Adult Children of Alcoholics. Janet Woititz, Ed.D.

This classic in the recovery field talks about 13 generalizations that often come up at ACA meetings. Anyone who has grown up in an alcoholic or other severely dysfunctional home is likely to recognize themselves in these pages. A very hopeful book that validates the ACA's self-perceptions, and gives ideas for how to move beyond them.

The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Woman Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. Ellen Bass and Laura Davis

The Courage to Heal Workbook: For Women and Men Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. Laura Davis

Well -known and very respected, these books have helped many thousands begin healing from the pain of childhood sexual abuse.

The Gift of Fear. Gavin De Becker

This is a great book for everyone, especially women.  We are socialized to not "cause trouble" or "make a scene", and this teaches us to ignore our intuition, especially of danger.  The author goes through the various signals of dangerous situations in general, and then in specific situations, like domestic violence, danger in the workplace, and dating issues. The book teaches how to identify the warning signals of a potential attacker and recommends strategies for dealing with the problem before it becomes life threatening.

Healing the Shame That Binds You. John Bradshaw.

Bradshaw begins his book by making the distinction between the healthy and important emotion of shame, and shame as a constant state of being and identity. The belief that one is completely and permanently defective is crippling, and ironically allows for no pursuit of redemption or help. Bradshaw gives some important ideas on ways of breaking some of those ties.

Prisoners of Childhood : The Drama of the Gifted Child and the Search for the true Self. Alice Miller.

Here, Alice Miller describes the pain of the gifted child, who so often is asked to provide their own nurturing and to be emotionally mature long before they are ready. A classic in the field, it is very compelling reading for anyone who felt that they were "old beyond their years".