Books as Medicine

Bibliotherapy is the use of reading books as medicine for healing. Here are some of my favorites and frequently recommended books.

  • Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by: Brene Brown, Ph.D., LMSW

  • Living Buddha, Living Christ by: Thich Nhat Hanh

  • Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality by Anthony De Mello

  • The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse: A Breakthrough Program for Connecting with Your Soul’s Deepest Purpose by: Debbie Ford

  • The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

  • The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self by: Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, and Debbie Ford

  • Shift Happens: Powerful Ways to Transform Your Life by: Robert Holden Ph.D

  • The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace by: Jack Kornfield

  • Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You by: Benjamin W. Decker

  • Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by: Sam Harris

  • Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm by: Thich Nhat Hanh

  • The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams by: Deepak Chopra

  • The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Sundays by: Oprah Winfrey

  • The Big Book of Less: Finding Joy in Living Lighter by: Irene Smit, Astrid van der Hulst

  • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by: Mark Manson

  • Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by: Chip Heath & Dan Heath

  • The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom by: Osho

  • My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by: Resmaa Menaken, MSW, LICSW, SEP

  • When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection by: Gabor Mate, M.D.

  • Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by: Elizabeth Lesser

  • Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by: Michael A. Singer

  • The Enchanted Life: Unlocking the Magic of the Everyday by Sharon BlackieUntamed by: Glennon Doyle

  • Change the Story of Your Health Using Shamanic and Jungian Techniques for Healing by: Carl Greer

  • Heal Your Body A-Z by: Louise L. Hay

  • Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing by Caroline Myss

  • Shaman Wisdom, Shaman Healing: Deepen Your Ability to Heal with Visionary and Spiritual Tools and Practices

  • Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by: Layla F. Saad, Robin DiAngelo

  • The Empath Experience: What do Do When You Feel Everything by: Syndney Campos

  • A Simple Path: Basic Buddhist Teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama by: Dalai Lama XIV

  • The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by: Carlos Castenada

  • Ishmael: A Novel by: Daniel Quinn

  • The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD second edition by: Jon Hershfield, MFT and Tom Corboy, MFT

    • No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma & Restoring Wholeness with The Internal Family Systems Model by: Richard C. Schwartz, PhD
    • Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by: Nedra Glover Tawwab
    • The Wisdom of Anxiety: How Worry & Intrusive Thoughts Are Gifts to Help You Heal by: Sheryl Paul
    • The Monkey Is the Messenger: Meditation and What Your Busy Mind Is Trying to Tell You by: Ralph De La Rosa
    • The Most Important Thing: Discovering Truth at the Heart of Life by: Adyashanti
    • The Sovereignty Knot: A Woman’s Way to Freedom Power, Love, and Magi by: Marisa Goudy
    • The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by: Bessel A. van der Kolk

    Check out your free local library!