On Grief - (Atlantic Editions) by Jennifer Senior (Paperback)

About the Book

"The unflinching Pulitzer Prize-winning essay on mourning and recovery in the wake of an inconceivable tragedy. When Bobby McIlvaine died in the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, his loved ones spun off in radically different directions, each mourning in his or her own distinct--and often highly idiosyncratic--way. Twenty years later, Jennifer Senior, a family friend and award-winning reporter, revisits the McIlvaines, examines their present lives, and contemplates what grief really means, in all its jagged complexity"--Page 4 of cover.

Book Synopsis

The unflinching Pulitzer Prize-winning essay on mourning and recovery in the wake of an inconceivable tragedy. An Atlantic Edition, featuring long-form journalism by Atlantic writers, drawn from contemporary articles or classic storytelling from the magazine's 165-year archive.

When Bobby McIlvaine died in the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, his loved ones spun off in radically different directions, each mourning in his or her own distinct--and often highly idiosyncratic--way. Twenty years later, Jennifer Senior, a family friend and award-winning reporter, revisits the McIlvaines, examines their present lives, and contemplates what grief really means, in all its jagged complexity.

Review Quotes

A GMA Buzz Pick

PRAISE FOR "What Bobby McIlvaine Left Behind"

"Striking. And haunting." --Oprah Winfrey

"Absolutely extraordinary." --Cheryl Strayed

"Jennifer Senior has written an extraordinarily wrenching exploration of grief, trauma, and the way they ripple through the decades. One of the most moving and brilliantly constructed works of nonfiction I've ever read." --John Green, author of the Fault in Our Stars

"A masterpiece." --Jonathan Swan, 2021 Emmy Winner and National Political Reporter, Axios

"One of the most compelling, emotional, and touching stories I've ever read." --Jemele Hill, host of Unbothered, former anchor of ESPN's SportsCenter

"A true #mustread." --Mehdi Hasan, host of The Mehdi Hasan Show on MSNBC

"Amazing." --Jake Tapper, host of CNN's State of the Union

"A marvel. The writing is so beautiful but what stands out to me is the architecture and the craft." --Michele Norris, Washington Post columnist and former host of NPR's All Things Considered

"I can't stop thinking about this incredible piece." --Maggie Haberman, New York Times White House correspondent and 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner

"Honestly, this is one of the most beautiful articles I've ever read. I stopped breathing after the first few paragraphs and took a big, tearful gulp of air when I finished." --Sherilyn Ifill, civil rights lawyer and former President of the Legal Defense and Education Fund of the NAACP