'Deborah K. van den Hoonaard possesses the rare gift of combining academic scholarship with accessibility in this refreshingly jargon-free and highly readable book on older widowers. It is not, and does not claim to be, a 'how to' guide. Rather it is a 'how is' exposition of what van den Hoonaard rightly identifies as uncharted territory for older men and their families. Nevertheless, there is much which will resonate with professional practitioners, those who study later life, and especially older widowers themselves.' -- Kate Davidson, Department of Sociology, University of Surrey 'By Himself is a fine story, because it's uncommonly clear and compelling. It's also an unexpected account of how widowers-contrary to the public image of helplessness and desolation-take stock of this new territory of experience, pick up the pieces, and rebuild their lives. Deborah K. van den Hoonaard reinterprets this role for us by letting widowers speak for themselves, and the result is a fascinating study of the self-reliance that, "by himself," the widower uses to actively navigate the unfamiliar.' -- Jaber F. Gubrium, Department of Sociology, University of Missouri 'By Himself is qualitative research at its best. Van den Hoonaard interweaves theory and earlier research findings with the voices of men who have lived the experience of losing their wives. Only a truly engaged scholar could elicit such authentic and revealing data, analyze it, and offer new understandings to readers without relinquishing any of the original authenticity.' -- Dorothy Stratton, Department of Social Work, Ashland University

What happens when older men become widowers? Popular books, movies, and television present widowers as lost and unable to cope or care for themselves. These stereotypes do not encapsulate the experiences of real widowers, how their daily lives change, and what being a widower means to individuals in both sociological and practical ways.

By Himself is based on in-depth interviews with twenty-six widowers over the age of sixty living in the United States and Canada. Using these interviews, Deborah K. van den Hoonaard explores masculine identity and traces the stories that widowers tell about their wives' illnesses and deaths. She also focuses on the widowers' changed relationships with their children and friends, as well as with women, and details the men's encounters with tasks such as housework and cooking. An eminently readable and accessible book, By Himself sheds new light on the social meaning of being a widower.

"‘Van den Hoonaard's book is laudable for its description of widowers, and using their voices to convey what widowerhood meant for many of these men; scholars and students with an interest in this topic should certainly read it.’" - Canadian Journal of Sociology: vol36:02:2011

"‘Deborah van den Hoonaard has produced a rich contribution to the existing literature base on later life widowerhood… The book should appeal to a diverse audience… Established and new researchers will find something of interest in this text.’" - Journal of Aging and Society vol 32:2012

"

‘By Himself makes important contributions to the study of masculinity and bereavement, and answers essential questions about the ways that gender-typed socialization processes shape older men’s experiences with bereavement transition.’

"

‘The book presents an unsentimental but sensitive view on an under-researched topic. It represents an important contribution to our better understanding of men’s experiences in later life, and I highly recommend it.’

"

‘By Himself is an exciting example of the ways that qualitative research can highlight intersectional inequalities, as well as the ways micro focus can illuminate larger social forces.’