Some people prefer something very practical with tools to survive a loss. Reading about other people's experiences may also be helpful.
These books have all been recommended by professionals who work closely with bereaved people.
Practical guides to grief
Grief Works – Julia Samuel
Shares real-life stories from bereaved people and offers compassionate support through the grieving process.
The Modern Loss Handbook – Rebecca Soffer
A creative, honest, and practical guide to grieving in the modern world.
The Grieving Brain – Mary-Frances O’Connor
Explains the neuroscience of grief and how our brains adapt to loss through love and memory.
Every Family Has a Story – Julia Samuel
Looks at how family patterns shape our emotional lives and how understanding them can bring healing.
The Grief Survival Guide – Jeff Brazier
Offers advice and reflections on grieving, especially when supporting children.
Manual for Heartache – Cathy Rentzenbrink
Provides comforting wisdom on how to survive pain, loss, and emotional hardship.
This Too Shall Pass – Julia Samuel
Explores how we can navigate life’s changes various emotional tools.
Talking with Bereaved People – Dodie Graves
A structured, sensitive guide to effective communication with grieving individuals.
Stories of grief
A Grief Observed – C.S. Lewis
A deeply personal reflection on grief after the death of Lewis’s wife.
You Are Not Alone – Cariad Lloyd
Draws on voices from the Griefcast podcast to offer comfort and shared experiences of grief.
The Madness of Grief – Richard Coles
A raw and humorous memoir of losing a partner and surviving the chaos of grief.
The Red of My Blood – Clover Stroud
A fierce and poetic account of a sister’s grief and the search for meaning after loss.
Redemption – John Gardner
A fictional story about a young boy’s emotional journey following the loss of his brother.
The State of Disbelief – Juliet Rosenfeld
Blends memoir and psychotherapy to explore personal loss and emotional survival.
When Words Are Not Enough – Jane Harris & Jimmy Edmonds
Grief explored through creative expression following the death of their son.
Notes on Grief – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A poignant meditation on the sudden death of the author’s father.
The Last Act of Love – Cathy Rentzenbrink
A moving memoir of losing a brother and finding life beyond devastating tragedy.