by Diane Rehm
First published 2016
NPR radio host Diane Rehm faces the challenge of creating a new existence after losing John, her partner of fifty-four years, to Parkinson's disease. John's extended illness ended when he chose to stop eating, drinking, and taking medication rather than continue his suffering. Rehm now confronts both practical matters and deeper emotional questions about how to move forward alone. She reaches out to recently widowed friends, including Roger Mudd and Susan Stamberg, gathering their experiences of spousal loss. Their varied responses to grief reveal different paths through bereavement. John's struggle with a prolonged death transforms Rehm into an advocate for right-to-die legislation. She channels her characteristic determination into this new cause while working to balance cherished memories with the necessity of building fresh purpose. Rehm offers both practical guidance and emotional support for others facing similar losses, while exploring the possibilities that remain when confronting mortality.
Genres: death, grief, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: grief, personal-journey
176 pages · Hardcover · Knopf
Content warnings: death, terminal-illness