This Thing Called Grief: New Understandings of Loss

by Thomas M. Ellis

Grief is a crazy-making, complicated process, a struggle to acknowledge the life-changing impact of loss. It affects every dimension of the self; it is despairing, isolating, and overwhelming. It is depriving, mischievous, and keeps you unbalanced. Grief is so personally unique and ever changing that getting your hands around it once and for all seems impossible. Someone or something is gone, and you are left broken, empty, and afraid. This Thing Called Grief shows that although grief and pain may be changing you now, they have the potential to transform your life in a healing way. Ellis uses many real-life narratives of loss from his therapy practice to help illustrate various ways of grieving, and shows how you can learn from the experience of loss and make your way towards a place of healing transitions and a renewed sense of life.

Genres: Grief, Nonfiction, Self Help

132 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

Reviews

[Kerrie Highley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book almost 14 years after my youngest daughter died in a car accident, I really feel that Mr. Ellis has excellent advice and help for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. This book is full of healthy and healing ways to handle grief and all the complicated feelings that go with it. So many times the people around us don’t really know how to help and the support from them is not good. I highly recommend this book to anyone grieving or anyone supporting someone who is grieving. Grief is the hardest thing we have to do and it’s messy. Mr. Ellis reinforces the work that is required to heal in a healthy way.

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny book about this necessary life passage that is unique to every person but that is also unavoidable. It's comforting, which is exactly what I need right now as I navigate my own journey.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a somewhat simplistic approach to dealing with grief. That being said it does reiterate some very good points to consider. It's important to remember that grief is unique to each person & has no time table. Really the only expert on grief it the person who is experiencing it. Grief demands your time and energy so you might as well acknowledge it.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

easy and very quick read....but not the in depth book I was seeking

[Groovy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many lists and not enough help in a genuine way.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short concise book about the individual ways people grieve without all the psychological jargon and some great appropriate poetry.

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief is a complicated beast to pin down. Grief is a natural part of a loss, but that doesn't make it any easier to handle. People can grieve from many different things, the loss of a child, suicide, cancer, and more.

"This Thing Called Grief" is a book that tries to walk you through the grieving process. No one can tell you when you should get over something. Other people may mean well, but everyone is entitled to their grief.

The book is short. The end contains resources; further reading, websites, and more.

[ladybug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a simple yet heart wrenching read. I lost my own grandfather earlier this year, and have been struggling with grief. If you are experiencing grief of any kind, please read this book. It helped me and I am sure it will help you.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers more than just Kubler-Ross and the three stages. In fact, it is more about identifying how grief affects you and letting the process happen.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful. Especially the last few chapters that gave guidance on how to go about dealing with the grief you’re experiencing.

[Marie Polega · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a helpful book on grief, especially for the newly bereaved

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good ideas but was not what I was expecting or wanting.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is a great tool do deal with grief of any kind. The author uses many real life examples and personal experiences to help convey his points. I also really enjoyed the poems that were interspersed throughout the book.

This book was comforting and and the size made it manageable.

[Tammy Sawyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book did show the steps to expect and how others have coped with it but we are all different. Grieving is a hard thing to do when you still have to be a mom and wife. I need a book to show me how to do it and still have a smile on my face. Reality I am sure that book is not out there but I wish I could....

[Lee (of Shalott) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Brief* is usually good when dealing with acute grief, but I think this book is written more for those who have dealt with grief for some time & are ready to "do some work" on themselves. The included poems are perfect. Ellis' understanding is genuine.
Very helpful bibliography by genre.

[Marilyn Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very excellent book with new material not seen in other "popular" self-help books on the subject. Helped me understand things about grief that I thought were unique to me.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

THis book is helping me understand why I feel so sad and that is a natural part of life. Life goes on...

[Kathy Foley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't what I expected. It has checklists and personal stories. I can't say it wasn't good or helpful just not what I was hoping for.