In 1969, Elisabeth Kübler Ross identified five stages of dying in her book On Death and Dying. Shortly before her death, she coauthored On Grief and Grieving with grief expert David Kessler. Now, Kessler introduces a critical sixth stage: finding meaning that can transform grief into a more peaceful and hopeful experience. Though his journey with grief began as a child, his life was upended by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. Here he shares insights, collective wisdom, and powerful tools that will help those experiencing loss.

Introduction -- Every loss has meaning. What is meaning? ; Grief must be witnessed ; The meaning of death ; The first step in finding meaning ; The decision -- Challenges in grief. Finding meaning in why ; Suicide ; Complicated relationships ; Child loss ; Miscarriage and infant loss ; Illnesses of our mind: mental illness and addiction -- Meaning. More love than pain ; Legacy ; Grieving to believing: the afterlife ; Everything has changed forever -- Final thoughts.