Books for Life, Death, and Dying

During the year that my mom was sick, I read a lot of books about death, grief, and loss. These were my three favorites.

No Death, No Fear by Thich Naht Hanh

Thich Naht Hanh was a monk who wrote about meditation and mindfulness. I often carried his books with me on my travels. In the last months of my mom’s life I read this one out loud to her. It provided us both with a deep sense of comfort and connection.

Holding Space: On Loving, Dying, and Letting Go by Amy Wright Glenn

I don’t remember how I found this book but daaaaamn, I’m glad I did. Amy Wright Glenn is a chaplain and doula, as well as the founder of The Institute for Birth, Breath, and Death. This is the book that only Amy Wright Glenn could write. It’s truly exquisite.

Gratitude by Oliver Sacks

My friend Mary lent me a stack of books about death. I meant to read them all but only got to the shortest one, which happened to this tiny gem. The neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks wrote it while he was dying. This book was a relief to read, because it made everything seem okay. Everything is okay.

My mom loved being outside, so we often read outdoors. On this day it was raining so I wheeled her to the old falling-apart greenhouse in the back yard. You wouldn’t think No Death, No Fear would be funny, but on this day it was hilarious.