Mental Health - Books

A chilling investigation into the 1990 murder of Keri Sullivan, exploring the cultural obsession with violence against women, the failures of the justice system, and the psychological toll on survivors and investigators.

A memoir from bestselling 'House of Glass' author Hadley Freeman, recounting her battle with anorexia from ages 14-17 in psychiatric hospitals, tracking the recovery journeys of women she was hospitalized with 20 years later, and revealing the deep connection between eating disorders and the difficulties girls face coming of age. Called 'riveting' by The New York Times.

A groundbreaking work from strength coach and social justice educator Chrissy King that blends memoir, inspiration, and practical exercises. The book reveals how diet culture and the fitness industry are rooted in white supremacy and Eurocentric beauty standards, moving beyond body positivity to something more revolutionary: body liberation, recognizing that none of us are free until all of us are.

A lifetime's work from the Tony Award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues. Spanning forty years of journals, V's Reckoning is a powerful collage of poetry, prose, dreams, and letters that chronicles her journey from childhood trauma to global activism, showing how to transform personal pain into collective power and write oneself into freedom.

Acclaimed humor writer Elissa Bassist's memoir about reclaiming her authentic voice in a culture that doesn't listen to women. Between 2016-2018 she saw 20+ medical professionals for mysterious ailments, until an acupuncturist suggested her physical pain could be caged fury. This is medical mystery, cultural criticism, and rallying cry. Semi-finalist for 2023 Thurber Prize for American Humor.

A record of liberation and transformation by Tarana Burke, the founder of the 'Me Too' movement. With overwhelming honesty, it depicts the deep wounds as a survivor of sexual violence, the reality of silenced Black women, and how the hope of 'empowerment through empathy' was born.

The courage to escape the cage of 'good woman' and 'good mother' and live according to one's own truth. A soulful memoir by an author who overcame years of addiction and a painful marriage to find true love and freedom, empowering women worldwide.

A profound and philosophical guide to reclaiming our attention in an era where our focus is commodified and efficiency is seen as the ultimate value. Odell explores how 'doing nothing' can be a radical act of resistance, leading to deeper connections with our local environments, communities, and ourselves.

A harrowing semi-autobiographical novel by Taiwanese author Lin Yi-han, 'Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise' exposes the grooming and sexual abuse of a young girl by her respected literature teacher. Published in 2017 shortly before the author's suicide, the book sparked a massive #MeToo movement across the Chinese-speaking world. It is a powerful, devastating critique of how high culture and social prestige can mask predation.

'To transform silence into language and action'—. A definitive collection covering the representative works of Audre Lorde, who fought against discrimination, illness, and power while upholding her identity as Black, lesbian, mother, and warrior. An incredibly powerful intellectual legacy for turning difference into the power of solidarity.

A brave and heartbreaking contemporary novel exploring the thin line between love and violence, and the courage required to break the cycle of domestic abuse spanning generations. Based on a true story, it is a tale of difficult choices, resilience, and the power of self-love.

A raw and unflinching memoir detailing how women are treated as 'sex objects' from a young age and the deep scars this leaves on their self-perception, relationships, and mental health. A leading voice in contemporary feminism, Valenti indicts the essence of misogyny in modern society through her own experiences.

The final autobiography written by the legendary poet Maya Angelou. Addressing her early abandonment by her mother, years of estrangement, and a dramatic eventual reconciliation, this work beautifully maps how one woman learned to be independent, to forgive, and to blossom into a world-renowned writer through the complexities of maternal love.

A raw and powerful record of a girl growing up amidst poverty, violence, and rigid social expectations in Jamaica, winning her freedom through poetry and her own voice. It reveals the truth behind the illusion of 'paradise' while exploring biracial identity, sexuality, and the reclamation of self.

The Vegetarian is a Man Booker International Prize-winning novel by Korean author Han Kang. It tells the story of Yeong-hye, an ordinary housewife who, in order to reject human violence, decides to stop eating meat and eventually wants to transform herself into a tree. It is a fable about female bodily autonomy, refusal of social norms, and the quest for a purely 'harmless' existence in a violent world.

An autobiographical graphic novel depicting the tumultuous years of the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War through the eyes of a young girl. It explores a rebellious spirit seeking freedom, identity struggles, and oppression by state power. A deeply human and powerful record of resilience told through stark black-and-white drawings.

A cult classic of Taiwanese queer literature, depicting the life of a group of lesbians in 1990s Taipei through a surreal and intense narrative. Written by Qiu Miaojin shortly before her tragic suicide, it captures the raw energy of post-martial law Taiwan.