I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye

Surviving, Coping, and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One

By: Brook Noel, Pamela D. Blair Ph.D.

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

Each year about eight million Americans suffer the death of someone close to them. Now, for those who face the challenges of sudden death, there is a hand to hold. Written by two women who have experienced sudden loss, this updated edition of the best-selling bereavement classic will touch, comfort, uplift and console. Authors Brook Noel and Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D., offer a comforting hand to hold for those who are grieving the sudden death of a loved one.

Featured on ABC World News, Friends, and many other shows, this book acts as a touchstone of sanity through difficult times. I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye covers such difficult topics as the first few weeks, suicide, death of a child, children and grief, funerals and rituals, physical effects, homicide and depression. With new material covering the unique circumstances of loss, men and women's grieving styles, religion and faith, myths and misunderstandings, I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye reflects the shifting face of grief.

This book has offered solace to over 80,000 people, ranging from seniors to teenagers and from the newly bereaved to those who lost a loved one years ago. Individuals engulfed by the immediate aftermath will find a special chapter covering the first few weeks.

Tapping their personal histories and drawing on numerous interviews, authors Brook Noel and Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D., explore unexpected death and its role in the cycle of life. I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye provides survivors with a rock-steady anchor from which to weather the storm of pain and begin to rebuild their lives.

©2000 Brook Noel and Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D. (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"I highly recommend this book, not only to the bereaved, but to the friends and counselors as well." (Helen Fitzgerald, author of The Grieving Child)

Good resource for people who are grieving PERIOD!!!

Earlier, this year my husband of 45 years passed away in April, 2922, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Although not sudden, l found this book helpful in navigating through the most difficult year of my life. Thank you

Very uplifting and supportive

I enjoyed listening to this book. It was very difficult for me because to listen all at once because i have recently lost my youngest son to suicide. I finally found something/ someone that understood everything i was going thru and feeling. I was able to understand why so many were “insensitive” to what i was going thru. This book has been very helpful to me during the most turbulent and darkest time of my life. The narrator depicts the warmth and tenderness the authors want to present to their readers. This is an essential tool for my healing journey. I highly recommend anyone who either has lost someone in a sudden death or knows someone who’s gone thru a sudden death to read this book. This book will help you be the encouraging supporter of someone who is grieving or the book can be a source of support if you’re the one grieving and don’t have a support system.

2 huge losses death is ugly. Thank you for this bk

Thank you! l felt a little better relating to events in this book esp after losing Kupa my nephew 26 year old on June 1st after a road accident. My best friend Essie (50) who has been my shoulder to cry on, was reported dead just exactly 30days after my nephew. l am broken and wanted to hear somebody explain how lam expected to cope after these 2 huge blows that shattered my heart in a million pieces . l listened and felt comforted l still have to practice all the coping mechanisms you outlined, hope this big lumb sitting right on my throat will clear. Thank you again!!! and so sorry for the loss to ya'all. 💔

What are the chapter names

This book was very informative. However I would have liked to have the chapter names and not just the numbers so I could skip to whatever part I felt applies to me.

Thank you...

I reasently lost my mother, it's been a pain I had never in my life felt before and couldn't deal on my on so I started taking therapy. My therapist suggested this book and I'm so glad I read it, it has been the best help to understand so many things and answer so many questions after losing her. I personally think that the book gave me more help than the therapist.