Widowed [Mass Market Paperback]

Joyce Brothers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 13, 1992

In 1989, Dr. Joyce Brothers's husband of more than thirty years, Dr. Milton Brothers, passed away. As a widow, Dr. Brothers found herself emotionally lost and alone, at sea in an ocean of grief -- until she dealt with her despair, overcame her loneliness, and, gradually, put her life back together again.
In WIDOWED, Dr. Brothers shares this intimate journey and offers the knowledge she has gained along the way. In her personal, comforting way, Dr. Joyce Brothers describes the very real incidents and feelings that every woman who has lived through the death of a spouse will immediately recognize.
Here is compassionate insight on confronting grief and loss, coping with the myriad emotions that bombard a widow, and handling the pain and self-pity that ultimately lead to change. This is the book you can turn to for support, strength, and, most importantly, a glimpse of hope.
"Crammed with good advice, generously coated with genuine compassion, WIDOWED is must reading." -- The Pittsburgh Press

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Having for years advised women on how to face widowhood or other grievously damaging emotional experiments, popular psychologist Brothers ( What Every Woman Should Know About Love and Marriage ) here recounts how she rebuilt her own life after briefly considering suicide upon the 1989 death by cancer of her husband of 39 years. Accepting pain, the author asserts, is the first step toward healing. And although she describes the generally recognized stages of mourning, Brothers emphasizes that the intensity and duration of each stage vary greatly with the individual. Of particular interest to widows are her astute reflections on sex and remarriage based on candidly recalled incidents of her own widowhood, and practical tips on how to "join the parade of life again." This is a self-help guide of inestimable value. First serial to Good Housekeeping; Literary Guild alternate.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The noted psychologist shares her experiences as a widow in this personal account of loss and loneliness. Bereft of her beloved husband, who died at age 62 after an 18-month struggle with bladder cancer, Brothers floundered--uncertain of herself, assaulted by feelings of self-pity and anger. Professional achievement and national recognition did not shield her from severe emotional trauma: here she displays an amazing lack of self-confidence and vulnerability, evident in touching descriptions of her inability to perform simple chores. The book includes a chapter with coping tips for the widow and another containing succinct suggestions for friends and acquaintances. Though neither as trenchant as Lynn Caine's Being a Widow ( LJ 10/1/88) nor as practical as Philomene Gates's Suddenly Alone ( LJ 5/1/90), it will undoubtedly gain a large readership on the basis of Brothers's well-earned reputation.
- Carol R. Glatt, VA Medical Ctr. Lib., Philadelphia
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 13, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345374002
• ISBN-13: 978-0345374004
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Family Relationships > Divorce
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Death & Grief > General
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Depression

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Really Struck Home!, March 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Widowed (Mass Market Paperback)

If I were a writer I would have written the same words! Somehow when it happens to you, you think you are the only one it has happened to, but when you read the words of Dr. Brothers you realise other people have felt the same pain and somehow that brings comfort to the trials you are going through. I highly recomend this book to anyone feeling the lose of their husband.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read with great advice for the newly widowed.`, August 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Widowed (Mass Market Paperback)

It comforted me to know that a psychiatrist had felt the same feelings and fears as I had after losing my husband suddenly. Much of the advice and thoughts are very helpful, although geared more toward the older widow. (I was 40 when my husband passed away, he was 51.) I would recommend this book to anyone going through the grieving process of a spouse or partner.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real account of how one person survived a loss., April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Widowed (Mass Market Paperback)

Reading this book really brought home the universality of grieving but does not deny or minimize the indivduality of each person's timeline for grieving. As a widow who just passed the one year mark, I could identify with most of what Dr. Brothers experienced and it was reassuring to read a real-life account of widowhood. The section giving concrete suggestions of what to do for a grieving person is very helpful and struck a chord with me as many of the actions she recommends were done for me and proved extremely helpful.