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The Intimacy of Death and Dying: Simple Guidance to Help You Through
A warm, reassuring and very practical book on dealing with death and dying The death of a loved one can be one of life's most challenging times and this accessible and reassuring guide provides readers with comfort and direction to help them through this difficult period. Covering such varied situations as losing someone to suicide, grieving when you have no body to grieve over, and supporting someone with a terminal illness, this book is filled with practical strategies and heartfelt advice—from how to talk about death and dying with children to preparing for your own funeral, and from dealing with personal grief to comforting loved ones in their last days. It includes a number of firsthand accounts from those who have survived the death of a loved one, helping readers cope with and prepare for life's last great adventure.
250 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 20, 2012
This is a book packed with practical suggestions that help to prepare us for the death of a loved one. The three authors draw on their own work and experiences and help guide us through specific death circumstances.
One of the things I liked most about this book is that specific situations are discussed, but you do not get bogged down in long, never-ending chapters of information that bores you.
An example of death situations covered in the book are:
1. My first baby dies at birth
2. Workplace accidents
3. When someone takes their own life
4. Never coming home from work
5. Lost at sea
6. Losing our daughter to ecstasy
7. Losing a young father and husband
In addition, the authors give guidance on a miscellaneous list of topics evolving around death:
1. Caring for my ex-husband
2. Making my mother's last summer special
3. Supporting someone with a terminal illness
4. Dying in the hospital or a hospice
5. Spending time with the body
6. When you don't have a body to grieve over
When I first picked up this book, I really wasn't looking for anything in particular. After finishing the book, I realized I had experienced first hand many of the situations covered in the book. I recalled what I could have experienced differently, and perhaps with less pain. In other areas I was prepared and felt I had done the best to my abilities. Coming through the grieving process in not too bad of shape.
The book also confirms that while some aspects of death are pretty universal, a lot is open to creativity and individualization.
No matter who you are, you will have to experience the grieving process and I believe knowledge is power. Sometimes people do not want to know anything about death or God forbid, discuss anything about death. I am not one of those people. I am curious about cultural norms and the history behind death.
I also liked the factul nature of the book. It does not get into the "heavy" side of religous beliefs.
I would be very interested in reading more by these authors. While they covered a variety of situations and issues, I feel like they could have covered many more.
One of the things I liked most about this book is that specific situations are discussed, but you do not get bogged down in long, never-ending chapters of information that bores you.
An example of death situations covered in the book are:
1. My first baby dies at birth
2. Workplace accidents
3. When someone takes their own life
4. Never coming home from work
5. Lost at sea
6. Losing our daughter to ecstasy
7. Losing a young father and husband
In addition, the authors give guidance on a miscellaneous list of topics evolving around death:
1. Caring for my ex-husband
2. Making my mother's last summer special
3. Supporting someone with a terminal illness
4. Dying in the hospital or a hospice
5. Spending time with the body
6. When you don't have a body to grieve over
When I first picked up this book, I really wasn't looking for anything in particular. After finishing the book, I realized I had experienced first hand many of the situations covered in the book. I recalled what I could have experienced differently, and perhaps with less pain. In other areas I was prepared and felt I had done the best to my abilities. Coming through the grieving process in not too bad of shape.
The book also confirms that while some aspects of death are pretty universal, a lot is open to creativity and individualization.
No matter who you are, you will have to experience the grieving process and I believe knowledge is power. Sometimes people do not want to know anything about death or God forbid, discuss anything about death. I am not one of those people. I am curious about cultural norms and the history behind death.
I also liked the factul nature of the book. It does not get into the "heavy" side of religous beliefs.
I would be very interested in reading more by these authors. While they covered a variety of situations and issues, I feel like they could have covered many more.
Displaying 1 of 1 review