The Way of Transition: Embracing Life’s Most Difficult Moments

Bridges, William

Notes:

William Bridges’ lifelong work has been devoted to a deep understanding of transitions and to helping others through them. When his own wife of thirty-five years died of cancer, however, he was thrown head-first into the kind of painful and confusing abyss he had known before only in theory. An honest account of being in transition, this uncommonly wise and moving book is a richly textured map of the personal, professional, and emotional transformations that grow out of tragedy and crisis. Demonstrating how disillusionment, sorrow, or confusion can blossom into a time of incredible creativity and contentment, Bridges highlights the profound significance and value of endings in our lives.

Reviews

Amazon

My wife recently passed away after a three year battle with breast cancer. I bought this book because I’d read Bill Bridges’ earlier books and found them insightful and refreshing. But I was totally unprepared for my personal connection to this particular book, which was written after Bill lost his wife through an almost identical struggle with cancer. It was as if he was telling my story and then helping me to both get through my own deep sadness and make some sense out of the painful process of mourning and grieving. This book does deal with transitions but it deals with much more and does so with great openness, sensitivity, and wisdom. I strongly recommend it to anyone dealing with the process of grief for the loss of a loved one. I learned far more from this book than I learned from any of the many books specifically written on that subject.

GoodReads

I read Bridges’ Transitions in graduate school and finally picked up The Way of Transition. I’m so glad I waited and that I picked up this book this summer. I feel a new relationship with the transition I’m in the midst of and a feeling of camaraderie with Bridges and others who have gone through uncomfortable and renewing shifts in their lives. Bridges used his own theory of transition and paired it with stories of transitions he has experienced in his adult life. The end result for me is better understanding the stages of transition, greater compassion for myself, and appreciation for his vulnerability and openness in telling his own story.

Barnes & Noble

Great! Clear and understandable. His story about his wife’s death with cancer and his wrestling with what’s next was incredibly touching. I highly recommend this book to all my friends. It pushes you to ask needed questions and to consider what it is time to now release or get rid of. Bridges has done a personal great work in this one.