Without justice, can unbearable grief subside?

In *The Grieving Brain*, neuroscientist and psychologist Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD, offers a fascinating new window into one of the hallmark experiences of being human. The book addresses why it’s hard to understand that a loved one has died, why grief causes various emotions, why grieving takes so long, the distinction between grief and prolonged grief, why we ruminate after loss, and how to restore a meaningful life while grieving. Based on O’Connor’s trailblazing neuroimaging work, research in the field, and real-life stories, the book combines storytelling, accessible science, and practical knowledge to help navigate loss with more ease and grace.

A Grief Observed is a collection of C.S. Lewis's reflections on his experience of bereavement after the death of his wife, Joy Davidman, in 1960. The book explores the processes undergone by the human brain and mind during grief, questioning the nature of grief, faith, and theodicy. Lewis writes candidly about his anger and bewilderment towards God, his struggle to maintain his faith, and the gradual reacceptance of his theories on suffering. The book is compiled from four notebooks Lewis used to vent and explore his grief, offering profound insights into the human experience of loss and the search for meaning in the midst of suffering.