Books for self-help
Please note that topic areas are listed alphabetically. The rankings of the books are based on Self-Help That Works: Resources to Improve Emotional Health and Strengthen Relationships (2013) by John Nocross, Linda Campbell, John Grohol, John Santrock, Florin Selagea, and Robert Summers. The authors prioritized resources based on national surveys of clinician recommendations. Only books that scored 3 out of 5 or above are listed below. If you would like to know more about the rankings, feel free to pick up the book or stop by the counseling office, as we have a copy in our waiting room. Furthermore, the authors define self-help as a “…concerted, self-directed attempt to improve behavior without (or with minimal) professional treatment” (pg. 2). In this way, self-help is the first step towards improving yourself or recovering from stress, but it is by no means the only step available to you. Student Counseling Services offers well-being workshops, consultations, and group and individual counseling as well to help you through the healing process. Finally, John Nocross et al. (2013) also provide helpful guidelines for evaluating and selecting self-help resources (pgs. 485-491):
- Don’t choose a self-help resource because of its cover, title, or advertising.
- Select a resource that makes realistic rather than grandiose claims.
- Examine the research evidence reported in the self-help resource.
- Favor self-help that has been tested as self-help.
- Select self-help materials that recognize problems are caused by a number of factors and have multiple solutions.
- Select self-help that focuses on a particular problem rather than one that gives solutions to all problems.
- Choose self-help that clearly explains limitations and contraindications.
- Don’t be conned by psychobabble and slick writing.
- Search for self-help that will take you through the entire change process.
- Check out the author’s educational and professional credentials.
- Be wary of authors who reject the conventional knowledge of health professionals.
- Distinguish between balanced information and subtle advertising.
Topic Areas:
Abuse
Addictions
Adult development
Anger
Anxiety disorders
Assertiveness
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Autism spectrum disorder
Bipolar disorder
Borderline and narcissistic personality disorder
Chronic pain
Communication and people skills
Death and grieving
Dementia/Alzheimer's (for family members of)
Depression
Divorce
Eating disorders
Families and step-families
Gay, lesbian and bisexual
Happiness
Love and intimacy
Men's issues
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Pregnancy
Schizophrenia
Stress-management and relaxation
Substance abuse
Suicide
Women's issues
Abuse
The following self-help books explore abuse from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Courage to Heal (1994) by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis. New York: Harper Perennial.
Allies in Healing (1991) by Laura Davis. New York: Harper Perennial.
Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (1996) by Christine A. Courtois. New York: Norton.
The Battered Woman (1979) by Lenore Walker. New York: Harper & Row.
Allies in Healing (1991) by Laura Davis. New York: Harper Perennial.
Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse (1990) by Michael Lew. New York: Harper & Row.
Getting Free: You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your Life (3rd., 1997) by Ginny NiCarthy. Seattle, WA: Seal.
The Verbally Abusive Relationship (1996) by Patricia Evans. Holbrook, MA: Adams.
I Never Called It Rape (1994) by Robin Warshaw. New York: Harper Perennial.
The Sexual Healing Journey (2001) by Wendy Maltz. New York: Harper Perennial.
The Secret Trauma (1999) by Diana E.H. Russell. New York: Basic Books.
Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Women’s Workbook (2000) by Mary Ellen Copeland and Maxine Harris. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Breaking the Cycle of Abuse: How to Move Beyond Your Past to Create an Abuse Free Future (2005) by Beverly Engel. Hoboken, NY: Wiley.
Beginning to Heal: A First Book for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (1993) by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis. New York: Harper Perennial.
The Secret of Overcoming Verbal Abuse (2000) by Albert Ellis and Marcia Grad Powers. Hollywood, CA: Wilshire.
Wounded Boys, Heroic Men: A Man’s Guide to Recovering from Child Abuse (1992) by Daniel Jay Sonkin. Stamford, CT: Longmeadow.
Healing the Shame that Binds You (1988) by John Bradshaw. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communication.
Autobiographies:
A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness (2000) by Dave Pelzer. New York: Plume.
The Lost Boy: A Foster Child’s Search for the Love of a Family (1997) by Dave Pelzer. Deerfield Park, FL: Health Communications.
A Child Called “It”: One Child’s Courage to Survive (1995) by Dave Pelzer. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Daddy’s Girl (1995) by Charlotte Vale Allen. New York: Berkeley.
Sleepers (1996) by Lorenzo Carcaterra. New York: Ballantine.
Secret Life (1996) by Michael Ryan. New York: Vintage.
Crazy Love (2010) by Leslie Morgan Steiner. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
All that is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir (2011) by Ashley Judd and Maryanne Voller: New York: Random House.
Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor’s Story (2003) by Lynn C. Tolson. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse.
Lucky: A Memoir (2002) by Alice Sebold. New York: Little, Brown.
Addictions
The following self-help books explore addiction from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Beyond Codependency (1989) by Melodie Beattie. New York: Harper & Row.
In the Shadows of the Net (2007) by Patrick Carnes, David Delmonico, Elizabeth Griffin, and Joseph Moriarity. Minneapolis: Hazelden Foundation.
The Truth about Addiction and Recovery (1992) by Stanton Peele, Archie Brodsky, and Mary Arnold. New York: Fireside.
Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction (3rd ed., 2001) by Patrick Carnes. Minneapolis: Hazelden Foundation.
Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction (2004) by Mark Laaser. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Autobiographies:
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself (2nd ed., 1996) by Melodie Beattie. Center City, MN: Hazelden.
Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey through Sexual Addiction (2008) by Sue William Silverman. New York: Norton.
Cyber Junkie: Escape the Gaming and Internet Trap (2010) by Kevin J. Roberts. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Born to Lose: Memoirs of a Compulsive Gambler (2005) by Bill Lee. Center City, MN: Haselden Publishing.
Adult development
The following self-help books explore adult development from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Necessary Losses (reprint ed., 1998) by Judith Viorst. New York: Fireside.
Seasons of a Man’s Life (reissue ed., 1986) by Daniel J. Levinson. New York: Ballantine.
Making Peace with Your Parents (reissued 1996) by Harold Bloomfield. New York: Random House.
The Social Animal (2011) by David Brooks. New York: Random House.
The Silent Passage (rev ed., 1998) by Gail Sheehy. New York: Random House.
Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life (1976) by Gail Sheehy. New York: Dutton.
When You and Your Mother Can’t Be Friends (1990) by Victoria Secunda. New York: Delacorte.
How to Deal with Your Parents when They Still Treat You Like a Child (1992) by Lynn Osterkamp. New York: Berkley.
Autobiographies:
Tuesday’s with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Secrets (1997) by Mitch Albom. New York: Doubleday.
Fly Fishing through the Midlife Crisis (1994) by Howard Raines. New York: Doubleday.
Anger
The following self-help books explore anger from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Anger Control Workbook (2000) by Matthew McKay and Peter Rogers. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships (reissued ed., 1997) by Harriet Lerner. New York: Harper Perennial.
Letting Go of Anger: The Ten Most Common Anger Styles and What to Do about Them (1995) by Ron Potter-Efron and Pat Potter-Efron. Oakland: CA, New Harbinger.
How to Control Your Anger before it Controls You (1997) by Albert Ellis and Raymond Chip Tafrate. Secaucus, NJ: Birch Lane.
The Anger Workbook (1992) by Lorrainne Bilodeau. Minneapolis: CompCare.
Act on Life, Not on Anger (2006) by George H. Eifert, Matthew McKay, and John P. Forsyth. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Prisoners of Hate: The Cognitive Basis of Anger, Hostility, and Violence (1999) by Aaron Beck. New York: Harper Perennial.
Angry All the Time: An Emergency Guide to Anger Control (1994) by Ron Potter-Efron. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Anger Management for Everyone (2009) by Raymond Chip Tafrate and Howard Kassinove. Atascedero, CA: Impact.
When Anger Hurts (1997) by Matthew McKay, Peter Rogers, and Judith McKay. Oakland, CA: Fine Communications.
Rage: A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Explosive Anger (2007) by Ronald Potter-Efron. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Anger Workbook for Teens (2009) by Raychelle Cassada Lohmann. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Gift of Anger (2011) by Marcia Cannon. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Angry Book (1969, reissued 1998) by Theodore Rubin. New York: Macmillan.
Anxiety disorders
The following self-help books explore anxiety disorders from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (2001, 3rd ed) by Edmund J. Bourne. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Mastery of Anxiety and Panic III (2000) by Michelle G. Craske and David H. Barlow. New York: Oxford University Press.
Mastering Your Fears and Phobias Workbook (2006) by Martin A. Antony, Michelle G. Craske, and David H. Barlow. New York: Oxford University Press.
The Dance of Fear (2005) by Harriet Lerner. New York: William Morrow.
Beyond Anxiety and Phobia (2001) by Edmund J. Bourne. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook (2002) by Martin Anthony and Richard Swinson. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective (1985) by Aaron Beck and Gary Emery. New York: Basic.
When Perfect Isn’t Good Enough (2009) by Martin M. Anthony and Richard P. Swinson. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
When Panic Attacks: The New Drug-Free Therapy that can Change Your Life (2007) by David D. Burns. New York: Morgan Road.
Reel the Fear and Do It Anyway (reissue ed., 1992) by Susan Jeffers. New York: Fawcett.
Don’t Panic: Taking Control of Anxiety Attacks (revised ed., 1996) by Reid Wilson. New York: Harper & Row.
Overcoming Shyness and Social Phobias: A Step-by-Step Guide (1998) by Ronald M. Rapee. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
An End to Panic (1995, reissued 2000) by Elke Zuercher-White. Oakland, CA: New Harbunger.
Worry: Controlling It and Using It Wisely (1997) by Edward Hallowell. New York: Pantheon.
Stopping Anxiety Medication (2009) by Michael H. Otto and Mark H. Pollack. New York: Oxford University Press.
How to Control Your Anxiety Before it Controls You (1998) Albert Ellis. Secaucus, NJ: Carol.
Panic Disorder: The Facts (1996) by Stanley Rachman and Padmal de Silva. New York: Oxford University.
Peace from Nervous Suffering (1972, reissued 1990) by Claire Weekes. New York: Hawthorn.
Life without Fear: Anxiety and Its Cure (1988) by Joseph Wolpe with David Wolpe. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Their Causes and Cure (1985) by Robert Handly. New York: Fawcett Crest.
Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness (2008) by Gillian Butler. New York: Basic Books.
Overcoming Anxiety for Dummies (2010) by Charles Elliott and Laura Smith. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
The Anxiety Workbook for Teens (2008) by Lisa M. Schab. Oakland, CA: Instant Help.
The Anxiety Disease (1983) by David Sheehan. New York: Scribner.
The Good News about Panic, Anxiety, and Phobias (1990) by Mark Gold. New York: Bantam.
Women who Worry Too Much (2005) by Holly Haxlett-Stevens. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Autobiographies:
A Mind of My Own (1989) by Chris Costner Sizemore. New York: William Morrow.
The Panic Attack Recovery Book (revised ed., 2000) by Shirley Swede and Seymour S. Jaffe. New York: New American Library/Dutton.
Memoirs of an Amnesiac (1990) by Oscar Levant. Hollywood, CA: Samuel French.
Phantom Illness: Recognizing, Understanding, and Overcoming Hypochondria (1997) by Carla Cantor with Brian Fallon. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Afraid of Everything: A Personal History of Agoraphobia (1984) by Daryl M. Woods. Saratoga, CA: R & E.
Assertiveness
The following self-help books explore assertiveness from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Your Perfect Right: A Guide to Assertive Living (7th ed., 1995)Robert Alberti and Michael Emmons. San Luis Obispo, CA: Impact.
The Assertive Woman (3rd ed., 1997) by Stanlee Phelps and Nancy Austin. San Luis Obispo, CA: Impact.
Asserting Yourself: A Practical Guide for Positive Change (1991) by Sharon Anthony Bower and Gordon H. Bower. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Stand Up, Speak Out, Talk Back (1975, reissued 1982) by Robert Alberti and Michael Emmons. New York: Pocket.
When I say No, I Feel Guilty (1975) by Manuel Smith. New York: Bantam.
The Assertiveness Workbook (2000) by Randy Peterson. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Don’t Say Yes When You Want to Say No (1975) by Herbert Fensterheim and Jean Baer. New York: Dell.
Good-Bye to Guilt (1985) by Gerald Jampolsky. New York: Bantam.
The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense (1980) by Suzette Elgin. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
The following self-help books explore ADHD from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD (2010) by Russell A. Barkley. New York: Guilford.
Taking Charge of ADHD (2000, revised ed.) by Russell A. Barkley. New York: Guilford.
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood (1994) by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Putting on the Brakes: Young People’s Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2001) by Patricia O. Quinn and Judith M. Stern. New York: Magination.
Answers to Distraction (1994) by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey. New York: Pantheon.
ADHD and Teens (1995, reissued 2002) by Colleen Alexander-Roberts. Dallas, TX: Taylor.
Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADD (2nd ed., 1997) by Kathleen G. Nadeau and Ellen B. Dixon. Washington, DC: Magination.
Mastering your Adult ADHD (2005) by Steven A. Safren, Carol A. Perlman, Susan Spirch, and Michael Otto. New York: Oxford University Press.
Overcoming ADHD (2009) by Stanley I. Greenspan. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
The Gift of Adult ADD (2000) by Lara Honos-Webb. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Autobiographies:
Parenting a Child with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (1999) by Nancy S. Boyles and Darlene Contadino. Los Angeles: Lowell House.
ADHD Handbook for Families: A Guide to Communication with Professionals (1999) by Paul L. Weingartner. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
The Little Monster: Growing Up with ADHD (2004) by Robert Jergen. Lanham, MD: R&L Education.
ADHD and Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table (2008) by Blake E.S. Taylor and Lara Honos-Webb. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Autism spectrum disorder
The following self-help books explore ASD (as well as the outmoded “Asperger’s Syndrome) from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome (2008) by Tony Attwood. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
The Social Skills Picture Book: Teaching Play, Emotion, and Communication with Autism (2003) by Jed Baker. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.
Autobiographies:
Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant (2007) by Daniel Tammet. New York: Free Press.
Emergence: Labeled Autistic (1996) by Temple Grandin and Margaret M. Scariano. New York: Warner Books.
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s (2008) by John Elder Robison. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Atypical: Life with Asperger’s in 20 1/3 Chapters (2010) by Jesse A. Saperstein. New York: Penguin.
Bipolar disorder
The following self-help books explore Bipolar Disorder from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder (2009) by Sheri Van Dijk. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know (2010, 2nd ed.) by David J. Miklowitz. New York: Guilford.
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder (2004) by Julie A. Fast and John D. Preston. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression (1996) by Mary Ellen Copeland. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Bipolar Workbook (2006) by Monica Ramirez Basco. New York: Guilford.
The Bipolar Teen (2007) by David Miklowitz and Elizabeth L. George. New York: Guillford.
When Someone You Love is Bipolar (2009) by Cynthia G. Last. New York: Guilford.
Autobiographies:
An Unquiet Mind (1997) by Kay R. Jamison. New York: Random House.
A Brilliant Madness (1993) by Patty Duke and Gloria Hochman. New York: Bantam.
Skywriting: A Life out of the Blue (2205) by Jane Pauley.
Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty Duke (1988) by Patty Duke with Kenneth Turan. New York: Bantam.
Daughter of the Queen of Sheba (1998) by Jack Lyden. New York: Viking Penguin.
Breakdown: A Personal Crisis and a Medical Dilemma (revised ed., 1987) by Stuart Sutherland. New York: Oxford University Press.
His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina (2000) by Danuelle Steel. New York: Dell.
Pain: The Essence of Mental Illness (1980) by Anna Eisenhart Anderson. Hicksville, NY: Exposition.
Borderline and narcissistic personality disorder
The following self-help books explore borderline and narcissistic personality disorders from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder (1993) by Marsha M. Linehan. New York: Guilford.
Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self (1994) by Alice Miller. New York: Basic.
Surviving a Borderline Parent (2004) by Kimberlee Roth and Freda B. Friedman. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Disarming the Narcissist (2008) by Wendy T. Behary. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations (1974) by Christopher Lasch. New York: Norton.
I Hate You—Don’t Leave Me (1991) by Jerold Kreisman and Hal Straus. New York: Avon.
The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide (2007) by Alexander L. Chapman and Kim L. Gratz. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Sometimes I Act Crazy: Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (2006) by Jerold J. Keisman and Hal Straus. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about has Borderline Personality Disorder (1998) by Paul T. Mason and Randi Kreger. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Autobiographies:
Girl Interrupted (1993) by Susanna Kaysen. New York: Random House.
Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder (2004) by Rachel Reiland. Center City, MN: Hazelden Publishing.
The Buddha and the Borderline: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder through Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Buddhism, and Online Dating (2010) by Kiera Van Gelder. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Welcome to My Country (1997) by Lauren Slater. New York: Anchor Books/Doubleday.
Chronic pain
The following self-help books explore chronic pain from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Managing Pain Before it Manages You (2008) by Margaret A. Caudill and Herbert Benson. New York: Guilford.
The Pain Survival Guide (2006) by Dennis W. Turk and Frits Winter. New York: Guilford.
The Mindfulness Solution to Pain (2009) by Jackie Gardner-Nix and Lucie Costin-Hall. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Coping with Chronic Illness (2010) by H. Norman Wright and Lynn Ellis. Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
Managing Chronic Pain (2007) by John Otis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Communication and people skills
The following self-help books explore communication and people skills from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No to Take Control of Your Life (1992) by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation (1990) by Deborah Tannen. New York: Ballantine.
The Dance of Connection (2002) by Harriet Lerner. New York: Quill.
Intimate Strangers (revised ed., 1999) by Lillian Rubin. New York: Harper & Row.
The New Peoplemaking (1988) by Virginia Satir. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books.
How to Communicate: The Ultimate Guide to Improving Your Personal and Professional Relationships (1997) by Matthew McKay, Martha Davis, and Patrick Fanning. New York: Fine.
Shyness (1987) by Phillip Zimbardo. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Intimate Connections: The New Clinically Tested Program for Overcoming Loneliness (1985) by David Burns. New York: Morrow.
Just Friends: The Role of Friendship in Our Lives (1985) by Lillian Rubin. New York: Harper & Row.
People Skills (reissued ed., 1986) by Robert Bolton. New York: Touchstone.
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In (1991 revised ed.) by Roger Fisher and William Ury. New York: Penguin.
That’s Not What I Meant! How Conversational Style Makes or Breaks Relationships (1986, reprinted 1991) by Deborah Tannen. New York: Ballantine.
Opening Up: The Healing Power of Confiding in Others (1997) by James Pennebaker. New York: Guilford.
Difficult People: How to Deal with Impossible Clients, Bosses and Employees (1990) by Roberta Cava. Toronto: Key Porter.
Coping with Difficult People (1981) by Robert Bramson. New York: Dell.
Games People Play (1964) by Eric Berne. New York: Grove.
Messages Workbook: Powerful Strategies for Effective Communication at Work and Home (2004) by Martha Davis, Kim Paleg, and Patrick Fanning. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Stop! You’re Driving Me Crazy (1979) by George Bach and Ronald Deutsch. New York: Berkeley.
Death and grieving
The following self-help books explore death and grieving from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
How to Survive the Loss of a Love (2nd ed., 1991) by Melba Colgrove, Harold Bloomfield, and Peter McWilliams. Los Angeles: Prelude.
When Bad Things Happen to Good People (1981, reissued 1997) by Harold Kushner. New York: Schocken.
On Children and Death (reprint ed., 1997) by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. New York: Collier.
How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies (1991) by Therese Rando. New York: Bantam.
The Grief Recovery Handbook: A Step-by-Step Program for Moving Beyond Loss (1988) by John W. James and Frank Cherry. New York: Harper & Row.
Life Lessons (2000) by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Talking about Death: A Dialogue between Parent and Child (3rd ed., 1991) by Earl Grollman. Boston: Beacon.
Learning to Say Good-Bye (1976) by Eda LeShan. New York: Macmillan,
Working It Through (1982) by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. New York: Macmillan.
Recovering from the Loss of a Child (1982) by Katherine Donnelly. New York: Macmillan.
Helping Children Grieve (1991) by Theresa Huntley. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress.
Staring at the Sun (2009) by Irvin D. Yalom. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
A Time to Say Good-Bye: Moving Beyond Loss (1996) by Mary McClure Goulding. Watsonville, CA: Papier-Mache.
Living through Personal Crisis (1984) by Ann Stearns. Chicago: Thomas More.
On Death and Dying (1969) by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. New York: Macmillan.
How We Die (1994) by Sherwin B. Nuland. New York: Knopf.
Autobiographies:
A Grief Observed (1961) by C.S. Lewis. New York: Seabury.
Letting Go: Morrie’s Reflections on Living while Dying (1997) Morrie Schwartz. New York: Dell.
The Year of Magical Thinking (2007) by Joan Didion. New York: Knox Doubleday.
Death Be Not Proud: A Memoir (1998) by John Gunther. New York: HarperCollins.
The Wheel of Life: A Memoir of Living and Dying (1998) by Elisabeth Kubler Ross & Todd Gold. New York: Touchstone.
Motherless Daughter (1995) by Hope Edelman. New York: Delta.
Dementia/Alzheimer's
The following self-help books explore dementia and Alzheimer’s from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementing Illness and Memory Loss in Later Life (3rd ed., 1999) by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins. Baltimore: John Hopkins University.
The Hidden Victims of Alzheimer’s Disease: Families under Stress (1985) by Steven Zarit, Nancy K. Orr, and Judy M. Zarit. New York: New York University.
The Alzheimer’s Caregiver: Dealing with the Realities of Dementia (1998) by Harriet Hodgson. Minneapolis: Chronimed.
Autobiographies:
Elegy for Iris (1999) by John Bayley. New York: St. Martin’s.
The Diminished Mind: One Family’s Extraordinary Battle with Alzheimer’s (1991) by Jean Taylor and Harry Anifantakis. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books.
Depression
The following self-help books explore depression from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Mindful Way through Depression (2007) by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn. New York: Guilford.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (revised ed., 1999) by David Burns. New York: Avon.
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think (1995) by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky. New York: Guilford.
The Feeling Good Handbook (revised ed., 1999) by David Burns. New York: Plume.
Control Your Depression (1996) by Peter Lewinsohn, Ricardo Munoz, Mary Ann Youngren, and Antonette Zeiss. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders (1976) by Aaron Beck. New York: International Universities Press.
When Living Hurts: Directives for Treating Depression (1994) by Michael D. Yapko. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
When Feeling Bad Is Good (1994) by Ellen McGarth. New York: Bantam.
The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression (2006) by William J. Knaus. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
You Can Beat Depression: A Guide to Prevention and Recovery (2001, 2nd ed.) by John Preston. San Luis Obispo, CA: Impact.
Winter Blues—Seasonal Affective Disorder: What It Is and How to Overcome It (1998) by Norman E. Rosenthal. New York: Guilford.
Getting Un-Depressed: How a Woman Can Change Her Life through Cognitive Therapy (revised ed., 1988) by Gary Emery. New York: Touchstone.
I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression (1997) by Terrence Real. New York: Scribner.
How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable about Anything, Yes Anything! (1988) by Albert Ellis. New York: Lyle Stuart.
Hand-Me-Down Blues: How to Stop Depression from Spreading in Families (1999) by Michael D. Yapko. New York: Golden.
Overcoming Depression: A Cognitive Therapy Approach to Taming the Depression BEAST (1999) by Mark Gilson and Arthur Freeman. Albany, NY: Graywind.
How to Cope with Depression (1989, reprinted 1996) by Raymond DePaulo and Keith Ablow. New York: Ballantine.
Breaking the Patterns of Depression (1997) by Michael D. Yapko. New York: Doubleday.
When the Blues Won’t Go Away (1991) by Robert Hirschfeld. New York: Macmillan.
Understanding and Overcoming Depression: A Common Sense Approach (1999) by Tony Bates. Freedom, CA: Crossing.
Listening to Prozac (1997) by Peter D. Kramer. New York: Penguin.
Autobiographies:
Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness (1992) by William Styron. New York: Vintage.
Undercurrents: A Therapist’s Reckoning with her own Depression (1994) by Martha Manning. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco.
The Beast: A Journey through Depression (1996) by Traacy Thompson. New York: Plume.
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression (2002) by Andrew Solomon. New York: Simon & Schuster.
On the Edge of Darkness (1995) by Kathy Cronkite. New York: Dell.
The Bell Jar (1995) by Sylvia Plath. Cutchogue, NY: Buccaneer.
My Depression: A Picture Book (2005) by Elizabeth Swados. New York: Hyperion.
Divorce
The following self-help books explore divorce from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce (2001) by Judith Wallerstein, Sandra Blakeslee, and Julia Lewis. New York: Hyperion.
Coping with Divorce, Single Parenting, and Remarriage (1999) edited by E. Mavis Hetherington. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
The Good Divorce (1995) by Constance Ahrons. New York: Harper Collins.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Divorce and Recovery (2008) by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Patty Hansen. Cos Cob, CT: Chicken Soup For the Soul.
Eating disorders
The following self-help books explore eating disorders from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Dying To Be Thin: Understanding and Defeating Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia (2001 updated ed.) by Ira M. Sacker and Marc A. Zimmer. New York: Warner.
The Hunger Within: A Twelve-Week Guided Journey from Compulsive Eating to Recovery (1998) by Marilyn Ann Migliore with Philip Ross. New York: Main Street.
Healing the Hungry Self: The Diet-Free Solution to Lifelong Weight Management (1998) by Deirdre Price. New York: Plume.
Overcoming Binge Eating (1995) by Christopher G. Fairburn. New York: Guilford Press.
The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous (1995). Rio Rancho, NM: Overeaters Anonymous.
The Golden Cage (reprinted ed., 2001) by Hilde Brunch and Catherine Steiner-Adiar. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Bulimia/Anorexia (3rd ed., 2000) by Marlene Boskind-White and William C. White, Jr. New York: Norton.
The Anorexia Workshop (2007) by Michelle Hefner and Georgia I. Eifert. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Fat Is a Family Affair (1996) by Judi Hollis. Cedar City, MN: Hazelden.
Eat, Drink, and be Mindful (2009) by Susan Albers. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Helping Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder (2004) by James Lock and Daniel LeGrange. New York: Guilford Press.
Why Weight? A Guide to Ending Compulsive Eating (1989, reissued 1993) by Geneen Roth. New York: Plume.
When Food is Love (1991) by Geneen Roth. New York: Dutton.
Food for Thought (1980) by the Hazelden Foundation. New York: Harper & Row.
Feeling Good about the Way you Look (2006) by Sabine Wilhelm. New York: Guilford.
Autobiographies:
Feeding the Hungry Heart: The Experience of Compulsive Eating (1993) by Geneen Roth. New York: NAL/Dutton.
Breaking Free from Compulsive Eating (1993) by Geneen Roth. New York: NAL/Dutton.
My Life So Far (2005) by Jane Fonda. New York: Random House.
Starving for Attention (1995) by Cherry Boone O’Neill. Center City, MN: Hazelden Foundation.
Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia (2006) by Marya Hornbacher. New York: HarperCollins.
Am I Still Visible? A Woman’s Triumph over Anorexia Nervosa (1983) by Sandra Harvey Heater. White Hall, VT: Betterway.
Families and step-families
The following self-help books explore families and step-families from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Old Loyalties, New Ties: Therapeutic Strategies for Step-Families (1988) by Emily Visher and John Visher. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
The Family Crucible (1978) by Augustus Napier and Carl Whitaker. New York: Harper & Row.
The Shelter of Each Other: Rebuilding Our Families (1996) by Mary Pipher. New York: Grosset/Putnam.
Love in the Blended Family: Stepfamilies (1991) by Angela Clubb. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
The Second Time Around: Why Some Second Marriages Fail (1991) by Louis Janda and Ellen MacCormack. New York: Carol.
Stepfamilies (1999) by James Bray and John Kelly. New York: Broadway.
Adult Children: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families (1988) by John Friel and Linda Friel. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Gay, lesbian and bisexual
The following self-help books explore gay, lesbian, and bisexual identities from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Coming Out, Coming Home (2010) by Michael C. Lasala. New York: Columbia University Press.
Always My Child (2002) by Kevin Jennings and Pat Shapiro. New York: Fireside.
Permanent Partners: Building Gay and Lesbian Relationships (1988) by Betty Berzon. New York: Dutton.
Autobiographies:
The Family Heart: A Memoir of When Our Son Came Out (1995) by Robb Forman Dew. New York: Random House.
Happiness
The following self-help books explore happiness from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Learned Optimism: How to Change your Mind and your Life (1992, reissued 1998) by Martin Seligman. New York: Pocket.
Stumbling on Happiness (2007) by Daniel Todd Gilbert. New York: First Vintage Books.
Positive Illusions: Creative Self-Discipline and the Healthy Mind (1989) by Shirley Taylor. New York: Basic Books.
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living (1998) by the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler. New York: Riverside.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (2004) by Eckhart Toll. Novato, CA: New World Library.
A Short Guide to a Happy Life (2000) by Anna Quindlen. New York: Random House.
What’s Right with You (2005) by Barry L. Duncan. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
How to Live 365 Days a Year (1975, reissued 2002) by John Schindler. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
The Present (2003) by Spencer Johnson. New York: Doubleday.
Autobiographies:
The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun (2011) by Gretchen Rubin. New York: HarperCollins.
Love and intimacy
The following self-help books explore happiness from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Love is Never Enough (1988) by Aaron Beck. New York: Harper & Row.
5 Love Languages (2010) by Gary Chapman. Chicago, IL: Northfeld.
The Relationship Cure (2002) by John Gottman and Joan DeClaire. New York: Crown.
The Dance of Intimacy: A Woman’s Guide to Courageous Acts of Change in Key Relationships (1989) by Harriet Lerner. New York: Harper Perennial.
The Dance of Connections (2002) by Harriet Lerner. New York: HarperCollins.
Keeping the Love You Find (1993) by Harville Hendrix. New York: Pocket.
The Art of Loving (1956, reissued 2002) by Erich Fromm. New York: Harper & Row.
I Only Say This Because I Love You (2001) by Deborah Tannen. New York: Random House.
The Triangle of Love (1987) by Robert Sternberg. New York: Basic Books.
Fear of Intimacy (2001) by Robert Firestone and Joyce Catlett. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Obsessive Love: When it Hurts too Much to Let Go (2002) by Susan Forward and Craig Buck. New York: Bantam.
Do I have to Give Up Me to Be Loved by You? (1983) by Jordan Paul and Margret Paul. Minneapolis: CompCare.
Creating Love: The Next Great Stage of Growth (1992) by John Bradshaw. New York: Bantam.
Soul Mates: Honoring the Mysteries of Love and Relationships (1994) by Thomas Moore: New York: HarperCollins.
The Love Dare (2008) by Stephen Kendrix and Alex Kendrix. Nashville, TN: B&H.
Going the Distance: Secrets of Livelong Love (1991) by Lonnie Barbach and David Geisinger. New York: Plume.
Women who Love too Much (1985) by Robin Norwood. New York: Pocket.
A Return to Love (1992) by Marianne Williamson. New York: HarperCollins.
Men's issues
The following self-help books explore men’s issues from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood (1998) by William Pollack. New York: Henry Holt.
Victims No Longer (2004) by Michael Lew. New York: HarperCollins.
Seasons of a Man’s Life (1978) by Daniel J. Levinson. New York: Ballantine.
Being a Man: A Guide to the New Masculinity (1993) by Patrick Fanning and Matthew McKay. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Man Enough: Fathers, Sons and the Search for Masculinity (1993) by Frank S. Pittman. New York: Putnam.
The Hazards of Being Male (1976) by Herb Goldberg. New York: Signet.
Masculinity Reconstructed (1995) by Ronald Levant and Gini Kopecky. New York: Dutton/Plume.
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man (2009) by Steve Harvey. New York: HarperCollins.
The New Male: From Self-Destruction to Self-Care (1980) by Herb Goldberg. New York: Signet.
Fire in the Belly (1991) by Sam Keen. New York: Bantam.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
The following self-help books explore OCD from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
S.T.O.P. Obsessing: How to Overcome your Obsessions and Compulsions (1991) by Edna B. Foa and Reid Wilson. New York: Bantam.
The OCD Workbook (2010) by Bruce M. Hyman and Cherry Pedrick: Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Mastery of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (2004) by Michael J. Kozak and Edna B. Foa. New York: Oxford University Press.
Overcoming Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Behavioral and Cognitive Protocol for the Treatment of OCD (1999) by Gail Steketee. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD (2007) by Dawn Huebner. Washington, DC: Magination.
Getting over OCE: A 10-Step Workbook for Taking Back your Life (2009) by Jonathan S. Abramowitz. New York: Guilford.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (1992) by Steven Levenkron. New York: Warner.
Brain Lock (1996) by Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Beverly Beyette. New York: Regan.
Freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (2004) by John Grayson. New York: Berkeley Publishing.
Coping with OCD (2008) by Bruce M. Hayman and Troy DuFrene. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Hair-Pulling Problem (2003) by Fred Penzel. New York: Oxford University Press.
Autobiographies:
Memoirs of an Amnesiac (1990) by Oscar Levant. Hollywood, CA: Samuel French Trade Books.
Rewind, Replay, Repeat: A Memoir of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (2007) by Jeff Bell. Center City, MH: Hazelden Publishing.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
The following self-help books explore PTSD from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Trauma and Recovery (1997) by Judith Lewis Herman. New York: Basic.
I Can’t Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors (1996) by Aphrodite Matsakis. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Reclaiming Your Life after Rape (1999) by Barbra Olasov Rothbaum and Edna B. Foa. Albany, NY: Graywind.
The PTSD Workbook (2002) by Mary Beth Williams and Soilis Poijula. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Life after Trauma: A Workbook for Healing (1999) by Dena Rosenbloom and Mary Beth Williams with Barbra E. Watkins. New York: Guilford.
Reclaiming Your Life from a Traumatic Experience (2007) by Barbra Rothbaum, Edna Foa, and Elizabeth Mebree. New York: Oxford University Press.
After the Storm (2006) by Kendall Johnson. Alameda, CA: Hunter House.
Writing to Heal (2010) by James W. Pennebaker. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Victims No Longer (2004) by Michael Lew. New York: HarperCollins.
Overcoming the Trauma of your Motor Vehicle Accident (2006) by Edward B. Blanchard and Edward J. Hickling. New York: Oxford University Press.
Pregnancy
The following self-help books explore pregnancy from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
What to Expect when you’re Expecting (2002, 3rd ed.) by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathaway. New York: Workman.
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (1996) by Sheila Kitzinger. New York: Knopf.
What to Eat When you’re Expecting (1986) by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkogg, and Sandee Hathaway. New York: Workman.
The Well Pregnancy Book (revised ed., 1996) by Mike Samuels and Nancy Samuels. New York: Summit.
From Here to Maternity (1986) by Connie Marshall. Citrus Heights, CA: Conmar.
Schizophrenia
The following self-help books explore schizophrenia from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers, and Provides (2001, 4th ed.) by E. Fuller Torrey. New York: HarperPerennial.
Coping with Schizophrenia (1994) by Kim T. Mueser and Susan Gingerich. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia (2006) by Kim Mueser and Susan Gingerich. New York: Guilford.
How to Cope with Mental Illness in Your Family: A Self Care Guide for Siblings, Offspring, and Parents (1998) by Diane T. Marsh and Rex M. Dickens. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.
Helping Someone with Mental Illness (1998) by Rosalynn Carter and Susan K. Golant. New York: Random House.
Autobiographies:
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1976) by Joanne Greenberg. New York: New American Library.
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey through Madness (2008) by Elyn R. Saks. New York: Hyperion.
Out of the Depths: An Autobiographical Study of Mental Disorder and Religious Experience (1960) by Anton T. Boisen. New York: Harper.
Too Much Anger, Too Many Tears: A Personal Triumph Over Psychiatry (1992) by Janet Gotkin and Paul Gotkin. New York: HarperPerennial.
The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music (2008) by Steve Lopez. New York: Putnam.
Nobody’s Child (1992) by Marie Balter and Richard Katz. New York: Perseus.
Stress-management and relaxation
The following self-help books explore stress management and relaxation from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook (2008, 6th ed.) by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, and Matthew McKay. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Wherever You Go, There You Are (1994) by Jon Kabat-Zinn. New York: Hyperion.
The Stress and Relaxation Handbook: A Practical Guide to Self-Help Techniques (1997) by James Madders. London, UK: Vermilion.
The Relaxation Response (1975) by Herbert Benson. New York: Morrow.
The Wellness Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Maintaining Health and Treating Stress Related Illness (1992) by Herbert Benson and Eileen M. Stuart. New York: Fireside.
Beginning Mindfulness (2004) by Andrew Weiss. Navato, CA: New World Library.
Beyond the Relaxation Response (1984) by Herbert Benson. New York: Times Books.
Minding the Body, Mending the Mind (1987) by Joan Borysenko. New York: Bantam.
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: A Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases and Coping (2004, 3rd ed.) by Robert M. Sapolsky. New York: Freeman.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and It’s all Small Stuff (1995) by Richard J. Carlson. New York: Hyperion.
Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women (1982, reissued 1996) by Karen Casey. Minneapolis: Hazelden Foundation.
A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook (2010) by Bob Stahl and Elisha Goldstein. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Learn to Relax (2011, 3rd ed.) by C. Eugene Walker. New York: Wiley.
Touchstones (1986, reissued 1996) by the Hazelden Foundation. New York: HarperCollins.
Exuberance: The Passion for Life (2005) by Kay Redfield Jamison. New York: Vintage.
The Male Stress Syndrome (1986) by Georgia Witkin-Lanoil. New York: Berkley.
Heal Yourself with Qigong (2009) by Suzanne B. Friedman. Oakland, CA.
Substance abuse
The following self-help books explore substance abuse from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Alcoholics Anonymous (4th ed., 2001). New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (pocket ed., 1995). New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.
A Time to Heal: The Road to Recovery for Adult Children of Alcoholics (1988) by Timmen L. Cermak. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher.
It Will Never Happen to Me (reissued 1991) by Claudia Black. New York: Ballantine.
Controlling Your Drinking (2004) by William R. Miller and Ricardo Munoz. New York: Guilford.
The Addiction Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Alcohol and Drugs (1997) by Patrick Fanning and John O’Neill. New York: Fine.
One Day at a Time in Al-Anon (1988). New York: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters.
Sober and Free: Making Your Recovery Work for You (1996) by Guy Kettelhack. New York: Simon & Schuster.
The Recovery Book (1992) by Al J. Mooney, Arlene Eisenberg, and Howard Eisenberg. New York: Workman.
A Day at a Time (1976). Minneapolis: CompCare.
When AA Doesn’t Work for You: Rational Steps to Quitting Alcohol (1992) by Albert Ellis and Emmett Velton. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade.
Autobiographies:
The Broken Cord: A Family’s Ongoing Struggle with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (1990) by Michael Dorris. New York: HarperCollins.
Getting Better: Inside Alcoholics Anonymous (1988) by Nan Robertson. New York: William Morrow.
Go Ask Alice (1995) by Anonymous, edited by Beatrice M. Sparks. New York: Aladdin.
A Drinking Life: A Memoir (1995) by Peter Hamill. Boston: Little, Brown.
Not Found in a Bottle: My Life as a Drinker (1998) by Susan Cheever. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Terry: My Daughter’s Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism (1997) by George S. McGovern. New York: Dutton.
Drinking: A Love Story (1997) by Carolyn Knapp. New York: Delta.
Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey through his Son’s Addiction (2009) by David Sheff. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Wishful Drinking (2009) by Carrie Fisher. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Now You Know (1990) by Kitty Dukakis with J. Scovell. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Suicide
The following self-help books explore suicide from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Choosing to Live (1996) by Thomas Ellis and Cory F. Newman. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Myths about Suicide (2010) by Thomas E. Joiner. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Touched by Suicide (2006) by Michael F. Myers and Carla Fine. New York: Penguin.
Living when a Young Friend Commits Suicide (1999) by Earl A. Grollman and Max Malikow. Boston, MA: Beacon.
Why People Die from Suicide (2007) by Thomas Joiner. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Autobiographies:
Night Falls: Understanding Suicide (2001) by Kay Redfield Jamison. New York: Vintage.
No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One (1999) by Carla Fine. New York: Crown.
Women's issues
The following self-help books explore women’s issues from different perspectives and gender identities. Please, make sure to read the abstract or summary of the book to determine if the book will fit your need.
Self-help:
Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era (2005) by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. New York: Touchstone.
The Second Shift (1989) by Arlie Hochschild. New York: Viking.
The Mismeasure of a Woman (1992) by Carol Tavris. New York: Simon & Schuster.
The Seasons of a Woman’s Life (1996) by Daniel J. Levinson and Judy D. Levinson. New York: Knopf.
Chicken Soup for the Women’s Soul (1996) by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthrone, and Marci Shimoff. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.
Too Good for Her Own Good: Breaking Free from the Burden of Female Responsibility (1990) by Claudia Bepko and Jo-Ann Krestan. New York: Harper & Row.
Body Traps (1992) by Judith Rodin. New York: Morrow.
The Wisdom of Menopause (2012 revised ed.) by Christiane Northrup. New York: Bantam.
Life Preservers: Good Advice When you Need it Most (1996) by Harriet Lerner. New York: Harper Collins.
The Silent Passage (2010 updated ed.) by Gail Sheehy. New York: Random House.
Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype (1992) by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. New York: Ballantine.
Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women (1991) by Susan Faludi. New York: Crown.
We are our Mother’s Daughters (1998) by Cokie Roberts. New York: Morrow.
My Mother/Myself (1977, reissued 1987) by Nancy Friday. New York: Delacorte.
Autobiographies:
Heart of a Woman (1982) by Maya Angelou. New York: Bantam.
Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey (2000) by Jane Goodall. New York: Warner.
Deborah, Golda, and Me: Being Female and Jewish in America (1992) by Letty Cottin Pogrebin. New York: Doubleday.