Recommendations based on The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Traumaby Bessel van der Kolk

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook

    by Bruce D. Perry
    Insightful case studies of children dealing with extreme trauma, and their resilience.

    In this instant classic of developmental psychology, a renowned psychiatrist examines the effect that trauma can have on a child, reveals how PTSD impacts the developing mind, and outlines the path ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. The Gifts of Imperfection

    by Brené Brown
    A guide to self-acceptance, embracing imperfections and finding courage, compassion and connection.

    In this groundbreaking New York Times best seller, Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor and thought leader on vulnerability , courage , worthiness , and shame , shares ten guideposts on the power of ... (Goodreads)

  3. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    by James Clear
    A practical guide to creating and maintaining good habits, and breaking bad ones, using small, incremental changes.

    No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach ... (Goodreads)

  4. Between the World and Me

    by Ta-Nehisi Coates
    A letter to his son, exploring the realities of racism in America.

    “This is your country, this is your world, this is your body, and you must find some way to live within the all of it.” In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American ... (Goodreads)

  5. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

    by Brené Brown
    An exploration of vulnerability, courage, and the strength to embrace imperfection.

    The #1, New York Times, bestseller. More than 2, million copies sold!,Look for Brené Brown’s new podcast,, Dare to Lead, as well as her ongoing podcast, Unlocking Us,!,From thought leader Brené ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution.

    by Brené Brown
    An exploration of how to courageously confront hardship and use it to build strength and resilience.

    Social scientist Brené Brown has ignited a global conversation on courage, vulnerability, shame, and worthiness. Her pioneering work uncovered a profound truth: Vulnerability—the willingness to show ... (Goodreads)

  7. Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

    by Lindsay C. Gibson
    Understanding and healing from the effects of growing up with emotionally immature parents.

    If you grew up with an emotionally immature, unavailable, or selfish parent, you may have lingering feelings of anger, loneliness, betrayal, or abandonment. You may recall your childhood as a time ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. All About Love: New Visions

    by bell hooks
    A guide to understanding the power of love and changing perceptions of love in modern society.

    All About Love offers radical new ways to think about love by showing its interconnectedness in our private and public lives. In eleven concise chapters, hooks explains how our everyday notions of ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

    by Marie Kondō
    A guide to mastering the art of decluttering and organizing for a more fulfilling life.

    #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • The book that sparked a revolution and inspired the hit Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,: the original guide to decluttering your home once and for all. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

    by Gabor Maté
    Examining the impact of addiction on individuals and society, exploring the physical, emotional, and spiritual toll.

    He would probably dispute it, but Gabor Maté is something of a compassion machine. Diligently treating the drug addicts of Vancouver's notorious Downtown Eastside with sympathy in his heart and ... (Goodreads)

  11. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

    by Bryan Stevenson
    A powerful true story of justice and redemption, exposing the flaws of America's criminal justice system.

    In 1989, idealistic young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson travels to Alabama hoping to help fight for poor people who cannot afford proper legal representation. Teaming with Eva Ansley, he ... (Wikipedia)

  12. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

    by Atul Gawande
    An exploration of the human experience of mortality and the importance of end-of-life care.

    In, Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending Medicine has triumphed in modern ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

    by Eckhart Tolle
    A journey of self-transformation, learning to live in the present moment and liberate oneself.

    Eckhart Tolle's message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle's clear writing, ... (Goodreads)

  14. Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy

    by Irvin D. Yalom
    Exploration of psychotherapy and the human condition, through stories of therapy sessions.

    The collection of ten absorbing tales by master psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom uncovers the mysteries, frustrations, pathos, and humor at the heart of the therapeutic encounter. In recounting his ... (Goodreads)

  15. Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

    by Kristin Neff
    Exploring the inner depths of self-compassion and its power to change lives.

    Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind offers expert advice on how to limit self-criticism and offset its negative effects, enabling you to achieve your highest ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death

    by Caitlin Doughty
    Journey to explore different cultures' death rituals, evaluating one's own mortality.

    A New York Times and Los Angeles Times Bestseller “Doughty chronicles [death] practices with tenderheartedness, a technician’s fascination, and an unsentimental respect for grief.” —Jill Lepore, The ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

    by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
    An exploration of the concept of 'flow' and how it can be used to enhance optimal experience.

    Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, ... (Goodreads)

  18. We Should All Be Feminists

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    A call to action for an inclusive, gender-equal society through an examination of feminism.

    What does “feminism” mean today? That is the question at the heart of We Should All Be Feminists , a personal, eloquently-argued essay—adapted from her much-viewed TEDx talk of the same name—by ... (Goodreads)

  19. Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

    by Judith Lewis Herman
    An in-depth exploration of trauma and its effects on individuals and society, and strategies for recovery.

    When Trauma and Recovery was first published in 1992, it was hailed as a groundbreaking work. In the intervening years, Herman’s volume has changed the way we think about and treat traumatic events ... (Goodreads)

  20. Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner Saint

    by Nadia Bolz-Weber
    A frank exploration of faith and religion, reconciling the divides between the sacred and the profane.

    Now a, New York Times, bestseller, Nadia Bolz-Weber takes no prisoners as she reclaims the term "pastrix"(pronounced "pas-triks," a term used by some Christians who refuse to recognize female ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

    by Robin Wall Kimmerer
    An exploration of the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature, utilizing both Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge.

    As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence

    by Gavin de Becker
    Examining how fear can be used to protect oneself from violence, and how it is a valuable tool.

    True fear is a gift. Unwarranted fear is a curse. Learn how to tell the difference. A date won't take "no" for an answer. The new nanny gives a mother an uneasy feeling. A stranger in a deserted ... (Goodreads)

  23. The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self

    by Alice Miller
    A psychoanalytic study of childhood trauma and its impact on adult life, exploring the search for the true self.

    The bestselling book on childhood trauma and the enduring effects of repressed anger and pain Why are many of the most successful people plagued by feelings of emptiness and alienation? This wise and ... (Goodreads)

  24. Tao Te Ching

    by Lao Tzu
    A collection of wise sayings and reflections on the nature of existence.

    A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching , or -The Classic of ... (Goodreads)

  25. Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life

    by Emily Nagoski
    An exploration of sexuality, examining how to create a fulfilling sex life.

    An essential exploration of why and how women’s sexuality works—based on groundbreaking research and brain science—that will radically transform your sex life into one filled with confidence and joy. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  26. Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love

    by Amir Levine
    A guide to understanding how adult attachment works, and how it can lead to healthy relationships.

    "A groundbreaking book that redefines what it means to be in a relationship." —John Gray, PhD., bestselling author of, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, We already rely on science to tell us ... (Barnes & Noble)

  27. The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love

    by Sonya Renee Taylor
    A guide to embracing radical self-love and body positivity, challenging societal norms and promoting social justice through personal empowerment.

    A global movement guided by love. Humans are a varied and divergent bunch with all manner of beliefs, morals, and bodies. Systems of oppression thrive off our inability to make peace with difference ... (Goodreads)

  28. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life

    by Henry Cloud
    A practical guide to setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in all areas of life.

    Boundaries is the book that's helped over 4 million people learn when to say yes and know how to say no in order to take control of their lives. Does your life feel like it's out of control? Perhaps ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

    by Caroline Criado Pérez
    A revealing look at how data bias affects women's lives, from healthcare to transportation, and the need for change.

    Data is fundamental to the modern world. From economic development, to healthcare, to education and public policy, we rely on numbers to allocate resources and make crucial decisions. But because so ... (Goodreads)

  30. A People's History of the United States

    by Howard Zinn
    An examination of American history from a perspective of marginalized people.

    In the book, Zinn presented a different side of history from the more traditional "fundamental nationalist glorification of country". Zinn portrays a side of American history that can largely be seen ... (Goodreads)