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