Book Recommendations

Books related to mental health, suicidality, mindfulness, therapy, etc.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks is a collection of case studies about patients with rare neurological disorders.

The title story focuses on Dr. P., a man with a visual processing disorder (likely thought to be visual agnosia). Although he is able to see, his brain can’t properly recognize objects. He identifies things by abstract features rather than seeing them as a whole., and in one famous moment, he tries to lift his wife’s head, thinking it’s his hat.

Why People Die By Suicide by Thomas Joiner is a book I personally found incredibly helpful to conceptualize suicidality. In this book, Joiner discusses a psychological framework called the interpersonal theory of suicide.

He discusses three factors that must come together for someone to die by suicide; Perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability. The first two create a "desire for suicide," while the last gives someone the ability to act on this.

Joiner emphasizes that suicidal behavior is not just about wanting to die, but it also acquiring the ability to overcome natural self-preservation instincts.

In Sometimes Therapy is Awkward, Nicole Arzt explains that therapy can feel uncomfortable, confusing, and even awkward at times. She discusses how this is a normal part of the experience, breaking down common experiences while offering advice on how to communicate with your therapist and get more out of sessions.

In No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma & Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model, Richard C. Schwartz uses Internal Family Systems (IFS) to discuss how the mind is made up of different “parts” and even harmful behaviors come from parts trying to protect you. Healing happens by understanding and working with these parts rather than fighting or suppressing them.

IFS is an incredibly fascinating concept, and this book is just one of many!

Suicidal by Jesse Bering is a science-based but personal exploration of suicidality.

In this book, Bering examines why humans think about/attempt suicide from psychological, biological, and evolutionary perspectives. He uses dark humor and personal experiences to show that these thoughts are incredibly common, and don't necessarily mean someone truly wants to die.

An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison is a memoir about living with Bipolar Disorder. Jamison describes her experiences with mania and depression, and how they have impacted her life and career. As a psychologist herself, she also discusses the science behind the condition and the challenges of accepting treatment.