Lament for a Son

By: Nicholas Wolterstorff

Narrated by: Trevor Thompson

Length: 1 hr and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

The author describes the progress of his grief from the shock of learning of his son's accidental death to his final resignation a year later.

©1987 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (P)2017 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Excellent read!!

Read it 1 yr after my mom passed, great and helpful book to read!

Grieving the loss of an adult son

I listened to this book to determine whether it would be appropriate to give to a dear friend whose adult son and close friend of my son passed away on Easter Sunday a couple of years ago. The grief described by the author is grief that no one can understand unless they have lost a child. The unedited emotion and feelings of the author are real. Without a doubt this book will touch and give comfort to someone who has lost a child to death, yet provide a glimmer of hope that one day you will see your child again.

good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

shattering , exquisite

I was not expecting a book about suffering and loss to bring me closer to Christ

Hard, but important

Short Review: I can't really review a classic book on grief and this is a classic. Wolterstorff (a philosopher) wrote this book in response to the death of his son in 1985 (published in 87). It is quite short (less than 2 hours in audio, about 100 pages in text).

I have never experienced profound grief. So I am writing as someone who is both preparing for the inevitable profound grief that will come someday if I live long enough. And as someone that is aware that we are Americans and I as an Evangelical are part of groups that do not like grief and lament. We tend to want to push people to stop lamenting so that we are not uncomfortable. I think we need to make sure books like this are part of our regular reading so that we do not push people out of lament and can be reminded that lament is part of Christianity because Christians believe in embodiment. We grieve because we think that there is something important about the body.

I don't like reading about grief any more than anyone else. I am very reluctant to pick up books on grief, but I do think they are important and I am reminded of that importance every time I pick one up.

I am not a huge fan of Trevor Thompson as a narrator. I think there is too much bass in his voice and that makes it hard to listen to on headphones. But the weight of his voice is appropriate for this book.

was recommended this book

I was recommended this book by my therapist. I lost my son from dibetes. it hit home. I will recommend to all fathers who are going through this hell going through this personal hell. my son passed away February 16 2020. it has been hell on hell on earth.

This is an excellent expression of suffering love

Reminds me of my loss and it helps me in my pain to hear from someone else!

A 20th century Book of Job

Helpful for those suffering loss. Deeply moving. A sad but hope-filled song. I’d be surprised if this goes out of print 100 years from now

amazing

this book poetically explores the mysteries of suffering and death from a Christian perspective. Nicholas will not give you answers that don't exist, but he will grieve with you and let you know that you are loved.

Not for the newly bereaved

Somebody who has recently lost a loved one and is in the throes of acute grief should probably not read this lamentation. I lost my 21 year old son 2 months ago and my grief is unbearable. This book provided no support or comfort. It felt scrambled and it was unsettling. I would not recommend it for the newly bereaved.