The Wisdom of a Broken Heart: How to Turn the Pain of a Breakup into Healing, Insight, and New Love

Susan Piver's book is a loving treatise on the experience of a broken heart - something most of us have had to endure at least once in our lives. She portrays vividly her devastation and the long, sometimes unsteady, climb from inconsolable grief and loss to a place that is centered around loving kindness. Her writing is personal, descriptive and compassionate. She intersperses personal experiences with excellent lessons that teach us to allow the grief and anger to flow through us, be accepted and then released. Most important, the true Wisdom of a Broken Heart demonstrates that even the wrenching experiences we encounter can and will subside when we learn to project loving kindness on ourselves and to the Universe. Those difficult times are lessons that enrich us and prepare us for the love we are intended to experience. I recommend this book with my highest endorsement - even if you're not broken-hearted. It can help you realize that we have an endless supply of love that can be refreshed and given freely. My heart was broken badly not so long ago. This book has been a cornerstone of my healing process. While I've yet to meet the partner I yearn for, I'm absolutely certain that the learnings I've received from my broken heart and through Susan's book will make our lives fulfilling and precious. I can't wait for the opportunity to prove it to the woman I'm sure I'll meet some day!!!

I bought this book the LAST time I was heartbroken, and found it incredibly helpful, and now, once again, I'm reading it while in the throes of a broken heart. The thing I like about this book is that the author is one of the only ones (besides Pema Chodron) I've read who writes about heartbreak the way it really IS, without implying that you shouldn't be in so much pain. Most self-help writers say "Yeah, it hurts, but you'll get over it." In this book, the author has humor and compassion for the pain, shares her own experience of heartbreak, doesn't tell us we shouldn't be feeling it, but also makes sure we see the options for walking out of it. That's a pretty fine line to walk: not too coddling, not too stern, not to blaming, and not too sentimental. I also like that the author shares her own stories and others' stories about how it actually FEELS and how we THINK when we're heartbroken, which makes the reader feel not so alone, not so crazy or out of whack. I loved the cornbread example, about how minor things can seem to trigger intense pain after loss. The exercises are profound, usually pretty simple, and unique, getting us to the somatic and soul levels rather than staying in the head, the way many self-help and therapeutic techniques often do. I'm very grateful for this book right now!

Very informative and helpful in so many ways. I would recommend it to anyone who has been in a loving relationship then betrayed without expecting it shattering your heart into little pieces. A broken heart can send you into a tailspin causing anxiety and depression then you end up in a corner trapped with negative emotions. Asking why and what happened isn't necessarily going to give you any answers especially since the person you invested your love and trust into is self centered and narcissistic to your surprise. This book regardless if your female or male walks you through the signs you probably missed or ignored and forces you to face the pain head on to work on turning that negative energy into stronger love you're capable of giving.

This was revolutionary in my life. I read this book many years ago and I still use the wisdom I found in it on an almost weekly basis, particularly the simple concept of sitting with pain instead of resisting it. This is useful for broken hearts of all kinds, even grief over a death. She provides very real things you can "do" to help yourself, including incredibly powerful meditations (I know, for those of you granola-hating skeptics the idea of meditating on your pain sounds ridiculous and seld-defeating, but trust me on this.) It was also incredible to realize the sublime amount of creative energy being broken hearted unlocks, not to mention the ability to prioritize what really matters in life, or to feel things more deeply and more empathetically than ever before. At the same time she gives you permission to feel that, yes, having a really, really broken heart can be the worst pain imaginable. I was truly a wreck of a person before I found this book, I related to her level of heartbroken self-destruction. I can't recommend it enough, and I do every single time a friend is going through a break up.

ADI used to think self-help books screamed “scam,” but this book changed that, because it claims to fix nothing. This Buddhist approach to broken-heartedness by meditation teacher Susan Piver is all about learning to sit with the pain of a broken heart. It is both deeply philosophical and practical and ends with a seven-day self-imposed retreat of sorts to help you process everything. I downloaded it to my Kindle the day of my breakup and had a nice commiserating cry through the first few chapters. It was comforting to be spoken to directly by someone wise yet vulnerable — a mentor-aunt-counselor type who professes no magic cure.

It helped me gain a better perspective of my situation and to become more mindful of my emotions and the practice of meditation. A lot of helpful resources in case I want to further investigate. Didn’t really teach me stuff I didn’t already know though.

This is a book that, amazingly, found me. While buying a book for my literature class, this book showed up as recommendation. After reading the first few pages with the "look inside" feature, I was taken by the insightful writing style and how well it aligned with my philosophy about emotional coping and growing. So, I ordered it. While it was on it's way to me, I experienced a surreal heartbreaking event in my life which I didn't see coming (or maybe my inner self did see it coming!) Since this book arrived it has been an anchor and a comfort and a practical handbook for my recovery and growth. It's true that you can't always get what you want...but...you get what you need.

One of the best books ever written for the broken hearted. You will cry and after a while you will smile or even laugh out loud. Take this medicine to digest even the worst cases of lovesickness. Ich loved it and recommend to read it several times. Susan Piver ist an extraordinary meditation teacher and a very wise advisor.

I am cautious when it comes to self-help books. The thoughts behind them are often simplified and the solutions too universal to be useful. However, what Piver writes makes sense. If, like me, you're living with heartache, be warned. There is a lot of wisdom but no easy fixes in this book. I particularly love the chapter about being a queen - easier said than done. I am also looking forward to trying The Seven Day Rescue and Relief Program. I'm going to keep two copies at all times, one for me and one to pass on to any bearer of heartbreak who crosses my path.

this book was a good read! there's nothing i don't really disagree with this book. it shares the truth (harsh unfortunately) and i find that there's ultimately not much of an answer of the "why" in everything. aside from the informative lessons from this book, i think it guides you well on the path to some reflection and meditation. wish the book was longer though

The Wisdom of a Broken Heart is insightful, as well as light and humorous. I was worried that it might turn out to be just another self-help book, but it is actually profound and very much rooted in buddhist practice, which is what I am drawn to. If you're not a buddhist, don't fuss, there are plenty of wonderful things in this book for everyone. I strongly recommend reading it, should it be for your own benefit or to help a friend who is going through a painful breakup. It literally turned my life around, after three years of sulking over the rather disappointing collapse of my marriage.

This book probably saved my life. Written with such kindness, wisdom and humour. I would give this 10 stars if possible.If you are struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship, this book takes you through the process like a friend holding your hand.