After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl Sandberg felt confident that she and her children would never feel pure joy again. “I was in a 'vacuum,'” she wrote, “a vast void that fills your heart and lungs and limits your ability to think or even breathe.” Her friend Adam Grant, a psychologist at Wharton, told her that there are tangible steps people can take to recover and recover from life-shattering experiences. We are not born with a fixed amount of flexibility, it is a muscle that everyone can build. Option B combines Cheryl's personal insights with Adam Aperture's research to find strength in the face of adversity. Beginning with the agonizing moment when she finds her husband, Dave Goldberg, collapsed on the gym floor, Cheryl opens her heart — and her notebook — to describe the intense grief and isolation she felt in the aftermath of his death. But Option B goes beyond Cheryl's loss to explore how a wide range of people have overcome hardships including disease, job loss, sexual abuse, natural disasters and the violence of war. Their stories reveal the perseverance of the human spirit. . . And to rediscover joy. Resilience comes from deep within and from support outside of us. Even after the most devastating events, it is possible to grow by finding deeper meaning and gaining greater appreciation in our lives. Option B shows how to help others in crises, develop compassion for ourselves, raise strong children, and create resilient families, communities and workplaces. Many of these lessons can be applied to everyday struggles, allowing us to brave all that lies ahead. Two weeks after losing her husband, Cheryl was preparing for a father-and-baby activity. "I want Dave," she yelled. Her friend replied, "Option A is not available," then promised to help her make the most of Option B. We all live some form of option B. This book will help us all get the most out of it.