Books and Resources That Have Changed My Life

Alongside my amazing husband, extraordinary friends, and two brilliant therapists, books have been primary touchstones that have informed my growth and healing. Quite simply, I would not be the person I am today or doing the work I’m doing in the world without the treasure map of books that have accompanied me on my journey, guiding me along the rocky terrain of being human. If you’re a book lover, I imagine you have your own list of paper friends, and I would love for you to add them in the comments below. Here is my list:

Anxiety:

The Wisdom of Anxiety by Sheryl Paul

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Calming Your Anxious Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You from Anxiety, Fear, and Panic by Jeffrey Bradley

The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron

Dare by Barry McDonagh

Rewire the Anxious Brain by Catherine Pittman and Elizabeth Karle

Psychology, Personality Types and Dreams

Inner Work: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth by Robert Johnson

The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron

The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron

Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery by Don Riso

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

When Love Meets Fear: Becoming Defense-Less and Resource-Full by David Richo

The Wisdom of Your Dreams: Using Dreams to Tap into Your Unconscious and Transform Your Life by Jeremy Taylor

The Book of Symbols by Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism

The Art of Dreaming by Jill Mellick

Dark Night of the Soul and Transitions

When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions (Plus) by Sue Monk Kidd

Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, Revised 25th Anniversary Edition by William Bridges

The Way Of Transition: Embracing Life’s Most Difficult Moments by William Bridges (loved this one more than the original)

Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung

The Rites of Passage by Arnold van Gennep

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell) by Joseph Campbell

Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus (I cannot recommend this highly enough)

Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by Elizabeth Lesser (I do NOT recommend this if you’re struggling with relationship anxiety)

The Middle Passage by James Hollis

Grief and Loss

The WIld Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller

Megan Devine’s work: https://refugeingrief.com

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Becoming a Woman (all novels except “Gifts from the Sea”)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

The Clan of the Cave Bear: Earth’s Children, Book One (a series) by Jane Auel

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

A Woman’s Worth by Marianne Williamson (highly recommend the audio read by the author)

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood: A Novel (The Ya-Ya Series) by Rebecca Wells

Spiritual Growth and Guidance

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times and Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodron (all of her books and audios)

Balancing Heaven and Earth by Robert Johnson

Sitting by the Well: Bringing the Feminine to Consciousness Through Language, Dreams, and Metaphor by Marion Woodman (audio)

Calming Your Anxious Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You from Anxiety, Fear, and Panic by Jeffrey Bradley

Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation by Daniel Siegel

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer

Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment and Your Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott

Real Love

We: Understanding the Psychology of Romantic Love by Robert Johnson

The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck (only the chapter on Love; some other parts can be anxiety-provoking if you have relationship anxiety)

First Comes Marriage: Modern Relationship Advice from the Wisdom of Arranged Marriages by Reva Seth

Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Kate Kerrigan

Why Talking Is Not Enough: Eight Loving Actions That Will Transform Your Marriage by Susan Page

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Sue Johnson

101 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Got Married by Charlie and Linda Bloom

Midlife

When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions (Plus) by Sue Monk Kidd

The Middle Passage by James Hollis

Living Your Unlived Life by Robert Johnson

The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg (fiction)

Physical Health

Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom (Revised Edition): Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing by Dr. Christiane Northrup

Natural Health, Natural Medicine: The Complete Guide to Wellness and Self-Care for Optimum Health by Dr. Andrew Weil

Birthing, Parenting, Learning, and Education

www.ahaparenting.com Parenting Advice Website

Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Jon and Myla Kabat-Zinn

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham

Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings by Dr. Laura Markham

In Defense of Childhood: Protecting Kids’ Inner Wildness by Chris Mercogliano

All Children Flourishing – Igniting the Greatness of Our Children by Howard Glasser

The Call to Brilliance by Resa Steindel Brown

Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent by Meredith Small

The Continuum Concept: In Search Of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff

Parenting from Your Heart: Sharing the Gifts of Compassion, Connection and Choice by Inbal Kashtan (Nonviolent Communication model)

Time-Out for Parents: A Guide to Compassionate Parenting by Cheri Huber and Melinda Guyol