Advice Centre Information & Self-help Books

Books to either read for self-help or read around various subject. Books with a * are available in the RVC library.

Anger Management

  • “Beyond Anger: A Guide for Men” ISBN 978-1-56924-621-4 – T.J. Harbin
    A look at how to free yourself from angry feelings and the negative effects upon you and your relationships.
  • “The Anger Workbook for Women” ISBN 978-157224-379-8 – L.J. Petracek
    How to understand and manage your angry feelings and begin addressing their effects upon your self-esteem, emotional balance and relationship.

Anxiety and Stress

  • “Panic Attacks” ISBN 9780007106905 – C. Ingham *
    What they are, why they happen and how you can manage, minimise or prevent them
  • “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway” ISBN 9780091907075 – S. Jeffers *
    How to overcome a wide range of fears - public speaking, relationships, new situations or losing someone/something
  • “Overcoming Anxiety” ISBN 9781854874221 – H. Kennerley
  • “Teach Yourself Managing Stress” ISBN 9780340860076 - T. Looker, O. Gregson
    A step-by-step guide to understanding and managing stress
  • Control Stress: Stop Worrying and Feel Good Now! - Paul McKenna *
  • “How to Stop Worrying - Overcoming Common Problems” ISBN 9780859696104 - F. Tallis *
    A problem solving guide to make worry work for you rather than against you
  • “Coping with Anxiety and Depression” ISBN 0-85969-762-2 – S. Trickett *
    A practical guide to coping with the effects of stress, anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Dummies – Rob Willson & Rhena Branch *

Assertiveness

  • “Assert Yourself: Simple Steps to Getting What You Want” ISBN 9780007123452 – G. Lindenfield *
    How to improve confidence, motivation, self esteem and communicate with others effectively
  • “The Assertiveness Workbook: How to Express Your Ideas and Stand Up for Yourself at Work and in Relationships” ISBN 9781572242098– R.J. Paterson

Bereavement

  • “Living with Grief” ISBN 9780859694261 – T. Lake *
    Practical support in coping with loss and bereavement.

Depression & Moods

  • “Overcoming Chronic Fatigue” ISBN 9781841199429 - M. Burgess, T. Chalder *
    Practical guide covering all aspects such as sleep, balanced activity, worry, stress and helping others to help you
  • “The Feeling Good Handbook” ISBN 9780452281325 – D.D. Burns
  • “Overcoming Depression” ISBN 9781841191256 – P. Gilbert
    Ideas to help understand and manage depression and low mood
  • “Sunbathing in the Rain” ISBN 0-00-723280-2 – G. Lewis
    Drawing on her own experience, the author explores with humour and sensitivity how to beat depression.
  • “Mind Over Mood” ISBN 9780898621280 - C. Padesky, D. Greenberger *
    A practical workbook format to help change how you feel by changing the way you think
  • “Overcoming Mood Swings” ISBN 9781841190174 – J. Scott
    How to help find a more stable and comfortable emotional level when moods feel too extreme
  • “Coping with Anxiety and Depression” – S. Trickett *
    A practical guide to coping with the effects of stress, anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

Divorce

  • “Divorce for Dummies” ISBN 9780764570308 – J. Ventura et al.
    What to expect and what’s expected of you legally, practically, financially and emotionally

Drugs

  • “No Need for Weed: Understanding and Breaking Cannabis Dependency” ISBN 978-0-9557626-0-4 – J. Langton
    A step-by-step guide to understanding your relationship to cannabis and how it impacts on your life.

Eating Problems

  • ”Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e): Survival Kit for Sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders” ISBN 9780863773228 - U. Schmidt, J. Treasure, T. Treasure *
    Clear and straightforward practical help to start addressing problems with food

Exams

  • “The Exams Skills Handbook” ISBN 978-0-230-50653-4 – S. Cottrell *
  • “How to Pass Exams Every Time: Proven Techniques for Any Exam That Will Boost Your Confidence and Guarantee Success” ISBN 9781857039337 – M. Evans

Family Problems

  • “Families and How To Survive Them” ISBN 9780749314101 – R. Skynner & J.Cleese *
    Family therapist Dr Robin Skynner and comedian John Cleese, explore how to maintain a happy, healthy family life and examine common issues that arise in most families.

Helping Others

  • “The Samaritans Book of: What to Do When You Really Want to Help but Don’t Know How” ISBN 9781902359007 – S. Quilliam
    How to support people around you in the best possible way.

Identity and Cultural Issues

  • “Maps for Lost Lovers” ISBN 0-571-22183-1 – N. Aslam (Novel)
    In an unnamed English town Jugnu and his lover Chanda have disappeared. Rumours abound in the close-knit Pakistani community, and then on a snow-covered January morning Chanda’s brothers are arrested for murder. Telling the story of the next twelve months, this book opens the heart of a family at the crossroads of culture, community, nationality and religion.
  • “Man’s Search for Meaning” ISBN 9781844132393 – V.E. Frankl
    Viktor Frankl’s story of his struggle for survival in Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps is a tribute to hope and the search for greater meaning and purpose in our lives.
  • “Lost In Translation” ISBN 0-7493-9070-0 – E. Hoffman (Autobiography)
    Eva Hoffman’s account of her life in Poland, Canada and America and her experience of exile.
  • “Interpreter of Maladies” ISBN 978-0-00-655179-9 - J. Lahiri - (Novel)
    Jhumpa Lahiri’s elegant stories tell the lives of Indians in exile, of people navigating between the strict traditions they’ve inherited and the baffling New World they must encounter every day.
  • “The Namesake” ISBN 978-0-00-655180-5 – J. Lahiri - (Novel)
    Gogol is named after his father’s favourite author. But growing up in an Indian family in suburban America, the boy starts to hate the awkward name and itches to cast it off, along with the inherited values it represents. Determined to live a life far removed from that of his parents, Gogol sets off on his own path only to discover that the search for identity depends on much more than a name.
  • “The Monk and the Philosopher” ISBN 0-8052-1103-9 – J. Revel, M. Ricard
    A dialog between a father and his son exploring the questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history.

Learning Differences

  • “Dyslexia and us: a collection of personal stories” *
  • Living with dyspraxia: a guide for adults with developmental dyspraxia. Colley, M. and Kirby, A. (2006) London: Jessica Kingsley. *
  • Making dyslexia work for you, 2nd ed. Goodwin, V. and Thomson, B. (2011) London: Routledge. *
  • That's the way I think : dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD explained, 2nd ed., Grant, D. D. (2010)London: Routledge. *
  • Dyslexia: surviving and succeeding at college, Moody, S. (2007) London: Routledge.*
  • Delivered from Distraction. Edward Hallowell and Elaine Ratey. Simon and Schuster.*
  • ADD – Friendly ways to Organize your life. J. Kolberg and K. Nadeau. Brunner-Routledge. *
  • Adult ADHD. Michelle Novotni and Thomas Whiteman. Pinon. *

Life Coaching

  • Virus of the Mind - Richard Brodie *
  • The Biology of Belief - Dr Litpon *
  • Molecules of Emotion - Candace Pert *

Masculinity

  • “Manhood” ISBN 9780091894818– S. Biddulph
    It’s not always easy to know what it means to be a ‘man’, but this book aims to start you thinking about what masculinity might mean to you

Pregnancy

  • “Unplanned Pregnancy: Your Choices” ISBN 0-19-262445-8 – A. Furedi
    Practical information on finding a way through difficult choices.

Procrastination

  • “Isn't it About Time? How to Overcome Procrastination and Get on with Your Life” ISBN 9781903269039 – A. Perry
    How to unblock yourself and stop putting things off!

Relationships

  • “Overcoming Relationship Problems” ISBN 1-84529-066-6 – M. Crowe
    Understand why conflict arises, how to defuse it, and how to negotiate a more positive outcome.
  • “Intimacy & Solitude: Balancing Closeness & Independence”

ISBN 0-7043-4754-7 – S. Dowrick

  • “Falling in Love” ISBN 9780415951876 – A.M. Pines
    Why we choose the relationships we choose and how to both enjoy and survive them!

Self-Esteem and Confidence

  • “A Woman in Your Own Right” ISBN 9780704334205 – A. Dickson
    How to build self-esteem, become more assertive, manage stress / anxiety and make more confident decisions or choices
  • “Self Esteem: Simple Steps to Develop Self-Reliance and Perseverance” ISBN 9780722540077 – G. Lindenfield *
    Recovering from knocks to your pride, dealing with criticism and developing self confidence
  • Instant Confidence (Book and CD) - Paul McKenna *
  • “The Successful Self” ISBN 9780006373421 – D. Rowe *
    How to live more freely and creatively by accepting and valuing the uniqueness of who we are

Sexual Abuse

  • “The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse” ISBN 9780091884208 –

E. Bass, L. Davis

  • “Breaking Free: Help for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse” ISBN 9780859698108 - K. Toon, C. Ainscough A guide to recognising and overcoming common problems that may arise for both male and female adult survivors

Sex and Sexuality

  • “Guide to Getting It On” ISBN 1-885535-69-4 – P. Joannides
    A guide to all the things you ever wanted to know about, what they are and how to do them!
  • “Outing Yourself” ISBN 9780684826172 - M. Signorile
    A guide for those who may be struggling with their sexuality and / or may be considering coming out as gay or lesbian

Sleep

  • I Can Make You Sleep - Paul McKenna *

Social Skills

  • “101 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills” ISBN 9780966141498 - B. Bennie, J. Condrill
  • “Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness” ISBN 9781854877031 – G. Butler *
    A practical guide to types, causes and how to overcome them.
  • “How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends” 1-84709-008-7 – D. Gabor
    How to master the art of conversation & approach other people.

Study Skills

  • Use Your Head - Innovative Learning and Thinking Techniques to Fulfil Your Mental Potential – Tony Buzan *
  • Use Your Memory - Understand Your Mind to Improve Your Memory and Mental Power – Tony Buzan*
  • Reading at University – Gavin Fairbairn *Sail Through Exams - Peter Levin *
  • Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Smart Learning – Elizabeth Holtom
  • I Can Make You Smarter - Paul McKenna *

KG – June 2008