Review of "On Grief and Grieving"

When Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote "On Death and Dying," it was a major work, examining, for many people for the first time, the aspects of life, emotions, and psychology that those faces dying have to deal with.  It is not too much to call the work seminal, although the grief "industry" has subsequently modified their view of the overall process.  Close to the end of her own life, Kubler-Ross worked with David Kessler to create this compendium on grief.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is grieving, or who is dealing with those who are.  It is a comprehensive overview of the emotions and confusion of grief and the grieving process.  I would not say that it provides any earth-shattering insights, and it is not presenting scholarly research, but it provides a solid background which can be both helpful and comforting for those in grief.

There are a number of similar works which try and address the overall range and process of grief, in fewer words and less time.  For me, the slower pace, larger size, and more extensive set of anecdotes of "On Grief and Grieving" is more appropriate.  The reduced works give the feeling, all too common in our society, that grief must be hurried, and is a nuisance.  Grief is a major event in a life where it falls, and will take a long time.