What We're Reading: Hospicare Staff Share Their Favorite Books on Grief, Death, and Living Well
Recently, Hospicare's Clinical Outreach Specialist Kimmy Jones was preparing for a community presentation when the group asked if she could recommend a good book about death, dying, or grief.
Kimmy turned to the Hospicare team for help, and the responses flooded in. Staff members from across the organization shared the books that had moved them, taught them something, or offered comfort during difficult times. What emerged was this collection, ranging from practical guides by nurses and physicians to memoirs, novels, and poetry.
You may already know that Hospicare has a community bereavement library, and all of these titles are available for you to borrow. Whether you're supporting someone through illness, navigating your own grief, or simply curious about how we might approach life's final chapter with more intention and grace, we hope you'll find something here that speaks to you.
Written by an experienced palliative care nurse, this book offers frank guidance on what to expect in life's final chapter. Tisdale addresses practical questions like what to say to the dying, how to talk with doctors, and what happens physically in the final months, weeks, days, and hours of life.
This step-by-step guide walks readers through the practicalities of end-of-life, from paperwork and healthcare navigation to difficult conversations with loved ones.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End — Atul Gawande
Surgeon Atul Gawande examines how medicine addresses (and sometimes fails) aging and dying patients. He explores the tensions between medical capabilities, patient wishes, and quality of life as people approach their final days.
Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul — Stephen Jenkinson
Jenkinson challenges readers to see dying well as a moral and spiritual obligation. This book confronts how modern culture avoids grappling with death and offers a different perspective on the dying process.
Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life — Ira Byock
A palliative care physician shares stories from decades at patients' bedsides, revealing how end-of-life care can bring meaning and peace.
The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully — Frank Ostaseski
Buddhist teacher and Zen Hospice Project cofounder Frank Ostaseski distills lessons from accompanying over 1,000 people through death. His five principles—don't wait, welcome everything, bring your whole self, find rest, and cultivate not-knowing—offer guidance not just for dying, but for living with intention and presence.
The Good Death: A Guide for Supporting Your Loved One Through the End of Life — Suzanne O'Brien, RN
Drawing on twenty years as a hospice nurse and death doula, O'Brien provides both practical caregiving guidance and a workbook-style planner to help families document their loved one's end-of-life wishes. This comprehensive resource addresses emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of dying.
I See You've Called in Dead: A Novel — John Kenney
In this witty novel, an obituary writer facing his own crises begins attending strangers' funerals to learn how to live again. Readers describe the book as both humorous and moving.
The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments — Hadley Vlahos, RN
A hospice nurse who has shared her experiences with millions online weaves together patient stories with her own journey into palliative care. Vlahos helps readers understand both the dying process and the realities of hospice care.
Leaning into Love: A Spiritual Journey through Grief — Elaine Mansfield
This memoir by a local author explores life after profound loss, offering a deeply personal perspective on grief and healing.
My Mother, Your Mother: Embracing Slow Medicine — Dennis McCullough
McCullough advocates for anticipating elderly loved ones' needs and planning ahead rather than waiting for crises. He promotes "slow medicine"—thoughtful, proactive care in an era when people are living longer than ever.
Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully — Julie McFadden
Known as "Hospice Nurse Julie," McFadden demystifies death with straightforward explanations of what dying looks like physically, how hospice works, and how to prepare logistically and emotionally. She also addresses grief both before and after death.
The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care — Angelo E. Volandes, M.D.
Through seven patient stories, Harvard physician Volandes demonstrates how honest conversations about end-of-life wishes can transform care. He argues that open dialogue between patients, families, and doctors is essential to ensuring people receive the care they truly want.
Turning Toward Grief: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Appreciation — James Crews
Award-winning poet James Crews offers accessible, comforting poems accompanied by reflections and writing prompts. As more people turn to poetry for solace in times of loss, this collection invites readers to gently stay present with their grief while remaining connected to the physical world.
When Breath Becomes Air — Paul Kalanithi
Neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi was on the verge of completing his training when he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at age 36. In this memoir, completed shortly before his death, Kalanithi explores what makes life meaningful when facing mortality. His eloquent reflection on the doctor-patient relationship and the search for purpose became a posthumous bestseller.