Recommended Reads: Vol. 2

In this post, I’ll share more of my recommended reads, some of which are obviously linked to mental health and wellbeing, while others less so. I’ve previously written a couple of posts about books for this blog, which you can find here and here if you’re interested in checking them out as well.

I’ve included a mixture of fiction and non-fiction in my recommendations here. Some of the non-fiction reads are targeted at therapists rather than the general reader, but I believe that they address hugely important issues that we all need to be aware of.

Maybe I Don’t Belong Here - David Harewood

In this incredible memoir, David Harewood explores the impact of racism and “otherness” on his sense of identity and mental health. At 23, he was sectioned following a psychotic breakdown, but it’s only 30 years later that he’s felt able to face what happened to him, and explore the reasons why.

He recounts stories from his childhood that provide great insights into his family and wider support networks, as well as his experience at drama school, which was vastly different to being a working actor. His clinical treatment was shocking at times, and nothing about what was happening or why was explained to him while he was detained. There is a candidness and vulnerability to his writing that makes this a hugely accessible and impactful read.

As a therapist, reading an account of how a fragmented sense of self can have devastating consequences was hugely important, particularly for me as a white woman with all of the privileges that come with that. This is an important book that I believe everyone should read, and it will leave you with lots to reflect upon long after you’ve finished it.

At the time of writing this post, his documentary called ‘David Harewood: Psychosis & Me’ is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The Gift of Therapy - Irvin D. Yalom

Although this book is aimed at therapists - especially those who are newly qualified - I think it’s a great read for anyone who is interested in improving their communication and relationship skills, as well as those who may be curious about the therapy process. It’s important to note that Yalom is American, and the system for training and practising as a therapist in the US is different to the UK, and also that his approach isn’t necessarily one that every therapist would take.

If you’re a therapist looking for useful tips and techniques to enhance your practice and give you a confidence boost, this is likely to be an especially helpful read. There are 85 tips that can be read in any order and cover a range of issues that often come up for therapists, particularly with boundaries, self-disclosure and suggested interventions to use with clients.

Yalom writes in a light, accessible style, and gives definitions and explanations of theories and techniques that will hopefully mean that anyone who reads it, whether they’re a therapist or not, gets something from it.

Every Family Has a Story - Julia Samuel

Whatever your relationship with your own family looks like, this is a fantastic read that emphasises that every family has a story that will have shaped it and impacted on it in unexpected ways. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel presents stories from 8 families she has worked with in her clinical practice as she guides them through a variety of issues they’re struggling with.

In the stories presented here, she often works with several generations at the same time in family therapy sessions, which gives them time and space to identify and address what’s happening, as well as establishing new ways to respond to and manage it. Reading about the shifts and changes the families are able to make, and the support they give to one another as they do so is beautiful.

It’s worth noting that many of the stories do highlight traumatic and challenging circumstances. The impact of them has often been passed down through several generations until at least one family member decides to face up to them and respond differently. In therapy terms, we may describe it as a “hot potato” that most family members struggle to hold, and it can manifest in all sorts of ways including addiction, illness, abuse and death.

This is an empowering, wonderful book, and it may help you to reflect on the things you’re carrying from your own family history.

The Colour of Madness - Editors: Samara Linton & Rianna Wilcott

This is an amazing anthology that includes poetry, fiction, essays, memoirs and art submitted by BAME* individuals with a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds that provides an incredible insight into their experiences of mental health in the UK.

It can be read in any order, but it’s presented in sections that cover the full colour spectrum of the rainbow and the emotions and experiences that may be associated with each colour. The works included here are powerful and moving, and I found myself needing to take time to reflect upon what I’d learned from each piece.

Although mental illness in and of itself doesn’t discriminate based on social, cultural, economic or political grounds, its treatment and impact can be discriminatory. People from a BAME background are 6 times more likely to be sectioned than the white population, so this is an incredibly wide-spread issue and one that we all need to be aware of and talk about.

NOTE: At the time of writing this post, this book appears to be out of print, so you may only be able to find second-hand copies.

Write It All Down - Cathy Rentzenbrink

It probably won’t come as much of a surprise that I love writing as well as reading, but I rarely read books about writing. I came across an article about this book in a newspaper, and it piqued my curiosity: would it be as inspiring and accessible as claimed?

Well for me, the answer is a resounding YES!

Cathy Rentzenbrink writes in such a warm, engaging and permissive way that you can’t help but feel comforted and enthusiastic about getting started. She shares valuable insights into her own writing processes, as well as offering lots of tips on sourcing inspiration, as well as technique for writing well.

If you’re interested in writing, particularly in the case of sharing your own story, then I would highly recommend reading this book; it’s like getting a warm hug straight off the page!

Leonard & Hungry Paul - Rónán Hession

This is genuinely one of the loveliest books I’ve ever read! If you’ve read and enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this is in a similar vein, so it’s likely you’ll appreciate it too.

Leonard and Hungry Paul are friends who have known each other since childhood and have continued to maintain a gentle friendship into their mid-thirties, at a time when the world around them is shifting and changing. This is a lovely, kind and funny story about friendship, change, loss, and what it’s like to be a quiet person in a loud world.

The character observations are wonderful, and although the plot isn’t ‘action-packed’, it captures something truly beautiful in the stories it tells. If you’re looking for a comforting read from a character perspective that isn’t often explored in a positive light (in this case, that of introverted men in their 30s living at home), this would be a great place to start.

*I find the sweeping generalisation of the complexity of a huge range of identities and experiences that the term ‘BAME’ (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) is supposed to cover hugely problematic, so if you have any suggestions for a more inclusive alternative, please let me know.

Unless otherwise stated, at the time of writing this post and to the best of my knowledge, all of the recommendations listed here are available to buy from wherever you usually purchase books. There may also be copies available at your local library. If you have any other recommendations, I’d love to hear from you; I’m always looking for new reads!

At the time of writing this post, my caseload is full, so I’m not taking on new clients. If you’re interested in working with me in future, please check my website or social media for the latest updates on my availability. You can find and connect with me @emmapooleytherapy on Facebook and Instagram.