6 Books to Work By

Okay, so I was asked about books…… I'm biased, I will admit it.  Who among us aren't.  As much as I love Kubler-Ross, her books have historical relevance and her newer books, especially about her own dying process are her best.  It's one thing to write about what you perceive in someone who knows they have a life altering illness; it's a different thing when you live a career in the field and then experience it yourself.  But, I will list her books on the dying blog post when I have time. 

So:  grief (only started there because they are the books closest to my computer)

A Time to Grieve … Carol Staudacher… best book for grieving people…. short reflections or meditations that really hit on the experience of a grieving person.  Can be read cover to cover or pick a page.  Most entries are no more than 1 page.  Think about that when someone is in early grief and they have to read paragraphs again and again. 

How We Grieve – Thomas Attig; applied philosopher but his concept of relearning the world that we are creating as we grieve is one of my main tenets.  He has a more user friendly book, The Heart of Grief

Transitions in Dying and Bereavement - Victory Hospice Society .. laid out wonderfully, excellent for professionals in the field, even better for clinicans who don't know a thing about hospice, palliative, end of life, etc.  Sorry, I have a bias… not everyone can be a grief counselor though I give credit to people who think they can specialize in 23 different areas.

Grieving Mindfully – Sameet Kumar … You'll never find a nicer person.  A wonderful book that I wish I had written.  Sameet talks about mindfulness and grief in his work with people at Mt. Sinai in Miami.  This book will lay the ground work for someone who wants to learn to be with their grief rather than hide from it.

Awakening from Your Grief  – John E. Welshons… Again, a wonderful person.  Taught by someone of the pioneers… Stephen & Ondrea Levine, Kubler-Ross, Ram Dass… what more needs to be said?  He has a brand new book out… When Prayers Aren't Answered… I just got it a few weeks ago and plan to read it on the plane to SF in a few weeks.   If it's as good as the first, we're all in for an amazing journey.

Swallowed by a Snake – Thomas Golden … a book about men & grief written by a male grief counselor, wow!  Much of the work out there is focused on women or focused on intuitive grievers (want to know more, check out Martin and Doka…) Golden takes you on the epic saga of the masculine side of grief and was of transformation.

Okay, sorry, back to school work.  These are my fav grief books.  Will list books about dying and death soon.  Keep an eye out.