Shrink Rap (Psychology Books) discussion

What psychological books are you guys reading at the moment or you plan to read soon?

I plan to read "Doing Psychoanalysis in Tehran". Very interesting book about how psychology, in particular psychoanalysis is viewed in Iran

Cristina wrote: "I plan to read "Doing Psychoanalysis in Tehran". Very interesting book about how psychology, in particular psychoanalysis is viewed in Iran"

That sounds interesting. I think mental health is neglected in a lot of countries (not to say most).

I am currently reading Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder by Rachel Reiland. It's her journey trough recovery from BPD. She is being so honest in this book, pouring out her soul. I can't even b that honest with myself.

I'm currently reading Oddly Normal, a father's story about the trials and tribulations of his gay son. I'm a clinical social worker in a k-12 school so I'm always looking for material relevant to work and to better help me address my client's needs.
I read Perfect Chaos not too long ago and it was a very good book on BIpolar Disorder, from a daughter's (with the illness) and a mother's perspective; not very clinical but a good perspective from the other side.

just finished reading Best Kept Secret which is about a woman struggling with an alcohol addiction

Lory wrote: "I'm currently reading Oddly Normal, a father's story about the trials and tribulations of his gay son. I'm a clinical social worker in a k-12 school so I'm always looking for material relevant to ..."

Lory, you might be interested in reading Granting Wishes: Telling Stories for Better Futures.

Marsha wrote: "Lory wrote: "I'm currently reading Oddly Normal, a father's story about the trials and tribulations of his gay son. I'm a clinical social worker in a k-12 school so I'm always looking for material..."

I'll check it out

Letters to a Young Therapist

Just read this wonderful book by Mary Pipher and posted a review. Highly recommended for aspiring therapists and seasoned professionals alike.

Ellie I have the Rachel Reiland book on my shelf to read so I'll have to get around to it!

Lori I've recently read Perfect Chaos and really liked it. It was written with so much compassion between mother and daughter. I agree it wasn't very clinical but I thought it did a really good job of articulating the fear and confusion but also the hope and confusion of everyone involved.

I love and might read again Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Hornbacher as it was the book that made me want to be a psychologist!

shame that binds

I'm reading as I went to a 3 day seminar about Transactional Analysis and it was great!

I'm listening to The Speed of Dark which is a speculative fiction but it is written from the point of view of high functioning autistic person.

Another one I'm reading is The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression.

I'm currently reading Rachel Reilands book.

I read Marya's book Wasted. I wasn't particularly enamored with the book because I couldn't relate. I suppose, I choose books based on books that I can relate, but it was a good read.

I'm studying for my FCPsych finals. Have read too many textbooks but I'm so keen on some on the books in the thread (letters, noonday demon, wasted, games people play)...

So with the advent of DSM 5, there were loads of very public criticisms. Interesting that.
Anyway, I loved Joel Paris's book The Intelligent Clinician's Guide to the DSM-5. He examines previous diagnoses, the reason for change and the new diagnoses. He does this with fantastic references and great humor.
A great book for someone working in the field of mental health

Is DSM 5 out or is it expected soon?

I think reading only about the changes of some disorders I'm interested in would be great. I've read the intro of Madness Explained, which covers up some changes from the past and how antidepressants were discovered. The notion of a womb that is moving inside a woman's body is more scary then funny though. Who thought that our organs just get up and decide to relocate? Or was it me that didn't understand the explanation for hysteria?

For at least two thousand years of European history until the late nineteenth century hysteria referred to a medical condition thought to be particular to women and caused by disturbances of the uterus (from the Greek ὑστέρα "hystera" = uterus), such as when a newborn child emerges from the female birth canal. The origin of the term hysteria is commonly attributed to Hippocrates, even though the term isn't used in the writings that are collectively known as the Hippocratic corpus.[1] The Hippocratic corpus refers to a variety of illness symptoms, such as suffocation and Heracles' disease, that were supposedly caused by the movement of a woman's uterus to various locations within her body as it became light and dry due to a lack of bodily fluids.

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Is DSM 5 out or is it expected soon..."

It's out since May last year. The book I'm speaking about gives an overview. Biggest changes to PTSD, OCD, Addictions, ASD, neurocognitive,eating and somatoform disorders.

I think that was an ancient explanation for hysteria- 'the wandering womb' that Hippocrates referred to. Hysteria was seen for a long time as a female illness. Freud reconceptualised it as a defense from unconscious conflict.
It isn't a diagnosis per se for a long time.

Lisa wrote: "It isn't a diagnosis per se for a long time. "

I know :) But It's still scary.

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Lisa wrote: "It isn't a diagnosis per se for a long time. "

I know :) But It's still scary."

It's funny. Fits with the humors and trephining.

It's always interesting to know where we came from as a discipline, even when it's bizarre:-P

Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, Sigmund Freud

I'm currently reading The Mummy at the Dining Room Table: Eminent Therapists Reveal Their Most Unusual Cases and What They Teach Us About Human Behavior

It's a fun one :)

Not psychology related really, but I'm reading The Sea, the Sea - has anyone else read it? I'm about three quarters of the way through and starting to think the main character has narcissistic personality disorder!

The Freedom Writers Diary

I have finished reading for the second time: "The Art of loving" by Erich Fromm. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more on the subject of love. It is absolutely fascinating and could change your way of thinking about it. You don't have to have psychoanalytic background to understand the book.

Enzo wrote: "I have finished reading for the second time: "The Art of loving" by Erich Fromm. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more on the subject of love. It is absolutely fascinating and..."

That sounds like something I would like to read. Thanks for recommending.

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Enzo wrote: "I have finished reading for the second time: "The Art of loving" by Erich Fromm. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more on the subject of love. It is absolutely fa..."

You're welcome. I thought about putting more details about the book but, I also want to sound as neutral as possible. I hope you like it.

I am wondering if anyone has read Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression? I recently ordered it and curious what to expect.

I’m reading “A Liberated Mind” by Dr. Steven Hayes