Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
9th out of 43 books
—
43 voters
How to Survive the Loss of a Love
This is a lifetime of good-byes, some by choice, some by chance. Learning to mourn, to grieve, is an essential life lesson.
Paperback, 212 pages
Published
November 1st 1993
by Prelude Press
(first published 1977)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
655)
Apr 02, 2009
Katie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone going through a breakup, death of a loved one, or other loss.
Recommended to Katie by:
Lisa
Shelves:
non-fiction,
self-help
I'm not normally a big self-help reader. Not that I think there's anything wrong with reading self-help books or anything; they just aren't normally what I pick up off the shelf. However, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone going through a serious (or even not so serious) loss. It was recommended to me by a dear friend, and I'm so thankful. The best thing I can say about this book is that as I read it, I kept thinking, "Yes. Yes! That is exactly how I'm feeling, but I just couldn't...more
I first came across this book while working at a funeral home, where the funeral directors recommended it for grieving spouses. At that time, I thought it was sentimental, maudlin and relied more on greeting card platitudes than on real psychological depth and insight. However, possibly because I have become more like a greeting card myself as I get older, I find myself occasionally recommending it personally when someone is grieving, and I do find some of its most blank, stark passages comforti...more
Excellent book on coping with life's issues and grief in general!
I recommend it highly.
There is a work book that corresponds to it as well.
How to Survive the Loss of a Love by Melba Colgrove
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent book on coping with life's issues and grief in general!
I recommend it highly.
There is a work book that corresponds to it as well.
View all my reviews
I recommend it highly.
There is a work book that corresponds to it as well.
How to Survive the Loss of a Love by Melba ColgroveMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent book on coping with life's issues and grief in general!
I recommend it highly.
There is a work book that corresponds to it as well.
View all my reviews
Jul 22, 2011
Scotti
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone suffering a loss of ANY kind
Recommended to Scotti by:
Mike Bunning
This book was also given me shortly after a family death. The friend who brought it to me drove it across town to me fairly late the night he heard about our tragedy. He said it couldn't wait - I needed it immediately. He was right. This, and George Anderson's book, have "saved my life" as they have helped me through the most horrific event a parent can go through.
The thing that ministered to me the most from this book was the author's ability to understand not just the HUGH thing that happened...more
The thing that ministered to me the most from this book was the author's ability to understand not just the HUGH thing that happened...more
A friend sent me this book, that she said was the most highly recommended on grief at her book store.
Though this book is inclusive of all kinds of loss, many of the passages seem to pertain to the loss of romantic love (break-up, divorce or rejection). I had to look beyond that, with my loss of a child, and found it possible to do so.
I found most of the passages helpful. I liked how the book was broken into sections: Understanding Loss, Surviving, Healing and Growing. This very break-down lends...more
Though this book is inclusive of all kinds of loss, many of the passages seem to pertain to the loss of romantic love (break-up, divorce or rejection). I had to look beyond that, with my loss of a child, and found it possible to do so.
I found most of the passages helpful. I liked how the book was broken into sections: Understanding Loss, Surviving, Healing and Growing. This very break-down lends...more
I loved this book, it was the best book I read that year,
a goddess sent, a recommendation for any one that's going through
a loss of a love, be that love a human or the loss of a goal, attainment.
a goddess sent, a recommendation for any one that's going through
a loss of a love, be that love a human or the loss of a goal, attainment.
What a terrific, uplifting tool to refer to again and again.
Caved in and bought this book in 2005. It was December. A little help was warranted, if I was to deal with heartbreak while everybody else have their happy Christmases.
But because I was done with my self-help phase a billion years ago, this didn't do me any good - except for making a very nice throw, when I hurled it across the room and cried afterwards all night. Yeah. Anyway I still have it, and maybe someday I'll actually read it.
But because I was done with my self-help phase a billion years ago, this didn't do me any good - except for making a very nice throw, when I hurled it across the room and cried afterwards all night. Yeah. Anyway I still have it, and maybe someday I'll actually read it.
"If you have a physical injury you are hospitalized, friends bring flowers, relatives bring baskets of fruit, you lie in bed all day--nurses give backrubs--you are pampered.
If you have an emotional injury, you are expected to show up for work the next morning and be as efficient as ever. You must, in short, deal with a world that simply does not accept the fact that emotional pain hurts."
This is such a sad fact: no one understands the time needed to emotionally heal. It's a process.
I would re...more
If you have an emotional injury, you are expected to show up for work the next morning and be as efficient as ever. You must, in short, deal with a world that simply does not accept the fact that emotional pain hurts."
This is such a sad fact: no one understands the time needed to emotionally heal. It's a process.
I would re...more
This book is an easy read, which is helpful when one is suffering from a loss. It is straight forward and written in a way that is truly helpful. The authors break the healing process down in a way that is very achievable, nurturing and encourages a focus on loving oneself, which is where many of us need to improve upon whether we have loss or not.
I read this book twice in an evening. It was unbelievably cathartic. It applies not just to romantic relationships, but to all aspects of loss in one's life, from changing employment to the death of a loved one. When it was gifted to me, I was given the warning that I will pass on: This book will make you cry. It did, but in the best possible way.
Ah, this book haunted me for years before they finally put it back into production! I looked high and low, internet, used-bookstores, overstocked big box bookstores - - and it was nowhere! This is practical advice that you most likely have heard before, but you find overwhelming to recall when in the throes of a painful loss. The best feature is definitley how McWilliams applies these oft heard helpful hints via different mediums - poems, stories, song lyrics, etc. - and in a straight forward, e...more
Perfect book for transitional times (leaving a job, death of a loved one, a move, graduating from school, end of a relationship, etc)the end of one thing or another. Contains poetry and helpful mantras to work through grieving and feelings of loss. Defines loss very well.
This book was perfect for anyone who wants help grieving over a loss and doesn't want to get bogged down in a detailed, long read. I found helpful and encouraging information. The poetry being broken up on different pages was a little odd to me, but I get it.
This book was recommended to me multiple times by my therapist. I resisted, thinking it sounded too self-help-y and depressing. The authors mix the psychology of the grieving process with short poems and quotations. The result was surprisingly helpful and validating.
I came across this book at a timely point in my life. It is basically a survival handbook for dealing with loss (and it covers many types of loss, but specifically the loss of a love). I have and still would recommend it for those in need of such a book.
I call it my "Reader's Digest book of recovery" for anyone going through loss. Brief chapters are easy to read, even at a time when you feel like you can't concentrate. This handy little book is full of wisdom, hope, and even humor.
A classic.
A classic.
This was a trite book in my opinion, filled with unhelpful anecdotes, and did absolutely nothing to help me work through my pain after losing the love of my life. There are much better books out there, and I wish I hadn't wasted my time on this one.
I pick this one up every time someone close to me dies, so...needless to say, my copy is pretty worn and well read.
Should actually be 59 things to do when there is nothing to be done, since reading this book is one thing I do every time.
Should actually be 59 things to do when there is nothing to be done, since reading this book is one thing I do every time.
My Mom read this book after my brother passed away many years ago and it really helped her. She suggested I read it after a bad break-up. Although our situations were very different, this book was comforting to us both. I haven't read it in years, but it's probably about that time to read it again.
My dear friend Abby sent me this book and I appreciate it so much. It is the first edition and does not have all the little extras, but contains a wealth of tips to work through the hard times. I read it from cover to cover, but will be referring to it frequently.
This book got me through a very rough time a few years back. Def. recommended to anyone who feels as if they are "in the bell jar." Well written and direct, while also being compassionate.
I
LOVE
LOVE
LOVE
this book!
I'm not sure how many times I've read it or how many copies I've purchased and given away to friends who are hurting.
The poems are pure joy!
LOVE
LOVE
LOVE
this book!
I'm not sure how many times I've read it or how many copies I've purchased and given away to friends who are hurting.
The poems are pure joy!
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
so relevant to so many experiences - and i loved how expansive the definition of a "loss" was. practical, reassuring, insightful. quite a quick, easy, but enriching read.
This little wonder was suggested to me by my therapist. It helped me through a tough time in my life, and was simple enough to comprehend in the midst of chaos.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11634056
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11634056
Have read this book MANY TIMES over the years since publication! It can apply to loss of love on ANY level. Really helped (helps) me during tough times.
This was a quick (2-3 hours), easy read with some very helpful insights. I'm sure I'll re-read it again to reinforce some of the great teaching.
The best book on loss available. Highly recommend for anyone who is mourning anything at all - a boyfriend, a grandparent, parent, or dog!
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“there is nothing to be done.
only accept it...
and hurt.”
—
23 people liked it
only accept it...
and hurt.”
“I sat evaluating
myself.
I decided
to lie down.”
—
2 people liked it
More quotes…
myself.
I decided
to lie down.”
