There are so many beautiful, wise, and life-affirming books about loss, healing, and resilience that it’s hard to narrow them down. This is by no means a complete list but these are the titles I return to again and again, and the ones I often recommend to clients, caregivers, and friends navigating grief or major life change.

Each of these books has touched me in a different way. Some helped me during my husband John’s cancer journey. Others offered insight in my own seasons of caregiving and loss. Some reminded me of the importance of hope, purpose, and joy, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Here are a few of my favorites, and why they’ve meant so much to me.

 

1. Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant

This book came into my life just after John was diagnosed with cancer. Its central message is powerful: when your “Option A” is no longer possible, you can still make your “Option B” meaningful and even beautiful.

That message gave us permission to keep living fully in the face of illness. We loved to travel, so we kept doing it, just differently. Instead of long walks through Paris, we used the Hop On Hop Off bus to save John’s energy for the things that mattered most. Now I tell people traveling during an illness to request a wheelchair at the airport, even if they feel fine. Save your strength for joy, not the TSA line.

After John died, I came back to Option B again. It still resonated deeply but this time, I realized I was now on my Option C. The life I had planned was no longer possible, but I was determined to shape this new chapter into something meaningful, too. And in many ways, that’s what Marigold Path is — my Option C becoming something beautiful.

 

2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

This classic never stops teaching. I first read it in college, but rereading it after loss revealed a deeper truth: meaning isn’t measured by accomplishments, but by how we respond to suffering. Frankl’s reflections on purpose and resilience continue to shape how I live, grieve, and support others.

 

3. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Written by a surgeon who watched his own father face terminal illness, Being Mortal explores the limits of medicine and the importance of quality of life at the end. It’s compassionate, clear-eyed, and essential reading for anyone involved in caregiving or medical decision-making.

 

4. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi was 36 when he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. This memoir, completed just before his death, is achingly beautiful. It’s about purpose, identity, and love in the face of mortality. It reminds us how precious life is, even when it’s painfully short.

 

5. The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O’Connor

This one takes a more clinical approach, but it’s incredibly validating. O’Connor, a neuroscientist, explains how grief physically reshapes the brain and why it takes so long to feel like ourselves again. Understanding the science helped me (and many clients) feel less alone in the experience.

 

6. Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks

Memorial Days is an honest and moving account of sudden loss. When Brooks’ husband, Tony Horwitz, died unexpectedly, she had to tend to all the practical matters that follow death. This book shows how, even when we push grief aside to manage logistics, it remains with us, waiting to be felt.

 

7. The Book of Charlie by David Von Drehle

This memoir tells the story of Charlie White, who lived to 109 and faced profound hardship with humor and grace. At an author event, Von Drehle referred to his book as a love letter to his own children. Charlie’s story is a testament to resilience and a reminder that perspective and meaning matter more than circumstances.

 

8. One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

I’m drawn to stories of friendship and love that blossom even near life’s end. This novel follows two terminally ill patients, one 17, the other 83, as they reflect on their lives. It’s full of heart and hope.

 

9. Never Broken by Jewel

Singer-songwriter Jewel’s memoir is about survival, creativity, and healing. She writes with raw honesty about trauma and resilience and how her art helped her find peace. Her story reminded me that our gifts and passions can carry us through.

 

10. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Not about grief or death, but very much about courage and growth. Rhimes, the powerhouse behind Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, writes about saying yes to the things that scared her. It inspired me when I left the corporate world to launch Marigold Path. Choosing a path that’s uncertain and vulnerable can also be where the most growth happens.

 

Final Thoughts

Books can be companions through our hardest moments and our bravest ones. Whether you’re grieving, caregiving, facing change, or simply seeking meaning, I hope something on this list offers you comfort or courage.

And remember: this list is just a starting point. There are many more stories and voices out there that can guide us through the mess and the beauty of being human.

 

Book Recommendations by Category

Grief and Healing

• Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
• The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O’Connor
• Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks

Mortality and Meaning

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
• When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Memoirs of Hope and Resilience

• The Book of Charlie by David Von Drehle
• One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
• Never Broken by Jewel

Personal Growth and Transformation

• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes