The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss
- Downloads：6308
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-02-28 06:52:12
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Mary-Frances O'Connor
- ISBN：0062946234
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
A renowned grief expert and neuroscientist shares groundbreaking discoveries about what happens in our brain when we grieve， providing a new paradigm for understanding love， loss， and learning。
For as long as humans have existed， we have struggled when a loved one dies。 Poets and playwrights have written about the dark cloak of grief， the deep yearning， how devastating heartache feels。 But until now， we have had little scientific perspective on this universal experience。
In The Grieving Brain， neuroscientist and psychologist Mary-Frances O'Connor， PhD， gives us a fascinating new window into one of the hallmark experiences of being human。 O'Connor has devoted decades to researching the effects of grief on the brain， and in this book， she makes cutting-edge neuroscience accessible through her contagious enthusiasm， and guides us through how we encode love and grief。 With love， our neurons help us form attachments to others; but， with loss， our brain must come to terms with where our loved ones went， or how to imagine a future that encompasses their absence。
Based on O'Connor's own trailblazing neuroimaging work， research in the field， and her real-life stories， The Grieving Brain does what the best popular science books do， combining storytelling， accessible science， and practical knowledge that will help us better understand what happens when we grieve and how to navigate loss with more ease and grace。
For as long as humans have existed， we have struggled when a loved one dies。 Poets and playwrights have written about the dark cloak of grief， the deep yearning， how devastating heartache feels。 But until now， we have had little scientific perspective on this universal experience。
In The Grieving Brain， neuroscientist and psychologist Mary-Frances O'Connor， PhD， gives us a fascinating new window into one of the hallmark experiences of being human。 O'Connor has devoted decades to researching the effects of grief on the brain， and in this book， she makes cutting-edge neuroscience accessible through her contagious enthusiasm， and guides us through how we encode love and grief。 With love， our neurons help us form attachments to others; but， with loss， our brain must come to terms with where our loved ones went， or how to imagine a future that encompasses their absence。
Based on O'Connor's own trailblazing neuroimaging work， research in the field， and her real-life stories， The Grieving Brain does what the best popular science books do， combining storytelling， accessible science， and practical knowledge that will help us better understand what happens when we grieve and how to navigate loss with more ease and grace。
Reviews
Viviane
，
I recommend this book once you’re out of the early stages of grief， however that’s defined for you。 I found it helpful to understand the “why，” why I felt certain things， why I kept returning to the same thoughts， and why the brain responds the way it does。
Jude Brigley
，
It is helpful and informative。
rob morton
，
Thank youI needed this book。 Everything I have read before was inA religious context of grief。 Although I think my grief in losing my daughter is unique to me of course that's just human feelings and shared with all humanity as delineated in this book。 I don't expect any escape from my grief but maybe a bit of understanding。 Thank youI needed this book。 Everything I have read before was inA religious context of grief。 Although I think my grief in losing my daughter is unique to me of course that's just human feelings and shared with all humanity as delineated in this book。 I don't expect any escape from my grief but maybe a bit of understanding。 。。。more
Mariam
，
Helpful read as I science my way through grief。 Some really neat takeaways:- Love creates neural links that live on in DNA epigenetics after loved ones are gone。 Knowing that I could leave a genetic imprint simply by connecting with another is a good reminder to not be a dick- 3X rule: try to discuss a situation 3 times。 If nothing changes at 3rd attempt， try something new， and then definitely revisit。 - Hugs = drugs: Most folks isolate during grief。 Do the opposite。 Social connection （especial Helpful read as I science my way through grief。 Some really neat takeaways:- Love creates neural links that live on in DNA epigenetics after loved ones are gone。 Knowing that I could leave a genetic imprint simply by connecting with another is a good reminder to not be a dick- 3X rule: try to discuss a situation 3 times。 If nothing changes at 3rd attempt， try something new， and then definitely revisit。 - Hugs = drugs: Most folks isolate during grief。 Do the opposite。 Social connection （especially hugging） has same chemical effect/impact as opiate use。 。。。more
S。
，
Why does grief hurt so much？ What is the connection between love and grief in our brain？ Is there scientific research that can help me better understand my own grief， or the experience of someone close to me who is grieving？The Grieving Brain answers these questions， and more。 Written in clear， accessible， and personable prose， Dr。 O'Connor combines her own experiences of loss during her life and her 20 years of experience as a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist to create and share a deep Why does grief hurt so much？ What is the connection between love and grief in our brain？ Is there scientific research that can help me better understand my own grief， or the experience of someone close to me who is grieving？The Grieving Brain answers these questions， and more。 Written in clear， accessible， and personable prose， Dr。 O'Connor combines her own experiences of loss during her life and her 20 years of experience as a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist to create and share a deep understanding of what happens to our brains （and therefore， our bodies and minds） when a loved one dies。 I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot about grief and about being human。 。。。more
Joann
，
Having just lost a loved one， the opportunity to read and review this book was timely。 I really enjoyed the author's explanation of how our brain is affected by grief and how it processes the loss of someone in our lives。 I am a data nerd， so the science behind my feelings really helped me put things in perspective。 If you are experiencing grief and struggle at all with how the "waves" of it come and go so inexplicably， this is a great book to help you understand what you are going through。 So t Having just lost a loved one， the opportunity to read and review this book was timely。 I really enjoyed the author's explanation of how our brain is affected by grief and how it processes the loss of someone in our lives。 I am a data nerd， so the science behind my feelings really helped me put things in perspective。 If you are experiencing grief and struggle at all with how the "waves" of it come and go so inexplicably， this is a great book to help you understand what you are going through。 So thankful for the ARC。 。。。more
Susan Miller
，
This book is a must-read for anyone who has experienced lossMary-Frances O’Connor writes a well-researched and scientifically-based discussion of how humans process grief。 This beautifully-written social science book stands out as one of the most meaningful books on grief and grieving that I have read。 I will be recommending and gifting this book to several people that I know will benefit。
Ashley King Jordan
，
With such a heavy topic， you'd think it would make a depressing read but that's not the case。 The author's tone comes across as kind and caring， as if a friend is speaking directly to you about the neuroscience of grief and grieving （yes， these are 2 separate things）。 The topic is incredibly timely given that almost everyone has lost someone they love during the pandemic。 Even if you are not the person who has lost a loved one， reading this book will help you know how better to relate to those w With such a heavy topic， you'd think it would make a depressing read but that's not the case。 The author's tone comes across as kind and caring， as if a friend is speaking directly to you about the neuroscience of grief and grieving （yes， these are 2 separate things）。 The topic is incredibly timely given that almost everyone has lost someone they love during the pandemic。 Even if you are not the person who has lost a loved one， reading this book will help you know how better to relate to those who are still in the depths of their grief。 In that way， this book is for everyone - the grievers， and those who want to better support their friends/family/loved ones in their grieving process。 A+ Definitely recommend！ 。。。more
Sara
，
From the side of neuroscience and what grief looks like in the brain。。。our brains have to learn that the person isn't here anymore。 That they aren't where we expect them to be and where they have been。 A look at how the brain deals with grief。 From the side of neuroscience and what grief looks like in the brain。。。our brains have to learn that the person isn't here anymore。 That they aren't where we expect them to be and where they have been。 A look at how the brain deals with grief。 。。。more
Clark Wade
，
An easy read。 Informative， insightful， helpful to me a person grieving the loss of my wife。 I needed to read this。 She is a good writer。 I recommend this book。
Michelle Jarc
，
Fascinating book。 Doesn’t matter if you’ve newly lost someone or a long time ago。 It all makes sense。
Elisa
，
This book deals with an obviously sad and unavoidable subject， but the author is not gloomy about it。 She presents the unbearable pain of losing someone in a factual but compassionate manner。 She focuses on the science of grief and grieving， but with a human touch that makes it easier to read。 She describes the experiments that have been conducted in an effort to understand the brain and its chemistry during a loss。 It is easy to follow and illuminating。 A close family member has a terminal illn This book deals with an obviously sad and unavoidable subject， but the author is not gloomy about it。 She presents the unbearable pain of losing someone in a factual but compassionate manner。 She focuses on the science of grief and grieving， but with a human touch that makes it easier to read。 She describes the experiments that have been conducted in an effort to understand the brain and its chemistry during a loss。 It is easy to follow and illuminating。 A close family member has a terminal illness and this book helped me understand some of my reactions。 I hope that her suggestions and the knowledge the author shares in this volume will help me when the inevitable comes。 It also has useful ideas to help people you know when they are grieving。 I would say I recommend this book to anyone who’s facing the loss of a loved one but， since this is something that we’ll all have to deal with sooner or later， I think everyone should read it。 I chose to read to this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased。 Thank you， NetGalley/# HarperOne！ 。。。more
Mhughessc
，
"The Grieving Brain" by Mary-Frances O'Connor is， sadly， very necessary in this age of the pandemic。 Many people are struggling with grief right now， and I was intrigued to find out exactly what grief does to the human brain。 This book would be good for someone who wants a very scientific look into the brain and the effects of grief。 It was a little too heavy for me， but I did find some aspects of it to be very helpful and useful。Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC。 All opinions are my own。 "The Grieving Brain" by Mary-Frances O'Connor is， sadly， very necessary in this age of the pandemic。 Many people are struggling with grief right now， and I was intrigued to find out exactly what grief does to the human brain。 This book would be good for someone who wants a very scientific look into the brain and the effects of grief。 It was a little too heavy for me， but I did find some aspects of it to be very helpful and useful。Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC。 All opinions are my own。 。。。more
Erica
，
This book is a surprisingly easy read despite the challenging topic and the scientific research the author includes throughout。 The reading experience was enjoyable for me personally because I felt like I finally understood my own brain in a lot of ways; As well as gaining new language to discuss my own brain。 The author beautifully explains and clarifies her research in a way that largely anyone can understand。
GONZA
，