Best 10 Shame Books

1. The Gifts of Imperfection

By Brené Brown

What transforms this book from words on a page to effective daily practices are the ten guideposts to wholehearted living.

The guideposts not only help us understand the practices that will allow us to change our lives and families, they also walk us through the unattainable and sabotaging expectations that get in the way. 

2. Daring Greatly

By Brené Brown

Based on twelve years of pioneering research, Brené Brown PhD, MSW, dispels the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness and argues that it is, in truth, our most accurate measure of courage.

Brown explains how vulnerability is both the core of difficult emotions like fear, grief, and disappointment, and the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, empathy, innovation, and creativity.

Daring Greatly is a practice and a powerful new vision for letting ourselves be seen.

3. Braving the Wilderness

By Brené Brown

In her book, Brown argues that we’re experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other.

Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness.

4. Healing the Shame that Binds You

By John Bradshaw

This book has helped millions identify their personal shame, understand the underlying reasons for it, address these root causes and release themselves from the shame that binds them to their past failures.

5. Breaking Free from Body Shame

By Jess Connolly

Jess Connolly is a bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and trusted Bible teacher who knows this inner conflict all too well, and this book details her journey–and yours–of setting out to discover how to break free from the broken beliefs we all hold about our bodies that hold us back from our fullest life.

This book will help you believe it with your whole self, as Jess guides you through an eye-opening, empowering process of:

• Renaming what the world has labeled as less-than
• Resting in God’s workmanship
• Experiencing restoration where there has been injury
• And becoming a change agent in partnering with God to bring revival to a generation of women 

6. Conquering Shame and Codependency

By Darlene Lancer

In Conquering Shame and Codependency, Darlene Lancer sheds new light on shame: how codependents’ feelings and beliefs about shame affect their identity, their behavior, and how shame can corrode relationships, destroying trust and love.

She then provides eight steps to heal from shame, learn to love yourself, and develop healthy relationships.

7. Shame

By Dr. Joseph Burgo

Richly illustrated with clinical stories from Burgo’s 35 years in private practice, Shame also describes the myriad ways that unacknowledged shame often hides behind a broad spectrum of mental disorders including social anxiety, narcissism, addiction, and masochism.

8. Letting Go of Shame

By Ronald Potter-Efron, Patricia Potter-Efron

In their book, the authors offer us a way that we can personalize a plan of action to help build our self-esteem, and they suggest exercises to help us identify our feelings of shame.

9. The ACT Workbook for Depression and Shame

By Matthew McKay PhD, Michael Jason Greenberg PsyD, Patrick Fanning

Grounded in evidence-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), this workbook will give you the tools to identify and dismiss your core beliefs of personal defectiveness, and build a life based on positive choices and values that bring vitality and a sense of personal fulfillment.

You’ll discover ways to develop psychological flexibility, freeing yourself from old habits and unhealthy coping mechanisms, and alleviating symptoms of depression.

Finally, you’ll learn to see yourself in all your wonderful complexity, with kindness and compassion.

10. Coping with Guilt & Shame Workbook

By John J. Liptak, Ester R.A. Leubenberg

The Coping with Guilt and Shame Workbook provides assessments and self-exploration activities to help participants learn useful skills for coping with various forms of guilt and shame.

Activities are divided into four chapters to help you identify and select assessments easily and quickly.