You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live

Grief isn't a problem to be solved - it's a teacher that shows up uninvited and refuses to leave until you've learned everything it has to offer

In You're Not Dead Yet, David Ferrugio, host of the acclaimed DEAD Talks Podcast with over one million followers, transforms his personal tragedy into a powerful exploration of life's most difficult moments. After losing his father in the World Trade Center on 9/11 when he was just twelve years old, Ferrugio has spent decades channeling his grief into meaningful conversations with celebrities, experts, and everyday people about death, spirituality, and the afterlife.

This deeply personal yet universally resonant book doesn't offer easy answers or step-by-step healing guides - instead, it provides something far more valuable: honest companionship on the messy, unpredictable journey of grief and the profound insights that emerge from our darkest moments.

Through raw storytelling, spiritual exploration, and unfiltered human connection, Ferrugio weaves together his own experiences with wisdom gathered from hundreds of podcast conversations about loss, near-death experiences, and what it means to truly live while carrying grief. Rather than presenting grief as a linear process with clear stages, he reveals it as a chaotic carousel of emotions that ultimately teaches us everything about what matters most. The book concludes with practical insights and perspectives that will help you discover your own path through loss and toward a deeper understanding of life's meaning.

• A touchstone for the millions navigating loss: With 2.5 million deaths annually in the United States leaving an average of five grieving people behind, this book serves as vital connection and community for those seeking to understand how others have walked this path and found meaning in their pain
• Raw insights from a powerful platform: Drawing from conversations with grief experts, celebrities, and everyday survivors featured on the DEAD Talks Podcast, and offering access to diverse perspectives on healing, spirituality, and resilience gathered from a community of over one million followers
• Honest exploration of life's biggest mysteries: Tackles questions about what happens after death, the role of spirituality in healing, and how our beliefs about the afterlife influence how we live, without pushing any single worldview or religious perspective
• Permission to grieve authentically: Challenges societal expectations about "proper" grieving while giving readers permission to feel everything - including joy, humor, and hope - even while carrying profound loss
• Practical wisdom disguised as memoir: Combines personal storytelling with actionable insights about living fully, finding purpose after loss, and discovering the unexpected gifts that can emerge from life's most painful experiences

This book speaks directly to anyone navigating grief or supporting someone through loss, including the millions of Americans who lose someone each year. Healthcare workers, therapists, religious leaders, and caregivers will find it an invaluable resource to share with those in their care. More broadly, You're Not Dead Yet serves anyone seeking deeper meaning in life's inevitable challenges and those curious about mortality, spirituality, and what it truly means to be human.

Whether you're in the depths of fresh grief or years into your journey, Ferrugio's honest, sometimes irreverent, always compassionate voice offers the rare gift of feeling truly understood in your pain while being gently guided toward hope.

Author: David Ferrugio
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Published: 09/08/2026
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 9.14h x 6.07w x 0.72d
ISBN: 9781394358533

About the Author

DAVID FERRUGIO is the host of the DEAD Talks podcast, where he has recorded over 260 episodes featuring conversations about grief, near-death experiences, spirituality, and the afterlife with celebrities, experts, public figures, and everyday people navigating loss. His work has built a community of over one million followers across social media, connecting those who grieve with diverse perspectives on healing and resilience.