10 Best Books About Grief
I don’t typically gravitate toward nonfiction, memoirs, or self-help books. My reading time is usually reserved for my summer break from teaching, and during those months, I prefer light, beachy reads.
I’m a big fan of audiobooks and have been using Audible for years. I highly recommend their Premium Plus account if you want to own your audiobooks and have access to a wide selection. I’ve been making a list of books to listen to this spring before I take to the road for my last sports mama season.
While I’ve experienced a tremendous amount of grief in the last six years, I’m also experiencing grief surrounding my baby becoming an adult, graduating from high school and preparing to fly the nest. I know that both of my adult children are not at the point where they are planting their roots yet, but that time is near. Here is a list of books that are on my list. Leave a comment below if you have a book that has helped you in some way.
Here is a list of the top 10 books about grief and loss I want to read or listen to:
1. Loss of a Parent: Adult Grief When Parents Die (Healing from the Loss of a Parent) by Theresa Jackson
This book is recommended by those who have read it. The author, who has experienced such a loss, shares her own stories and those of others throughout the book. Jackson offers practical advice on how to process emotions after such a loss. This book can be found in the following formats:
2. Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore
Featuring 52 stand-alone chapters, this book is highly recommended as the “Grief Bible.” Many who have found solace in its pages have bought this title for other friends and family facing similar heartache. This book can be found in the following formats:
3. Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This 86-page book is a remembrance of the author’s father, who passed away suddenly in 2020 from complications of Kidney disease. Described as achingly beautiful by those who have read it. This book can be found in the following formats:
4. It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine
Devine offers a way to approach grief and support others who have endured tragedy. Reviews are positive, describing the book as honest and relatable. This book can be found in the following formats:
5. The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss by Mary-Frances O’Connor
This book delves into the effects of grief on the brain, explaining that it takes time for the brain to catch up to the reality that a loved one is gone. It also explores how grief affects executive functioning. Highly recommended by those who have read it, his book can be found in the following formats:
6. Unf*ck Your Grief: Using Science to Heal Yourself and Support Others by Faith Harper
I’m currently engrossed in this audiobook. Raising teenagers through a pandemic and navigating the care and loss of my parents have turned me into quite a colorful speaker. This title seemed tailor-made for me. If you don’t mind a bit of honest profanity, you might find this title enjoyable. It delves into various types of loss and grief, including the experience of children leaving the nest. Additionally, it distinguishes between grief and depression. While I haven’t finished listening yet, I’m invested enough to continue. Some reviews mention disappointment from those who purchased the book, but since it’s included in both types of Audible subscriptions, it was an easy and accessible listen. This book is available in the following formats:
7. The Orphaned Adult: Understanding and Coping with Grief and Change After the Death of Our Parents by Alexander Levy
While an older title, this book discusses the loss of parents as a “rite of passage” into true adulthood. It offers compassionate wisdom to guide readers through this experience. This book is available in the following formats:
8. How to Go on After The Loss of Your Mother: A Life Changing Guide to Stop Feeling Guilty, Forgiving Yourself and Coping with Grief and Loss by Melanie Aniston
This book covers a range of topics and helps readers move forward in their grief. Most readers found the book helpful and healing. This book is available in the following formats:
9. Coping With Loss: Nurturing Resilience Through Grief and Difficult Times a Practical Toolkit for Self-Help Healing (Proven Coping Strategies For a Happier Life) by Maria Holden
This is the newest of the titles in my list. This self-help book claims to help readers break from the shadows of grief, not just from death, but from any kind of loss. This book is available in the following formats:
10. Living with a Grieving Heart: Thoughts from a Grief Warrior by Marianne Bette
This book is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and perspective. It encourages grievers to embrace the complexities of grief and to find a new enthusiasm for life. This book is available in the following formats:
I am looking forward into diving into most of these. Let us know in the comments what other titles you’d recommend. Hugs – Tricia
