When going through graduate school, I remember developing a list of books that were suggested as essential reading that would likely never be required in any of the courses. Over time, I've worked through many of these books and really appreciated them. This page is intended to provide a list of essential reading in psychology. The list is partially developed on my personal interests and tastes; however, there are some books on this list which I don't particularly like and largely disagree with. At the same time, I think they are very important books for mental health professionals to be aware of. Reviews of the book, what type of mental health professional this is essential reading for, and other book information will be included.
The Denial of Death Essential Reading for all therapists and mental health workers. No other book was mentioned as essential reading as I went through my graduate program. I've been recommending this to students and using it as a required text in existential psychology for many years. This is a classic and powerful read. Added February, 2006 |
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The Myth of Mental Illness Essential reading for all therapists and mental health workers. This was one of the first major critiques of psychological diagnosis. In general, it's important for therapists to be aware of the critiques of psychology and psychotherapy. Of the various critiques, this is one of the most important, partially because it was one of the first and partially because of the nature of the specific critiques offered by Szasz. Added February 2006 |
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Man's Search for Meaning Essential reading for all interesting in psychology. This chronicles Frankl's experience in the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. This experience played an important role in the development of Frankl's Logotherapy. While not his best overview of logotherapy, it is his most powerful book. This is a book which is highly recommended for everyone, not just mental health professionals. Added February 2006 |
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The Cry for Myth Essential reading for all counselors and therapists. This is maybe my favorite book of all time. Without a doubt, it is the book I quote and reference the most when teaching and writing. Added February 2006 |
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Existential-Integrative Psychotherapy: Guideposts to the Core of Practice Essential reading for anyone interested in humanistic and existential psychotherapy. This is the most significant new books in existential theory in the United States since the death of Rollo May, the movement's founder. Added July, 2007 |
The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil Essential reading for people interested in social psychology, the psychology of evil, political psychology, and general psychology. This is one of the most important books of the decade. It provides an overview of research relevant to the psychology of evil, beginning with the famous Stanford Prison Experiment. The book concludes with an important application to Abu Ghraib. Added August, 2007 |
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Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom Essential reading for those interested in the spiritual side of psychological life and relationships. This is not a psychology book as much as a book on religion and spirituality, but the implications are quite evident. O'Donohue blends Celtic myth and legend with spirituality while addressing many important issues. Added February 2006 |
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The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life Essential reading for contemporary mental health practioners. This book addresses the condition postmodern self or, more precisely, the condition of the self in postmodern times (or the transition to postmodern times). This is an incredible well-done book by an impressive author. As with many of these books, if it is not already a classic, it is bound to be in the near future. Added February 2006 |
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Whatever Happened to the Soul? Scientific and Theological Portraits of Human Nature Essential reading for those interested in the spiritual side of psychology and anyone interested in the contemporary debate over whether the soul exists. By far, this is the oddest book placed on this list so far. It may not seem to fit, but I think it does. This book addresses the debate over soul. More specifically, it asks if the idea of the soul can be retained in a materialist paradigm. There answer is yes and they answer it through their theory of non-reductive physicalism. In case you are wondering, this is more than just a fancy word used to make the authors look intelligent. It is a very fitting word choice for the theory they are developing. Added February 2006 |
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The Courage to Be Essential reading for those interested in existential psychology. This book was first recommended to my by Dr. Paul Vasconcellos, a professor in my undergraduate program. Though it took me years to get to reading this book, I never forgot about it because I was so intrigued by its title. Once I finally reading this book, it quickly became one of my favorites. Added February 2006 |
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Ethics and the Discovery of the Unconscious Essential reading for therapists and ethicists. This book as been dangerously ignored. It is an extremely important book examining the ethical implications of the unconscious and, in particular, how this issue has been ignored. Added February 2006 |
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We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy and the World's Getting Worse Essential reading for those practicing psychotherapy. This book can serve as a good stimulus to begin some critical thought about psychology. Added March 2006 |
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The Measure of God, Our Century-Long Struggle to Reconcile Science and Religion: The Story of the Gifford Lectures Essential reading for those interested in the psychology of religion, religious studies, the philosophy of religion, the philosophy of science as it pertains to religion, and the integration of psychology, science, and religion. As suggested by the number of groups I see this as essential reading for, this is an impressive book. It covers the most changing and important topics in the dialogue between science and religion using the famous Gifford Lectures as a marker. This book comes very highly recommended. Added April 2006 |
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The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life Essentail reading for psychotherapists and those interested in philosophical and theoretical issues in Psychcology. This book is an important contribution to postmodern psychology and theories of the self. Added July, 2006 |
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