Good Grief: 50th Anniversary Edition

Westberg explains the ten processes of grief in detail, giving guidance in what to realistically expect and how to practically deal with it. His perspective allows the grieving person to find his or her "new normal" after the loss. A must read for those in grief.

This is quick, helicopter view of the stages of grieving. It identifies the characteristics of each stage and helped me see transitions that will come in the process. I also purchased it for my siblings as we just lost our Mom last month to cancer. Highly recommended.

This is one of the best books for anyone experiencing change - especially grief. I have sent it as a sympathy offering to many over the past 10 years and have received only warm and grateful responses.

This book helps you understand and have patience with yourself
whether you are mad at God or going through phases twice, out of order
or what ever. A Must read for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one.

Through the years, this has been the best book I have found on the first stages one goes through when grieving. I have given it to widow friends in their early days of widowhood. It had been out of print. Thanks to whoever brought it back.

A clergyman brought this book to our house as part of his courtesy call, following my Mother's death. It was exactly the right book for me at that moment ! I took it with me when I went home and my Dad loved it, too!

Dr. Westberg knows whereof he writes and the applicability of the title is only ONE MORE good thing about judging THIS book by the cover!

I now have a supply on hand for distribution under those circumstances which no one wants to face. Yet we know we MUST.

This book is a book that discusses the stages of grief. I have read three books about this topic. This one is not the best but it is okay on the topic. This one lists that there are ten stages of grief but there are basicly five stages of grief that a person goes though.

This book was recommended by my minister as a spiritually based easy, hopeful,and consoling guide to grief. After reading this book, I gave it away. Then I purchased four more copies to have on hand to give with sympathy.

I first read this book after the death of my son 15 years ago. In the last year my sister lost her husband to ALS and a friend lost her father to ALS. They were two strong and amazing woman daily witnessing the decline of two very strong men. Good Grief came to mind and I ordered two copies for them, but I also downloaded the kindle edition and read this wonderful book again. I found it to be a big help for me while I experience the loss of my father who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's - he is also one of the strongest men I have had the privilege to know. This is "One to Keep" Libby Ragland

A great, easy reading book that will bring comfort to anyone dealing with a loss or help on how to help someone else deal with this. I highly recommend the reading of this book by all adults, regardless of their belief or connection with God.

This book outlined stages of grief as noted by the author. It may help someone if they want to know if they are progressing through grief. Most people will progress and make it fine to the other side. I did not find this book helpful if you are aware that there are stages of grief.

This was recommended to me by a grief counselor. I can see that people in that profession would like it because it breaks down into categories every emotion of losing someone close to you. It was too clinical for me. Didn't help me understand or cope with anything.

I discovered after some time that I did not get the 50th Anniversary Edition that is in the picture. This book was a reading assignment for United Methodist Licensing School and I think the main contents are the same, but the picture and the write-up show the 50th Anniv. Ed. and I got a 1982 printing of the book??

I found this gem of a book in a hospital gift shop and thought of several of my friends and myself who have recently experienced a loss or losses. The shopkeeper said she knew of someone who bought them in bulk for her church grief group. The book even helped Mamie Eisenhower after the death of her husband Ike. The Foreword explains the title of the book. Grief is not defined as simply the death of a person. People can grieve over divorce, moves, job loss. Westberg explains how the idea of stages of grief was first suggested by Dr. Erich Lindemann of Harvard and not Kubler-Ross as I had thought. According to Lindemann there are 10 stages of grief, from a state of shock to affirming reality. Not only does the author explain the manifestations of grief, but also how to be a friend to the grief-stricken. This would be a wonderful gift for anyone experiencing a loss and one to keep on a shelf for reference.

This is the best book on the market about grief. In the past I have ordered these in bulk to have on hand to give to friends, family members, ministers, and or any one who is going through a grieving period. It is simple, easy to read, spiritual, concise, a quick read, and gives one a sense of peace. I cannot say enough about this useful and helpful book. It was given to me years ago when I had lost a loved one unexpectedly. It was answered prayer for me and it is not surprising that the book has been around for more than 50 years.

Some good information here but I disagree that there are "stages" of grief. There are experiences in grief but stages imply that as one completes a "stage" they progress to the next one and then eventually will be all "okay" with their grief. Not true. No research that proves there are "stages" of grief. We went from Kubler-Ross's "5 stages" to "10 stages" in this book. As a grief counselor for a hospice, I've literally had people say that they have gone through all the stages of grief and they're still a mess and wonder why. And they wonder why they don't have "closure". Because there is no "closure".

Grief touches us all in life. Our choice is to honor and move that grief and allow it to open your heart. Many years ago, I met my husband. I wanted to be loved by him and his family-not only was I treated badly, he became estranged from his sister after she (though all he had ever done was love her and be an amazing big brother) chose money over love. The grief and despair she feels shines in her eyes to this day-this kind of grief is sometimes worse than death, as it permeates her life forever. Recently a dear old friend passed away and I wished I had said more, showed her more of my love. Grief for her loss was profound but so was the grief at what had remained unsaid. Do what you can-every day, in every way with love. Then, though you grieve it will be a peaceful life.

You are never prepared for death especially your mother’s. This is a BIG one. I approached this situation as I do any big challenge by developing a strategy. This 63-page book was recommended to me by my coach as an easy 30-minute valuable read and it certainly did not disappoint. Written by a minister, there are many references to God but it still felt accessible to me even though I am not a religious person. The now famous Five Stages of Grief from the 1969 book by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, On Death and Dying includes: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This book instead describes ten stages: shock, emotion, depression, physical feelings of distress, panic, guilt, anger/resentment, resist returning, and gradually hope comes through. I like these additional steps because they paint a more realistic picture of the immense range of feelings and experiences that can arise. I am someone who is comfortable expressing emotion and talking about what I feel. Even so, I was caught by surprise at how angry, shocked, and physically distressed I could feel during the process of grief. This book offers comfort in encouraging you to express yourself, as that is the pathway to a new beginning.

To me, this little book is worth more than its weight in gold. The first 6 stages were particularly pertinent to me.

The part that keeps coming back to me is his citing of the shortest verse in the Bible -- "Jesus wept" (Jno. 11:35). He pointed out that Jesus "wanted and needed to express the feelings within him." That may sound trite, but countless people are carrying around very strong feelings/emotions inside them, instead of releasing them or dealing with them in some way. If bottled up too long, it can result in significant mental, emotional, and physical illness.

"Good Grief" presents many fundamentals that are CRUCIAL in getting through a traumatic loss in life. It has helped me immensely and, obviously, I highly recommend it.

The emotions of grief are profound, not many friends will offer to do more than help distract you from your grief work. This simple booklet, easy enough to focus on, was a companion in the days when my life seemed to lie in ruins. Her name was Claire, a little girl whom I am so grateful to been mom to. She was complicated and sweet. Lots of problems to solve. Her life lasted only seven years. I still miss her at times, but I smile more now when I remember her. This book helped rebuild my decimated soul. It wasn't all the answers, but it got me through a bit of it

I found this to be a good, easy-to-read little book on the topic of Grief. It definitely has a Pastoral approach, and does cover the grieving of both the faithful and those without faith.

As a Pastor, I found this a good reminder of things that I need to keep in mind when ministering to those who grieve. As one who has suffered my share of losses, it was also therapeutic - which did surprise me :)

Good Grief by Granger E. Westberg is a book that is cheap ... and short (64 pages) which I was able to read in one afternoon. It is packed with good information. Pages 24 and 24:::Even though a person does come out of the initial shock, he will undoubtedly experience times in the succeeding days and months when the unreality of the loss comes over him again. Every now and then he will say,"I just can't believe it has happened. Intellectually I know it did happen, but I guess I just have not really accepted it emotionally." For all of us the biggest hurdle is "accepting it emotionally."

This is what I am dealing with sometimes even after 11 months of living through the completed suicide of my fiance, Bob. I accept it on one point but sometimes it hits me temporarily for a few moments and it is hard to accept. The online web sites help too - groww.org, 1000deaths.com, survivorsofsuicide.com, and online support groups and SOS in person meetings.
Ann in Nashville

I bought several books on grief after my daddy died, and this was by far the best one. It helped me so much that I now buy it for friends when they lose a loved-one to death. I like that this book is small and gets directly to the point without being too wordy. When you are grieving, you do not feel like reading a novel. I cannot count the number of copies I have bought in the past 20 years. This book addresses all kinds of grief including grief caused by divorce, job loss, and other life changes.

I am grateful for this tool to put in my ‘toolbelt’. As one who recently went through the loss of my grandmother, I also know from living overseas that we experience grief often times when friends move back to their passport countries. This is valuable for those of us left behind and those moving back, as often it feels like a death. Thank you for sharing it with us still! Your father’s words will go on for many more years and we are so grateful.

An approximately 50 year-old little hand book, still as useful as the day it was published. There is no shortage of books, even workbooks, available to help people deal with their grieving a loss. And some of the more modern writers, while not mentioning Westberg's "Good Grief" by name, point to his kind of approach as old fashioned and not very useful.

Still, there is no denying the fact that we all go through stages of grief when we suffer a significant loss, especially of someone we loved, such as a spouse, parent, or child. And Westberg does make it clear that everyone does not experience every one of his ten stages, nor do they go through them in the neat orderly fashion that his listing might suggest. But his comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of grief are still valid.

I must have given out several hundred of these booklets to grieving families and persons during my 43 years as as active ordained pastor. And I seldom had a person not tell me how helpful they found it to be. Not once did i ever have negative feedback on the booklet.

I would still highly recommend it, not as the last word perhaps, but as a very helpful tool for anyone going through the grief process.

I was a counelor for over 20 years and have given this book or recommended this little book often. The author speaks truth in such a simple and kind voice. I've been helped by it and I know it has helped those I've introduced to the book. Grieving is sometimes compared to the dying process discribed by Eliz Kubler Ross. Not true. Grief is so very different. The tiny size of this book makes it perfect for a grieving person who can barely read anything and certainly nothing too complicated. It's simplicity makes it a great book for all people. It can also be read again and again as the grief process continues and the griever goes through many changes which feel unique to them but which are usually very common to all of us who have had cause to grieve.

I am a counselor working primarily with adolescents, but this book is applicable for people of any age. I bought it to use as a tool for working with teens, but picked it up when I lost a family pet and read it while I was grieving. Very helpful. Best aspect of this book is that it deals with different kinds of losses in life that we grieve over- not exclusively death issues. The 10 steps have relevance for anyone who has experienced a loss, and the author does a wonderful job of explaining the steps of grief and how humans process grief. It is faith based, and that made me appreciate it even more!

I was given this book when my oldest brother was killed in 1995. When your heart is broken and your psyche is reeling from shock, pain, disbelief, and loss, it is too much to fathom to try to read a long, involved bunch of psychobabble. Granger Westberg's Good Grief is an easy read and truly confirms that the stages of grief through which one travels are, indeed, normal. He also tells you that there are times when you need to seek professional help to guide you through the grief process. In the past 12 years, I have given this book to many friends and acquaintances dealing with various types of loss. To a person, they've all told me how helpful this resource is and have passed it on to others. This book is truly a Godsend to the hurting.

Those looking for the biggest bang for their book dollar won't find it here. But if you're looking for something unique, compact and collectible, Good/Grief may be just the ticket. It features more (grainy) B&W visual images than text and "feels" more like a series of short films than a book. That said, it still only takes around 20 minutes or so to read the whole thing. But if you'd like to step inside the mind of a frank and sensitive individual with a unique outlook on life, Josh Koppel's Good/Grief offers you that very opportunity.

This book was given to me by a dear friend 1 1/2 years ago after the loss of my mother. At that time I could not understand the depths that this book explores the process of loss. It takes a very simple approach to a very complex problem and comes out letting you know the emotions that you feel are normal and that you will survive. At times I felt that this book was my string to sanity. I have since made it an effort to give copies of this book to friends that have or are going through the process so that they may be comforted in some small way.

I first read this book after I loss a father figure. I went to the bookstore and chose the thinnest book I could find because I needed help quickly. It was a great help because it guided me to know what feelings I would be experiencing, and I remember thinking "I'm not going crazy afterall." Since I first read it, I've given it to someone else. Yesterday I stood with a friend as she went to be with the Lord. I think I could use this book again. So, I'm ordering two. One for me, and one to lend.
If you are having a difficult time dealing with grief, this book will help you understand your feelings -- only God can help deal with them. Together, I found them a good combination.

I lost my 24 year old son, to gun violence, on 11/29/13. I came across this book in a bookstore and purchased it. It was like the author knew me step by step. Each chapter was so helpful to me that I've decided to purchase this book to sow into the lives of others who have suffered the loss of a precious loved one.

An outstanding book that has sold millions of copies. I've given it to many family members and friends for various grief situations. It's an easy read and the content is great. My only complaint is the morbid cover. Years ago, it had a much more uplifting cover design with refreshing colors. This is an important issue for gift-giving ... when someone receives the book, they should get the sense that they'll feel better after they read it (instead of more depressed).

Although a picture book may seem like an unlikely place to confront death, masturbation, and the Oedipus complex, the funny and painful stories in Good/Grief do exactly that. And it makes sense: If you've got to take on uncomfortable subjects, why not do it in a comfortable format? Narrated in concise, pellucid prose, illustrated by Koppel's own beautiful black-and-white photographs, the six stories in this book are hauntingly personal, told with a rare and challenging honesty. I recommend it to one and all.

GOOD GRIEF is written in simple, down to earth, wisdom. It shares how painful and inwardly revealing the experience of living through grief can be. Granger Westberg takes the reader into the heart and soul of loss and reminds us just how sacred our human relationships really are. -- Samuel Oliver, author of, WHAT THE DYING TEACH US: LESSONS ON LIVING.

This small booklet describes the ten stages of grief and is written in such a manner that it is easy to read and the reader need not read each section in order. It is a helpful reference book that is given out at my church's community grief support group, "The Comfort Zone," which is why I purchased a quantity of them.

My 20-year-old son and only child was killed in an automobile accident 11-2-99. So, my husband and I as well as many family and friends are still grieving. A good friend sent me this book during the holidays, but I just read it recently. I was amazed at how the author so simply, in only a few words, captures the essence of grieving--not only grieving for one who has died but other grieving events such as divorce, losing a job, etc. I think the book helped me most understand what my husband is experiencing because I think we are in different stages of grieving. I feel that I can better understand some of his behavior now after reading this book. I plan to share this powerful book with others, especially young people who are having an especially difficult time accepting my son's sudden death.

Good Grief has stood the test of time because it is a wonderful, quick, easy read for those who are going through terribly difficult times. The most valuable thing about it, in my opinion, is how it explains the stages of the grief process. It helps the reader know that they are not alone during dark times and that the emotions they experience are completely normal. As a pastor, I have given this book to many people who are dealing with death and divorce. I highly recommend it.

Gene Jennings, Author of Timely Words

At first flip it reminds me of the movie 'Summer of '42'. This seems like a pretty amazing first work - if it is that - in that the author seems to have no fear exposing to the world what we all are afraid of exposing. And Koppel does it in a format that tends to disarm and lighten the material. Can't wait to see the movie.

I was a new Chaplain at a Lutheran Hospital and had read his book while in seminary. I was in the office mailroom and noticed his name at the far top reaches of the chaplains' mailboxes. A rather short man came in the room . He spoke to me and said it was strange that the shortest person was given the highest mail slot. I was just over six foot and asked him his name. He said Granger Westberg. I was speechless and tongued tied. Thus began an acquaintance. I learned so much about what one person could do and how to get others to work for good in their community. I was able to recruit a doctor and retired nursing instructor to head up a health care center in my little community. He was responsible for getting medical people to donate their time in their own communities which became known as the Parish Nurse organization. My thanks to Rev Westberg, especially to all those who dearly loved him and gave so much of themselves to their communities.

Rev A. Peter Arthur

Grief is a journey, not a destination. This book provides a discussion of the process of grief in twelve steps. I first read this book just after my wife died of brain cancer in 1996. It was a great help in understanding what I was going through. If you are grieving, this is a great book to read. It also comes in large print for easier reading through tears.

My mistake was not ordering the large print edition. We have been using the book for several years in a prison class on grief issues. It has served us well in that capacity. However, many of the prisoners have a reading problem and the larger print is helpful. Maybe I will remember to request the large print the next time.

This is a good book for anyone that is going through
tough times (Death and etc). It lifts your Spirits and lets you know that You are Not Alone. This book
helps a person Understand Why you feel mad, glad, sad
and so on.

I, too, have bought this book in bulk to share with anyone who has suffered a loss. It is brief and easy to read, reassuring, and very practical. Although written by a minister, people of any (or no) religion have found it useful.

I got five copies of this book to give to co-workers who had deaths in the family. I got them quickly and in excellent condition. All of the recipients said they were helped by the books. Thanks so much.

This book, written for quick reading, works to help those as it was intended. Some do not realize when they are actually in mourning or that they are grieving a loss and "Good Grief" explains the grieving process. It is a tool that gives those who read it an idea of what to expect. At times when we suffer a loss we are given stacks of books to read that we aren't ready or willing to read during the initial shock. I found "Good Grief" to be quick, easy reading and informative.

this is a unique and heart felt look at growing up. Josh Koppel makes you feel every emotion he felt as he takes you along on what seemed like watching a short film or a series of short films. If you want something to add to your bookshelf this is definetly one to add. Super!

Touching and funny stories of innocence lost told in a truly unique graphical way. Josh tells stories straight from the heart, and his honesty, vulnerability and childlike curiousity shine through on every page.

Great book and it properly uses the stages of grief for those who experiences a significant loss. Most use a model intended and designed for the stages of grief of a terminally ill individual. Great resource.

This book was recommended by our church as we have just lost our daughter to cancer. It is very helpful in the grief process and find I am rereading it over and over. Thanks for an inspiring helpful book at this difficult time.

This book is a wonderful gift for anyone who has a death in their life. From your parents, to your loved one, to a child, there is something for everyone in this book. I bought it for myself when my father died and now its a must have to give instead of flowers for the people in my life who experience a death.

I have provided this book to many friends who have experienced loss. The feedback I have received from them is that it has helped them to know that what they are feeling and experiencing is a normal part of the grief process. The hints the books provides help at each stage.

This tiny book is a block of concentrated emotion that is great for kids, adults, and perfect for parents to share with their growing children. It's simple, but not at all beige, and small only in size- not in emotional power.

I was extremely disappointed with this book. Although it can be read in 15 minutes, it is basically an outline of the stages of grief with no substancial advice on how to deal with each stage other than to let you know it is a normal process.

This "mini-booklet" is basically a reiteration of the stages of grief set within a Judeo-Christian perspective. One could probably stop by the local funeral parlor and pick up a free pamphlet that would be every bit as edifying.

Good grief, what a disappointment!

I received this shabby book with a cover showing that a sticker had been removed taking with it part of the color. I then turned the page and saw that a name had been whited out. A copyright of 1962 and a price of $1.25 was on the back.
I feel I was really taken, since I then called Barnes and Noble bookstore and they had the 50th anniversary edition for
$5.99 and I was charged $23.94 for that piece of junk that I could not even give as a gift . I went the book store and bought 3 copies for less than I was charged for that one shabby copy.