Which Mind-Body Books Should I Read?
Like many topics, the more you learn, the more you realise you have to learn. The world of mind-body is no different. Once you’ve read one book, enjoyed it and derived some benefit from the knowledge, you’re hooked. There are several internationally renowned authors in this sphere, such as Gabor Maté and Bessel Van Der Kolk, but there are also many others worthy of investigation.
Each time I’ve been given a recommendation I’ve written it down. Some books focus on a specific area e.g. addiction, helping children, severe trauma or the science and biology, whilst others are more general. I hope if this is a journey you are embarking on, this list is helpful and provides a good starting point for you to delve into.
Recommended Mind-Body Books To Read
- When the Body Says No – Dr Gabor Maté (Click to read my review)
- The Myth of Normal – Dr Gabor Maté (Click to read my review)
- Scattered Minds – Dr Gabor Maté
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts – Dr Gabor Maté
- Hold Onto Your Kids – Gordon Neufeld & Dr Gabor Maté
- Permission to Feel – Marc Brackett (Click to read my review)
- Dealing With Feeling – Marc Brackett
- The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel Van Der Kolk
- Waking the Tiger – Peter Levine
- The Divided Mind – Dr John Sarno
- The Mindbody Prescription – Dr John Sarno
- Mind Over Medicine – Dr Lissa Rankin
- The Highly Sensitive Person – Elaine Aron
- The Expectation Effect – David Robson
- Molecules of Emotion – Candace Pert
- Cured – Dr Jeff Rediger
- Cure, A Journey Into the Science of Mind over Body – Jo Marchant
- You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay
- Let Them Theory – Mel Robbins
- I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You – Miranda Hart
- The Happiness Trap – Russ Harris
- No Bad Parts – Richard Schwarz
- Anxiety Rx – Russell Kennedy
- The Drama of the Gifted Child – Alice Miller
- The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read – Philippa Perry
- Parenting from the inside out – Daniel Siegel & Mary Hartzell
Top 3 Recommended Reads For A Mind-Body Overview
If the list above is a little overwhelming, I’d recommend the following three books as a starting point. Between the three, they provide a general overview of mind-body but from different perspectives, backgrounds and writing styles… enjoy!
- When the Body Says No – Dr Maté is one of the world’s most respected voices on all things Mind-Body. This book offers enough information from a medical perspective to give you a good understanding of the topic, without being too overwhelming. If you enjoy it, follow up with The Myth of Normal. Read my in-depth book review of ‘When the Body says No’ HERE and ‘The Myth of Normal’ HERE.
- Dealing With Feeling – An easy read (when some books by doctors can be very heavy) from another respected authority. Marc has the incredible skill of putting concepts in relatable and understandable terms, that will have you nodding all the way through. If you enjoy this read Permission to Feel, also by Marc Brackett. Read my in-depth book review HERE.
- I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You – A strange choice perhaps as Miranda Hart is no authority on mind-body – but she is somebody who has suffered the consequences of not listening to her authentic self and overriding her ’emotional’ brain, which led to unhappiness and sickness. This is the client’s perspective, not the therapists, making it different from other books. A heartwarming, funny and engaging tale, as she recognises the causes of her symptoms and her subsequent journey to recovery. A laugh out loud read (especially as an audio book!), that will leave you feeling hopeful.
