Psychology

As an academic library, the focus of our psychology collections are on scholarly, research, and theory orientated works; popular "self-help" books are purchased only on a very limited level. You may find the public library to be a better resource for popular titles. However, you will find some selected popular titles in the collection. U-M researchers and scholars who require popular titles (for their work) not already in the collection are welcome to contact the Psychology Librarian with their purchase requests.

Finding Popular Self-Help Books in the Library Catalog

• Add the phrase "popular works" to any search
  • This subject classification denotes titles geared towards the general public
• Try searching on any of these subjects, which will bring up titles of potential relevance:
  • Subject: Maturation (Psychology)
    Subject: Self-actualization (Psychology)
    Subject: Adjustment (Psychology)
    Subject: Stress (Psychology) -- Prevention
    Subject: Stress Management
    Subject: Mindfulness (Psychology)
    Subject: Meditation
    Subject: Motivation (Psychology)
    Subject:"Motivation (Psychology)" AND subject:Self
    Subject:emotions AND Subject:self
    Subject: self help techniques

Bibliotherapy

bibliotherapy n. a form of therapy that uses structured reading material. Bibliotherapy is often used as an adjunct to psychotherapy for such purposes as reinforcing specific in-session concepts or strategies or enhancing lifestyle changes. Carefully chosen readings are also used by some individuals as self-help tools to foster personal growth and development, for example, by facilitating communication and open discussion of problems or enhancing self-concept.

Definition from the APA Dictionary of Psychology, edited by Gary R. VandenBos, American Psychological Association, 2015.

• Search on the subject bibliotherapy in the library catalog and in PsycINFO for books and articles on this topic.