As you may have noticed, I am passionate about the power of books to help us learn, grow, imagine and be inspired to live our own compelling stories. So, here is a short collection of relevant, insightful books on my bookshelf I would like to share with you for both your enrichment and enjoyment.
— Warmly, your Attorney, Erin
Navigating Matters of Life and Death
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
When the reality of the brokenness of the world is unbearably real and all too tangible in our own lives, lament is the way through the darkness. It is scary to face the full weight of grief and sorrow in the face of suffering instead of repressing or rejecting our feelings, but the relief of doing so is powerful and freeing. This book, written by local pastor, Mark Vroegop, gives a practical manual on how to engage in sorrow in a healthy and productive way. He speaks to the significance of lamentation in our spiritual lives and offers advice on how to approach it through personal anecdotes and scriptural references. He also discusses the difficulties of living in a fallen world and offers encouragement for discovering meaning and purpose despite hardship. Considering the work I do, helping people through some of life’s most difficult situations and also planning for the certainty of death, I’m so glad this book exists. It will help you keep faith and build fortitude when facing the hardships of this life.
Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
This book explores how individuals can recover from devastating losses and rebuild their lives. Inspired by Sheryl Sandberg's personal experience after the sudden death of her husband, the book delves into her journey through grief, guided by the psychological insights of co-author, Adam Grant, a psychologist and professor.
The central premise of the book is that when Option A—the life we planned or hoped for—is no longer available, we must make the most of Option B. Sandberg combines personal anecdotes with scientific research to illustrate strategies for building resilience, such as leveraging personal strengths, seeking support from others, and finding deeper meaning in life's challenges. For navigating the aftermath of loss, whether from the death of a loved one or through divorce, this book offers practical advice on coping with grief and learning to experience joy again. It emphasizes the importance of community and support, the power of resilience, and the possibility of finding new paths forward, making it a valuable resource during tough transitions.
Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-of-Life Medical Care by Kathryn Butler, MD
Few seasons of life are as emotionally charged, confusing, and overwhelming as walking alongside a loved one through serious illness or the end of life. This book offers families a clear, compassionate, and deeply grounded guide for navigating medical decisions when the stakes feel impossibly high. Written by a former ICU physician, this book helps families understand what modern medicine can do, where its limits lie, and how to make thoughtful decisions that honor both life and dignity.
We recommend this book because end-of-life decisions are not merely clinical—they are moral, spiritual, and deeply human. Families facing questions about life support, feeding tubes, hospice, or palliative care deserve guidance rooted in an objective source of truth, ethics, and compassion. We understand it’s possible you may not share the author’s faith, but we hope you’ll find Butler’s Christian worldview provides a steady foundation for making wise, peace-filled decisions in moments that often feel chaotic and heartbreaking, and we trust you can draw from her perspective to whichever extent you feel led. Whether you are planning ahead for your own future or walking through a crisis with a parent, spouse, or child, this book equips families with clarity, courage, and hope when they need it most.
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
This is a strongly motivational memoir written by Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who helped Jews from the Nazis in WWII. The ten Boom family attempted to conceal Jews in their home, and the book details their eventual arrest and imprisonment in extermination camps. The book serves as a potent testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming misfortune as well as a celebration of the importance of forgiveness and faith. Corrie ten Boom provides insights and teachings on the nature of suffering, the significance of forgiving others, and the tenacity of the human spirit via her own experiences. I just think that every once in a while we need to read a book like this, which offers perspective, inspires resilience, and cultivates gratitude for life.
Living & Leaving a Legacy
Beyond the Grave by Gerald & Jeffrey Condon
This book is written by father-son authors who provide a comprehensive overview of estate planning, addressing both the practical and emotional aspects that come with preparing for the future, ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
The Condons emphasize the importance of clear communication and careful planning to prevent family disputes and legal challenges after one's passing. They cover a range of topics, including wills, trusts, tax strategies, and the nuances of leaving assets to family members under various circumstances. The book also discusses the impact of different estate decisions on relationships and how to balance fairness and need among heirs.
Erin is well-versed in the contents of this book and also has a decade of her own experience to draw upon to guide you through these matters, so it’s unnecessary to read this before consulting with Erin, but we suggest this book for those who wish to be more informed.
Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
This is an insightful book that addresses the challenges and opportunities of finding fulfillment in the latter stages of one’s career and life. Drawing on a combination of social science research, philosophical insights, and personal anecdotes, Brooks explores the concept of transitioning from a life focused on professional success to one rich in personal meaning and contribution.
Brooks discusses the idea that people reach a peak in their professional careers often earlier than expected, after which they might struggle with diminishing returns on professional success. He proposes a shift towards activities that leverage wisdom, give back to others, and foster spiritual and emotional growth—activities that he describes as playing to one’s strengths in the "second curve" of life.
For someone planning their legacy, "Strength to Strength" offers valuable guidance on how to pivot from striving for success to imparting significance. Brooks encourages readers to think about how they can use their accumulated skills and experiences to influence positively and leave a lasting impact. This book is particularly helpful for those contemplating how to share their wealth of knowledge, mentor the next generation, or engage in philanthropic efforts, thereby crafting a legacy that extends beyond material success to encompass enduring values and contributions to society.
Faces of Generosity by Ronald Blue & Co.
This is a book I received as a gift from my friends at Ronald Blue Trust. The book features compelling, real-life stories of generosity and offers insights and guidance for cultivating a generous spirit from a faith perspective, including practical advice for managing finances, giving to charitable causes, and developing a mindset of abundance. It also promotes the benefits of generosity, including increased happiness, improved relationships, and a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. If you’re considering how generosity might play a role in the financial legacy you leave through your will, this is a great read for you!
On the Shortness of Life by Lucius Seneca
This classic book is one recommended by Dan, it’s a short essay and more approachable than you’d think considering the time period it was written, but it may not be your taste and that’s okay — here’s a summary. In it, the Roman philosopher, Seneca, argues life is not too short, but rather people waste their time pursuing and distracted by unfulfilling activities. He urges us to engage in self-reflection and accepting our mortality so we can better prioritize what is truly important in life, such as personal growth, relationships, and meaningful work.
Supporting Others
There Is No Good Card for This by Kelsey Crowe & Emily McDowell
As I guide people through many difficult situations, I’ve found the guidance of this book quite helpful. It offers practical advice for supporting friends and loved ones who are going through difficult times. The book discusses typical difficulties that individuals encounter while attempting to provide consolation and assistance, like anxiety over saying the incorrect thing or feeling overtaken by others' emotions. It’s kind of a step-by-step manual for offering helpful support for specific situations such as illness, loss, and trauma with advice on active listening, empathy, and practical assistance.
Making Good Return: Biblical Wisdom on Honoring Aging Parents by Kathleen Nielson
As parents age, families often find themselves navigating unfamiliar and emotionally complex territory: changing roles, increasing needs, difficult decisions, and the tender weight of responsibility. Making Good Return by Kathleen Nielson offers thoughtful, practical, and deeply rooted biblical wisdom for those walking this road. With honesty and grace, Nielson explores what it truly means to honor our parents in the later chapters of their lives, even when circumstances are complicated or painful.
We recommend this book for clients who are caring for aging parents, anticipating future caregiving responsibilities, or wrestling with how to love well in a season marked by decline and dependence. Grounded in Scripture and lived experience, this book reminds us that honoring our parents is not only a duty, but a sacred opportunity to reflect gratitude, dignity, and faithful love. It offers families both encouragement and clarity as they seek to steward this season with compassion, courage, and wisdom.
To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue
In seasons of transition, loss, and uncertainty, it can be difficult to find language that captures what the heart is carrying. This book offers a collection of poetic blessings that speak gently into life’s most meaningful moments — birth and death, beginnings and endings, love and grief, hope and longing. His words invite reflection, stillness, and a deeper awareness of the sacredness present in every season of life.
We recommend this book for clients who are navigating change, mourning a loved one, or seeking comfort and perspective in times that feel tender and unsteady. These blessings offer a way to mark important moments with intention and reverence, reminding us that even in sorrow, there is beauty, dignity, and meaning. It is a book to return to again and again — a quiet companion that helps families honor life, loss, and the enduring bonds that connect us across generations.
How to Say Goodbye by Wendy MacNaughton
Grief often leaves us searching for words when none seem sufficient. How to Say Goodbye by Wendy MacNaughton offers something rare and gentle: a compassionate, visual guide for navigating loss with honesty, tenderness, and presence. Blending hand-drawn illustrations with simple, heartfelt reflections, this book gives voice to the emotions many people feel but struggle to express after the death of a loved one.
We recommend this book for clients who are walking through grief themselves, supporting a grieving family member, or simply wanting to understand how to show up well for others in seasons of loss. It reminds us that saying goodbye is not a single moment, but a journey — one that deserves patience, grace, and human connection. In a world that often rushes past sorrow, How to Say Goodbye gives permission to slow down, remember, reflect, and honor a life well lived. It is a meaningful companion for anyone learning how to carry love forward after loss.