Books to Help You Navigate Social Anxiety
Explore these insightful reads that tackle social anxiety head-on. Whether through relatable characters in fiction or practical self-help strategies, these books will guide you in overcoming overthinking and finding your voice. Embrace your new town with confidence and ease!
The Wisdom of Insecurity
162 pages
An acclaimed philosopher shows us how—in an age of unprecedented anxiety—we can find fulfillment by embracing the present and living more fully in the now. He is "the perfect guide for a course correction in life" (from the Introduction by Deepak Chopra). The brain can only assume its proper behavior when consciousness is doing what it is designed for: not writhing and whirling to get out of present experience, but being effortlessly aware of it. Alan Watts draws on the wisdom of Eastern philosophy and religion in this timeless and classic guide to living a more fulfilling life. His central insight is more relevant now than ever: when we spend all of our time worrying about the future and lamenting the past, we are unable to enjoy the present moment—the only one we are actually able to inhabit. Watts offers the liberating message that true certitude and security come only from understanding that impermanence and insecurity are the essence of our existence. He highlights the futility of endlessly chasing moving goalposts, whether they consist of financial success, stability, or escape from pain, and shows that it is only by acknowledging what we do not know that we can learn anything truly worth knowing. In The Wisdom of Insecurity, Watts explains complex concepts in beautifully simple terms, making this the kind of book you can return to again and again for comfort and insight in challenging times. “Perhaps the foremost interpreter of Eastern disciplines for the contemporary West, Watts had the rare gift of ‘writing beautifully the unwritable.’” —Los Angeles Times
The Four Agreements
163 pages
This book offers simple yet profound agreements that can transform your perception of yourself and others.
Anxious People
352 pages
#1 New York Times bestseller From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and “writer of astonishing depth” (The Washington Times) comes a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined. Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths. First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live—and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car. As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people. Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People’s whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.
Many Lives, Many Masters
228 pages
As a traditional psychotherapist, Dr. Brian Weiss was astonished and skeptical when one of his patients began recalling past-life traumas that seemed to hold the key to her recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks. His skepticism was eroded, however, when she began to channel messages from the "space between lives," which contained remarkable revelations about Dr. Weiss' family and his dead son. Using past-life therapy, he was able to cure the patient and embark on a new, more meaningful phase of his own career.
The Body Keeps the Score
466 pages
If trauma is present, this book is a must-read as it offers profound insights into how trauma affects the body and mind.
Quiet
362 pages
A SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE HOW YOU SEE INTROVERTS - AND YOURSELF - FOREVER. Our lives are driven by a fact that most of us can't name and don't understand. It defines who our friends and lovers are, which careers we choose, and whether we blush when we're embarrassed. That fact is whether we're an introvert or an extrovert. The most fundamental dimension of personality, at least a third of us are introverts, and yet shyness, sensitivity and seriousness are often seen as a negative. Some of the world's most talented people are introverts - without them we wouldn't have the Apple computer, the theory of relativity and Van Gogh's sunflowers. In Quiet, Susan Cain shows how society misunderstands and undervalues introverts while giving them the tools to better understand themselves and take full advantage of their strengths. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with real stories, whether an introvert or extrovert, this book will change how you see human beings for good. ***** 'I can't get Quiet out of my head. It is an important book - so persuasive and timely and heartfelt it should inevitably effect change in schools and offices' Jon Ronson, The Guardian 'Susan Cain's Quiet has sparked a quiet revolution . . . Perhaps rather than sitting back and asking people to speak up, managers and company leaders might lean forward and listen' Megan Walsh, The Times 'Maybe the extrovert ideal is no longer as powerful as it was; perhaps it is time we all stopped to listen to the still, small voice of calm' Daisy Goodwin, The Sunday Times
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
365 pages
Over 2.5 million copies sold ‘Funny, touching and unpredictable’ Jojo Moyes ‘Heartwrenching and wonderful’ Nina Stibbe Winner of Costa First Novel Award, a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and the Book of the Year One of the Sunday Times' 100 bestselling books of the past 50 years
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
240 pages
This novel beautifully addresses anxiety, depression, and traumatic experiences, making it a comforting read, especially for those navigating new challenges.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
197 pages
This book offers insightful ways to approach your problems and helps you identify what truly matters in life.
How To Win Friends and Influence People
322 pages
This classic book offers timeless principles on how to connect with others and improve your social skills, making it a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their relationships.
Seneca's Letters from a Stoic
483 pages
Seneca's letters offer wisdom on how to navigate life's challenges with grace and resilience, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in philosophy.
The Midnight Library
316 pages
This fiction book is wholesome and explores the journey of overcoming regrets and depression, making it a quick and uplifting read!
The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook
314 pages
This book was a huge help for me in managing social anxiety and shyness.
Man S Search For Meaning
124 pages
This book offers a profound perspective on life, showing that no matter how terrible one's current situation may seem, it could always be much worse, as illustrated by Frankl's experiences in Nazi concentration camps.
Confucius, the Analects
194 pages
This foundational text of Eastern philosophy serves as an essential guide to self-improvement and understanding one's thoughts.
As a Man Thinketh
83 pages
A short yet powerful read that emphasizes the importance of controlling our thoughts to foster personal growth.
Managing Social Anxiety
240 pages
This book is a great resource for anyone struggling with social anxiety, as it helped me navigate my own challenges after moving to a new state.
Daring Greatly
166 pages
Brené Brown's work on vulnerability offers valuable insights that can help you overcome social anxiety and view social experiences in a new light.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
128 pages
This book is incredibly cathartic and offers comforting insights, especially during tough times. The exchanges between the characters, like the horse's wisdom about storms, resonate deeply and remind us that we are not alone in our struggles.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
433 pages
This book is a great resource for understanding yourself and the people around you.
Rising Strong
This book provides insightful research and personal anecdotes that can help readers embrace their imperfections and build self-acceptance.
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
418 pages
This book is a captivating blend of two stories that offers a lot to discover. It's a magical read that can provide a great distraction, making it perfect for those tough times, like living with family during lockdown.
Daring Greatly
32 pages
Brene Brown offers a unique perspective on shame and vulnerability, making it a must-read for anyone struggling with social anxiety.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
408 pages
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER ADAPTED INTO A FEATURE FILM WITH TOM HANKS From the critically acclaimed author of Here I Am, Everything is Illuminated and We are the Weather - a heartrending and unforgettable novel set in the aftermath of the 9/11 'Utterly engaging, hugely involving, tragic, funny and intensely moving... A heartbreaker' Spectator 'The most incredible fictional nine-year-old ever created... a funny, heart-rending portrayal of a child coping with disaster. It will have you biting back the tears' Glamour 'Pulsates with dazzling ideas' Times Literary Supplement 'It's a miracle... So impeccably imagined, so courageously executed, so everlastingly moving' Baltimore Sun 'Jonathan Safran Foer is a writer of considerable brilliance' Observer In a vase in a closet, a couple of years after his father died in 9/11, nine-year-old Oskar discovers a key... The key belonged to his father, he's sure of that. But which of New York's 162 million locks does it open? So begins a quest that takes Oskar - inventor, letter-writer and amateur detective - across New York's five boroughs and into the jumbled lives of friends, relatives and complete strangers. He gets heavy boots, he gives himself little bruises and he inches ever nearer to the heart of a family mystery that stretches back fifty years. But will it take him any closer to, or even further from, his lost father?
A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius
440 pages
"Exhilarating…Profoundly moving, occasionally angry, and often hilarious...A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is, finally, a finite book of jest, which is why it succeeds so brilliantly" (The New York Times Book Review). A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is the unique, moving memoir of a college senior who, in the space of five weeks, loses both of his parents to cancer and inherits his eight-year-old brother. In his distinctive style unlike any other memoir, Egger's story is an exhilarating debut that manages to be simultaneously hilarious and wildly inventive, as well as a deeply heartfelt story of the love that holds a family together.
Siddhartha
112 pages
This book is a profound journey of self-discovery that resonates with anyone feeling lost or socially anxious. It's a beautiful exploration of finding one's path in life.
Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-five
192 pages
Kurt Vonnegut's novels are not only funny and smart, but they also have a profound impact on readers, making them feel less alone and helping to foster a more humane attitude towards oneself and others.
The Stranger
134 pages
It's a compelling story about an introvert who faces severe misunderstanding, making it a thought-provoking read.
The Midnight Library
324 pages
*Pre-order Matt Haig’s new novel The Life Impossible now* THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON READERS' MOST LOVED BOOK OF 2021 WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR FICTION 'BEAUTIFUL' Jodi Picoult, 'UPLIFTING' i, 'BRILLIANT' Daily Mail, 'AMAZING' Joanna Cannon, 'ABSORBING' New York Times, 'THOUGHT-PROVOKING' Independent Nora's life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?
A New Earth: Oprah's Book Club
337 pages
It provides insights into the ego and teaches how to detach from external influences to connect with your true consciousness.
Invisible Man
610 pages
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this deeply compelling novel and epic milestone of American literature, a nameless narrator tells his story from the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be. One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years He describes growing up in a Black community in the South, attending a Negro college from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of "the Brotherhood," before retreating amid violence and confusion. Originally published in 1952 as the first novel by a then unknown author, it remained on the bestseller list for sixteen weeks and established Ralph Ellison as one of the key writers of the century. The book is a passionate and witty tour de force of style, strongly influenced by T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, James Joyce, and Dostoevsky.