The Grief Recovery Handbook : The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death Divorce, and Other Losses [Paperback]

John W. James (Author), Russell Friedman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 1998

Incomplete recovery from grief can have a lifelong negative effect onyour capacity for happiness. Drawing from their own histories, as wellas from others, the authors illustrate what grief is and how it ispossible to recover and regain energy and spontaneity. Based on a provenprogram, now extensively revised, The Grief Recovery Handbookoffers grievers the specific actions needed to complete the grievingprocess and accept loss. For those ready to regain a sense of aliveness,the principles outlined here make this a life-changinghandbook.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book is required for all my classes. The more I use this book, the more I believe that unresolved grief is the major underlying issue in most people’s lives. It is the only work of its kind that I know of that outlines the problem and provides the solution.” (Bernard McGrane, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Chapman University )

About the Author

John W. James was born in Danville, Illinois. He was thrust unwillingly into the arena of grief and recovery when his three-day-old son died in 1977. John lives in Los Angeles with his Emmy Award-winning wife, Jess Walton -- the evil "Jill Abbott" on The Young & the Restless -- and spends most of his free time with daughter Allison and son Cole.

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 2 Revised edition (June 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060952733
• ISBN-13: 978-0060952730
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Relationships > Love & Loss
  • #83 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Relationships > Divorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Saved My Sister's Life, September 1, 2004

By 

Dottie - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Grief Recovery Handbook : The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death Divorce, and Other Losses (Paperback)

I first found this book almost 2 years ago. At the time I was looking for something to help my sister who had endured 13 major losses in less than 5 years and was in the depths of hell. She was barely able to get herself dressed every day and was so devestated she was not able to work because she couldn't stop crying. I picked this book up just hoping it held a "gem" of knowledge that I could use to help her. I was so blown away by the book that I asked her if she'd go to a workshop (she couldn't concentrate well enough to read the book). She agreed to go (she would have done anything to get rid of the pain). I put her on a plane to the next available workshop. Four days later she walked out of the workshop with a song in her heart and wings on her feet. She came home and enrolled in college full time and found 2 part-time jobs that worked around her college classes. I sent another sister to a workshop earlier this year. They are both happier than they've ever been in their lives and they tell me how peaceful they feel. They look forward to each new day with joy. I recently attended a workshop and have just been certified to begin an Outreach Program. Because of this book, many of my family members will know what to do whenever a loss occurs. For those people who can concentrate enough to read, this book may be what they need. But if they need more, please encourage them to find a Grief Recovery Outreach Program in their area. The Grief Recovery Institute's website is www.grief.net and they are very helpful to griever's who call them. Thank you John James and Russell Friedman for all the work you do to share your knowledge with grievers.

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a one-size-fits-all program, December 30, 2009

By 

Alex Hanisch "alleycatau" (Australia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Grief Recovery Handbook, 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses including Health, Career, and Faith (Paperback)

The introductory chapters to the book contain an interesting overview of grief in general and offer many valuable insights to those suffering from any kind of loss. However, the actual recovery program, presented as a series of exercises, is founded on two bases which may not be suitable for everyone.

1) You're pretty much expected to work with a partner. The authors take pains to say you don't HAVE to work with a partner, but then each new exercise begins with an invitation to "reconsider" your choice to work without a partner and to "examine your reasons" for choosing to work alone. For people who have turned to books because they lack any other kind of support network, this constant prodding can be uncomfortable and may even serve to add to their feelings of loneliness.

2) The program is designed to help you move past your regrets and/or bring closure to any "unfinished business" that remains since the loss occurred. The primary tools are timelines/charts and communication (written and - if you're working with a partner - verbal). Because unresolved issues do tend to trap many people in their grief, this program would no doubt be of great use to many people. However, there are other sides to grief, issues which may not necessarily have their roots in "unfinished business", and there doesn't seem to be much acknowledgement of those other issues in this book.

Basically, if you're trapped in a cycle of "if only" and it's preventing you from dealing with your grief, this book will probably help you. But if you're at peace with the past and are simply struggling to cope with the future in the face of your loss, this may not be the book for you.

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book gave me back my life!, November 14, 1999

By 

M. Dian Smith "Dian" (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Grief Recovery Handbook : The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death Divorce, and Other Losses (Paperback)

Essential for anyone who is experiencing grief, whether from arecent loss or one many years ago. Shows one how to complete theprocess and begin enjoying life anew. I can't recommend it highly enough. Please try it if you are "locked in limbo" and unable to experience real joy in your life.