Welcome to the Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Online Books Recommendation Page.
Most Recently Updated September, 2022.
We know how hard it is to find information about the insidious nature of narcissistic abuse; the immensity of its effects on our psyche and the many life-altering ways it shapes us. That’s why we’ve created this extensive list of the best, most-effective books out there for you to learn about healing from it.
The thing is, no one should have to go through what you went through. The fact that so many of us go through some sort of narcissistic abuse shows that there is a need for healing and a need for awareness.
This page is continuously updated and contains books and ebooks that are recommended reading for a successful recovery from narcissistic abuse in toxic relationships.
This is the ultimate list of the best, most-effective narcissistic abuse recovery books out there, according to our surveys of more than 136,000 survivors of narcissistic abuse. These books are powerful tools for going through this healing process. Read them, share them, use them.
The Best Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Books, According to More Than161k Survivors
Every narcissistic abuse survivor might try to boost our self-confidence from time to time, but it can be difficult to try and improve our self-esteem when narcissistic abuse has left us feeling as if we were nothing.
Maybe you even feel like you don’t have any valuable skills that would make others like you. This is especially prevalent during trauma recovery but can stick with us over the years.
Books are a great way to gain knowledge and insight. Reading about narcissistic and psychopathic abuse can be one of the best ways to cope with your situation and learn the best ways to recover from it.
It’s often said that people who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. Those who have been narcissistic abused are often survivors, so we know that better than anyone else.
We have a lot to learn from the books about recovery.
Top 10 Books on Recovering From Narcissistic Abuse
If you have been living with a narcissist and are suffering, reading a book on narcissistic abuse may help you to make sense of the situation and realize that you are not alone.
Narcissistic abuse recovery books are often very useful in helping victims of sociopaths and narcissists to understand their condition, to realize they are not alone, and motivate them to seek the treatment they need.
So many people have learned how to cope with this debilitating situation, and many have been able to break free of its hold on their lives. You can too!
Below is a list of the top 10 books on narcissistic abuse recovery.
- Psychopath Free
- Navigating No Contact
- Becoming the Narcissist’s Nightmare
- The Rest is Still Unwritten
- Codependent No More
- Women who love psychopaths
- Exorcism: Purging the Narcissist From Your Heart and Soul
- Take Back Your Life
- The courage to heal
- Victims No longer
Books on How to Leave a Narcissist
Choosing to walk away from a relationship with a narcissist can be difficult. They’re charming, exciting, and oh so good at convincing you that you need them in your life.
You may have been with them for years or even decades. You may have children with them.
You may believe you’ll never find love again if you let go of this person. The truth is that the only way to get out (and stay out) is to put one foot in front of the other until you’re free.
That’s where these books come in. They can help you understand what’s happening to you and give you the confidence to leave the narcissist behind for good.
Here are ten of the best books on how to leave a narcissist and escape narcissistic abuse available right now:
- Take Back Your Life: 103 Highly-Effective Strategies to Snuff Out a Narcissist’s Gaslighting and Enjoy the Happy Life You Really Deserve (Detoxifying Your Life)
- When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People
- When to Walk Away Study Guide
- Getting Free
- Out of the Fog: Moving From Confusion to Clarity After Narcissistic Abuse
- Free: QueenBeeing.com PLAN to Leave a Narcissist Guides and Resources (Narcissistic Abuse Recovery)
Books on Emotional Healing from Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissistic abuse can affect you for years. The pain and trauma caused by Narcissistic Relational Trauma can greatly impact your life.
You may find that you are experiencing anxiety, insomnia, depression, flashbacks, and nightmares. As you move through the trauma of Narcissistic Abuse, you may experience guilt and shame.
In dealing with your narcissistic abuse trauma, it is easy to become isolated and withdrawn from others. You may feel flat or numb. You might avoid activities or situations that remind you of the abuse or trigger your emotions.
It’s normal to find yourself angry or feeling like you want revenge against your narcissistic partner, family member, or friend who has hurt you so deeply. It’s also normal to feel sad and depressed about what happened and what was lost due to the abuse.
Here are some books that my clients have told me have been the most helpful for them in their healing journeys:
- Narcissistic Abuse Recovery: The Ultimate Toxic Relationship Survival Guide for Victims and Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
- Healing from Hidden Abuse: A Journey Through the Stages of Recovery from Psychological Abuse
- Out of the Fog: Moving from Confusion to Clarity After Narcissistic Abuse
- Whole Again: Healing Your Heart and Rediscovering Your True Self After Toxic Relationships and Emotional Abuse
- You Can Heal Your Life
- Taking the Lead
- Broken Open: How Difficult Times Help Us Grow
- The Rest is Still Unwritten
- Codependent No More
- Exorcism: Purging the Narcissist From Your Heart and Soul
- Take Back Your Life
- The courage to heal
- Victory Over Verbal Abuse
- Your Love is My Drug: How to Shut Down a Narcissist, Detoxify Your Relationships & Live the Awesome Life You Really Deserve, Starting Right Now
- Charm to Harm And Everything Else in Between With a Narcissist
- The Emotionally Destructive Relationship
Books on Complex PTSD and Trauma Healing
If a relationship with a narcissist has left you feeling helpless and trapped, you may be experiencing complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Complex PTSD is a type of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by prolonged, repeated childhood abuse by narcissistic parents. The most common variety is the Narcissistic Mother, who causes this disorder in her children through gaslighting, abuse, and neglect.
Complex PTSD is not well known in the mental health field.
Many people suffering from it are misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, or Antisocial Personality Disorder. It also overlaps with Complex-Reactive Attachment Disorder (CRAD).
The following books were written for survivors of complex trauma.
- The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
- The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Workbook)
- Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A GUIDE AND MAP FOR RECOVERING FROM CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
- Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
Learn more about narcissistic abuse and complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
Books on Personality Disorders – Psychopaths and Sociopaths
The books on narcissistic abuse recovery below are some of the best ones on narcissists, psychopaths, and sociopaths. These books will help you to understand these people and what they do to us by helping you to understand them.
- Toxic parents: Overcoming their hurtful legacy and reclaiming your life by Susan Forward, Ph.D.
- Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited by Sam Vaknin
- The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout, Ph.D.
- Psychopath Free
- Women who love psychopaths
- Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us
- The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist’s Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain
- The Sociopath Next Door
- Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door: How to Protect Yourself Against a Ruthless Manipulator
Books for Adult Children of Narcissists
Narcissistic abuse is a form of psychological abuse. It is a pattern of behavior where a person or an entity (such as an organization) uses another person without regard for the other person’s feelings or needs. This can be done by intimidation, by threat, or by manipulation.Toxic parents are the leading cause of adult children of narcissists. The effects of living with these parents are devastating to their adult children.
It is estimated that millions of Adult Children of Narcissists (ACONs) are in this country and abroad.
The writer of this book was one herself. She suffered as an ACON for 26 years before she finally got help.
She has found that many ACONs suffer from anxiety, depression, guilt, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol and drug abuse, to name a few symptoms.
There are many Adult Children out there who don’t realize that what they are suffering from is called Narcissistic Abuse Syndrome. They think it is because they had a bad childhood and tried to move on.
Many have even tried to move on from their dysfunctional families but have been unable to because the scars run too deep.
- Healing the Adult Children of Narcissists: Essays on The Invisible War Zone and Exercises for Recovery
- The Narcissistic Family
- Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
- Mothers Who Can’t Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters
- Will I Ever Be Good Enough?: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers
- You’re Not Crazy – It’s Your Mother: Understanding and Healing for Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers (Daughters Of Narcissistic Mothers Book 1)
- Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: A Guide For Separation, Liberation & Inspiration
More Help for Adult Children of Narcissists
True Narcissistic Abuse Survivor Stories – Narcissism Stories (Anthologies)
Collections of Stories Written and Compiled by Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse – Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse have been writing their stories and sharing them with the rest of the world via online platforms.
These platforms include blogs, ebooks, forums, and social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and even YouTube.
Narcissistic Abuse Survivors have been using these platforms to share their own stories and help others by providing advice, encouragement, support for healing and recovery, and help in understanding what has happened to them.
The following are some of our favorite narcissism stories and books, each written by survivors of narcissistic abuse:
- The Evolution of Echo: Raising Our Voices: Stories of Surviving Narcissistic Abuse (Kindle)
- The Evolution of Echo: Raising Our Voices: Stories of Surviving Narcissistic Abuse (Paperback)
- I Never Told Anyone: Writings by Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
- POWER: Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse: A Collection of Essays on Malignant Narcissism and Recovery from Emotional Abuse
Books on Going No Contact with a Narcissist
As a victim of narcissistic abuse in a toxic relationship, you’ve been manipulated – and you might even believe the lies the narcissist has told you about yourself.
Narcissists can be so convincing that their victims will find themselves doubting their perceptions and instincts.
The victim will feel confused and experience extreme emotional distress. Victims are subjected to numerous mind games, which leads to a sense of learned helplessness.
Dealing with a narcissist is like walking on eggshells; you never know what will set him/her off or how he/she will retaliate.
The victim lives in constant fear and anxiety because he/she doesn’t know what will happen next.
The main objective of these books is to help break free from the abusive narcissist so you can regain control of your life, avoid retaliation, and move on with your life.-
- Navigating No-Contact with a Narcissist: A Recovery Roadmap for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
- Getting Free
- The Christian’s Guide to No Contact: How to End Your Relationships With Narcissistic, Psychopathic, and Abusive Family and Friends, and Still be a Good Christian
- How To Do No Contact Like A Boss!: The Woman’s Guide to Implementing No Contact and Detaching from Toxic Relationships
- Becoming the Narcissist’s Nightmare: How to Devalue and Discard the Narcissist While Supplying Yourself
Free No Contact Resources from QueenBeeing.com
Books About Toxic Mothers (Narcissistic Mothers)
If you have a narcissistic mother, chances are that you’ve spent years of your life being gaslighted and manipulated. You’ve probably been made to feel crazy on many occasions.
You’ve been lied to constantly. And in addition to all the things that Narcissists typically do, your parent has also made you feel invisible, insignificant, and defective.
Narcissistic mothers play a subtle but vicious game of emotional and psychological abuse, and they depend on the fact that most people don’t really understand this type of abuse very well.
If you have a Narcissistic Mother, you may feel like no one believes what’s going on with you – because she’s so good at making you look like the crazy one. Even if you know she’s toxic (and many adult children of Narcissists have struggled for years with this), it can be incredibly difficult to explain the situation to anyone else. This is especially true if they haven’t lived through it themselves.
Victims of narcissistic mothers often feel like they’re losing their minds – which is why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of books about narcissistic abuse here on the blog.
These books will teach you everything you need to know about narcissistic abuse and how to stop living your life under your mother’s thumb.
- Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
- Mothers Who Can’t Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters
- Will I Ever Be Good Enough?: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers
- You’re Not Crazy – It’s Your Mother: Understanding and Healing for Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers (Daughters Of Narcissistic Mothers Book 1)
- Healing the Adult Children of Narcissists: Essays on The Invisible War Zone and Exercises for Recovery
- Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: A Guide For Separation, Liberation & Inspiration
- The Narcissistic Family
- Our Picks: Most Helpful Books for Dealing with a Narcissistic Mother
Books on Narcissists (Learn How to Identify a Narcissist)
Being involved with a narcissist can be a nightmare. If you have been a victim of narcissistic abuse, you know all too well how it feels to be on the receiving end of their rage and manipulation. Narcissists are masters at bringing people under their control.
Though narcissists come in all shapes and sizes, some common characteristics reveal their true nature.
They are extremely charismatic and very good at making others feel sorry for them.
They typically play the victim card when things aren’t going their way, even if they’ve wronged someone else in the first place. These books will help you recognize, identify and begin to heal from the narcissist in your life.
- In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
- The Narcissist’s Playbook: How to Identify, Disarm, and Protect Yourself from Narcissists, Sociopaths, Psychopaths, and Other Types of Manipulative People
- Psychopath Free
- Malignant Self Love
Self-Care for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
Since your self-care is important – especially for survivors of narcissistic abuse – we’ve added this section for books specifically focusing on self-care during and after narcissistic abuse recovery.
- 127 Powerfully Simple Life Makeover Hacks: Easy Ways to Empower Yourself and Improve Your Life in 30 Days or Less
- Create the Life You Want: 69 Instant Manifestation Secrets for Remarkable Success
- Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A Guide and Map for Recovering from Childhood Trauma
More Narcissist Abuse Recovery Books
The narcissist’s most effective tool is your own mind. Through gaslighting, they change the way you think, causing you to doubt yourself and blame yourself for everything that goes wrong between the two of you. Narcissistic abuse is a specific type of abuse that occurs when someone with narcissistic personality disorder abuses a spouse, family member, friend, or co-worker.
According to an article by therapist Tara Young at PsychCentral, narcissistic abuse affects one in six people at some point during their lifetime. This type of abuse has many forms and can take place in any kind of relationship.
The victim describes being “emotionally abused,” “manipulated,” or “controlled” by the narcissist, but these words do not capture the true extent of what it means to be in a relationship with a narcissist. Narcissistic abuse is not just emotional or psychological—it is also physical and sexual. It does not just occur in romantic relationships—it can happen in friendships, family relationships, or any other kind of relationship with a narcissistic abuser.
Books on Overcoming Narcissism
Here are a few more books recommended by survivors of narcissistic abuse to consider.
- Male sexual abuse survivors
- F*ck Feelings
- It Will Never Happen to Me
- The Gift of Fear
- The Gifts of Imperfection
- When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse
Books on Getting Over a Narcissist
Getting over a narcissist or toxic person can be incredibly difficult in many ways. No matter your situation, the abuse tends to leave its mark on your psyche in the form of trauma and self-sabotage.
Many people have difficulty getting saved from their feelings of worthlessness, fear, and overall self-loathing after being used by a narcissist.
It doesn’t matter if you were abused for years in an intense relationship like a marriage or if you’re dealing with the whispers and manipulations of an emotionally abusive boss or co-worker; narcissistic abuse recovery is often needed for everyone who has experienced it.
Sometimes it can take years to get through all these feelings and emotions, which is why we wanted to provide this list that’s filled with amazing books tailored to get you well…well.
Recently Published
Books & eBooks on Narcissism in Relationships
- Take Back Your Power: How to End People Pleasing, Stop Letting Life Happen to You and Start Getting What You Want
-
Alive Inside: How to Overcome Toxic Love and Narcissism in Relationships
- See more of Atkinson’s books at BooksAngieWrote.com. Like QueenBeeing, each of her books is geared at somehow improving your life.
Free Articles on Narcissism and Emotional Abuse and Manipulation
- Visit this page to see the most recent articles on narcissism at QueenBeeing.com
- A narcissist in Your Life? 35+ Tools and Resources That Can Help
Dealing with Narcissist Books
These are the top 21 books ordered by our fellow narcissistic abuse recovery survivors, according to our analytics.
- Becoming the Narcissist’s Nightmare: How to Devalue and Discard the Narcissist While Supplying Yourself
- Navigating No-Contact with a Narcissist: A Recovery Roadmap for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
- Healing from Hidden Abuse: A Journey Through the Stages of Recovery from Psychological Abuse
- The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach (Philosophy & Religion)
- 10 Steps to Healing after Narcissistic Abuse
- Identity Crisis
- Women Who Love Psychopaths: Inside the Relationships of inevitable Harm With Psychopaths, Sociopaths & Narcissists
- When Love Is a Lie: Narcissistic Partners & the Pathological Relationship Agenda
- Will I Ever Be Good Enough?: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers
- Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice
- POWER: Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse: A Collection of Essays on Malignant Narcissism and Recovery from Emotional Abuse
- Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up’s Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents
- Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World
- When Love Hurts: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding Abuse in Relationships
- Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life
- Boundaries After a Pathological Relationship
- The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents (Hazelden Meditation Series)
- Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life
- Codependent No More Workbook
- Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results (Volume 1)
- Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
Get help with narcissistic abuse recovery right now.
If you’re just starting to recover from the trauma of narcissistic abuse, psychotherapy can help you heal in several ways. By providing you with a safe space to explore the issues at hand and receive guidance from a trained professional, we offer begin to gain a greater understanding of what happened in your relationship and learn how to move forward.
You might also benefit from therapy if you’re struggling with addiction and think that it might be affecting your recovery process or if you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Therapy can provide tools that can strengthen your self-esteem and help you start learning how to feel strong again.
Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Support & Resources
If you feel you need additional help and support in your narcissistic abuse recovery, look for a trauma-informed professional who is trained in helping people who are dealing with overcoming narcissistic abuse in toxic relationships. Depending on your particular situation, you might benefit from Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Coaching, or you might do better with a therapist. You have to decide what to do from here – if you’re unsure, start with my free Narcissistic Abuse Recovery quiz. With your results will come recommended resources for your situation. It’s totally free.
- The QueenBeeing SPANily, Official – We consider this the best narcissistic abuse recovery support group on the web. It offers several subgroups and features a vigilant, compassionate admin team full of trained coaches and survivors, supporting more than 12k members. SPAN is an acronym Angie Atkinson created for Support for People Affected by Narcissistic abuse in toxic relationships.
- Other Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Support Groups – We also have separate groups for each stage in your narcissistic abuse recovery and some for those who have moved past recovery and are evolving into the next stage of their own life. Survivors have unique and individual needs, even when they’ve moved on – so we’re still here for you.
- One-on-One Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Coaching – If you prefer to get more personalized support in your recovery, you might like to schedule a session with one of our coaches to plan and execute your narcissistic abuse recovery plan.
- Find a Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Therapist – If you’re looking for a therapist for narcissistic abuse recovery, either because you cannot afford coaching and want to use your health insurance or because you have additional issues you need to address that do not fall within the realm of coaching, you will want to find the right therapist for you – and as far as we’re concerned, that therapist must understand what you’ve been through. This page offers assistance to help you do exactly that.
- Where Are You in Recovery? You might not be sure exactly where you fit in and what level of recovery you’ve achieved. If that’s the case, you’ll want to check out this self-assessment to help you determine exactly where you fall in the stages of recovery from narcissistic abuse. Once you finish and submit the assessment, you will be given resources for your situation, along with recommendations of which groups to join.
- Which Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Program is Right for You? If you aren’t sure which program you want to utilize to facilitate your recovery from narcissistic abuse, this self-assessment will help you decide.