The Modern Loss Handbook
An Interactive Guide to Moving Through Grief and Building Your Resilience

Quotes

“Please, dear God, let this be handed out with the crappy (or fancy!) white wines at wakes, life celebrations, shivas, and/or funerals. It could and will change lives.”—Erin Lee Carr, author of All That You Leave Behind: A Memoir and filmmaker, Britney vs. Spears

“The Modern Loss Handbook is a rare achievement: candid, funny, wise, useful. And best of all, it’s filled with tools to help us face grief without the puffy, well-meaning blah blah blah that we grievers are always hearing. Rebecca is one of us, and she writes like it.”—Michael Cruz Kayne, writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and host of the A Good Cry podcast

“Like a pal who listens to you vent and makes you laugh in equal measure, The Modern Loss Handbook is comforting, thoughtful, and the perfect amount of irreverent. Each gently posed question and biting anecdote is a reminder that however shriveled by grief readers may feel, they’re not alone, and they’re going to be okay (mostly). This handbook is just what I needed when my mom died, and I’m so glad it exists now. A hundred times better than a condolence card.”—Tyler Feder, author of Dancing at the Pity Party

“This book is filled with humanity and compassion. It’s a real gift for anyone searching for practical exercises to find strength in the wake of loss and hope in the depths of grief.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Option B

“I can’t count how many times I’ve turned to Modern Loss in the past few years. It’s more than a book; it’s a community of people learning to live with grief. The Modern Loss Handbook puts everything Rebecca Soffer has created and incubated into one loving place.”—Laurie Kilmartin, writer for Conan and author of Dead People Suck

“This book honors each mourner’s journey with empathy, respect, candor, and compassion. Even after three decades of experience with mourners I found new ideas and approaches on nearly every page.”—Steve Leder, author of The Beauty of What Remains

“Rebecca not only has a gift for writing about loss in such a relatable and humorous way, but she has also provided an incredibly helpful resource for those finding themselves unmoored by the cruel beast that is grief. Walking back into the world after a huge loss can feel nothing short of impossible, and this book is like someone giving you a hug, then taking your hand and heading out the door with you.”—Alyssa Limperis, actress, comedian, and creator of No Bad Days

“This book is a gift, a road map, and an inspired conversation all at once. It invites creativity, inner-listening, and refreshing realness as we navigate the ‘messy ride’ of grief.”—Tembi Locke, actor, producer, and New York Times bestselling author of From Scratch

“Grief is the uninvited party guest who barges in and then never leaves. In this handbook, Rebecca doesn’t just give you the tools to deal with it after everyone else has gone home; she makes you comfortable, makes you laugh, hands you the martini when you need it, and the shoulder when you need that. It’s all right to cry. It’s also all right to be angry, tired, sad, and even joyful, all at the same time. That’s what it is to be alive.”—Glynnis MacNicol, author of No One Tells You This

“The best thing one can say about a book about loss is that it’s useful. This one is—deeply. It also happens to be wise and honest and beautiful and funny. Wherever you are on your journey through grief, The Modern Loss Handbook will help you get farther.”—Adam Mansbach, author of Go the F*ck to Sleep and I Had a Brother Once