Psychology

Our Psychology Collection features a diverse group of study guides, from pioneering texts by Sigmund Freud and B.F. Skinner to self-help books and contemporary nonfiction about human nature, the mind, and social psychology. If you’re an educator looking to round out a college-level syllabus, or a book club organizer with a penchant for curiosity and dynamic discussion, this collection could help you find just what you're looking for.

Publication year 1974

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: War

Tags WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Crime / Legal, Military / War, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Biography


Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Biography

Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart is a work of nonfiction by neurosurgeon and philanthropist Dr. James R. Doty. It is at once a memoir, a self-help book, and a work of popular science; Doty draws on his professional knowledge to explain the scientific underpinnings of meditative practices like visualization, while also exploring the transformative effect these practices can have on... Read Into the Magic Shop Summary


Publication year 1984

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Fantasy, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Health / Medicine

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked (2017), a nonfiction book by Adam Alter, explores the relationship between humans and addictive technologies. Alter is a professor of marketing at New York University Stern School of Business and has written other nonfiction titles about human behavior, such as Drunk Tank Pink.  The book begins with the assertion that people can easily become addicted to smartphones, video games, and other technologies... Read Irresistible Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Tags Sociology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology

The essay “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” was written by Nicholas Carr. It was originally published in The Atlantic’s July/August 2008 issue. The essay stirred much debate, and in 2010, Carr published an extended version of the essay in book form, entitled The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. The essay begins and ends with an allusion to Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the initial allusion, Carr summarizes... Read Is Google Making Us Stupid? Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Romance

It’s Kind of a Funny Story was Ned Vizzini’s second Young Adult novel, published by Hyperion in 2006. It is a critically acclaimed Young Adult novel and coming-of-age story that was given a starred review by the American Librarians Association and adapted into a film of the same name (2010).Other work by this author includes the novel, Be More Chill.Content Warning: This novel and study guide include topics and themes that may be sensitive for... Read It's Kind of a Funny Story Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Psychology, Parenting, Relationships, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine


Publication year 2005

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community

Tags Politics / Government, Education, Education, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice

Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, a 2005 nonfiction book written by Harvard professor Michael J. Sandel, grew out of a popular course of the same name that Sandel teaches, in which he “exposes students to some of the great philosophical writings about justice, and also takes up contemporary legal and political controversies that raise philosophical questions” (293). In this book, Sandel does the same, comparing and contrasting several important approaches to justice and... Read Justice Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Indian Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Biography


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Crime / Legal, Psychology, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future

Tags Parenting, Education, Psychology, Children's Literature, Education, Science / Nature, Psychology


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Sociology, Health / Medicine, Health


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Psychology, Inspirational, Business / Economics, Self Help, Post Modernism, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (2014) is inspirational speaker Simon Sinek’s second book, a follow-up to Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2009). The book’s title is derived from a practice in which Marine Corps Officers eat last, sacrificing their own needs for those in their care. Sacrifice is key. Sinek explores the ways in which successful individuals and companies develop cultures built on... Read Leaders Eat Last Summary


Publication year 1987

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Business / Economics, History: World, Leadership/Organization/Management, Creative Nonfiction, Self Help, Military / War, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun is a self-improvement and business leadership book by Wess Roberts, who was a human resources manager at Fireman’s Fund Insurance when he published the book in 1989. Using the historical figure of Attila the Hun as his mouthpiece, Roberts outlines his management style and approach to business. This guide refers to Attila’s “persona” when quoting words that Roberts imagines Attila might have said. In the introduction, Roberts discusses Attila... Read Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Self Help, Military / War, Psychology, Psychology


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Family

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Health / Medicine

Lisa Genova’s second novel, Left Neglected (2011), is the fictional story of Sarah Nickerson, a high-powered executive whose life changes forever when she is in a serious car accident. Genova is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, each dealing with a different neurological condition. She graduated from Bates College with a degree in biopsychology and from Harvard University with a doctorate in neuroscience, a background that influences her writing. Other works by... Read Left Neglected Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Sports, Business / Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Biography


Genre Collection of Letters, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Philosophy, Ancient Rome, Philosophy, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Classical Period, Self Help, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2013

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community

Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography


Publication year 2007

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Education, Society: Class, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Education, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Education, Psychology, Psychology

Jonathan Kozol’s Letters to a Young Teacher, originally published in 2007, is a collection of letters containing Kozol’s teaching advice for a new first grade schoolteacher named Francesca. The format of this book is inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s famous Letters to a Young Poet, which has become a model for advice books for young people in different professions and callings. Although some identifying elements have been changed, the book’s letters represent a real correspondence... Read Letters to a Young Teacher Summary