Come As you Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life
Emily Nagoski, PhD (2015)
Female Sexuality
This is my most-recommended book to female clients who want to explore their sexuality. Its essential reading for debunking myths about sexuality in general, how female sexuality works, and getting in touch with what’s true for you.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Emily Nagoski, PhD & Amelia Nagoski, DMA (2019)
Burnout, Stress Response, Stress Reduction
When it comes to understanding how stress occurs and builds in our bodies, and how we are designed to process stress, this book is a must read. This is the closest I get to ‘tips and tricks’ to reduce stress. Follow the science. This book shows you how.

It Will Never Happen To Me: Growing Up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents, Adults
Claudia Black, PhD (1981, 2001, 2020)
Adult Children of Alcoholics, Children of Addicts
Claudia Black is a household name in addiction studies, and this book was a landmark work in addressing the impact of addiction on everyone in the family system. Revised and updated, if describes responses, addresses impact, and is an invaluable resource for people who grew up in addicted homes.

Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms
Matthias Roberts (2020)
Religious Sexual Shame, Sexual Response, Sexual Ethics
This book is a great resource in healing from sexual shame. It speaks to the particularities of religiously-based shame in detail but applies broadly, and importantly, it offers paths forward in reclaiming a sexuality that works for you.

Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny
Kate Manne (2018)
Misogyny, Sexism, Patriarchy
This text defines, traces the context of, and outlines the effects of misogyny. While a headier read, as it’s addressed to conversations inside the fields the moral and social philosophy, it is insightful, persuasive, and will leave you with a changed perspective and new questions. Highly recommend as a staple of feminist studies.

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
Kristin Kobes Du Mez (2020)
Evangelical History, Politics
Kobes Du Mez traces white evangelical history in the US and explains how overwhelming evangelical support of the 45th president occurred not despite, but because, of evangelicalism’s most cherished values. Along the way, she takes a deep dive into evangelical culture and the history of troubling relationships between white evangelicals and conservative politics. Very insightful read.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: a guide to reclaiming yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab (2021)

Relationships, Boundaries, Self-Esteem

If you’re feeling resentful or avoidant in relationships, chances are that connects at some point to an unidentified boundary. This book is a wonderful introduction to identifying and setting boundaries, and can be a great resource as you explore changes you want to see in your life.

Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free by Linda Kay Klein (2018)

Purity Culture, Evangelicalism, Sexual Shame, Recovery

In Pure, Linda Kay Klein weaves autobiography and decades of research and first-person interviews to do a deep dive into Purity movement of the 90’s and early 00’s as it was experienced by the young women brought up in it. A powerful and helpful read in recovering from Purity Culture trauma.

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t): Making the Journey from “What Will People Think?” to “I Am Enough” by Brené Brown (2007)

Perfectionism, Anxiety, Achievement

If you’re familiar with the hustle to get it right and be on top of “it” – in appearance, job, relationships, parenting, etc. etc., you know the toll of constantly trying to be good enough. In this book, Dr. Brown unpacks the reality under this surface – shame – and offers a path forward based on years of groundbreaking research. If you’ve got a knot in your stomach right now, yeah this book is for you.