BOOKS about PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHOTHERAPY, and LIFE

Psychologist's Professional Picks

(Books personally selected by Keith Sonnanburg, Ph.D.)

Most popular psychology self-help books are not based on psychology nor are they very helpful. The majority describe problems people experience, but offer little in the way of workable solutions. Others are motivational or inspirational accounts of individuals overcoming problems, but the circumstances of change are specific to their personal histories. Few offer distinctive insights, research-based findings or generally useful skills. The following books have been chosen with these features in mind. They have also been rated favorably by the majority of readers.

Hardback Books	Paperback Books
Tools for Living
In Association with Amazon.com
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness -- by Jon Kabat-Zinn, et al. HB 0385298978 Buy it here.	Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness -- by Jon Kabat-Zinn, et al. PB 0385303122 Buy it here.
Your Perfect Right: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life and Relationships (Eighth Edition) -- by Robert E. Alberti, Michael L. Emmons. HB 1886230366 Buy it here.	Your Perfect Right: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life and Relationships (Eighth Edition) -- by Robert E. Alberti, Michael L. Emmons. PB 1886230285 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	The 60-Second Shrink: 101 Strategies for Staying Sane in a Crazy World -- by Arnold A. Lazarus, Clifford N. Lazarus. PB 1886230048 Buy it here.
Rapid Relief from Emotional Distress -- by Gary Emery, James Campbell. HB 0892562986 Buy it here.	Rapid Relief from Emotional Distress -- by Gary Emery, James Campbell. PB 0449902498 Buy it here.
The Resilience Factor: 7 Essential Skills for Overcoming Life's Inevitable Obstacles -- by Karen Reivich, Andrew Shatte. HB 0767911903 Buy it here.	No paperback available yet.
No hardback available.	Learned Optimism -- by Martin E. Seligman. PB 0671019112 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play -- by Neil A. Fiore. PB 0874775043 Buy it here.
Reconcilable Differences -- by Andrew Christensen, Neil S. Jacobson. HB 1572302615 Buy it here.	Reconcilable Differences -- by Andrew Christensen, Neil S. Jacobson. PB 1572305096 Buy it here.
Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: and How You Can Make Yours Last -- by John Mordechai Gottman, Nan Silver(Contributor). HB 0671867482 Buy it here.	Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: and How You Can Make Yours Last -- by John Mordechai Gottman, Nan Silver(Contributor). PB 0684802414 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	The New First Three Years of Life -- by Burton L. White. PB 0609805797 Buy it here.
Family Rules (May find it used; hardback is out of print) -- by Kenneth Kaye. HB 0802707718 Buy it here.	Family Rules -- by Kenneth Kaye. PB 0312952201 Buy it here.

The following books describe approaches to specific clinical problems that have been well researched. They may help to acquaint readers with the possibility of recovery. They can provide an idea of what to expect from certain types of psychotherapy. They can allow readers to intellectually master useful concepts. They cannot, however, serve as a substitute for professional help. Proper identification of a problem and the social context required for healing cannot be obtained from a book.

Hardback Books	Paperback Books
Clinical Aids
In Association with Amazon.com
Healing Fear: New Approaches to Overcoming Anxiety -- by Edmund J. Bourne. HB 1567313825 Buy it here.	Healing Fear: New Approaches to Overcoming Anxiety -- by Edmund J. Bourne. PB 1572241160 Buy it here.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (May find it used; hardback out of print) -- by David D. Burns, Aaron T. Beck (Preface). HB 0688036333 Buy it here.	Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy -- by David D. Burns, Aaron T. Beck (Preface). PB 0380810336 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	Master Your Panic and Take Back Your Life!: Twelve Treatment Sessions to Overcome High Anxiety -- by Denise F. Beckfield. PB 1886230080 Buy it here.
Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem -- by Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning. HB 1567310036 Buy it here.	Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem -- by Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning. PB 1572241985 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	Stop Obsessing!: How to Overcome Your Obsessions and Compulsions (Revised Edition) -- by Edna B. Foa, Reid Wilson. PB 0553381172 Buy it here.

From their own scholarly or scientific research, the authors of the following books offer distinctive insights not usually available in popular psychology texts. As with other titles listed on this site, the majority of readers give them high ratings.

Psychological References
In Association with Amazon.com
Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion -- by Carol Tavris. HB 0671250949 Buy it here.	Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion -- by Carol Tavris. PB 0671675230 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	Welcome to My Country: Journeys into the World of a Therapist and Her Patients -- by Lauren Slater. PB 0385487398 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	Women's Ways of Knowing: The Development of Self, Voice, and Mind -- by Mary Belenky, Blythe Clinchy, Nancy Goldberger, Jill Tarule. PB 0465090990 Buy it here.
No hardback available.	Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience -- by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. PB 0060920432 Buy it here.
Mindfulness -- by Ellen J. Langer. HB 0201095025 Buy it here.	Mindfulness -- by Ellen J. Langer. PB 0201523418 Buy it here.
The Story of Psychology (May find it used; hardback out of print) -- by Morton Hunt. HB 0385247621 Buy it here.	The Story of Psychology -- by Morton Hunt. PB 0385471491 Buy it here.