Rating: 4 out of 5

I stumbled across this book at the library the other week as it was on the shelf next to where the book I was actually looking for should have been.

It’s been an interesting read because the experiences and what people want and need are poles apart. One person’s most liked approach is another persons most hated. There were some I could relate to, and others that were beyond my comprehension.

The sections on Professional advice and Dos and Donts is very useful as a summary

Highlighted passage:

I’ve found that those who are facing death often have a much better sense of humour than those who live life as though they are immortal

the scariest things about the nature of our lives are the fact that we’re alone, that we are meant to have a purpose, that we’re tied down by responsibilities and that we’re all going to die

people can now create secret messages to be sent out posthumously via social networks. DeadSocial, an organisation that calls itself a ‘digital legacy tool’ exists so that people can create a series of secret messages that are only released once they have died

Grief is not an event, it is a process, and processes don’t have a finishing line

Be mindful that everyone will have their own unique role to play in the support dynamic

the best thing you can do as a friend is to continue to be the way you’ve always been

I believe that friends are all that matter on the whole anyway. In fact, I think there should be a whole new social structure where families aren’t important

Originally posted to my Goodreads account