Why am I passionate about this?

Since 2012, when I was fortunate to be a companion to my dying father, I have gained a deep appreciation for the topics of death, dying, grief and bereavement. Being with him during his final moments was a vitally transformative event in my life, and subsequent developments led me to become a writer and curator of content in this field. I am now an end-of-life educator and preparedness facilitator, whose role it is to assist others to prepare for their inevitable, eventual death. Being prepared, by making informed choices and documenting them, can be one of the greatest gifts we give to our loved ones. I coach my End-of-Life Matters clients to do just that.


I wrote

Daddy, This Is It: Being-with My Dying Dad

By Julie Saeger Nierenberg,

Book cover of Daddy, This Is It: Being-with My Dying Dad

What is my book about?

My father lived an inspiring End of Life, a journey of courage, sorrow, wonder and assurances of Eternal Love. And…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Journey's End: Part 1 Heartfelt Stories of Death and Dying

Julie Saeger Nierenberg Why did I love this book?

This book is an anthology of over 50 perspectives on death and dying, grief, and bereavement shared by professionals who work in supporting the dying and bereaved and by those who have lived their own unique experiences of loss. It is a comprehensive cross-section of this topic and one which can be a valuable resource to anyone going through their own such experience or those who are preparing to support others in grief.

By Victoria Brewster, Julie Saeger Nierenberg,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Journey's End as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In Journey's End, many and varied collaborators write about death, dying, and the end of life. We attempt to describe real life issues and circumstances, and we discuss ways to proactively deal with them. Useful training, resource, and reference material is also included.

Death, dying, and end of life are topics many prefer to avoid. This book suggests that we benefit from having frank discussions, living life to the fullest, and planning for our own journey's end, whenever that may be. Everyone who is born eventually will die, whether or not we want to embrace that fact.

****

Though few…


Book cover of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

Julie Saeger Nierenberg Why did I love this book?

Gawande takes a compelling look at the medical profession, making the case that quality of life can take precedence over merely extending life by any medical means or invasive procedures that are available. He shares examples of ways our society can more responsibly care for its elderly, preserving dignity and a good life until death.

By Atul Gawande,

Why should I read it?

16 authors picked Being Mortal as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

'GAWANDE'S MOST POWERFUL, AND MOVING, BOOK' MALCOLM GLADWELL

'BEING MORTAL IS NOT ONLY WISE AND DEEPLY MOVING; IT IS AN ESSENTIAL AND INSIGHTFUL BOOK FOR OUR TIMES' OLIVER SACKS

For most of human history, death was a common, ever-present possibility. It didn't matter whether you were five or fifty - every day was a roll of the dice. But now, as medical advances push the boundaries of survival further each year, we have become increasingly detached from the reality of being mortal. So here is a book about the modern experience of mortality - about what it's…


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Book cover of Today Was A Good Day: A Collection of Essays From The Heart Of A Neurosurgeon

Today Was A Good Day by Edward Benzel,

My book is a collection of monthly Editor-in-Chief letters to the readership of World Neurosurgery, a journal that I edit. Each essay is short and sweet. The letters were written for neurosurgeons but have been re-edited so that they apply to all human beings. They cover topics such as leadership,…

Book cover of Leaning Into Love: A Spiritual Journey Through Grief

Julie Saeger Nierenberg Why did I love this book?

Mansfield’s poignant story of her beloved husband’s journey through cancer and his eventual death is a heartfelt telling of the intimate story of how she becomes a widow and how she meets that event with courage and spiritual exploration. She rises from the ashes of her grief and soars like a phoenix to give back to others, a brilliantly told tale.

By Elaine Mansfield,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Leaning Into Love as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Gold Medal Winner, Independent Publisher Book Award in Category Aging, Death and Dying

"Magnificent, profoundly moving . . . gives encouragement and solace to all." —Naomi Shihab Nye

"I'll find a way to be all right," Elaine promised Vic, her dying husband and best friend of 42 years. Leaving the hospital after he passed, she had no idea how. Her uplifting story of love, hope, determination, and triumph is a gift to the half million women who lose spouses each year.

Leaning into Love captures the heart--from the extraordinary closeness of Elaine's marriage to how she and Vic transform their…


Book cover of With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial

Julie Saeger Nierenberg Why did I love this book?

Dr. Mannix studied and practiced in palliative care for over thirty years. In her book she shares insightful stories, highlighting the value of approaching death with an open, clear understanding. She makes the case for forethought and preparation to meet death gently. Each unique story nudges the reader toward a greater appreciation for the depths of meaning of each special life.

By Kathryn Mannix,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked With the End in Mind as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Impossible to read with dry eyes or an unaltered mindset' Sunday Times

'Illuminating and beautiful' Cathy Rentzenbrink

What if everything you thought you knew about death was wrong?

How should we prepare for the facts of dying and saying our goodbyes?

And what if understanding death improved your life?

By turns touching and tragic, funny and wise, With the End in Mind brings together Kathryn Mannix ' s lifetime of medical experience to tell powerful stories of life and death.


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Book cover of The Model Spy: Based on the True Story of Toto Koopman’s World War II Ventures

The Model Spy by Maryka Biaggio,

The Model Spy is based on the true story of Toto Koopman, who spied for the Allies and Italian Resistance during World War II.

Largely unknown today, Toto was arguably the first woman to spy for the British Intelligence Service. Operating in the hotbed of Mussolini's Italy, she courted danger…

Book cover of Gifted By Grief: A True Story of Cancer, Loss and Rebirth

Julie Saeger Nierenberg Why did I love this book?

Rogers has an unexpected message to share. It’s possible to be grateful amidst a loved one’s death. In her case, it was the loss of her husband, and the story is told through blog posts he composed during his final year of life along with her own journal entries. By seeing her way through her own depths of grief, Rogers points the way for readers to seek and find their own gifts embedded in the grief of loss.

By Jane Duncan Rogers,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Gifted By Grief as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Is it really possible to be grateful for your husband’s death? This is the message that ultimately comes over in Jane Duncan Rogers’ book Gifted By Grief: A True Story of Cancer, Loss and Rebirth. Told through the medium of blog posts by her husband in his last year, her own journal entries, and a heartfelt, poignant and riveting narrative, Jane invites the reader into her grief-stricken world. Where this might be harrowing, it is found to be ironic; where there might be pointlessness and despair, gifts are found, inspiring the reader find the gifts in their own life situation.


Explore my book 😀

Daddy, This Is It: Being-with My Dying Dad

By Julie Saeger Nierenberg,

Book cover of Daddy, This Is It: Being-with My Dying Dad

What is my book about?

My father lived an inspiring End of Life, a journey of courage, sorrow, wonder and assurances of Eternal Love. And before he passed, he encouraged me to share the story of his transition with you. With courage and amazing grace, he lovingly prepared our family for his passing. As our time together came to an end, I was grateful to be present.

Although death is an inevitable part of life, how we choose to be-with the dying and the bereaved is up to us. I encourage you to prepare and to embrace the possibility of a lovingly supported transition and, to that end, I include some resources that may help you. Being ready to be-with is a wonderful way to live.

Book cover of Journey's End: Part 1 Heartfelt Stories of Death and Dying
Book cover of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Book cover of Leaning Into Love: A Spiritual Journey Through Grief

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Interested in grief, quality of life, and death?

Grief 91 books
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Death 400 books