Anna

We often have members asking about book recommendations for people in recovery, so I wanted to list some books that have had a huge impact on my, and other members, recovery. Thank you so, so much for all the great books everyone has posted about in this thread.

To make the list more manageable, the books are listed alphabetically by author under the topics:

Live a Spiritual Life
Anxiety/Depression/Panic Attacks
Codependency
For Kids
For Teens
Recovery
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Well-Being
Eating Disorders
Biographies and Memoirs
Grief & Loss
Fiction.

When new books are posted, I will add them here, too.

Live a Spiritual Life

Aurelies, Marcus Meditations
Bach, Richard Illusions and The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Biehn, Thomas and Beverly. Mindful Recovery
Bradshaw, John Healing the Shame that Binds You
Brown, Brene I thought It Was Just Me and The Gift of Imperfection
Byrne, Rhonda The Secret
Chapman, Gary The 5 Love Languages
Chopra, Deepak Spiritual Solutions and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Chopra, Deepak Freedom from Addiction
Cohen, Alan I Had It All the Time
Cole, Barbara Gifts of Sobriety
Culadasa The Mind Illuminated
Dali Lama An Open Heart
Das, Ram Be Here Now
DeMello, Anthony Awarenes
Ford, Debbie The Secret of the Shadow
Gawain, ****** Living in the Light
Glaser, Gabrielle Best Kept Secret
Graham, Linda Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster
Griffin, Kevin Recovering Joy, A Mindful Life After Addiction
Grosso, Chris Indie Spiritualist
Grpozni, Nikolai Turtle Feet
Hahn Thich Nhat Being Peace and
Harris, Russ The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling, Start Living
Hay, Louise You Can Heal Your Life
Holiday, Ryan & Hanselman, Stephen The Daily Stoic and The Obstacle Is The Way
Huber, Cheri The Key
Kabat-Zinn, Jon Full Catastrophe Living and Mindfulness Meditation and
Falling Awake: How to Practice Mindfulness in Everyday Life and Meditation Is Not What You Think: Mindfulness and Why It Is So Important and Wherever You Go, There You Are
Katie, Byron Loving What Is
Katie, Byron A Thousand Names for Joy
Katz, Solomon Beauty as a State of Being: Mastering Mind and the Spiritual Path
Kurtz and Ketcham Spirituality of Imperfection
Kurtz and Ketcham Experiencing Spirituality
Kurtz and Ketcham Experiencing Spirituality: Finding Meaning Through Storytelling
Lenz, Frederick Surfing the Himalayas
Liquorman, Wayne The Way of Powerlessness
Manson, Mark The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***
Merullo, Roland Breakfast With Buddha
Myss, Carolyn The Anatomy of the Spirit
Nicolaus, Martin Empowering Your Sober Self
Peters, Dr. Steve Chimp Paradox
Peterson, Jordan 12 Rules for Life
Pieper, Martha Heineman Addicted to Unhappiness
Prather, Hugh Little Book of Letting Go
Ruiz, Don Miguel The Four Agreements
Russell, Peter From Science to God
Seaward, Brian Luke Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water
Singer, Michael Untethered Soul and The Surrender Experiment
Tippett, Krista Einstein's God
Tolle, Eckhart A New Earth and The Power of Now
Van der Volk, Bessell The Body Keeps The Score
Walker, Pete From Surving To Thriving
Wholey, Dennis Courage to Change
Williamson, Marianne A Course in Miracles and Return to Love
Yoshi, Nomuri Desert Wisdom
Zukav, Gary The Seat of the Soul
Steps to Life: A Spiritual Journey with Christian Mysticism and the Twelve Steps



Anxiety/Panic Attacks/Depression

Amen, Daniel Change Your Brain, Change Your Life
Anderson, Neil Victory Over the Darkness & Bondage Breaker
Bassett, Lucinda From Panic to Power
Burns, David MD When Panic Attacks
Chodron, Pema When Things Fall Apart
Chodron, Pema Comfortable With Uncertainty
Chodron, Pema The Places That Scare You
Doidge, Norman MD The Brain That Changes Itself
Dyer, Wayne The Power of Intention and Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life
Jeffers, Susan Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
Kabat-Zinn, Jon Mindful Way Through Depression
Lerner, Rokelle Affirmations For The Inner Child
Lesser, Elizabeth Broken Open
Melemis, Steven I want to change my life- how to overcome anxiety, depression
Millman, Don The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Orsilla, Ken Mindful way Through Anxiety

Codependency

Anderson, Susan The Journey from Abandonment to Healing
Ballard, Zari When Love Is a Lie: Narcissistic Partners & the Pathological Relationship Agenda
Bancroft, Lundy Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men
Beattie, Melody Codependent No More, The Language of Letting Go, Journey To The Heart Make Miracles in Forty Days
Behary, Wendy T. Disarming the Narcissist
Birch, Adelyn 30 Covert Emotional Manipulation Tactics: How Manipulators Take Control In Personal Relationships
Carter, Steven Help I'm in Love with a Narcissist
Elliot, Susan J. Getting Past Your Breakup
Fisher, Ken Breaking The Chains Of A Psycopath And A Sociopath: Learning How to Live Again
Forward, Dr. Susan Toxic Parents
Hunter, Joanna But He'll Change: End the Thinking That Keeps You in an Abusive Relationship
Lancer ,Diane Conquering Codependency and Shame
Lerner, Harriet The Dance Of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships
Mason, Paul Stop Walking on Eggshells
McBride, Dr. Karyl Will I Ever
Norwood, Robin Women Who Love Too Much
Rohr, Richard Breathing Under Water
Simon, George K. In Sheep Clothing
Strudwick, Sarah Dark Souls - Healing and Recovering from Toxic Relationships


For Kids

Auth, Jeannine Emmy's Question
Black, Claudia My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease
Carbone, Elisa Lynne My Dad's Definitely Not a Drunk
Higgins, Pamela Up and Down The Mountain
Hastings, Hill An Elephant in the Living Room - The Children's Book
Jones, Penny The Brown Bottle[/B
Mercury, Catherine Think Of Wind
Palmore, Elaine Mitchell The Dragon Who Lives At Our House
Sinberg, Janice I Can Talk About What Hurts

For Teens

Alateen: A Day at a Time Virginia Beach, VA: Al-Anon Family Groups
Alateen: Hope for Children of Alcoholics Virginia Beach, VA: Al-Anon Family Groups
Brooks, C. The Secret Everyone Knows: Help for You If Alcohol Is a Problem in Your Home
Hornik-Beer, E. B]For Teenagers Living with a Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs
Leite, B. Different Like Me: A Book for Teens Who Worry about Their Parent's Use of Alcohol/Drugs
Porterfield, K. Coping with an Alcoholic Parent


Recovery

Anonymous Living Sober
Beck, Craig Alcohol Lied to Me
Berger, Allen Booze and Drugs are Gone
Bear, Edward The Dark Night of Recovery
Biehn, Thomas & Beverly Mindful Recovery.
Brownell, Rachael Mommy Doesn't Drink Here Anymore: Getting Through the First Year of Sobriety
Canfield, Jack, The Thirty Day Solution
Carr, Allan The Easy Way to Quit Drinking
Davis, Fred Beyond Recovery
Desena, James Overcoming Your Alcohol, Drug, and Recovery
Dodes MD, Lance The Freedom Method, Escape the Addiction Trap
Dupuy, John Integral Recovery
Farren, Dr. Conor Overcoming Alcohol Misuse - a 28 Day Guide
Fletcher, Anne Sober for good
Gill, A.A. Pour Me
Gorski, Terence & Merlene Miller Gorski Staying sober: A guide for relapse prevention
Gorski, Terence Understanding the Twelve Steps: An Interpretation and Guide for Recovering People
Grace, Annie The Naked Mind
Grey, Catherine The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober
Griffin, Kevin One Breath at a Time - Buddhism and the 12 Steps
Hardin, Rosemary SMART Recovery Handbook
Hemingway, Liz Stop Drinking, Start Living and I Need to Stop Drinking
Jacobs-Stewart, Therese Mindfulness and the 12 Steps
Johnston, Ann Dowsett Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women And Alcohol
Ketcham, Katherine Eating Right to Live Sober
Lewis, Dr. Marc The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease
Lucy, William Alexander Cool Water - Alcoholism, Mindfulness and Ordinary Recovery
Milam, James Robert Under the Influence
Mate, Gabor In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
Pelze MD, Lawrence The Mindful Path to Addiction Recovery
Pond, Michael Wasted
Porter, William Alcohol Explained
Presntiss, Chris The Alcohol and Addiction Cure
Recovery Dharma Dharma: How to Use Buddhist Practices and Principles to Heal the Suffering of Addiction
Rocca, Martin Nicolaus Recovery by Choice
Rohr, Richard Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps
Sheff, David Clean - Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy
Spiegelman, Erica Rewired
Thomas, Paul MDAddiction Spectrum, The: A Compassionate, Holistic Approach to Recovery
Trimpey, Jack Rational Recovery: The New Cure For Substance Addiction 1996
Turner, Sara The Sober Revolution
Tuschel, Mark A. Living Sober Sucks, But Living Drunk Sucks More
Tuschel, Mark Okay, I Quit, Now What
Vale, Jason Kick the Drink Easily
W. Georgia Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down: 50 Things Every Alcoholic and Addict in Early Recovery Should Know
Whitaker, Holly, Quit Like a Woman
Washton, Arnold Willpower Is Not Enough
Williams PhD, Rebecca The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction
Wilson, Justine Delaney The High Society - drugs and the Irish middle class
Not God: A History of AA
Z. Philip The Skeptics Guide to the 12 Steps
Alcoholics Anonymous the Big Book
Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul
Creative Recovery: A Complete Addiction Treatment Program
Drinking Diaries: Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up
How to Quit Drinking Without AA
Passages Through Recovery: An Action Plan for Preventing Relapse
Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery: Twenty True Stories from the Soul
Turning Point, Miracles in Recovery
Twelve Stupid things to Mess Up Recovery

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Ackerman, Robert J. Perfect Daughters
Bey, Deborah Loving an Adult Child of an Alcoholic
Black, Claudia It Will Never Happen To Me
Bowden, Julie The Self-Sabotage Syndrome - Adult Children in the Workplace
Recovery: A Guide for Adult Children of Alcoholics
Bradshaw, John Healing the Shame
Friel, John Adult Children - The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families
Middleton-Moz, Jane After The Tears: Helping Adult Children of Alcoholics Heal Their
Childhood Trauma
Whitfield, Charles Healing the Child Within
Woititz, Dr. Janet Struggle for Intimacy

Well Being

Ash, Mel Zen of Recovery
Brach, Tara Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha
Dao, Deng Ming Wandering Taoist
Greene, Robert 48 Laws of Power
Hanson, Rick Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment
Hoff, Benjamin The Tao of Pooh
Isett, Robert Think Right,Feel Right
Kelley, Tom & David Creative Confidence
Maisel, Eric & Susan Raeburn Creativity
Manganiello, Dr. Jim Unshakable Certainty
Mate, Gabor When the Body Says No
Mcgonical, Kelly The willpower instinct
Milne, A.A. The House on Pooh Corner
Prabhavananda, Swami Sermon on the Mount
Rumi The Emperor Strikes Back
Schofield, Russel Paul Initiation to Lightwork,
Smullyan, Raymond Tao is Silent
The Last Addiction: Own Your Desire, Live Beyond Recovery

Eating Disorders

Collins, Judy Cravings
Fonda, Jane My Life So Far
Gold, Tracy Room To Grow
Hornbacher, Marya Wasted
Johnston, Kristen Guts
Knapp, Caroline Appetites: Why Women Want
Roth, Geneen Women, Food & God
Wilson, Carnie Gut Feeling



BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

Ann-Margaret My Story
Arboro, Grant Cracking Up
Bach, Richard Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Barry, Nicola Mother's Ruin
Baxter, Meredith Untied
Berelman, Sara My Last Rock Bottom
Bertinelli, Valerie Losing It
Bowen, James A Street Cat Named Bob
Brand, Russel Freedom From Our Addictions
Burroughs, Augusten Dry
Bydlowska.Jowita Drunk Mom
Carlisle, Belinda Lips Unsealed
Carr, David The Night of the Gun
Carter, Lynda Second Act
Carver, Raymond What we talk about When we talk about Love
Claylan, Peter No Desire to Drink
Clegg, Bill Portrait of An Addict as A Young Man
Dann, Lotta Mrs. D Is Going Without
Dover, Benjamin Mostly Manic
Doyle, Glennon Melton The Love Warrior
Fisher, Carrie Wishful Drinking
Fonda, Jane My Life So Far
Ford, Betty A Glad Awakening
Fox, Michael J. Lucky Man
Galaxy, Jackson Cat Daddy
Galton, Bella Ice and a Slice
Glyde, Tanya Cleaning Up
Goik, Tiffany Yellow Tale
Gold, Tracy Room To Grow
Haroutunian MD, Harry Being Sober
Hassan, Jude Suburban Junky
Hatwell, Claire My Not So Secret Recovery
Hepola, Sarah Blackout
Hersh, Sharon Freedom
Jamison, Leslie The Recovering
Johnston, Kristen Guts
Kelly, Jill Sober Truths
Kiedis, Anthony Scar Tissue
King, Heather Parched
Knapp, Caroline Drinking: A Love Story and
Appetites: Why Women Want
Kopp, Heather Sober Mercies: How Love Caught up with a Christian Drunk
Kucera, Dina Everything I never Wanted to be
Leary, Ann The Good House
Levy, Ariel The Rules Don't Apply
McGraw, Ali Moving Pictures
McCully, Chris Good-bye Mr. Wonderful
McKowan, Laura We Are the Luckiest
Melton, Glennon Doyle Love Warrior
Millman, Dan Journey of Socrates
Miller, Kimberley Mae Coming Clean
Mitchell, Jane Velez I Want
Moyers, William Cope Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption
Phillips, MacKenzie High on Arrival
Pooley, Clare The Sober Diaries
R. Eleanor Disease of More
S. John The Little House on Genessee
Shapiro, Susan Lighting Up
Sheff, David Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction
Sinister, Bucky Recovery
Strayed, Cheryl Wild
Sue, Karen My Shovel
Tirabassi, Becky Life of the Party
Tracy, Brian Eat that Frog
Tyler Moore, Mary After All
Vargas, Elizabeth Between Breaths
W. Lois Lois Remembers:.
Walls, Jeannette The Glass Castle
Wambach, Abby Forward
Wilhelmson, Brenda Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife
Wilson, Carnie Gut Feeling
Wurtzel, Elizabeth More, Now, Again and Prozac Nation
Young, W. Paul The Shack
Happy Hours: Alcohol in a Woman's Life
Second Chances: Top Executives Share Their Stories of Addiction & Recovery
Still Standing: Addicts Talk About Living Sober and Get Up: A 12 step guide to
Buddhism and 12 steps meditation ideology

Grief & Loss

Brook, Noel I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye
Divine, Megan It's OK That You're Not OK
Doyle, Shawn The Sun Still Rises
Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth On Grief and Grieving
Zimmerman, Susan Writing to Heal the Soul
Zucker, Robert The Journey Through Grief and Loss

Fiction

Flynn, Gillian Sharp Objects
Frey, James A Million Little Pieces
Hemingway, Ernest The Sun Also Rises
Keyes, Marion Rachel's Holiday
Picoult, Jodi Vanishing Acts
Wallace, David Foster Infinite Jest
Welsh, Irvine Trainspotting






.

JLMP

Before I do a search for them online do you know of any that are readily online?

Anna

Do you mean as ebooks? If so, I have no idea.

JLMP

Here is one that I've read online. "Lif of the Party" by Becky Tirabassi

The Life of the Party: A True Story of Teenage Alcoholism - Becky Tirabassi

awuh1

This is the best one I have found.
The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning
By Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham

justhadenough

Thanks Anna

"Think Right,Feel Right" by Robert Isett is excellent for developing a positive mindset

Lost3000

Books I have read since quitting Jan. 1, 2012:

1. Drinking, A Love Story
2. Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife
3. Moments of Clarity
4. How to Quit Drinking Without AA (Not really anti-AA, but has tons of practical advice)
5. Sober for Good

Have not read but very much want to (and will!):

1. Okay, I Quit, Now What?
2. Living Sober Sucks (but living drunk sucks more)
3. Best Kept Secret
4. Still Standing: Addicts Talk About Living Sober
5. Passages Through Recovery: An Action Plan for Preventing Relapse
6. Mommy Doesn't Drink Here Anymore: Getting Through the First Year of Sobriety
7. Second Chances: Top Executives Share Their Stories of Addiction & Recovery
8. Drinking Diaries: Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up
9. Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul: Your Personal, Portable Support Group with Stories of Healing, Hope, Love and Resilience (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
10. Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery: Twenty True Stories from the Soul
11. Lit
12. Happy Hours: Alcohol in a Woman's Life

bbthumper

Stole the words right out of my mouth. That is an amazing read. There are many books I have enjoyed reading. There are only a couple with which I have had a profound experience. Spirituality of Imperfection is one of them.

lilgolden73

Great post...Thanks so much!

Sapling

Only book I ever read that saved my life.

The text of Alcoholics Anonymous

freshstart57

Overcoming Your Alcohol, Drug, and Recovery Habits / James Desena.
Rational Recovery, The New Cure for for Addiction / Jack Trimpey
The Easy Way to Quit Drinking / Allan Carr

These are books that address the cure for addiction outside the context of religion and spirituality.

Dee74

seeing as we have rules about commercial links I think it's best to follow Anna's lead & simply provide title and author here

people are quite capable of Googling or whatever if they have the interest

Many of the previous books have helped me - these two books helped me too with various aspects of my recovery...

The Shack by W. Paul Young, Wayne Jacobsen, Brad Cummings
The Easy Way to Stop Drinking by Allen Carr

D

justhadenough

Another vote for AllenCarr's Easy way & Tolle

Also "Mindfulness Meditation"-Jon Kabat Zinn

Lookahead

Mothers Ruin........If that book doesnt make some people stop drinking then i dont know what will!

It is a hard book to read as it is very sad, but it is honest and a true reflection of a woman who struggles with her alcoholic mother only to turn to drink herself.


I would recommend this book to anyone, I could not put it down and read the whole book in 2 days.

hypochondriac

Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down: 50 Things Every Alcoholic and Addict in Early Recovery Should Know by Georgia W, and the AA book Living Sober are two which I wish I had when I first stopped drinking.

Currently reading Dry by Augusten Burroughs, which is not, as the quote on the front says, 'outrageously funny'... rather painfully honest.

I found the personal stories really useful and more easy to read when my head was all over the place (which was/is often!), like the second half of the big book, and Caroline Knapp's books, but I'd have to put in a vote for the Allen Carr book too and Rational Recovery.

Purplecatlover

Spiritual- Victory Over the Darkness & Bondage Breaker by Neil Anderson

jstar

Dee - i started reading The Shack about 2 years ago but never really gave myself the time to read it. When I went to Rehab back in July, I took the book with me....changed my life...

I've also been doing my morning bible study from The Life Recovery Bible - this bible has been a true blessing in my recovery.

:bounce

Lionhearted1

ill stop tommorow-

The power of now- eckart tolle

Under the influence-

amatteson06

Hello,I am looking for a version I can read online for Courage to Change.Does anyone know where I may read todays or a link where I can find this.
Love and Prayers ,
Alisa

MycoolFitz

I have about 20 recovery books from the AA through Buddhist, always going through them. I used to underline but then I realized I could underline everything.