The End Is Just the Beginning Lessons in Grieving for African Americans (2003 publication)

This is by far the best book I've read on grieving. Although it is entitled, Lessons in Grieving for African-Americans, I believe that all who are bereaved can benefit from this book. While the author examines how mourners were not allowed to grieve during slavery and gives insight into how others in different cultures grieve. What I found most helpful were her scriptures and the fact that she was not 'preaching' to get over it, but more or less how to move through it and acknowlege your grief in your own time. I also liked how she highlighted how some people grieve differently and how some forms of grief can be harmful in that they cause 'double grief.' For example, the author notes how when some people who not so nice pass, we tend to 'make them good' in death and almost re-create this wonderful person and in doing so we are essentially grieving twice, once for the actual person who was lost and again for the person whom we have re-created in our minds. The author also has some very useful resources at the end of her book in terms of locating bereavement counselors and groups. I would like to see a reprint of this book with some possible websites and additional information, but the information included was extremely helpful to me. I think that the book was not overly religious and as such can be a benefit to all who are of different faiths. This book really helped me to realize that my loved ones would not want me to stop living, simply because they have moved on. I've recommended this book to others who are grieving and they too have stated they've found it to be very powerful, helpful and comforting in their grieving process.