Review of "Coping with Bereavement" by Hamish McIlwraith

McIlwraith's book, while not ignoring emotions, concentrates on activities, plans, and practical processes.  The very useful confidence building self-assessment tool is only one example.  Chapter three, on facing death, covers an awful lot of the death administration which is a major problem in the period immediately surrounding the death.  Chapter six, on relationship skills for those who have lost a partner, helps provide for a new social life with a number of practical strategies.  Chapter seven, on decision making skills, goes through a number of practical planning exercises and outlines.  Therefore, McIlwraith's book is probably most useful to men who are grieving, as it concentrates on the instrumental style of processing grief.  This is not to say that it will not help mourning women: it probably will.  McIlwraith's book is likely something that should be read most bereavement counselors, as it provides some balance with the instrumental style, as opposed to the much more common intuitive style involved in most literature on grief.