Borrowed Narratives

Using Biographical and Historical Grief Narratives With the Bereaving

Harold Ivan Smith author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:24th May '17

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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Borrowed Narratives cover

This insightful book explores how the grief experiences of notable figures can inspire and guide individuals through their own losses in Borrowed Narratives.

In Borrowed Narratives, readers are introduced to a diverse array of influential figures, including Dexter King, Condoleezza Rice, and Eleanor Roosevelt, each of whom has navigated profound grief. These experiences have not only shaped their personal journeys but have also left a lasting impact on society. The book delves into how these narratives can serve as a source of inspiration and reflection for those grappling with their own grief. By examining the lives of these notable individuals, the text uncovers the universal nature of grief and its transformative potential.

The author emphasizes the importance of 'borrowing narratives' as a means for grieving individuals to find solace and understanding in the stories of others. In a world where trust in leaders is waning, the book poses a poignant question: who can we turn to for guidance in our own times of sorrow? By drawing from the experiences of historical and cultural icons, Borrowed Narratives provides valuable insights for grief counselors and educators seeking to foster meaningful discussions around loss.

Through practical strategies, readers will learn how to identify, extract, and adapt biographical materials for grief counseling and education. The book encourages exploration of the rich diversity of grief experiences found in these narratives and offers tools for personal reflection. Ultimately, Borrowed Narratives serves as a guide for anyone looking to navigate their grief journey with the wisdom of those who have walked similar paths before them.

"One part treasure trove of tellable tales, one part practical primer on the discovery of bereavement biographies, Borrowed Narratives delivers. In his own inimitable voice, as mesmerizing in its authenticity as his garrulous grandfathers', Harold Ivan Smith consolidates his rightful role as thanatology's own steward of stories and opens their richness to every clinician and client seeking inspiration and insight in the wake of loss."

—Robert A. Neimeyer, PhD, editor of Techniques of Grief Therapy: Creative Practices for Counseling the Bereaved and coeditor of Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society: Bridging Research and Practice

"‘Hearing the story’ is a skill at which bereavement counselors are well-practiced. This book calls on us to learn to retell stories—of those famous and not-so-famous individuals whose experiences with grief can inspire and instruct. In Borrowed Narratives, Harold Ivan Smith is at his best—a master storyteller who uses those stories to comfort, teach and guide. But this book is more, because here Smith unlocks his proven process for finding and using the stories that make up ‘borrowed narratives.’"

—William G. Hoy, DMin, FT, Marian University, graduate program in grief and bereavement

"Harold Ivan Smith, a younger Paul Harvey (The Rest of the Story), not only shares intimate and life-impacting stories in this book—he also shows us as professionals (whether therapists or educators) how to make the most of these borrowed narratives in our work with grieving people. And, as he continues to remind us, wisdom does come from exploring the dark places within."

—Ben Wolfe, LICSW, FT, program manager/grief counselor at St. Mary’s Grief Support Center and past president of the Association for Death Education and Counseling

"Borrowed Narratives is a great gift: a practical guide to finding, borrowing, organizing, and using historical narratives in our work with bereaving individuals and families. A true ‘thanobiographer’ and a seasoned storyteller, Harold Ivan Smith demonstrates how grief narratives of historical figures can be used to broaden the perspective of helping professionals and to effectively help the bereaving along the road to ‘wrapping’ their own pain in words, sentences, and stories."

—Janet S. McCord, PhD, FT, chair of the Edwin S. Shneidman Department of Thanatology at Marian University

ISBN: 9781138110557

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 453g

299 pages