Mental health books

1-10: Foundational Reads

"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

Explores how trauma impacts the body and mind and offers insights on healing.


"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl

A powerful memoir and psychological exploration of finding purpose amid suffering.


"Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" by David D. Burns

A guide to overcoming depression through cognitive-behavioral techniques.


"Lost Connections" by Johann Hari

Investigates the causes of depression and offers a new perspective on treatment.


"An Unquiet Mind" by Kay Redfield Jamison

A memoir about living with bipolar disorder from a leading clinical psychologist.


"The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" by Edmund J. Bourne

Practical exercises to manage anxiety and phobias effectively.


"The Happiness Trap" by Russ Harris

Introduces Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a method to overcome unhappiness.


"Radical Acceptance" by Tara Brach

Explores how embracing oneself fully can lead to deep emotional healing.


"The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck

Discusses discipline, love, and spiritual growth in the pursuit of mental well-being.


"Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown

Examines the power of vulnerability and its role in mental health and connections.


11-20: Trauma and Healing

"Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma" by Peter A. Levine

Provides insights into trauma's effects and ways to recover.


"The Deepest Well" by Nadine Burke Harris

Explores the lifelong effects of childhood trauma and how to combat them.


"Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Herman

A pioneering work on understanding trauma and its psychological impact.


"Healing the Shame That Binds You" by John Bradshaw

Discusses how shame affects mental health and offers methods to overcome it.


"It Didn't Start with You" by Mark Wolynn

Explores the transgenerational transmission of trauma.


"The Gift of Therapy" by Irvin D. Yalom

A guide for therapists and clients on the therapeutic process.


"I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t)" by Brené Brown

Discusses the impact of shame and how to cultivate resilience.


"The Drama of the Gifted Child" by Alice Miller

Explores the emotional struggles of highly sensitive children.


"Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker

A guide for those suffering from complex PTSD to help them on their path to recovery.


"The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog" by Bruce D. Perry

Case studies on the effects of trauma on children and how to heal.


21-30: Anxiety and Depression

"Undoing Depression" by Richard O’Connor

Discusses how to recognize and overcome depression through mindful techniques.


"When Panic Attacks" by David D. Burns

Offers cognitive-behavioral techniques for managing anxiety and panic disorders.


"The Anxiety Toolkit" by Alice Boyes

Provides tools and strategies to manage anxiety effectively.


"Depression: A Public Feeling" by Ann Cvetkovich

Explores depression from both a personal and cultural perspective.


"Hope and Help for Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes

A classic guide to managing anxiety and panic disorders.


"The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression" by Andrew Solomon

A comprehensive exploration of depression, its effects, and treatments.


"Self-Compassion" by Kristin Neff

Teaches how to cultivate self-compassion to improve mental health and well-being.


"The Upward Spiral" by Alex Korb

Discusses how small changes can lead to significant improvements in mental health.


"Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks" by Barry McDonagh

Introduces a new method to overcome anxiety and panic attacks.


"First, We Make the Beast Beautiful" by Sarah Wilson

A personal exploration of living with anxiety.


31-40: Mindfulness and Self-Help

"The Mindful Way Through Depression" by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn

Combines mindfulness and cognitive therapy to prevent relapse in depression.


"Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn

An introduction to mindfulness meditation and its benefits.


"Radical Compassion" by Tara Brach

Explores how mindfulness and compassion can lead to deep emotional healing.


"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz

Offers practical wisdom for personal freedom and mental well-being.


"Atomic Habits" by James Clear

A guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones for better mental health.


"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle

Discusses the importance of living in the present moment for mental peace.


"The Untethered Soul" by Michael A. Singer

Explores how to transcend the limitations of the mind for inner freedom.


"Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness" by Sharon Salzberg

A guide to developing compassion and loving-kindness for mental well-being.


"The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh

Introduces mindfulness as a practice for daily life.


"The Book of Joy" by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Abrams

Conversations on finding lasting happiness in an ever-changing world.


41-50: Relationships and Interpersonal Growth

"Attached" by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

Explores attachment theory and how it affects relationships.


"Hold Me Tight" by Sue Johnson

Offers a guide to improving romantic relationships through Emotionally Focused Therapy.


"The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman

Discusses how understanding love languages can enhance relationships.


"Nonviolent Communication" by Marshall B. Rosenberg

A guide to effective and compassionate communication.


"The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" by John M. Gottman

Research-based advice for maintaining a healthy marriage.


"Codependent No More" by Melody Beattie

Offers help for those struggling with codependency in relationships.


"The Dance of Anger" by Harriet Lerner

Explores how to manage anger effectively in relationships.


"The Relationship Cure" by John M. Gottman

Provides tools to improve communication and connection in relationships.


"Mating in Captivity" by Esther Perel

Discusses how to maintain passion in long-term relationships.


"Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

A guide to setting healthy boundaries in relationships.


51-60: Addiction and Recovery

"The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr

A method for quitting smoking that has helped millions.


"Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions" by Russell Brand

Offers a fresh perspective on recovery and addiction.


"In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts" by Gabor Maté

Explores the roots of addiction and offers a compassionate approach to recovery.


"The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober" by Catherine Gray

A memoir and guide to finding happiness in sobriety.


"Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book" by Bill W.

The foundational text for the AA program.


"Unbroken Brain" by Maia Szalavitz

Discusses addiction as a learning disorder and offers new perspectives on treatment.


"Clean" by David Sheff

A comprehensive guide to addiction treatment and recovery.


"This Naked Mind" by Annie Grace

Offers a new approach to understanding alcohol addiction.


"Beautiful Boy" by David Sheff

A memoir about a father's struggle with his son's addiction.


"The Addictive Personality" by Craig Nakken

Explores the traits that lead to addiction and how to overcome them.


61-70: Personal Development and Growth

"Grit" by Angela Duckworth

Discusses the power of passion and perseverance in achieving success.


"Mindset" by Carol S. Dweck

Explores how a growth mindset can lead to personal and professional success.


"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey

A guide to personal effectiveness and leadership.


"The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown

Encourages embracing vulnerability to lead a wholehearted life.


"Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Explores how to live a creative and fulfilling life.


"You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero

A motivational guide to improving your life and achieving your goals.


"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson

A counterintuitive approach to living a good life by focusing on what truly matters.


"Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins

Offers strategies for taking control of your life and achieving success.


"Daring to Lead" by Brené Brown

A guide to courageous leadership and its impact on mental health.


"Start with Why" by Simon Sinek

Discusses how finding your "why" can lead to a more purposeful life.


71-80: Therapy and Psychological Concepts

"The Interpretation of Dreams" by Sigmund Freud

Freud’s groundbreaking work on dreams and the unconscious mind.


"The Gift of Therapy" by Irvin D. Yalom

Advice for therapists and clients on the therapeutic process.


"The Art of Happiness" by Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler

Explores how to achieve lasting happiness through mental training.


"Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker

Discusses the importance of sleep for mental and physical health.


"Quiet" by Susan Cain

Celebrates the power of introverts in a world that values extroversion.


"The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel

Explores the emotional and psychological aspects of money.


"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman

Explores the two systems of thought and their impact on decision-making.


"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Discusses the power of thinking without thinking and the role of intuition.


"Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman

Explores how emotional intelligence can impact success in life.


"The Paradox of Choice" by Barry Schwartz

Discusses how too many choices can lead to anxiety and dissatisfaction.


81-90: Specialized Mental Health Topics

"Driven to Distraction" by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey

A guide to understanding and managing ADHD.


"The Autistic Brain" by Temple Grandin

Explores the science of autism and its implications.


"Women Who Run With the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

A deep dive into the myths and stories that shape women’s lives.


"Mind Over Mood" by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky

A cognitive therapy workbook for managing depression and anxiety.


"The Highly Sensitive Person" by Elaine N. Aron

A guide for those who identify as highly sensitive.


"The Empath's Survival Guide" by Judith Orloff

Provides tools for empaths to manage their sensitivities.


"The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide" by David J. Miklowitz

A comprehensive guide for living with bipolar disorder.


"Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep" by Colleen E. Carney and Rachel Manber

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia.


"The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg

Explores how habits form and how they can be changed.


"The Sleep Solution" by W. Chris Winter

A comprehensive guide to understanding and improving sleep.


91-100: Inspirational and Memoir

"Reasons to Stay Alive" by Matt Haig

A memoir about surviving depression and finding hope.


"Maybe You Should Talk to Someone" by Lori Gottlieb

A therapist’s journey through therapy, offering insights into the process.


"Running on Empty" by Jonice Webb

Discusses childhood emotional neglect and its impact on adulthood.


"Furiously Happy" by Jenny Lawson

A humorous memoir about living with mental illness.


"My Age of Anxiety" by Scott Stossel

A personal and historical exploration of anxiety.


"Black Pain" by Terrie M. Williams

Discusses the hidden mental health crisis in the African American community.


"Brain on Fire" by Susannah Cahalan

A memoir about a young woman's struggle with a rare neurological disease.


"When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi

A neurosurgeon’s reflection on life and mortality after a terminal diagnosis.


"The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion

A memoir about grief and the loss of a loved one.


"Educated" by Tara Westover -

A memoir about overcoming a traumatic upbringing to pursue education and self-discovery.


For downloading these books, I recommend checking legitimate sources such as:

Public Libraries: Many offer free eBook loans.
Amazon Kindle Store: Often has free or discounted eBook deals.
Google Books or Apple Books: Sometimes offer previews or deals.
Project Gutenberg: Offers free eBooks for older, public domain works.
Open Library: An initiative of the Internet Archive, offering borrowable eBooks.

Always ensure you are accessing these books through legal and authorized platforms.