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Grieving Is Loving: Compassionate Words for Bearing the Unbearable
In the style of a quote-a-day collection, this book from Wisdom’s bestselling author Joanne Cacciatore distills down the award-winning book Bearing the Unbearable into easy-to-access small chunks, and includes much brand-new material, including new prose and poems from Dr. Jo and other sources as well.
From INDIES Gold Medal Award-Winner and Wisdom Bestseller Joanne Cacciatore
If you love, you will grieve—and nothing is more mysteriously central to becoming fully human. This book is a companion to carry with you throughout your day, to touch in with and be supported by when bearing the unbearable pain of a loved one’s death—whether weeks or years since their passing. Our culture often makes the bereaved feel alone, isolated, broken, and like they should just “get over it”—this book offers a loving antidote. Open to any page and you’ll find something that will instantly help you feel not alone, while honoring the full weight of loss.
This book is comprised of quotations from Bearing the Unbearable , and other sources as well, plus an enormous amount of new material from Dr. Jo. Especially well-suited for the grieving mind that may struggle with concentration, just 30 seconds on any page will empower, hearten, and validate any bereaved person—helping give strength and courage to bear life’s most painful losses.
Praise for Bearing the Unbearable
“This masterpiece is the greatest gift I could give to someone entrenched in grief, or to the loved ones of the bereaved.”—The Tattooed Buddha
“Simply the best book I have ever read on the process of grief.”— Huffington Post
“Anyone who's trying to deal with a loss, or anyone who knows someone dealing with a loss, (and in truth, isn't that everyone?) will benefit from reading this amazing book.”— Foreword Reviews
“It offers hope for those who feel like their loss has disconnected themselves forever from humanity and the circle of life.”—Doug Bremner, MD, professor of psychiatry, Emory University and author of You Can’t Just Snap Out of It
“This is a holy book, riddled with insight and compassion.”—Francis Weller, author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow
From INDIES Gold Medal Award-Winner and Wisdom Bestseller Joanne Cacciatore
If you love, you will grieve—and nothing is more mysteriously central to becoming fully human. This book is a companion to carry with you throughout your day, to touch in with and be supported by when bearing the unbearable pain of a loved one’s death—whether weeks or years since their passing. Our culture often makes the bereaved feel alone, isolated, broken, and like they should just “get over it”—this book offers a loving antidote. Open to any page and you’ll find something that will instantly help you feel not alone, while honoring the full weight of loss.
This book is comprised of quotations from Bearing the Unbearable , and other sources as well, plus an enormous amount of new material from Dr. Jo. Especially well-suited for the grieving mind that may struggle with concentration, just 30 seconds on any page will empower, hearten, and validate any bereaved person—helping give strength and courage to bear life’s most painful losses.
Praise for Bearing the Unbearable
“This masterpiece is the greatest gift I could give to someone entrenched in grief, or to the loved ones of the bereaved.”—The Tattooed Buddha
“Simply the best book I have ever read on the process of grief.”— Huffington Post
“Anyone who's trying to deal with a loss, or anyone who knows someone dealing with a loss, (and in truth, isn't that everyone?) will benefit from reading this amazing book.”— Foreword Reviews
“It offers hope for those who feel like their loss has disconnected themselves forever from humanity and the circle of life.”—Doug Bremner, MD, professor of psychiatry, Emory University and author of You Can’t Just Snap Out of It
“This is a holy book, riddled with insight and compassion.”—Francis Weller, author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow
136 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2020
59 people are currently reading
1576 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 24, 2021
4 stars. This has been an excellent middle of the night read when I'm having trouble sleeping but don't have enough brain power to read anything dense and long. The quotes, small stories, and tidbits were perfect. The idea that grief is a form of love and that there should be no expiration date on how long grief is felt or how strongly really hit home with me. I appreciate the author's view that there's nothing wrong with you for feeling sad or missing someone who isn't here anymore. I really needed to hear that.
August 7, 2025
this has been very helpful to me while grieving my little doggy who was literally my soulmate. i miss you molly girl
January 28, 2021
A stand-alone book for daily reflection on grief. A quick read on grief with wisdom centered around the reality that if you are grieving, you loved deeply and that love has been ruptured.
February 23, 2021
Disappointed
I am very disappointed. Please understand, I thought her book, “Bearing The Unbearable,” was exceptional, inspirational, exactly what I needed to read at the time. My beautiful, beloved wife of twenty five years passed away just 2 and a half months ago and I am grieving, deeply in pain. I love my wife, and miss her every minute of every day. Words can not describe how I feel. Dr Jo’s sincere description of grief, and to embrace it and surrender to it have truly helped me, and I am deeply grateful to her for that...But now to comment on this book, “Grieving Is Loving.” This is just a “slight” recap of the first book...there is nothing new? And 74 pages, I don’t understand why she did it? Another ten dollars; for what? I feel ripped off. After reading her first book, I was inspired, and I admired her. I looked forward to reading anything she wrote... but now, this book was such an emotional let down. I am sorry to be so brutally honest, but that’s how I feel..and I’m still grieving?
I am very disappointed. Please understand, I thought her book, “Bearing The Unbearable,” was exceptional, inspirational, exactly what I needed to read at the time. My beautiful, beloved wife of twenty five years passed away just 2 and a half months ago and I am grieving, deeply in pain. I love my wife, and miss her every minute of every day. Words can not describe how I feel. Dr Jo’s sincere description of grief, and to embrace it and surrender to it have truly helped me, and I am deeply grateful to her for that...But now to comment on this book, “Grieving Is Loving.” This is just a “slight” recap of the first book...there is nothing new? And 74 pages, I don’t understand why she did it? Another ten dollars; for what? I feel ripped off. After reading her first book, I was inspired, and I admired her. I looked forward to reading anything she wrote... but now, this book was such an emotional let down. I am sorry to be so brutally honest, but that’s how I feel..and I’m still grieving?
December 10, 2020
This is a book to read that has important passages, brief, short for the grieving brain. I found this to be extremely helpful. Not a passage a day format but easily digested and in a single day absorbed so much.
April 13, 2021
This short book had helpful tidbits on grief, but essentially was just a collection of quotes and short pieces on the topic.
February 23, 2021
What I basically took away from this book, and it is an important lesson, is that grief is not to be avoided and that you know what is right for you in your sorrow. Too often well-meaning people try to say the right thing or make you feel a certain way and this book gives you license to deal with grief on your own terms. It is a short book that could be read in one sitting, but it also lends itself to digesting in smaller pieces or revisiting passages.
I very much like the structure of this book. Besides the excellent passages written by the author it is interspersed with poems, quotations, reflections, and stories from others.
The author suffered a traumatic loss of her own in 1994 and that served as a catalyst for her to devote her life to counseling the bereaved from around the world.
This book would make a thoughtful and useful gift to anyone who has suffered a loss.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I very much like the structure of this book. Besides the excellent passages written by the author it is interspersed with poems, quotations, reflections, and stories from others.
The author suffered a traumatic loss of her own in 1994 and that served as a catalyst for her to devote her life to counseling the bereaved from around the world.
This book would make a thoughtful and useful gift to anyone who has suffered a loss.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
December 25, 2022
This book is good if you like small blurbs and a quick read. It made me feel less alone in what I'm going through, but it was a bit repetitive. I wish there was some more to it and maybe even tips and concepts to help you feel better in moments of pure despair.
April 27, 2021
Good comfort for deep grief.
October 25, 2022
This book is a 'mini' version of Bearing the Unbearable. I loved it but I think you don't need it if you already have Bearing the Unbearable.
November 14, 2022
I thought it would be different from Bearing the Unbearable. It was all quotes from the previous book. It would be helpful to gift it to someone who knows grief for a quick reflective tool.
January 4, 2023
my heart is in pieces but i now know why and what those pieces are. i love you issie
May 31, 2023
It is a very comforting book if you've lost someone close
September 21, 2023
A companion book indeed. Her words touch a deep part of my grieving heart, and in the best way.
February 2, 2024
Lovely little book for meditation/contemplation in grief.
January 1, 2025
An affirming book with a lot of insight and perspective into suffering and grieving. This book was able to put into words what I was not able to.
August 17, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
September 22, 2022
Absolute garbage.
May 19, 2023
My mom passed away in March. She had been sick for a very long time. I miss her so much!
My sweet daughter brought me this book, she thought it would make me feel better. It did, this book made me realize I am not alone in my grief and that we all grieve differently and in our own time.
There are many helpful paragraphs, beautiful poems and quotes.
It is not a book to read all at once, one that I will go back to though.
"Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun sill go down for the last, last time-"
James Baldwin
My sweet daughter brought me this book, she thought it would make me feel better. It did, this book made me realize I am not alone in my grief and that we all grieve differently and in our own time.
There are many helpful paragraphs, beautiful poems and quotes.
It is not a book to read all at once, one that I will go back to though.
"Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun sill go down for the last, last time-"
James Baldwin
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews