How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies

Unlike many self-help books, this book is filled with clear, logical and well-organized practical advice. I struggled to understand a range of unexpected emotions when I lost a parent, until I read this book. I was amazed to find that the author anticipated my thoughts, questions and feelings as though she had looked inside my head. It helped to know that many others had the same experience, and the author obviously had successfully guided her patients through the process. As a lawyer, being able turn emotional feelings into logical thoughts that could be analyzed and understood brought immediate relief. The author knows her material and her advice works. Moreover, I was impressed that the book is not a "feel good" work filled with emotional stories. Every page is concise practical advice and well written. This book should be required reading for everyone who works with the grieving. The book would also make a good gift for a friend who is grieving.

...After our son died I was devastated. I needed to understand the feelings that I was now experiencing and how to cope with them. This book was the clearest and most compassionate resource on grief that I've found. Dr. Rando discusses every unique type of loss a person could face and then goes on to explain why you will feel as you do. The last part of her book is dedicated to helping you understand how to resolve grief and heal from such loss. So far I have given away 4 copies of this book to friends and family. I even gave one to my sons psychiatrist. They have all had high praises for the book. Personally, I don't know how I would have survived this past year without it!

Following the death of my wife, this book was sent to me by her best friend. It was by far the best book on dealing with grief that I read. I have since sent it to several others (including my mother-in-law and mother) who have also found some comfort in knowing that the intense and (fortunately) unfamiliar feelings associated with grief are actually normal. This would be the first resource that I would recommend to anyone dealing with the death of a loved one.

I lost my first husband 5 years ago. He was 48, I was 42.He was chronically ill with complications from diabetes. After his death, I searched the bookstores for the books that would help me get through the grieving process. I was lucky to have chosen this book. It beacme my resource. It qualified the feelings I was feeling, the thoughts, the sadness...etc.....I remember having some sort of a feeling and going to the "book", there it was, an answer a qualification.. I bless Dr. Rando... I now give this book to the bereaved instead of flowers or mass cards.I add a personal note in the book. I can not tell you how many people have learned from the book. They all feel the same way as I do. It is written with heart and soul and truly touches the bereaved. We must go on.. Just as an aside I am re-married to a wonderful man. I have been blessed twice..I credit "How to Go On LIving" with helping me turn my life around, deal with what I needed to deal with.Most of all I had to go on and learn that death is a part of life and that we all must grieve in our own way. Thank You Therese.. how I wish I could meet you....I'll be in Rhode Island in July! How about lunch??

I just read the other review & find it terribly unfair. I was given a copy of this book after the death of my son and found it very helpful. All topics concerning grief were dealt with matter of factly. As to cultural relevance, we write about what we know. I don't think Dr. Rando is saying this is the way you have to do anything. Like many things, you take what speaks to you and what you can use. It is well organized and the secions are brief. Many times you are incapable of reading long passages after dealing with a loss. It gets right to the heart of the matter. Great book.