Book Resources

Here is a curated list of books covering self-compassion, chronic illness, grief, mental health, and coping tools.

Disclaimer:
The books listed below are provided for informational purposes only. I have not personally read or reviewed all of these books, and inclusion here does not constitute a personal endorsement. Please use your own judgment when selecting resources that are right for you.

Self-Compassion & Mindfulness

Books that help you be kind to yourself, notice your emotions, and cultivate calm.

  • Self-Compassion – Kristin Neff

  • The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook – Kristin Neff & Christopher Germer

  • Wherever You Go, There You Are – Jon Kabat-Zinn

  • Radical Acceptance – Tara Brach

  • The Gifts of Imperfection – Brené Brown

  • When Things Fall Apart – Pema Chödrön

  • The Body Is Not an Apology – Sonya Renee Taylor

  • The Radical Acceptance Workbook – Ava Walters

Chronic Illness & Body Awareness

Resources for understanding, living with, and coping with chronic illness and the mind-body connection.

  • The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk

  • The Chronic Illness Workbook – Patricia A. Fennell

  • When the Body Says No – Gabor Maté

  • In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts – Gabor Maté

  • Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve – Stanley Rosenberg, Stephen W. Porges, et al.

  • The Vagus Nerve, Your Body’s Superpower! – Galen Hart

Addiction & Mental Health

Books that provide insight, tools, and support for mental health challenges and addiction.

  • Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy – David D. Burns

  • Attached – Amir Levine & Rachel Heller

  • Lost Connections – Johann Hari

  • No Bad Parts – Richard Schwartz

Grief & Loss

Resources to support understanding, processing, and navigating grief.

  • On Grief and Grieving – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler

  • The Year of Magical Thinking – Joan Didion

  • Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working through Grief – Martha Whitmore Hickman

  • It’s OK That You’re Not OK – Megan Devine

  • Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief – Joanne Cacciatore

  • Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy – Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant

  • Permission to Mourn: A New Way to Do Grief – Tom Zusa

  • The Other Side of Sadness – George A. Bonanno

  • Grief Is a Journey: Finding Your Path Through Loss – Dr. Kenneth J. Doka

Creative & Expressive Work

Books that encourage self-expression, journaling, and inner child work.

  • Books by Lucia Capacchione (e.g., The Creative Journal, The Inner Bonding Workbook, Recovery of Your Inner Child)

Resilience & Personal Growth

Books that help you understand yourself, break patterns, and build strength.

  • It Didn’t Start With You – Mark Wolynn

  • Will I Ever Be Good Enough?: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers – Dr. Karyl McBride, Ph.D.

  • The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz

  • Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents – Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD