Recommended Books and Videos

Note: these are recommendations from our community, not endorsements made by the SPF. Submit your recommendation.

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Books

• A Bend in the Road is not the End of the Road: 10 Positive Principles for Dealing with Change, by Joan Lunden and Andrea Cagan
• A Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren
• Adversity Quotient: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities, by Paul Soltz, PhD
• Anatomy of an Illness, by Norman Cousins
• Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing, by Caroline Myss, C. Norman Shealy
• Anger Kills: 17 strategies for controlling the hostility that can harm your health, by Drs. Redford Williams and Virginia Williams
• Aquacises: Restoring & Maintaining Mobility With Water Exercises, by Miriam Study Giles
• Aromatherapy for relaxation, beauty, and good health, by Glenda Taylor, from the editors of Healthy Living Magazine
• Blindsided : Lifting a Life Above Illness: A Reluctant Memoir, by Richard Cohen
• Caregiver's Handbook, by Visiting Nurses Association
• NEW  Break Thru Pain - A Step by Step Mindfulness Meditation Program, Young, Shinzen
• Caring for Loved Ones at Home: An Illustrated, Easy-to-Follow Guide to Short or Long Term Care, by Harry Van Bommel
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories To Open The Heart and Rekindle The Spirit, by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
• Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life, by Rick Fields
• Complete guide to pilates, yoga, meditation and stress relief, by Parragon Publishing in Great Britain
• Chronically Happy, Joyful Living in Spite of Chronic Illness, by Lori Hartwell
• Disabilities Books
• Disabilities in Fiction - list of varied selections of fiction featuring disabled individuals: The Price of Murder, Death from the Woods, Like Normal People, The Vanishing Moon, A Walking Guide, The Vanished Man, What the Deaf-Mute Heard, The Caveman's Valentine, Of Such Small Differences, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Altered Land, Eventide, The Effect of Living Backwards, Willem's Field, Deafening, A Very Long Engagement, Hope Mountain, Home Again, The Long Silence of Mario Salviati, Blind Side, Ride
• FDR's Splendid Deception, by Hugh Gregory Gallagher
• Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, by Dr. David Burns (this is the classic book on cognitive therapy, to help people with depression)
• Find A Quiet Corner: A Simple Guide To Self-Peace, by Nancy O'Hara
• Finding Joy: 75 Ways to Free Your Spirit and Dance with Life by Charlotte Davis Kasl  [a Hallmark book]
• Finding Time: Breathing Space For Women Who Do Too Much, by Paula Peisner
• Full Catastrophe Living, by Jon Kabat-Zinn
• Fully Human Fully Alive: A New Life Through a New Vision, by John Powell SJ.
• Gardening the Soul: A spiritual daybook through the seasons, by Sister Stanislaus Kennedy (published in Great Britain)
• Getting Your Life Back: The Complete Guide to Recovery from Depression, by Jesse Wright and Monica Ramirez Basco
• Happiness is an Inside Job: Humor and wisdom celebrating the art of happiness, by Meji Stewart, part of Hazelden Keep Coming Back series
• Healing Grief: Reclaiming Life after any Loss, by James Van Praagh
• His Brother's Keeper: A Story From the Edge of Medicine, by Jonathan Weiner
• Honoring the Self: Self-Esteem and Personal Transformation, by Nathaniel Branden
• How to Raise your Self-Esteem, by Nathaniel Branden
• I'll Take Care of You: A Practical Guide for Family Caregivers, by Joseph A. Illardo and Carole R. Rothman
• In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want, by Iyanla Vanzant
• Kicking Your Stress Habits: A do-it-yourself Guide for Coping with Stress, by Donald Tubesing
• Learning to Fall - The blessings of an Imperfect Life, by Philip Simmons
• NEW  Letting Go of the Person I Used to Be, by Das, Lama Surya
• Legal and Advocacy Book list:  http://www.makoa.org/legal.htm#books
• NEW  Live Your Best Life, an Oprah Magazine Compilation
• Love, Medicine and Miracles, by Bernie Siegel
• Maintaining Mobility, comprehensive information about physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment and aids for daily living; written for those with ALS, however, it is helpful for others; contact your local MDA.
• Meditations for Women who do too much, by Anne Wilson Schaef
• No Excuses, by Kyle Maynard, a man born without arms or legs below his elbows and knees
• No More Sleepless Nights, by Peter Hauri and Shirley Linde (supposedly the best book ever written on insomnia)
• Nothing is Impossible, by Christopher Reeve
• NEW  On Death and Dying, by Kubler-Ross, Elizabeth
• Pain, The Fifth Vital Sign, by Marni Jackson (publ. by Random House Canada)
• Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind, by V.S. Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee
• Prescriptions for Living: Inspirational Lessons for a Joyful, Loving Life, by Bernie Siegel
• Principles of Neural Science, by Eric Kandel, James Schwartz, Thomas Jessell
• Psycho-Cybernetics, by Maxwell Maltz
• Room at the Inn - Inns and B&Bs for Wheelers and Slow Walkers, by Candy Harrington
• Secrets of the Spas: Pamper and Vitalize Yourself at Home, by Catherine Bardey
• Self Care Connections Series
  • Self-Care Now – Self-help (30 ways to overcome obstacles that prevent you from taking care of yourself)
  • Self-Care Now – Coping with chronic illness ( 30 tips to help you take care of yourself when chronic illness turns your life upside down)
  • Self-Care Now – for family caregivers (30 tips to help you take care of yourself and minimize caregiver burnout)
• Shoot for the Moon: Even if you miss you'll land among the stars, by Meji Stewart, part of Hazelden Keep Coming Back series
• Skill and Poise, by Raymond A. Dart
• Stop Screaming at the Microwave: How to Connect Your Disconnected Life, by Mary LoVerde
• Stretching in the Office, by Bob Anderson
• Teamwork: A Dog Training Manual for People with Physical Disabilities,
  by Kelley, Stew Nordensson
• The Alexander Technique, The World-Renowned System of Mind-Body Coordination, by F. Matthias Alexander
• The Best Seat in the House, by Alen Rucker
• The Brain Wellness Plan, by Dr. Jay Lombard
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Stress for Canadians, by Richard Earle and Jeff Davidson
• The Disabled Driver's Mobility Guide, order at your local AAA club
• The energy plan: step-by-step plans to increase your energy levels, by Aliza Baron Cohen (published in Great Britain)
• The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Alborn
• The Healing Family: The Simonton Approach for Families Facing Illness, by Stephanie Matthews Simonton
• The Laughter Prescription: How to achieve health, happiness and peace of mind through humor, by Dr. Laurence Peter
• NEW  The Power of Positive Thinking, by Peale, Norman Vincent
• The Relaxation Response, by Dr. Herbert Benson
• The Resourceful Caregiver, by the National Family Caregivers Association staff: call (800) 667-2968.
• The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth, by Dr. M. Scott Peck
• The Spinal Cord Injury Handbook: For Patients and Their Families, by Richard C. Senelick, Karla Dougherty
• NEW  The Stress Owner's Manual, by Boenesch and Haney
• There Is A Place Where You Are Not Alone, by Hugh Prather
• NEW  Thought and Feelings Workbook Taking Control of your moods and your life, by PhD. McKay, Matthew, PhD Davis, Martha and Fanning, Patricia
• To Begin Again, by Naomi Levy
• Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson, by Mitch Albom
• Twice-Lived Life: A Memoir of Aging, by Donald M. Murray
• When Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Harold Kushner
• When Walking Fails: Mobility Problems of Adults with Chronic Conditions, by Lisa Tezzoni
• NEW  Writing and the Spiritual Life Finding your voice within, by Vechione, Patrice
• Yesterday I Cried: Celebrating the Lessons of Living and Loving, by Iyanla Vanzant
• You Are Not Your Illness: Seven Principles for Meeting the Challenge, by Linda Noble Topf, foreword by Bernie Siegel
• You Can Heal Your Life/101, by Louise L. Hay

Videos

• Lorenzo's Oil
• The Mighty
• The Caregivers Journey, a five-part series hosted by Caregivers-advocate Dr. Geila Bar-David, can be ordered by calling 1 800 757 4868.
• Caregivers - a series of five titles looking at the challenges involved in caregiving, from the National Film Board of Canada. To order call the NFB  at 1-800-267-7710.
• Armchair Fitness Videos Series of 4: Gentle Exercise, Aerobics, Strength, Yoga
• Wellness in Motion Video contact Betsy Lindsey, P.T., University of Arizona Department of Neurology 
• How to Gain Strength From Adversity, by Al Siebert, PhD. - provides strategies for coping with challenging adversity. Contact the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Walk This Way  documentary of someone who became paralyzed
• Profiles  real stories of real people

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