Give me your book recommendations for adults with horrible parents

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1ke

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Hi all,

I know I’ve seen book recommendations on boundaries and dealing with toxic people, narcissistic parents, etc.

One of my dear friends has a adult sister and father who verbally attack her. And a MIL to end all MILs. She’s pretty passive/people pleaser in general, but she’s at the breaking point and confided in me more than I ever knew was going on. She’s recently had some bad encounters and I am working with her on strategies.

I have a few books in mind but I can’t recall all the ones that have been recommended on here or who did the recommending on various threads, so searching is difficult so I’m collecting them here.
 
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Another book that I can recommend is “Toxic Parents” by Dr. Susan Forward.

She has been a Psychotherapist for a long time and has written books for a long time, too.

This book is written in the form of case studies of descriptions of toxic family situations. I could really relate to those situations, as I read the book. It’s an older book, but one that I would still recommend to others.

This next book is also supposed to be very good, but I haven’t read it yet. It’s also by Dr. Susan Forward. It’s called, “Mothers Who Can’t Love”

She has some other interesting books on her website as well, including “Toxic In-Laws.”

I’ll post her website here too, if anyone is interested and wants to take a look at it for more information about it and for more information about what other books she has written:


I’m so sorry that your friend is going through something like this on both sides of her family.

I know how that is too, and I can empathize with that.

My husband and I have to joke about the dysfunction in both of our families at times, because sometimes that’s all that you can do for your own sanity! :roll_eyes:

We don’t mean to be irreverent in any way, it’s just that we try and find ways to cope when things get to be a bit stressful.

So I too, am always interested in reading different books about family dysfunction.
 
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It took me a moment to think about your response @AdamPeter! 😁

I thought…I know that story, don’t I…!
 
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Well, @AdamPeter at least you could pin your behavior on the book if something happens as a result of its contents, after reading it!

You could just say that you were trying to follow the advice from the book if it has been recommended to you and you read it, right?! :crazy_face:
 
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I have heard that “Boundaries” is another good one, though I have not read it myself. It deals with things from a Christian perspective.
 
I also suggest “Toxic Parents”. Its a great book for those struggling with their parents/in-laws as adults. 👍
 
Hi @TotusTuusForever,

Yes—If anything, I think that it makes one feel so not alone when reading the book, and seeing those case studies in there that one can relate to, if a person also comes from a very dysfunctional and toxic family situation, as well.

I know that’s how I personally felt when I read the book.
 
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I’ve had some luck with certain discussions of transactional analysis. The founding books are very dated, especially when it comes to examples involving interactions between men and women. But the fundamental idea of consciously watching how you react, and being able to choose to react in a way suitable to an adult who is considering their behavior, has some use.
 
Highly recommend all of the various and extremely helpful “Boundaries” books by Townsend.
 
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