Self-Care Books for Comfort and Growth

Submitted by Durham Tech Library on
breath: the new science of a lost art by james nestor
average is the new awesome a manifesto for the rest of us by samantha matt
and then we grew up: on creativity potential and the imperfect art of adulthood by rachel friedman
the power of now: a guide to spiritual enlightenment by eckhart tolle
burnout: the secret to unlocking the stress cycle by emily nagoski and amelia nagoski
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
overcoming distractions :thriving with adult add adhd by david greenwood
why you eat what you eat: the science behind our relationship with food by rachel herz
Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker
The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
How to Be A Better Person by Kate Hanley
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Best Hikes near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill by Johnny Molloy
the runner's world big book of running for beginners by jennier van allen, bart yasso, and amby burfoot
why travel matters: a guide to life-changing effects of travel by craig storti
gardening for butterflies by the xerces society
Every body yoga: Let go of fear, get on the mat, love your body by Jessamyn Stanley
on bicycles: 50 ways the new bike culture can change your life edited by amy walker
being mortal: medicine and what matters in the end by atul gawande book cover
There is no good card for this:- What to say and do when life is scary, awful, and unfair to people you love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell
h is for hawk by helen macdonald
How We Fight White Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance edited by Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
Social empathy: the art of understanding others by elizabeth a segal
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson
how to read a protest the art of organizing and resistance by LA Kauffman

Tune into yourself with books that will help you with your self-care goals through the Read Great Things 2021 Challenge.

A set of Scrabble tiles, some turned over so they are blank in the background, with the words SELF CARE spelled out on top

Self-care can be about taking care of yourself in many ways: emotionally, spiritually, creatively, physically, or mentally. 

Keep reading for some suggestions based on what your own self-care goals might look like, including some suggestions contributed by your Durham Tech community. 

If your self-care goal is to care for your body, mind, and spirit:

If your self-care goal is to move your body or get outside: 

If your self-care goal is to make something:

  • the art of escapism cooking: a survival story with intensely good flavors by mandy lee
    Available at the Main Campus (TX 724.5 .A1 L43 2019)
  • happiness is baking: favorite desserts from the queen of cake by maida heatter
    Available at the Main Campus (TX 773 .H346 2019)
  • 200 embroidered flowers: hand embroidered stitches and projects for flowers, leaves, and foliage by kristen gula
    Available at the Main Campus (TT 770 .G945 2018)
  • making marbled paper: paint techniques & patterns for classic & modern marbleizing on paper & silk by heather rj fletcher
    Available at the Main Campus (TT 385 .F57 2019)
  • the acrylic painter: tools and techniques for the most versatile medium by james van patten
    Available at the Main Campus (ND 1535 .V36 2016)
  • the spoonflower quick-sew project book by anda corrie
    Available at the Main Campus (TT 753 .C67 2018)
  • woodwork step by step: more than 100 tools and techniques with inspirational projects to make by alan bridgewater
    Available at the Main Campus (TT 185 .B746 2014)
  • Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon book cover
    Available at the Main Campus (BF 408 .K55 2012)
  • Novel Ideas: Contemporary Authors Share the Creative Process by Barbara Shoup
    Available at the Main Campus (PN 3365 .N63 2001)

If your self-care goal is to cope with the loss of a loved one or help those you care about grieve: 

If your self-care goal is get involved to make change:

A gif of Captain Jean Luc Picard from Star Trek sitting on a lounge chair with a book in hand. Caption says, "All I require is to sit in the sun and read my book. Alone."

For some people (see: me), reading itself can be a way to practice self-care because it's something that encourages me to relax and disengage from stressors. Reading outside in my fancy patio chair is even better.

While I like lots of types of books, sometimes my "reading specifically for self-care" choices differ from my "reading in general" choices. During those times, I especially like fast-paced slightly horror-related YA (preferably with magic), historical fiction set in the 1920s (especially about VERY rich people coping with their own privilege), crime books (especially when the perpetrator gets caught), or a fairy/folk tale rewrite (ALL OF THEM).

Other people love to catch up with their favorite prolific author, Regency, Western, or shifter romance, police procedural, murder mystery, family drama, or whatever sings to their soul. We often choose to repeat a genre when it's used for self-care not because we're looking for a surprise, but because we want to engage with something enjoyable and a little predictable in the best way possible. It's comfort, the book genre-version. Be sure to check out Dogwood Digital Library for some awesome new fiction that you can access from home. 

Want to check one of these books out? You can either request it yourself through the catalog or contact us and we can get it for you and schedule a time for you to come get it.

Happy reading! And remember that any of these books fit into our favorite category-- A book suggested by a Durham Tech Library staff member or on the Library blog!

Looking for more Read Great Things 2021 category suggestions? Check out our short book list from January and our outer space books from February. 

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Book Lists