Grieving: A Beginner's Guide

Jerusha McCormack provides instead a series of signposts by which we may find our own path to a new life. "We are all amateurs at grief," she writes, "it comes to us all; we must all go through it. To treat grief as a problem to be fixed, or (worse still) to medicalize it, is to rob us of the extraordinary privilege of encountering this experience on our terms: for each of us has our own way of grieving, and each of us has something special to learn from the process."

"McCormack presents an engaging and lyrical anatomy of the various nuances and stages of grief. There is no "one size fits all" for suffering and loss of a spouse/child/sibling/parent/ friend. The author spells out the complications and the unpredictability of grief and the varied emotions that often accompany it. She also makes it clear that the person in mourning doesn't have to accept the false comfort offered by others."—Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

"Grieving: A Beginner’s Guide" speaks to the transformative power of grief to lead those who grieve toward a new life. Author Jerusha Hull McCormack invites us to understand that death changes us and challenges us to choose the direction in which this change will take us.The author tackles the larger questions of grief and doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge its complexity. This book invites us to look behind the superficial and value the experience of grieving." —Ohio's Hospice

"In a profound way, McCormack recognizes that not everyone has the same world-view and that getting through the most difficult times is accomplished only by doing what works best for each individual. Her central message is this: we all have the right to grieve in the way that works for us and should resist being pushed into the mold our culture or people trying to help may impose on us. Moreover, McCormack shows how grief can become a positive part of our lives." —Janet Ann Collins, explorefaith.org

"Grieving: A Beginner’s Guide" offers beacons of hope to the newly bereaved. McCormack lets the reader know they are not alone, however lonesome they may feel during this most personal of experiences."—Lucas Morgan, Seven Ponds

"Working from the theory that "it takes one to know one," McCormack—widowed while her children were still young-writes a clear-eyed account of the many emotions and situations a grieving person may encounter. She covers so much ground in such a little book that the reader could devour it quickly in hours or spend weeks reading it slowly, savoring each bit of wisdom. Anyone who is grieving or anyone who knows a grieving person will find hope and support in this small book." —Publishers Weekly