Recovery Worker Library

Addiction and the Visual Arts is a 2010 edited volume by Patricia B. Santora, Margaret L. Dowell, and Jack E. Henningfield that marries the rigor of addiction science with the evocative power of visual art to illuminate the human experience of substance use disorders  Rather than presenting art as mere illustration, the book positions it...

In “Chasing the Scream,” journalist Johann Hari embarks on a global investigation into the history and consequences of the War on Drugs. Through a series of gripping personal stories and historical accounts, Hari challenges the core assumptions that have underpinned drug policy for over a century. He argues that the traditional approach of criminalizing drug...

In “Healing the Addicted Brain,” physician and addiction specialist Harold C. Urschel, III, MD, presents a practical and hopeful framework for recovery rooted entirely in modern neuroscience. The book’s core message is that addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease, and that effective, lasting recovery must be treated as a medical condition requiring a comprehensive,...

In “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts,” physician and acclaimed author Gabor Maté, M.D., offers a deeply compassionate and groundbreaking exploration of addiction, arguing persuasively that it is not a primary disease or a moral failing, but a complex response to trauma, stress, and unfulfilled early childhood attachment needs. Drawing on his experiences working with...

“Loving What Is” by Byron Katie is a transformative guide centered on a revolutionary process of self-inquiry known simply as The Work. Katie’s core message is that all human suffering originates not from external reality, but from our unquestioned, stressful, and resistant thoughts about reality. The book introduces a simple yet profound method for finding...

Judith Grant’s Men and Substance Abuse: Narratives of Addiction and Recovery delves into the lived experiences of men who have journeyed from substance use through the grip of addiction to long-term sobriety, revealing how personal identities intertwine with social and cultural forces rienner.comjournals.sagepub.com. Through in-depth qualitative interviews and narrative analysis, Grant demonstra...More

This “Mental Health Workbook” by Edward Scott is a powerful, comprehensive self-help tool designed to equip readers with practical, evidence-based skills for deep cognitive and emotional restructuring. Functioning as a 4-in-1 resource, the central philosophy of this bundle is that psychological well-being can be achieved by deliberately harnessing neuroscience and Cognitive Behavioral ...More

In “Mindful Therapy: A Guide for Therapists and Helping Professionals,” Thomas Bien, Ph.D., presents a comprehensive and compassionate framework for integrating mindfulness into the practice of psychotherapy. While the book is written for professionals, its core principles offer profound insights for anyone on a path of healing. Bien, the author of “Mindful Recovery,” draws...More

“Mindfulness & Acceptance for Addictive Behaviors,” edited by Steven C. Hayes, PhD (the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT), and Michael E. Levin, MA, is an authoritative collection that applies the principles of Contextual CBT (ACT) directly to the wide spectrum of addictive behaviors. The book’s core message is that the struggle against...

“Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors” by Sarah Bowen, Neha Chawla, and G. Alan Marlatt is the authoritative manual detailing the Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) program. While designated as a “Clinician’s Guide,” the book contains the full curriculum and principles of one of the most effective, evidence-based interventions for main...More

“Ordinary Mind” is a groundbreaking work that fuses two seemingly disparate traditions—Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis—to offer a unified path toward self-acceptance and emotional freedom. Barry Magid, a practicing psychoanalyst and Zen teacher, argues that both practices share a central goal: helping the individual fully experience and accept the mundane reality of their life with...More

In “Rewire Your Brain: Think Your Way to a Better Life,” psychologist John B. Arden, Ph.D., provides an empowering and science-based guide to harnessing the brain’s incredible capacity for change, known as neuroplasticity. The book’s core message is a direct and optimistic one: you are not stuck with the brain you have; you can consciously...