Frequently Recommended Books

Adaptation to Life is a report on the original Grant Study, which consists of a group of 237 physically and mentally healthy Harvard college sophomores from the classes of 1939-1944. Members of the samples have been evaluated and/or interviewed every two years since then. Longitudinal research (the study of the same people over a period of […]

Aging Well is a report on the Grant Study, which consists of two samples of white American males.  One is a group of 237 physically and mentally healthy Harvard college sophomores from the classes of 1939-1944.  The second sample is a group of 332 disadvantaged, non-delinquent inner-city youths who grew up in Boston between 1940 […]

This is an encyclopedia of self-help techniques presented in a warm, compassionate, understanding and humorous manner.  Many of the techniques are based on cognitive therapy, an approach to psychotherapy that focuses upon problematic thinking. He also discusses psychiatric medications in a way that is clear and informative. A great resource for people with depression and/or […]

Dr. Luskin is a co-founder of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project and this book is a text used in his program.  For him, forgiveness is an active process that begins with a choice that is made to release our past and heal our present. After clarifying what forgiveness is (and is not), a great deal […]

Dr. Berne was a psychoanalyst who developed Transactional Analysis (TA), a model for understanding human relationships.  For people who don’t have a background in psychology, it might be helpful to first read the Wikipedia article on Transactional Analysis or Thomas Harris’ book, I’m OK, You’re OK. Although the first section of the book is a […]

This is a good introduction to Imago-Therapy, an approach to relationships pioneered by Harville Hendrix. An important tenet of Imago-Therapy is that we are attracted, often sub-consciously, toward qualities in our parents that we find in others.   As a result, childhood wounds and/or parts of ourselves we have disowned may be triggered. This is […]

The Love and Logic approach to parenting was developed by Dr. Foster Cline (a child psychiatrist) and Jim Fay (a school administrator with 35 years of experience).  Their approach is based upon two basic principles: (1) Helping children learn responsibility, the ability to do what they want as long as they don’t create problems for […]

The Love and Logic approach to parenting was developed by Dr. Foster Cline (a child psychiatrist) and Jim Fay (a school administrator with 35 years of experience).  Their approach is based upon two basic principles: (1) helping children learn responsibility, the ability to do what they want as long as they don’t create problems for […]

This is a good introduction to Imago-Therapy, an approach to relationships pioneered by Harville Hendrix. An important tenet of Imago-Therapy is that we are attracted, often sub-consciously, toward qualities in our parents that we find in others.   As a result, childhood wounds and/or parts of ourselves we have disowned may be triggered. This is […]

The Love and Logic approach to parenting was developed by Dr. Foster Cline (a child psychiatrist) and Jim Fay (a school administrator with 35 years of experience).  Their approach is based upon two basic principles: (1) Helping children learn responsibility, the ability to do what they want as long as they don’t create problems for […]

The Love and Logic approach to parenting was developed by Dr. Foster Cline (a child psychiatrist) and Jim Fay (a school administrator with 35 years of experience).  Their approach is based upon two basic principles: (1) Helping children learn responsibility, the ability to do what they want as long as they don’t create problems for […]

Dr. Schnarch is a sex therapist and a psychologist who has written a number of books about passionate marriage.  In this book, he provides an excellent description of emotional differentiation (the ability to retain a sense of self while being in a relationship) and how difficulties in this area result in “emotional gridlock.”  One of […]

Mr. Gorski developed an approach, called Relapse Prevention, to help severe, relapse-prone alcoholics to stay sober.  This program began at a VA Hospital and has grown over the course of several decades to be included in many of the intensive in-patient programs. The book includes discussion of addictive disease and several of the impediments to […]

Although there are a number of books by these authors that are exceptional, this book stands out as an excellent exploration of lying and deception in relationships. Their discussion covers multiple facets of the issue, from both the standpoint of the person telling lies as well from the perspective of the person who is impacted […]

As a former English Professor, Dr. Bridges provides a very engaging, informative, and insightful view of his personal journey through life change.  He draws upon literature frequently and uses it beautifully to describe, with considerable depth and nuance, the personal journey through transition. He describes three stages of Transition, letting go, neutral zone, and new […]

Dr. Gottman is one of the first investigators of successful marriage and his book is written in an interesting and concise manner.  His book is based on his extensive research on successful marriage and provides insights into how it happens. His observations range from the numerical (e.g., the optimal ratio of positive to negative interactions, […]