David Kessler is the world’s foremost expert on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even afterlife’s tragedies. He is the author of six books, including the new bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He coauthored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, including On Grief and Grieving. His first book, The Needs of The Dying, received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.
David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. He facilitates talks, workshops and retreats for those experiencing grief. However, despite his vast knowledge on grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. It inspired him to write his newest book, Finding Meaning.
He has helped thousands of men, women and children face life and death with peace, dignity and courage. His experiences have taken him from Auschwitz concentration camp to Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying Destitute in Calcutta. His services have been used by Elizabeth Taylor, Jamie Lee Curtis and Marianne Williamson when their loved ones faced life-challenging illnesses. He also worked with Anthony Perkins, Michael Landon and industrialist Armand Hammer when they faced their own deaths.
David’s volunteer work includes being an LAPD Specialist Reserve for traumatic events as well as having served on the Red Cross’s disaster services team. He worked for over a decade in a three-hospital system. He was trained for bio-terrorists’ events, as well as epidemics/pandemics. He is the founder of www.grief.com which has over five million visits yearly from 167 countries.
One powerful question changed how keynote speaker John O'Leary chose to live his life. Discover the victim-or-victor framework that works for any challenge.
Read More
Learn how champions think differently and build winning habits that transform teams from talented to unstoppable with peak performance speaker Ross Bernstein.
Read More
Learn 7 powerful year-end lessons from top keynote speakers to transform your event planning strategy and personal growth in 2026.
Read More
Learn with Scott Bloom why smart event planners invest in professional emcees instead of expensive keynotes to create unforgettable multi-day event experiences.
Read More
Learn how to calm digital anxiety with proven analog strategies from former White House CIO Theresa Payton that can help you restore your human connections.
Read More
Navy fighter pilot Jack Becker reveals how elite teams catch errors fast, protect blind spots, and perform under pressure using proven teamwork strategies.
Read More