On this page you will find a selection of books that you may find interesting and helpful as you consider End of Life matters. From preparation for your own death, the support of others , dealing with grief, spirituality and much more.
"We are all, at some point in our lives, obliterated by loss. If you haven’t been by now, you will be in time – that’s for sure. And, of course, if you have been fortunate enough to have been truly loved, in this world, you will also cause extraordinary pain to others when you leave it. That’s the covenant of life and death, and the terrible beauty of grief."
THE SUNDAY TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR
A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR
A TELEGRAPH BEST MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR
A NEW STATESMAN BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Not just about his music, Faith, Hope and Carnage is a book about Nick Cave’s inner life, particularly the effects created by the death of his son
Created from over forty hours of intimate conversations with Seán O’Hagan, it is a profoundly thoughtful exploration, in Cave’s own words, of what really drives his life and creativity.
The book examines questions of faith, art, music, freedom, grief and love. It draws candidly on Cave’s life, from his early childhood to the present day, his loves, his work ethic and his dramatic transformation in recent years.
From a place of considered reflection, Faith, Hope and Carnage offers ladders of hope and inspiration from a true creative visionary.
We have only known this life, so dying scares us—and we are all dying. But what if dying is perfectly safe? What would it look like if you could approach dying with curiosity and love, in of other beings? What if dying is the ultimate spiritual practice?
Two books from Ram Dass. The first, "Still Here", sees him embracing Aging, Changing and Dying. written as he was approaching his later years
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The second, "Walking Each Other Home" is an intimate dialogue between two friends and luminaries on love, death, and the spiritual path, with guidance for the end-of-life journey.
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A year before Ram Dass passed, he reunited with his old friend Mirabai Bush for an intimate dialogue—which became "Walking Each Other Home".
In this extraordinary book, you’ll hear from two beloved teachers about the spiritual opportunities within the dying process. They generously share intimate personal experiences and timeless practices with courage, humor, and heart, gently exploring every aspect of this journey. Here you’ll learn about guidelines for being a “loving rock” for the dying, how to grieve fully and authentically, how to transform a fear of death, leaving a spiritual legacy, creating a sacred space for dying, and much more.
Grief: it is unpredictable and funny and sad, and You Are Not Alone captures this beautifully.
NEW STATESMAN, THE TIMES AND EXPRESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
'When Cariad Lloyd was just fifteen, she became the person-whose-dad-had-died; a mess of emotions and questions. She turned to the Five Stages of Grief model for guidance, but found its framework of loss was hard to reconcile with her messy and non-linear experience of grief.
In this wise and witty book, Cariad shares her grief road map - a collection of years of profound insights from experts and guests featured on her podcast, Griefcast - to remind us that you cannot do grief wrong. The flexibility of the map acknowledges that no two experiences of grief are the same and assists us in building a life around our grief.
So, welcome to the club. We know you didn't ask to be here. But you will be okay. Because you are not alone.
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Have you ever sat with someone as they were dying and wished that you could make it a better experience? Helping others face death with dignity and positivity is an act of profound kindness that also helps give the caregiver a chance to come to terms with this critical moment in our life's journey.
Felicity Warner reveals her guide to the unique experience of death in A Safe Journey Home, based on years of experience in hospice care.
This essential guide will tell you all you need to know to help a loved one or friend to die gently and with dignity once medicine has reached its limits. You can honour their experience and nurture it, by giving them all your attention, kindness and love. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations that will act as a comfort to all those experiencing death or bereavement, this book is a powerful guide to a subject that affects us all.
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Felicity is the founder of Soul Midwives and The Hospice of the Heart Trust, a UK charity that promotes holistic, compassionate and de-medicalised approaches to end of life care. A writer and broadcaster for 25 years she is regarded as an expert in communication all aspects of death and dying.
Death is not the end, and neither is it the beginning; it is one step along a perpetual, never-ending road of being. Move beyond the fear that surrounds death. Explore your own attitudes toward a profound but often taboo subject. Discover within yourself life-affirming beliefs about every state of existence. Written by a Druid priest who has worked in the mortuary profession for over two decades, The Journey into Spirit illuminates the three realms of existence-physical, spirit, and soul/source-meditating upon each realm with stories from the author's close work with death and his deeply personal spiritual experiences. Discover powerful rituals to honour family and friends in spirit as you join author Kristoffer Hughes in this beautiful journey of insight and practical guidance.
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Kristoffer Hughes is chief of the Anglesey Druid Order, a Mount Haemus scholar, and a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. He has served in the mortuary field for over twenty years. Kristoffer has been featured on Welsh, English, and French television and radio.
It is possible for everyone, if we make the right choices, to die with peace of mind.
After too many years of unfulfilling work, Bronnie Ware began searching for a job with heart. Despite having no formal qualifications or previous experience in the field, she found herself working in palliative care. During the time she spent tending to those who were dying, Bronnie's life was transformed. Later, she wrote an Internet blog post, outlining the most common regrets that the people she had cared for had expressed. The post gained so much momentum that it was viewed by more than three million readers worldwide in its first year. At the request of many, Bronnie subsequently wrote a book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, to share her story.
Bronnie has had a colourful and diverse life. By applying the lessons of those nearing their death to her own life, she developed an understanding that it is possible for everyone, if we make the right choices, to die with peace of mind.
In this short book author Leslie Scrase helps to uncover and explain those emotions felt when having to deal with death, something we will all be involved with during various parts of our lives but which is often so very difficult to contemplate or discuss.
After many years of conducting Humanist ceremonies the author has gained a great deal of sympathetic knowledge and understanding about bereavement and how to cope with it.
Starting with the funeral ceremony itself, the book goes on to discuss the problems of coping with untimely death, surviving and progressing after bereavement, whether there is life after death, and dealing with the anger or guilt which death can induce.
At the end of the book there are a good number of passages and poems to help stimulate or bring comfort to readers, many of which could also be particularly useful to anyone looking for something suitable to quote within a memorial ceremony.
A Buddhist teacher draws from her years of experience in caring for the dying to provide inspiring lessons on how to face death with courage and compassion
The Buddhist approach to death can be of great benefit to people of all backgrounds—as has been demonstrated by Joan Halifax’s decades of work with the dying and their caregivers. A Zen priest and a world-renowned pioneer in care of the dying, Halifax has helped countless people face death with courage and trained caregivers in compassioante end-of-life care.
In this book, Halifax offers lessons from dying people and caregivers, as well as guided meditations to help readers contemplate death without fear, develop a commitment to helping others, and transform suffering and resistance into courage. Her teachings affirm that we can open and contact our inner strength—and that we can help others who are suffering to do the same. Being with Dying is a source of wisdom for anyone who is facing their own death, caring for someone who is dying, or wishing to explore the transformative power of the dying process.
People are born into the welcoming arms of community. So too, people can be enveloped in love as they leave this life. This beautifully written book captures the gift of song, giving comfort, peace, and love to one's final journey into death.
Hallowell, founded by Kathy Leo of Vermont, is a hospice choir connected to Brattleboro Area Hospice. Hallowell has served as a model for many other hospice choirs formed as part of this growing movement. Kathy continues to co-lead workshops in the practice of bedside singing for the dying. She also works part time as a care coordinator for Brattleboro Area Hospice. Prior to her work with the dying, Kathy was a midwife and childbirth educator.
In an age where people are reluctant to discuss dying, "Seize The Day" lends us the strength to confront the mysteries of death, gives us hope and celebrates the courage of the human spirit.
In this remarkable book psychologist Marie de Hennezel draws upon her personal experience of working with the terminally ill in a palliative care unit in Paris. Her encounters with people at the end of their life gives her a unique perspective on what life and death really mean, and her ultimate message, shared through the stories she recounts in this book, is one of celebrating the power and tenacity of the human spirit. She encourages us to embrace moments of joy and the small pleasures of life and to 'seize the day' at every opportunity.
Death affects us all. Yet it is still the last taboo in our society, and grief is still profoundly misunderstood...
In Grief Works we hear stories from those who have experienced great love and great loss - and survived. Stories that explain how grief unmasks our greatest fears, strips away our layers of protection and reveals our innermost selves.
Julia Samuel, a grief psychotherapist, has spent twenty-five years working with the bereaved and understanding the full repercussions of loss. This deeply affecting book is full of psychological insights on how grief, if approached correctly, can heal us. Through elegant, moving stories, we learn how we can stop feeling awkward and uncertain about death, and not shy away from talking honestly with family and friends.
This extraordinary book shows us how to live and learn from great loss.