The other side of sadness: what the new science of bereavement tells us about life after loss

"The conventional view of grieving—encapsulated by the famous five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—is defined by a mourning process that we can only hope to accept and endure. In The Other Side of Sadness, psychologist and emotions expert George Bonanno argues otherwise. Our inborn emotions—anger and denial, but also relief and joy—help us deal effectively with loss.

To expect or require only grief-stricken behavior from the bereaved does them harm. In fact, grieving goes beyond mere sadness, and it can actually deepen interpersonal connections and even lead to a new sense of meaning in life. " --.