TESTIMONIES AND REVIEWS
Unsolicited testimonies/reviews from readers of Widower to Widower.
“I have a friend that recently lost his wife of 46 years and I have encouraged him to come to… get your book and read it! It has helped me in so many ways. Thank you again for sharing your experiences. Thank you again for all that you have helped me through!”
S. Huggins
“Yours is by far the best resource I have come across in helping me understand and work through the many challenges I've had to confront from the loss of my wife last August… Widowers need the kinds of support that people like you so generously give.”
- Robert Fenchel
“I bought this book after the passing of my wife, Pam, of thirty years. Must buy and read, greatest gift to give to yourself. You need to get this book to help in the healing process and to know you are not “crazy”. ”
“What a powerful brotherhood I found when I discovered this book. It taught me that I am not alone in my grief, thoughts and conflicting emotions. There truly is “strength in numbers.” Get this book: It can be game changer for you. ”
“Excellent manual for moving through the toughest time a Man can face!!!! Thanks Fred for creating this great tool!!!!! I just wish I would have found it sooner!!!! God Bless!!!!! ”
“ Great book! The sooner a widower reads it after losing his wife the better. ”
“This book is a life changer. I will pay it forward to another new widower at first chance. Thank you.”
Kevin Francis
“The entire widower process will change every aspect of your life, how you cope with stress and grief, relationships with family and friends. your entire life and how you think will be altered. Fight the anger and focus on becoming a stronger person . Your book is very helpful ! ”
“Wow! Your book did for me what I needed early on. I literally thought I was losing my sanity. Your story with Theresa mirrored my story with my bride, Sue. For the first time in 3 years I now understand my grieving is normal. Through your words and research on grieving I now see the light at the end of my grieving tunnel. And for that .... I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. ”
“One of my first thoughts after losing my wife Susan was that there’s no instruction manual for what happens next. But you’ve come close. The best line in the book, in my opinion, is: “My belief is that, for us to move forward, we need to know that we do not have to leave anyone behind.””
“I was in a very dark place after my dearest wife (Vicki Barton King) passed. Fred Colby’s book was a great help. I strongly recommend it to all widowers! ”
“I lost my wife 10/15/19. I would highly recommend this book to any Widower. While reading it, I felt I was looking in a mirror at times. Thank you Fred! ”
“I have struggled with pain, grief and anxiety. I was lost when I discovered Widower to Widower. I am still not well. I am in counseling now, and this book has really helped me to realize that my feelings are a normal response to the greatest stressor any human can face. Thank you, Fred! ”
“[Fred’s} book Widower to Widower was spot on. full and I mean full of useful info for new widower’s. I am very thankful for his insight and recommendations.”
“Thank you for your work, I’m sure it was difficult. Believe me when I tell you that it’s making a positive difference in my life. ”
“Honesty, compassion,and understanding of the grief process.”
“A must read for all widowers.”
“The book is well worth a read. It is honest and no holds barred. ”
“Thank you for your book that is so needed to help those of us who suffered a life changing loss and find solace in those who share our experience. God Bless You. ”
“I just got your book the other day. The book is the story of my journey I went through and still going through. The only difference is my wife passed away suddenly. My feelings are just as yours. I will be passing your book on to my church and other widowers I know. Great job!! Thank you. Again a great job on a hard subject.”
“Hello Fred, my second time to comment on your book that has helped me deal with the night time demons which I’m sure everyone has experienced. Losing your spouse puts your heart and soul in a place you never thought you would be. Your book helps to cope with the pain and it can make you a stronger person.”
“Fred, great book! Helped me get back on track instead of sitting around saying , poor me, I wrote down a list of things I had to accomplish and worked on them one at a time, it’s amazing how much finishing each one gave me a feeling of peace tranquility, life does go on! Thank you very much! Recommend your book highly! ”
“A great book for any widower , I wish I had known about this 3-4 years ago , my life would have not been a living hell ! My life is in order now, but this book would have been a blessing if had it earlier. I purchased it after a 14 month relationship went south and thought my life was over. The book was spot on and now I’m back in that relationship of 14 months and it is great ! I’m with the woman I can now Love and we so understand each other ! It took this book for me to understand the questions I had and how to approach them. This book saved my life . Thanks”
“This book is a must read!! I got my book and two more for other widowers. This book, my faith, my church and counseling has kept me going.”
“To everyone that have lost a spouse this is a must read book that will help you realize that you are not going crazy in those moments when you are sure that you are - thank you Fred Colby. ”
“Read your book. It was a big help. Lost my wife of 61 years 9 months ago. I’m still in depression, but now I know I can make it. Thank you.”
“I just ordered your book. I was able to read the introduction and it was as though I wrote it myself. My love of over 52 years died 1 year ago and I have seriously doubted my sanity many times… Thoughts of suicide scared the Hell out of me but I got past it — I still have loving family and friends that need me and that’s the coward’s way out!…I lost it this morning when I read your description of sitting in the closet and sobbing — been there, done that, including in more than one public restroom stall. Hell, I’m crying as I write this...I’m heartened to find out that what I’m going through isn’t just me and hopeful that your book can help me to understand more about what I’m going through and give me some ideas on how to deal with it. ”
“Buy this book! I lost my wife of 45 years, together for 50 years, 100 days ago. I ‘m still in the crash & burn phase but I find something useful in it every day. I went to a Writing for Grieving seminar today. Perhaps I wouldn’t have done it without that extra push. I miss miss her more than anything, but your book made me press on.”
“Lost my wife of 59 years 18 months ago. Your book has been a life- bouy in a virtual sea of despair.
Thank for your words of wisdom. I have told several widowers about your book and how to order. God bless you! ”
“We need to support and encourage men like Fred Colby. He had the courage to take on issues like men’s grief. He does a masterful job of exposing some of the more painful experiences that are part of our existence in our life. The pain of grief is greatly diminished by taking it on directly and avoiding it by suppression. Thank you Fred.”
BOOK ReVIEwS
A husband’s grief observed – with faith, help, and tears Article in Legatus by David Spaulding
Book Review in Caring Bridge by Aly Haugen
WRITER’S DIGEST REVIEW OF WIDOWER TO WIDOWER
Judge’s Commentary:
“The writer tackles a very sensitive subject (the death of a spouse or longtime partner) with emotion, thought and kindness. He shares his own experience of losing his wife and offers tips and advice for others who are in or will soon find themselves in the same circumstances.
“The writing is very well done. He mixes in his own personal experiences but also shares ideas on how the reader could have approached the same situations in a different manner. He doesn't come across as preachy, which happens in a lot of self-help books, but instead the text reads as a sincere approach by someone who wants to help.
“An interesting part of the text are the Caring Bridge entries, which show both how he communicated to friends and relatives about his wife's situation and a sample of the responses he received. People of the author's generation who have not embraced social media may not see the value of using this format, but he guides them through the process and provides the benefits. These entries often read as a "realtime" look into the circumstances, helping the reader gain a better understanding of the experience he will soon share.
“The text is filled with helpful advice, such as making sure to allow grandchildren an opportunity to say goodbye and including adult children in major decisions involving care and the aftermath.
“Because women live longer than men, there are many more books about this topic written from the widow's perspective. This approach from the widower's point of view is well done. He breaks down many of the barriers men put up for themselves during the grieving process and lets them understand how to move forward without the accompanying guilt. He unabashedly shares intimate details of his personal struggles to let other men experiencing these same issues know they are not alone.
“The cover is nicely done and the interior layout is attractive. The narrative is well done, with minimal typos or other mistakes. The writing is a tad wordy, and he tends to repeat his main ideas on occasion, but there is nothing that disrupts the reader or makes the text hard to digest.”