In this emotionally engaging guide to the precarious art of moving forward, Druck (author of The Secrets Men Keep) shares anecdotes from his personal experience and from clients he has coached to explore the multitude of ways to keep going when life takes a hard turn. Examining the ups and downs of each stage of life from childhood to adulthood, Druck lays out in warm, practical tips and advice to face hardships and roadblocks, touching on, among other urgent topics, growing pains, divorce, the loss of a job, and facing grief and loss. An advocate of the practice of self compassion, Druck emphasizes the inevitability of such challenges, writing "Figuring out how to navigate life’s dark nights—as well as its everyday ups and downs, victories and losses, challenges and opportunities—is part of being human.” Druck shares the heartbreaking story of the loss of his daughter, Jenna, in the touching opening chapters, demonstrating firsthand understanding of what it takes to find a way to go on—and that we’re all “works in progress.” “When asked how I’m doing,” he writes, “I explain that I’m deeply grateful for the blessings in my life but that ‘I walk with a limp in my heart.’” Other powerful passages cover his work as a grief coach and consultant on the front lines of American tragedies, including attacks of September 11, Sandy Hook, and Columbine. Structured to reflect a chronological progression of a life, with advice and examples keyed to different ages and milestones, How We Go On explores how facing adversity changes as we age, from the “arrogance” and “blind optimism” of youth to developing the “learned skills” and “mature mindset” when “adjusting to the relationship challenges of adult life.”
With clear prose and helpful pointers, Druck explicates many of those skills, covering how to strengthen “your self-care muscles," determine when to leave a relationship, support someone experiencing grief, and much more.
Takeaway: Wise, resonant guide to moving on from life's tragic events.
Comparable Titles: Marisa Renee Lee’s Grief is Love, Bruce D. Perry’s What Happened to You?
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
