The best books on grief and loss

Allen Klein Author Of Embracing Life After Loss: A Gentle Guide for Growing Through Grief

Who am I?

Allen Klein is a former hospice volunteer and the former director of The Life-Death Transitions Institute in San Francisco. He has also spoken at over 100 hospice events around the world. In addition, several of his books have dealt with death, dying, and grief. Among them are, The Healing Power of Humor, The Courage to Laugh, and Embracing Life after Loss. Klein's interest in the connection between humor and death and dying came out of the death of his wife, who had a wonderful sense of humor. He saw how humor helped her, and those around her, cope with this challenging circumstance.


The books I picked & why

Shepherd is reader supported. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our website. This is how we fund this project for readers and authors (learn more).

The Courage to Grieve: The Classic Guide to Creative Living, Recovery, and Growth Through Grief

By Judy Tatelbaum,

Book cover of The Courage to Grieve: The Classic Guide to Creative Living, Recovery, and Growth Through Grief

Why this book?

Experiencing a loss may feel overwhelming. That is why you need to read this comforting book; it can ease that feeling. Written by a Gestalt therapist, this book feels like the author is in the room with you helping you deal with your sorrow, guilt, loneliness, resentment, confusion, and encouraging you to take part in life again after your loss.

  • Bookshop.org
  • Amazon

Who Dies? An Investigation of Conscious Living and Conscious Dying

By Stephen Levine, Ondrea Levine,

Book cover of Who Dies? An Investigation of Conscious Living and Conscious Dying

Why this book?

Technically this is not really a "grief" book in that it doesn't provide information on how to manage a loss. What it does provide, as the subtitle says, An Investigation of Conscious Living and Conscious Dying. In other words, how to live life fully knowing that someday we will no longer be here.

  • Bookshop.org
  • Amazon

Living When a Loved One Has Died

By Earl A. Grollman,

Book cover of Living When a Loved One Has Died

Why this book?

This book explores what to expect during your mourning, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to work through feelings of loss. A well-written guide to ease suffering while moving through the many facets of grief.

  • Bookshop.org
  • Amazon

Awakening from Grief: Finding the Way Back to Joy

By John E. Welshons,

Book cover of Awakening from Grief: Finding the Way Back to Joy

Why this book?

This meditation teacher shows those who have experienced a loss new ways to embrace the pain so that they can feel joy again. Written for all types of loss, Welshons shows readers how grief can provide a unique opportunity to live a fuller and richer life in spite of our losses.

  • Bookshop.org
  • Amazon

On Death & Dying: What the Dying Have to Teach Doctors, Nurses, Clergy & Their Own Families

By Elisabeth Kübler-Ross,

Book cover of On Death & Dying: What the Dying Have to Teach Doctors, Nurses, Clergy & Their Own Families

Why this book?

Not exactly a guide on how to deal with grief but an important groundbreaking book dealing with death and dying. A classic in the field helping readers understand the five stages we go through in the dying process. A must-read to better understand life's final days.

  • Bookshop.org
  • Amazon

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in death, mourning, and grief?

6,191 authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about death, mourning, and grief.

Death Explore 212 books about death

Mourning Explore 78 books about mourning

Grief Explore 54 books about grief

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like Hamnet, When My Time Comes, and Many Lives, Many Masters if you like this list.