Discover books and other resources that can help you on your personal journey to better health of mind, body, and spirit while growing closer to God.
All of these books have deeply influenced me over the years. I offer the list in the hope that somewhere in these books you will find just the right words that God has waiting for you. Mind-body-spirit are intertwined, but to make your browsing easier, I have subdivided the list into 1. mind-body/psychology, 2. spiritual, and 3. lifestyle medicine. Please note that I have provided links to each book for your convenience; they are not affiliate links. Please choose freely whom you purchase from. Enjoy. — Donna
Minding the Body, Mending the Mind by Joan Borysenko
A classic by a pioneer of mind-body medicine.
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky
A practical book with guidelines and suggestions to help you grow from negative ways of thinking.
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
A comprehensive presentation by the founder of modern mindfulness/stress reduction.
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth
by M. Scott Peck
A very old book packed with wisdom for our times. This book, Sacrament of the Present Moment, and the Prophet by Kahlil Gibran are the only books I have read multiple times in my life….that speaks volumes!
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Bessel A. Van der Kolk
A psychiatrist shares what he has learned about trauma and stress, the way they imprint in the body, and how the damage can be healed.
Sacrament of the Present Moment
by Jean-Pierre de Caussade (new translation by Kitty Muggeridge)
A slim treasure written in the 1700’s by a Jesuit priest, best prayed rather than read, transformational for me.
Devotional Classics, Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups
by Richard J. Foster and James B. Smith
This book offers so much wisdom.
Intimacy with God: Introduction to Centering Prayer
by T. Keating
In this book and the one below, Father Keating explores contemplative prayer and the psychology and spirituality of the true self/false self.
Open Mind, Open Heart (2nd ed.)
by T. Keating
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Peter Scazzero
I highly recommend this book, which I discuss in greater detail in the first Serenity and Health Book Share blog post.
Disease Proof: The Remarkable Truth About What Makes Us Well
by David L. Katz
A doctor writes about eating and health.
by Walter C. Willet
A comprehensive and readable guide to healthy eating.
Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy—Until You’re 80 and Beyond
by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge
This book strongly emphasizes exercise and includes readable explanations about exercise physiology and the health benefits of exercise.