Resources
Death, dying, and grief are universal experiences, yet they are often difficult to talk about and understand. This collection of books, articles, podcasts, films, and personal stories was created from our own journeys through loss, reflection, and learning. Each resource has touched us in some way, helping us better understand what people experience as they face serious illness, death, and bereavement.
Our hope is that these resources will help familiarize you with the realities of death and dying, provide comfort and perspective during times of loss, and deepen your understanding of what others may be going through. Whether you are seeking guidance for your own journey, supporting someone you care about, or simply exploring this important part of life, we hope these materials offer insight, compassion, and a sense of connection.
By learning about death, we can reduce fear, foster meaningful conversations, and approach life's final chapter with greater understanding, preparation, and humanity.
Please reach out to us with feed back and suggestions for other resources.
Approaches to End of Life
Being Mortal Atul Gawande, MD
The Conversation Angelo Volandes, MD
At Peace Samuel Harrington, MD
The Best Care Possible Ira Byock, MD
How We Die Shewin B. Nuland
Sudden Death and the Myth of CPR Stefan Tmmerans
The Four Things that Matter Most Ira Byock, MD
Modern Death: How Medicine Changed the End of Life Warren Haider
After the Diagnosis Thomas Lynch & Barara Maridona
The Book of Joy Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu
Let's Talk Death Over Dinner Michael Hebb
Living Well with a Serious Illness Robin Bennett Kanarek
The Lost Art of Dying L.S. Dugdale, MD
Every Deep Drawn Breath Wes Ely, MD
A Beginner's Guide to the End BJ Miller, MD. & Shoshana Berfer
Personal Stories
In Shock Dr. Rana Awdish
A Beginners Guide to Dying Simon Boas
When Breath Becomes Air Paul Kalanithi, MD
The Last Lecture Randy Pausch
Making Rounds with Oscar David Dosa, MD
Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death Katy butler
The Bright Hour Nina Riggs
Dance Me to the End: Ten Months with ALS Alison Acheson
In Love Amy Bloom
No Pressure No Diamonds Terri Dillion
Still Point of the Turning World Emily Rapp
Stations of the Heart Richard Lischer
Immortal Bird Doran Weber
Dying Well Our Journey of Love and Loss Susan Ducharme Hoben
Stage 5 David Chill
I’m Dying To Be Me Anita Moorjani
Between Two Kingdoms Suleika Jaouad
Palliative Care Death Doula
That Good Night Sunita Puri, MD
The In Between Hadley Vlahos, RN
Briefly Perfectly Human Alua Arthur
Nothing to Fear Julie McFadden, RN
Death is a Day Worth Living Dr. Ana Claudia Quintana Arantes
Spiritual - Buddhist
The Five Intentions: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully Frank Ostaseski
How We Live is How We Die Pema Chodron
Being With Death Joan Halifax
Grief
Healing After Loss Martha Hickman
Finding Meaning The Sixth Stage of Grief David Kessler
Confessions of a Funeral Director Caleb Wilde
Dream New Dreams Jai Pausch
Worth Fighting For Lisa Niemi Swayze
My Father's Wake Kevin Toolis
Second Firsts Christina Rasmussen
The Cost of Hope Amanda Bennett
Widows Wear Stilettos Carol Brody Fleet
Saturday Night Widows Becky Aikman
Surviving Death Leslie Kean
Novels about Death and Dying
The Measure Nikki Erlick
The Fault of Our Stars John Green
We are all Made of Stars Rowan Coleman
Me Before You Jojo Moyes
The One Hundred Years of Lennie and Margo Marianne Cronin
The Collective Regrets of Clover Mikki Brammer
The Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom
Things I Wish I Told My Mother Susan Patterson & Susan DuLallo
When We Were Widows Annette Chavez Macias
Children’s Books
The Next Place Warren Hanson
The Invisible String Patrice Karst
When Someone Dies A Child-Caregiver Activity Book By the National Alliance for Grieving Children
The Healing Book Ellen Sabin
The Adventure Jar A story of magic for families living with metastatic breast cancer
A Peaceful Piggy’s Guide to Sickness and Death, Sadness and Love Kerry Lee MacLean
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf Leo Buscaglia, PhD