Suggested Readings ...

   If you're like me and like to read and re-read the books and mark them up or highlight passages in them, check out your local bookstores. You won't believe what all you'll find!

   My intent here is not to list every self-help book out there - that would be impossible. What I've tried to do is list, by category, some of the books that have helped me on this journey that is my life. I have all these books in my personal library and I can recommend them without reservation.

   Feel free to select these books or any others that will help you. Good luck!

• Addiction
• Codependency
• Depression
• Fear
• Grief/Death and Dying
• Humor
• Meditation Books
• Recovery
• Self-Improvement
• Spirituality
• Women's Issues
• Miscellaneous

• Alberti, Robert, and Michael Emmons. Your Perfect Right - A Guide To Assertive Living (Seventh Edition). San Luis Obispo, CA: Impact Publishers, 1995.
• Beattie, Melody. Playing It by Heart - Taking Care of Yourself No Matter What. Center City, MN: Hazelden, 1999.
• –––––. Codependent No More - How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987.
  [Beattie is considered to be the codependency "guru" and this is her groundbreaking book on the subject.]
• –––––. Beyond Codependency - and getting better all the time. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1989.
• Bower, Sharon Anthony, and Gordon H. Bower. Asserting Yourself - A Practical Guide for Positive Change. Reading, MA: Perseus Books, 1991.
• Cloud, Henry, Ph.D., and John Townsend, Ph.D. Boundaries - When to Say YES - When to Say NO - To Take Control of Your Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.
• Hemfelt, Robert, Dr., Dr. Franklin Minirth, and Dr. Paul Meier. Love Is a Choice - The Ground-breaking Book on Recovery for Codependent Relationships. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.
• Koch, Ruth N., and Kenneth C. Haugk. Speaking the Truth in Love - How to Be an Assertive Christian. St. Louis: Stephen Ministries, 1992.
  [This book ranks in my top five all-time!]
• Miller, J. Keith. Compelled to Control - Recovering Intimacy in Broken Relationships. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1992.
• Morgenstern, Julie. Organizing from the Inside Out - The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Home, Your Office, and Your Life. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1998.
  [A wonderful book for those of us who just can't seem to get our lives in order!]
• Paulus, Trina. hope for the flowers. New York: Paulist Press, 1972.

• Bloomfield, Harold H., M.D., and Peter McWilliams. How to Heal Depression. Los Angeles: Prelude Press, 1994.
  
• Papolos, Demitri, M.D., and Janice Papolos. Overcoming Depression - The Definitive Resource for Patients and Families Who Live with Depression and Manic-Depression. New York: Harper Perennial, 1997.

• Jampolsky, Gerald G., M.D. Love Is Letting Go of Fear. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 1979.
• Jeffers, Susan, Ph.D. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway - Dynamic techniques for turning fear, indecision, and anger into power, action, and love. New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1987.
• Quigly, Sarah (with Marilyn Shroyer, Ph.D.). Facing Fear, Finding Courage - Your Path To Peace of Mind. Berkeley: Conari Press, 1996.

• Beattie, Melody. The Lessons of Love - Rediscovering Our Passion for Life When It All Seems Too Hard To Take. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994.
  [A poignant book written by Beattie several years after her only son was killed in a skiing accident.]
• Bockelman, Wilfred. Finding the Right Words - Offering Care & Comfort When You Don't Know What to Say. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1990.
• Callanan, Maggie, and Patricia Kelley. Final Gifts - Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying. New York: Bantam Books, 1997.
• DelBene, Ron (with Mary and Herb Montgomery). A Time to Mourn - Recovering from the Death of a Loved One. Nashville: The Upper Room, 1998.
• James, John W., and Russell Friedman. The Grief Recovery Handbook - The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.
• Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth, M.D. On Death and Dying - What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy, and their own family. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.
  [This is her groundbreaking book discussing the five stages of grief that we all must go through.]
• Lambin, Helen R. From Grief to Grace - Images for Overcoming Sadness and Loss. Chicago: ACTA Publications, 1997.
• Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. New York: Bantam Books, 1961.
• Linn, Erin. I Know Just How You Feel … avoiding the cliches of grief. Incline Village, NV: The Publisher's Mark, 1986.
  [A wonderful book telling us what - and what not - to say when someone is grieving a loss.]
• Maxwell, Katie. Bedside Manners - A Practical Guide To Visiting the Ill. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House Co., 1990.
• Miller, James E. Winter Grief, Summer Grace - Returning to Life After a Loved One Dies. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1995.
• Moore, James W. When Grief Breaks Your Heart. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
• Sittser, Gerald L. A Grace Disguised - How the Soul Grows Through Loss. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.
• Smith, Harold Ivan. A Decembered Grief - Living with Loss While Others Are Celebrating. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1999.
  [An important book to read before the holiday season if you, or someone you love, is grieving a loss.]
• Tatelbaum, Judy. The Courage to Grieve - Creative Living, Recovery, & Growth Through Grief. New York: Harper & Row, 1980.
• Van Praagh, James. Healing Grief - Reclaiming Life After Any Loss. New York: Penguin Group, 2000.
• Westberg, Granger E. Good Grief. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997.

• Cousins, Norman. Anatomy of an Illness - as Perceived by the Patient. New York: Bantam Books, 1979.
  [An excellent book discussing patients' rights and how Cousins took control of his recovery from a debilitating illness.]
• Klein, Allen. The Healing Power of Humor - Techniques for Getting through Loss, Setbacks, Upsets, Disappointments, Difficulties, Trials, Tribulations, and All That Not-So- Funny Stuff. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, 1989.

• Anon. A New Day - 365 Meditations for Personal and Spiritual Growth. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1989.
  [A wonderful meditation book for all recovering addicts - written anonymously by the same person who wrote One Day at a Time, the meditation book used in many AA meetings.]
• Beattie, Melody. The Language of Letting Go - Daily Meditations for Codependents. New York: Harper Collins, 1990.
• –––––. More Language of Letting Go. Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2000.
• Lerner, Rockelle. Affirmations for the Inner Child. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1990.
• Powell, John, S.J. Through Seasons of the Heart. Allen, TX: Thomas More, 1987.
• Ryan, M. J. Attitudes of Gratitude - How to Give and Receive Joy Every Day of Your Life. Berkeley: Conari Press, 1999.
• Schaef, Anne Wilson. Meditations for People Who Worry. New York: Ballantine Publishing Group, 1996.
• Voigt, Anna. Simple Meditations - for everyday relaxation and rejuvenation. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2001.

• Bradshaw, John. Homecoming - Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child. New York: Bantam Books, 1990.
• –––––. Creating Love - The Next Great Stage of Growth. New York: Bantam Books, 1992.
• Fiore, Neil, Ph.D. Overcoming Procrastination - Practice the Now Habit and Guilt-Free Play. New York: MJF Books, 1989.
• Hay, Louise L. You Can Heal Your Life. Carson, CA: Hay House, Inc., 1987.
• John-Roger, and Peter McWilliams. You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought - A Book for People with Any Life-Threatening Illness - Including Life. Los Angeles: Prelude Press, Inc., 1988.
• Kabat-Zinn, Jon, Ph.D. Full Catastrophe Living - Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. New York: Delta Publishing, 1990.
• Smedes, Lewis B. Shame and Grace - Healing the Shame We Don't Deserve. San Francisco: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993.
• Twerski, Abraham J., M.D. Waking Up Just in Time - A therapist shows how to use the Twelve Steps approach to life's ups and downs. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1990.
• Weedn, Flavia, and Lisa Weedn. To Take Away the Hurt - Insights to Healing. San Rafael, CA: Cedco Publishing Co., 1999.
• Whitfield, Charles L., M.D. Healing the Child Within - Discovery and Recovery for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1987.

• Freeman, Arthur, Dr., and Rose DeWolf. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda - Overcoming Regrets, Mistakes, and Missed Opportunities. New York: Harper Collins, 1989.
• –––––. The 10 Dumbest Mistakes Smart People Make and How to Avoid Them - Simple and Sure Techniques for Gaining Greater Control of Your Life. New York: Harper Collins, 1992.
• McMahon, Susanna, Ph.D. The Portable Therapist - Wise and Inspiring Answers to the Questions People in Therapy Ask Most .... New York: Dell Trade Paperback, 1992.
• Powell, John, S.J. Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am? - Insights into Personal Growth. Allen, TX: Thomas More, 1969.
• Powell, John, S.J., and Loretta Brady, M.S.W. Will The Real Me Please Stand Up? - 25 Guidelines for Good Communication. Allen, TX: Thomas More, 1985.
• Salzberg, Sharon. LovingKindness - The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Boston: Shambhala, 1997.
• Schultz, Charles. Me, Stressed Out? San Francisco: CollinsPublishers, 1996.
• Sullivan, James E. The Good Listener. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2000.
• Thurman, Chris, Dr. The Lies We Believe - The #1 Cause of Our Unhappiness. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.

• Albom, Mitch. tuesdays with Morrie - an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
• Cameron, Julia. The Artist's Way - A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, 2002.
• Fann, Joey. The Way Back to Mayberry - Lessons from a Simpler Time. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001.
• Frankl, Viktor E. Man's Search for Meaning (Revised and Updated). New York: Washington Square Press, 1984.
• Halberstam, Yitta, and Judith Leventhal. Small Miracles - Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corp., 1997.
• Heatherly, Joyce Landorf. Balcony People. Austin, TX: Balcony Publishing, 1984.
• Kushner, Harold S. When Bad Things Happen To Good People. New York: Avon Books, 1981.
• –––––. When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough - The Search for a Life That Matters. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1986.
• –––––. How Good Do We Have to Be? Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1996.
• Mother Teresa. No Greater Love. Novato, CA: New World Library, 1997.
• Nouwen, Henri J.M. The Wounded Healer. New York: Doubleday, 1972.
• Peck, M. Scott, M.D. The Road Less Traveled - A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1978.
  [Another book in my top five all-time!]
• –––––. Further Along The Road Less Traveled - The Unending Journey Toward Spiritual Growth - The Edited Lectures. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.
• –––––. The Road Less Traveled & Beyond - Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.
• Youngs, Bettie B., Ph.D. a String of Pearls - Inspirational stories celebrating the resiliency of the human spirit. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corp., 2000.

• Baer, Jean. How To Be an Assertive (not Aggressive) Woman - In Life, In Love, and On the Job - The Classic Guide to Becoming a Self-assured Person. New York: Penguin Group, 1976.
• Covington, Stephanie S., Ph.D. A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps. Center City, MN: Hazelden, 1994.
• Lerner, Harriet, Ph.D. The Dance of Anger - A Woman's Guide To Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1985.
• –––––. The Dance of Intimacy - A Woman's Guide To Courageous Acts of Change in Key Relationships. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1989.
• –––––. The Dance of Deception - A Guide to Authenticity and Truth-Telling in Women's Relationships. New York: Quill, 1993.
• LeSound, Sandra Simpson. The Not-So-Compulsive Woman - 20 Recovery Principles to Pull You Out of the Pit. Tarrytown, NY: Chosen Books, 1992.
• Reilly, Patricia Lynn. Imagine a Woman in Love with Herself - Embracing Your Wisdom and Wholeness. Berkeley: Conari Press, 1999.
• Williamson, Marianne. A Woman's Worth. New York: Ballantine Books, 1993.

• Canfield, Jack, and Mark Victor Hansen. The Aladdin Factor. New York: Berkley Books, 1995.
• Carlson, Richard, Ph.D. Don't sweat the small stuff … and it's all small stuff - Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life. New York: Hyperion, 1997.
• Emanuel's Book - A manual for living comfortably in the cosmos. Compiled by Pat Rodegast and Judith Stanton. New York: Bantam Books, 1987.