Doors Close, Doors Open (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

How long should a widow grieve? What is more helpful: therapy or support groups? When a husband dies, who offers more help: family or friends? These questions and more are addressed by Lieberman, professor of human development and director of the Aging and Mental Health Project at UC-San Francisco, in this brief guide to grieving. For his study, the author interviewed more than 700 widows and widowers over a seven-year period, and his most salient finding is that "there is no norm, no set pattern for healthy grieving and recovery." Despite the title, he devotes a chapter to widowers and the differences between grieving men and women. His advice is sensible and on the mark, but readers should observe a few caveats. Despite the claim to represent all ages and income groups, most of Lieberman's examples seem to be drawn from the middle and upper-middle classes; interviewees tend to be older (40s plus). No mention is made of black couples, and same-sex relationships are not addressed.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Drawing on years of research and interviews with hundreds of widows and widowers, a distinguished psychologist discusses the grieving and recovery process, explaining how the widowed create new lives, develop a new sense of self, and discover new strengths within themselves.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 287 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1 edition (April 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399141413
• ISBN-13: 978-0399141416
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #642,020 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On Grief, January 9, 2007

By	F. Qualls (WI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I moderate a list for people whose dogs have died and bought this book to learn more about grief. It is well written, has clear language that is direct and easy to understand, and is filled with understanding and compassion for the person who has lost someone dear and also for those who have ambivalent feelings about the deceased. One of the most poignant observations is that the people around the griever tend to get back to their normal routines soon and don't understand that the griever cannot.It gives the outlines of what people tend to go through after a loss. I've found that not all people will read a book like this after a death, so it might be more useful to read this simply to know beforehand that this is a good resource that you can go back to when you do need help.
F. Qualls