Books were instrumental while grieving the loss of my mom. I looked to them for some peace, laughter, connection and ideas how to heal losing someone I loved so very much. My heart ached for answers and books provided what I was seeking.
I dedicated a chapter in my book to “books.” Chapter 4 is called “Book It, Baby,” as they made me feel not so alone during the most difficult time in my life. They gave me hope that I could get through my grief. It wasn’t going to be easy and it would take the time it was going to take. My timetable and journey was my own and I felt validated to pursue what made me feel good.
Books were the match that ignited the fire in me to write my own book. I was drawn to share my story as it gave me a way to express my lessons of healing while offering what I learned to others. Books are gifts that keep on giving. So keep sharing the love as they say!
You may notice all of these are nonfiction. I did read fiction while grieving, but this list of books seemed to rise above the rest when it came to what I needed to heal. To this day, I am drawn to true stories of self- discovery. I am continually learning more about myself and this often happens when I see myself in someone else.
Healing Grief
Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief by Martha Whitmore Hickman
Midlife Orphan: Facing Life’s Changes Now That Your Parents Are Gone by Jane Brooks
Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by Elizabeth Lesser
The Heart of Grief: Death and the Search for Lasting Love by Thomas Attig
Memoir
Here If You Need Me: A True Story by Kate Braestrup
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Death on our Roadways
It’s No Accident: The Real Story Behind Senseless Death and Injury on Our Roads by Lisa S. Lewis
Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) by Tom Vanderbilt
Spiritual/Self-Help
Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
Peace Is Every Step: the Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence by Deepak Chopra
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Jerry and Esther Hicks
Sage-ing While Age-ing by Shirley MacLaine
The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things – Fourteen Natural Steps to Health and Happiness by Larry Dossey, M.D.
Kinship With All Life by J. Allen Boone
Essential Buddhism – A Complete Guide to Beliefs and Practices by Jack Maguire
Passionate Longevity – The 10 Secrets to Growing Younger by Dr. Elaine Dembe
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche
Storytelling
Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story by Christina Baldwin
Leaving a Trace: On Keeping a Journal by Alexandra Johnson
Laugh Out Loud
The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs
In closing I want to thank all the people who put themselves out there. It takes courage to share the vulnerable parts of ourselves, but in the end we are all human and have similar experiences. We truly are not alone. We are all connected.
Lori Koidahl 