What is *Grief Is for People* about?

*Grief Is for People* is Sloane Crosley’s memoir navigating dual losses: a traumatic apartment burglary and the suicide of her best friend, Russell Perreault, one month later. Structured around the five stages of grief, Crosley weaves dark humor with raw vulnerability to explore how these events intertwine, revealing grief’s nonlinear nature and the struggle to reclaim meaning. The memoir examines memory, object attachment, and societal expectations of "moving on."

Who should read *Grief Is for People*?

This book resonates with readers processing personal loss, fans of candid memoirs, and those seeking nuanced perspectives on grief beyond conventional narratives. Crosley’s sharp wit and literary depth appeal to audiences interested in psychology, contemporary essays, or pandemic-era reflections. It’s particularly valuable for anyone grappling with friend-based grief—a perspective often overshadowed in literature.

Is *Grief Is for People* worth reading?

Yes, critically acclaimed for its emotional honesty and literary craft, the memoir balances heartbreak with dark humor. *The New York Times* praises its "precision and generosity," while NPR notes Crosley’s refusal to sanitize grief’s complexity. Though some critique its New York-centricity, the book’s relatable examination of loss makes it a standout in the genre.

How does Sloane Crosley structure the book?

Crosley organizes the memoir into five sections mirroring the Kübler-Ross grief stages: denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance—replacing the last with "Afterward." This framework chronicles her burglary and Russell’s death nonlinearly, reflecting grief’s chaotic reality. "Afterward" emphasizes enduring connection rather than closure.

What quote defines the book’s title?

The title originates from Crosley’s search for grief support after the burglary: **“There are no bereavement groups for *stuff*… Grief is for people, not things.”** This line underscores her journey—initially fixated on stolen heirlooms, then realizing material loss paled against Russell’s absence.

How does humor function in the memoir?

Crosley uses wit as both armor and insight, dissecting grief’s absurdities without trivializing pain. She critiques clichéd comfort (e.g., "Remember the good times" as "feeding steak to a baby") and exposes how humor falters when confronting suicide’s finality. This balance disarms readers while honoring grief’s weight.

What role do objects play in Crosley’s grief?

The stolen jewelry—inherited from a grandmother—symbolizes tangled attachments. Initially cursing these "cursed" items, Crosley later hunts the thief, hoping recovering them might symbolically restore Russell. This "bargaining" stage highlights how objects anchor memory when grappling with irreversible loss.

How does the book address friend-based grief?

*Grief Is for People* centers on mourning a best friend, challenging narratives prioritizing familial/romantic bonds. Crosley dissects the unique void left by Russell—her confidant and former boss—and society’s tendency to marginalize such grief. Her vulnerability validates readers mourning non-familial relationships.

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Grief Is For People

Sloane Crosley

3.85 (16053 Reviews)

Psychology

Self Help

Personal Development

Overview

Key Takeaways

Author

FAQs

In "Grief Is for People," Sloane Crosley brilliantly rejects grief's neat timeline, intertwining a burglary with her friend's suicide. This NYT bestseller, praised by TIME and Vogue, dares to ask: What happens when we replace "acceptance" with the messy, unfinished truth?

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@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Grief Is For People

Sloane Crosley

3.85 (16053 Reviews)

Psychology

Self Help

Personal Development

Overview

Key Takeaways

Author

FAQs

Explore Your Way of Learning

Quick Summary8min

Feel the book through the author's voice

Deep Dive42min

Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights

Flash Card10 insights

Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning

Fun23min

Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way

More Like This

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When Friends Leave: The Hidden Grief Nobody Talks About

How to Grieve a Relationship Ending - Psych Central

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Healing Through Heartbreak: Growing Beyond Grief

If Only I Had Told Her

Laura Nowlin

12 sources

Beyond the Empty Chair

Key Takeaways

When Friendship Becomes a Ghost Story

00:00

Grief defies categorization, especially when it falls outside society's recognized hierarchy of loss. When Russell took his own life, I found myself in an uncharted territory-mourning a friend in a world that reserves its deepest sympathy for family bereavements. Playing what I called "My Friend's Not Dead" became my first instinct, creating a bubble of denial while at a literary festival in Australia. I told no one, becoming uncharacteristically social and outgoing, as if shedding my usual self allowed temporary escape from the crushing weight of reality. This wasn't simple avoidance but a necessary buffer-the mind's way of saying "not yet." But denial, like all grief stages, offers only temporary shelter from the storm. The fragility of this protection became apparent during a book club discussion when someone shouted about suicide. Reality intruded, forcing me to confront not just Russell's death but the nature of his choice. That night, three vivid dreams visited me: walking along abandoned train tracks to an uncrossable barrier; seeing Russell swimming happily with sea creatures; and finding my stolen jewelry returned but damaged-revealing the subconscious processing already underway.

The Bargaining Game We Play With Death

Searching for Answers in Concrete Objects

The Paradise We Built Before the Fall

When Work and Identity Collide

Grief in the Time of Isolation

Finding Ground in Groundlessness

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Distill Grief Is For People into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight key principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.

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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

Start your learning journey, now

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Key Takeaways

When Friendship Becomes a Ghost Story

The Bargaining Game We Play With Death

Searching for Answers in Concrete Objects

The Paradise We Built Before the Fall

When Work and Identity Collide

Grief in the Time of Isolation

Finding Ground in Groundlessness

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More Like This

Key Takeaways

When Friendship Becomes a Ghost Story

The Bargaining Game We Play With Death

Searching for Answers in Concrete Objects

The Paradise We Built Before the Fall

When Work and Identity Collide

Grief in the Time of Isolation

Finding Ground in Groundlessness