A Memoir on Ballooning and Grief

Dennis E. Curry reviews Julian Barnes's Levels of Life, arguing that its unflinching exploration of grief offers a deeply humanist alternative to religious consolation. Through Barnes's memoir of losing his wife, the book portrays grief with honesty, wit, and emotional depth, ultimately suggesting that memory, rather than faith, provides a meaningful path through profound loss. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/a-memoir-on-ballooning-and-grief/ About the Author: Dennis E. Curry, MD, is a writer, political commentator, and resident physician in psychiatry practicing in Canada. Subscribe to his newsletter at:  https://denniscurry.substack.com/. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe