• Necessary Losses

  • The Loves, Illusions, Dependencies, and Impossible Expectations That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Grow
  • By: Judith Viorst
  • Narrated by: Donna Postel
  • Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (98 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Necessary Losses  By  cover art

Necessary Losses

By: Judith Viorst
Narrated by: Donna Postel
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $26.25

Buy for $26.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Drawing on psychoanalysis, literature, and personal experience, Necessary Losses is a philosophy for understanding and accepting life's inevitabilities. In this book Judith Viorst turns her considerable talents to a serious and far-reaching subject: how we grow and change through the losses that are certain and necessary parts of life. She argues persuasively that through the loss of our mothers' protection, the loss of the impossible expectations we bring to relationships, the loss of our younger selves, and the loss of our loved ones through separation and death, we gain deeper perspective, true maturity, and fuller wisdom about life. She has written a book that is both life affirming and life changing.

©1986 Judith Viorst (P)2015 Tantor

What listeners say about Necessary Losses

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    55
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    53
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    44
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

It is such a profound book. Easy to listen to. The author describes many theoretical concepts in a easy way that makes the reader relate. I think this is a good book for therapists or anyone interested in getting to know themselves and others better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Transformational

I read this several years ago, and knew it was worth reading again. having the audio book allowed me to listen again at my leisure, allowing Judith Viorst's wisdom to refresh my insights once again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great listen

Reader’s voice is very pleasant to listen to. Deep thought and understanding of different stages

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read!

Therapists will find this useful in understanding human development through a psychodynamic approaches. Non professionals will enjoy learning about the stages of life that we all go through and how to successfully proceed to the next, while embracing change.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opener

This book have some good points i definitely would recommend it somethings you have to leave behind to achieve or receive better

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved 2nd half of the book don’t give up if you are disappointed at the beginning.

I don’t know if I’m a fan of Sigmund Freud. There’s a lot references. The book is not what I expected at all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Timeless

We are on finite, but this book guides and supports us when we face our losses.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The human experience. I think everyone would gain a great deal from this book.

Well written, The person narrating did a brilliant job. This book is not just for someone dealing with loss or grief. It takes you through a life’s journey of the beauty and what is let go to grow. I’ll be recommending this to many friends/family members.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not at all what I was expecting

I thought this was about the loss of friends, loved ones, physical abilities as we get older and how to deal with them. I'll never know if she got to them, if they are even a part of the book. After hours about sex, incest, Oedipus, and homosexual attraction (not that there's anything wrong with that), I quit with 5+ hours to go. Narration was good. I hope SHE enjoyed it, since she had to read it. Few reviews here, more on amazon.com if you want more opinions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Outdated and cringy

Basics of psychoanalysis for a popular audience of 1977- probably outdated at the time of writing, corny stuff.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!