I’ll keep updating this list as I encounter new gems, but here are some of the books I’ve found most empowering.

 

Get Out of Your Mind & Into Your Life, by Steven C. Hayes
This book provided me with many worksheets and tools to develop actual coping skills that, in turn, have helped me be more present and strong.

 

Rising Strong, by Brene Brown
Brene Brown is amazing.  She has helped me and my friends feel comfortable in our own skin and achieve emotional resilience.

 

Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life, by Dr. Susan Forward
This helped me confront a lot of the abuse I’d experienced but didn’t realize was abnormal. I found it particularly advantageous to explore this privately in my own home, by myself, discussing it with others as needed.

 

East of Eden, by John Steinbeck
This is one of my favorite novels of all time, and I read it at a time in my life when I needed to be more mindful. It was a perfect fit, given its vivid descriptions and attention to detail.

 

To Live, Yu Hua
This tragic tale of hardship is so deliberate with its choice of words that reading it feels like an exercise in mindfulness and meditation.