strengthens us and gives us compassion for ourselves and others.

The Sting of Death: A study course on death and bereavement, James R. Adams, 1971. Seabury Press, New York, NY.

Time Remembered - A journal for survivors, Earl A. Grollman, 1987. Beacon Press, Boston, MA. A beautiful, hard-bound diary for grieving people.

To Heal Again: Towards Serenity and the Resolution of Grief, Rusty Berkus, 1986. Red Rose Press.

Transcending Loss: Understanding the Lifelong Impact of Grief and How to Make It Meaningful, Ashley Davis Prend, 1997. Berkley Publishing Group. Drawing on a collection of interviews, lessons on how to feel the loss, transcend the pain and continue on with life.

Understanding Grief: Helping Yourself Heal, Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., 1992. Accelerated Development Inc., 3808 W. Kilgore Ave., Muncie, IN 47304-4896, (317) 284-7511. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. "If tragedy is a movement into becoming a new person, this book will serve as a valuable road map. There are places to write, to answer questions and affirm feelings," says Centering.

Understanding Mourning, Glen W. Davidson, 1984. Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 426 South 5th St., Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55415, (612) 330-3300. A theoretical and practical base for understanding the grief process.

What Helped Me When My Loved One Died, Earl A. Grollman, 1981. Beacon Press, Boston, MA. The author presents personal stories of many who have mourned the death of a loved one due to accidental death, long illness, suicide, SIDS, and war.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Harold S. Kushner, 1981. Beacon Press, Boston, Mass. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. A Rabbi reflects upon the "why" of suffering following his son's illness and death. Even if you do not agree with his conclusions, you will identify with many of his feelings and struggles.

When Going to Pieces Holds You Together, William A. Miller, 1976. Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 426 South 5th St., Minneapolis, MN 55415, (612) 330-3300. Deals with the experience of personal loss; philosophical approach that going to pieces at the time of loss is a normal and natural human experience, and that it might be the very thing that will hold people together as they work through the grief.

When Men Grieve: Why Men Grieve Differently and How You Can Help, Elizabeth Levang, 1998. Fairview Press, Minneapolis MN.

When Someone Dies, Edgar N. Jackson, 1971. Fortress Press. "Grief is not an enemy, but a process that leads to healthful recovery from loss. In this book, the author emphasizes the skills and insights that help people work through this process into a smooth and sustained life."

When Will I Stop Hurting? Dealing with a Recent Death, June Cerza Kolf, 1987. Baker Bookhouse, Grand Rapids, MI. Available from Centering Corp., (402) 553-1200. Excellent book that addresses the different aspects of the grieving process and gives practical advice on how to work through them.

Why Are the Casseroles Always Tuna?, Darcy D. Sims, 1990. Bereavement Publishing, 8133 Telegraph Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80920. A loving look at the lighter side of grief. Excellent book written by a bereaved mom.

Women In Mourning: Stories of Grieving Women, Jean Clayton, 1996. Centering Corporation, Omaha, NE. Available from A Place To Remember, (800) 631-0973. A truly unique book, drawing on the personal stories of grief from more than 30 women. From the stories comes the understanding that grief is a process in three phases: not true; the great angry sadness, and moving on. Although the stories range from fetal death to widowhood, to disability and to divorce, the real strength of Women in Mourning is the examination of the common denominator in them all—overwhelming grief.

Wrap Myself In A Rainbow: A Grief Guide and Healing Workbook, Paul Alexander, 1995. Crossroad, New York. A very creative, gentle and persuasive friend for those who are walking through grief, and for those who choose to embrace them." On Connections "Top Ten" grief book list in 1996.

Write Grief: How To Transform Loss With Writing, Gail B. Jacobsen. McCormick & Schilling, PO Box 722, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051, (414) 255-7706. A self-help booklet for individuals, counselors, grief support groups.

You Don't Have to Suffer: A Handbook for Moving Beyond Lifes Crises, Judy Tatelbaum, 1989. Harper and Row Publishers, New York, NY. The author shares her insights on how to shortcut our reactions to life's crises. Several chapters outline actions to release bereaved people from suffering.