Self-awareness for Introverts and Highly Sensitive People. These books provide the knowledge and research to give you greater understanding of the introverted and/or highly sensitive nature:
Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength by Laurie Helgoe. Helgoe uses personal examples and researched data to enlighten us about the introverted way of life. She relates our nature to artistry and conscious living. She has an Idealist’s mentality.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. This is the holy bible of introversion. It provides a general but accurate overview of all things introverted. It offers a view of the introversion/extroversion balance through history. It explains the biological origins of introversion. It talks about work and love in the introverted realm.
The Introvert Advantage:How to Thrive in an Extrovert World by Marti Olsen Laney. This is the first book I read on introversion. It explains the biological aspect of it. It talks about what makes an introvert an introvert. It confirmed I am an introvert. It has a section on parenting. If you want the basics, this is the book for you.
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron. After working with an introvert coach for a few weeks she let me know she suspected I was a highly sensitive person. I had never heard of such a thing but the self-test in Dr. Aron’s book confirmed it. There are sections on lifestyle, social relationships, love relationships and spirituality. All through the lens of a highly sensitive person.
Supportive, encouraging, validating. These books provided mentors, messages and deep, sometimes spiritual, lessons:
If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland. You do not have to be a writer to gain from this. No other author has ever made me feel as validated for my sensitive way of being.
A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink. Intuition, innovation and creativity will finally prove more valuable than fact and information spewing.
A Woman’s Worth by Marianne Williamson. Empowering and spiritual. Contains such gems as, “…a career grows out of who we are; who we are doesn’t grow out of a career.”
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle: A classic. A beautifully peaceful read about why we must live in the now. This is the book that started me on my path to a more conscious way of being.
The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Women, Work and Sexual Desire: A tad controversial for its descriptions of masculine and feminine essences, but enlightening nonetheless. Taught me that some people grow through praise and appreciation while others grow through challenges.
Choose Yourself: Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream by James Altucher: This book gives you a simple yet thoughtful life map. It inspired my writing and career. James Altucher is one of us:intuitive, sensitive, deep thinking.
Relationship enhancing books to increase intimacy and satisfaction. These books offer original insight and real life application. I thumb through them all regularly when my relationships hit gridlock:
Passionate Marriage:Keeping Love and Intimacy Alive in Committed Relationships by David Schnarch. Dr. Schnarch’s goal is to teach you to hold onto your self and embrace your partner. He teaches us how to maintain our integrity while in a relationship through differentiation. Case studies accompany his writing. Sexuality is covered thoroughly.
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel. Perel discusses how to keep intimate relationships erotic. She suggests giving each other space rather than becoming ‘one’. Appealing to an introvert.
Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence by David Keirsey. Keirsey defines four temperaments based on Myers Briggs typology. His theories simplify the Myers Briggs 16 types into four detailed temperaments. He includes chapters about mating and parenting for each temperament.
