Bereavement Books


I have been gathering a list of bereavement books that I hope can be helpful for those who are grieving or for those who want to help someone through the process as they grieve. (All bereavement books listed are available for purchase when you scroll down to the bottom of the page.)

Devotional:

  • - through a season of grief , devotions for your journey from mourning to joy –
    • by Bill Dunn and Kathy Leonard
    This book, written from a Christian perspective, is set up in daily devotional form with each days reading spanning only one to two pages. It covers many aspects of grief, starting with the initial loss and continues with that first year of bereavement.

Biography:

  • A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
    One man’s journey through grief after the death of his wife. It is basically his journal. In it he shares his raw emotions and the pain of losing one so dear to him. Be prepared to experience Lewis' intense, soul searching journey that is somehow comforting because it articulates much of what we are feeling.

For the Bereaved to read:

  • Good Grief by Granger Westberg
    This small bereavement book lists the stages of grief that people can expect to go through. It is a simple guide that can make a big difference in helping people cope.
stack of books

To help the bereaved:

  • How to Help A Grieving Friend: A Candid Guide For Those Who Care by Stephanie Grace Whitson
    Reproduced from the back cover - Be a source of comfort and strength. Whitson identifies the subtle difference between helpful and hurtful conversations. She shares her grief-tested strategies with you so you can be equipped with the right words to say when your friend needs you the most.


  • Healing Conversations: What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say by Nance Guilmartin
    This title basically says it all. It is a guidebook to help you help others. Easy reading and practical suggestions.
  • Call Me If You Need Anything… and Other Things Not to Say: A Guide to Helping Others Through Tragedy and Grief by Cathy Peterson
    A practical addition to anyone's library. Written by someone who has experienced the grief of losing her husband and now shares how to help those in mourning.
  • A Good Friend for Bad Times: Helping Others Through Grief by Deborah E. Bowen and Susan L. Strickler
    Helpful reading when you want to help friends and family in their time of bereavement.

What to write or say:

  • My Deepest Sympathies…Meaningful Sentiments for Condolence Notes and Conversations, Plus a Guide to Eulogies by Florence Isaacs
    Isaacs offers helpful advice on how to write appropriate, comforting sympathy cards and letters. She guides you through the many diverse situations that we all will come across. A valuable resource and asset to any library.

  • The Art of Condolence: What to Write, What to Say, What to Do at a Time of Loss by Leonard M. Zunin and Hillary Stanton Zunin
    The authors address such issues as special circumstances like a sudden death or suicide, how to compose a letter of condolence, how to be of service and they discuss when more help is needed; grief counseling.

  • How to Say it When You Don’t Know What to Say: The Right Words for Difficult Times by Robbie Miller Kaplan
    This book offers insight into the process of grief and suggests way to give our support and comfort by saying and doing things that will help our loved ones.

  • Finding the Right Words by Wifred Bockelman
    • This short book offers practical suggestions on what to say to someone who is hurting. It addresses being sensitive to their feelings, how to word things kindly and with gentleness.

For Parents to help their kids:

  • Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professional by Earl A. Grollman
    Grollman covers everything from explaining death to children, how teenagers grieve differently from children and adults - - to how spiritual and cultural differences can affect how children grieve. If you're a parent of a grieving child or a professional helping children, this bereavement book is a good resource.

For children:

  • Heaven Is….. Lofty thoughts for little people by Linda DeYmaz
    This little book doesn’t cover death, but talks about what heaven will be like. I read this to my daughter when her dad died. It was comforting for her to understand in simple terms where her father was. Delightful volume with nice illustrations.


Use the scroll bar above to scroll to the right and see your Amazon Wish List; search for other products; or see product reviews. You can also click on the "Books" and then "DVD" categories if interested in them.


This list of bereavement books is by no means complete. I am sure there are many more good ones out there. As I come across more great books on grieving I will update this list.


When you purchase from this page, you are actually purchasing from Amazon.com. All orders go through Amazon's secure order server.


If you have any questions, please Contact Me.
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Mary

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