Psychology Book Reviews: Insights from the Clinical Library

To understand the human mind is to engage with the greatest thinkers in history. At Taproot Therapy Collective, we curate this archive of psychology book reviews to explore how clinical theory, mythology, and philosophy inform our modern work in Birmingham and Hoover.

Clinically Curated & Reviewed By:

Joel Blackstock, LICSW-S, MSW, PIP | Clinical Director & Bibliotherapy Specialist

Featured Reviews & Clinical Reading Lists

Whether you are a therapist seeking continuing education or a patient looking for “bibliotherapy” tools, our archive covers the essential texts of the field. We provide deep dives into classic works like Irvin Yalom’s Love’s Executioner and modern collections such as our guide to 10 books every therapist should read.

Myth & Depth Psychology

Philosophy & Systems

Why Reading Matters for Your Healing

At Taproot Therapy Collective, we believe that understanding the “architecture” of psychological thought can accelerate the healing process. These reviews are designed to give our Hoover and Birmingham patients a broader perspective on their own internal landscapes, from the mythic roots of trauma to the latest in personality models.

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Excerpt from The Spider and the Birdhouse: A story I wrote a decade ago about social work

Discover + Heal + Grow: Taproot Therapy Collective Podcast Episodes, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Fiction / Flash Fiction / Screenwriting, Trauma, Depth Psychology, and Social Work

A Look Back: Three Chapters from The Running Wild Anthology Number One About ten years ago, when I was just starting out as a social worker, I wrote a series of interconnected stories. At the time, it was simply a way for me to process the heavy, often unseen realities of the people I was working with. I eventually put the manuscript away and, as the years went by, mostly forgot it even existed. Recently, those stories found a home. They were published as a novella in The Running Wild Anthology Number One....

Using John Gardener’s Grendel to Find the Monster in Your Shadow Side

Mythology and Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Media and Culture

Who was John Gardner? John Gardner's "Grendel" is a postmodern retelling of the Old English epic poem "Beowulf," which explores themes of existentialism, nihilism, and the nature of evil through the eyes of the titular monster. Published in 1971, the novel is a prime example of postmodern literature, characterized by its subversion of traditional narrative structures, its blurring of the lines between hero and villain, and its questioning of universal truths and values. Gardner was a prolific writer and literary...

A Critical History of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Evidence Based Practice and Research Psychology, Evidence Based Practice in Therapy, History of Psychotherapy, Mental Health and Psychotherapy Resources in Alabama, Mental Health and Trauma Therapy in Alabama, Metamodernism and Deconstruction, Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Therapy Resources for Alabama

THE ARCHITECTURE OF AMERICAN MADNESS Leadership Dynamics, Economic Imperatives, and the Epistemological Crisis of Psychiatric Diagnosis By Joel Blackstock, LICSW-S Clinical Director, Taproot Therapy Collective "The DSM is not a description of nature. It is a description of what American healthcare requires nature to be." Contents Introduction: The Controversial Bible Part I: The Archaeology of a Label — What Is Diagnosis? Part II: Military Origins — The DSM Emerges from World War II Part III: The Gentlemen's Club...

Clinical Hypnosis: The Neuroscience and Therapeutic Legacy of Milton Erickson

Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Therapeutic Approaches and Techniques for Therapists

When most people hear the word "hypnosis," they picture a pocket watch swinging back and forth, a stage performer making volunteers cluck like chickens, or perhaps a sinister figure commanding their subject to do something against their will. These images, drawn from entertainment and horror films, have almost nothing to do with the actual phenomenon. Clinical hypnosis, as understood by contemporary neuroscience and practiced by skilled therapists, is something far more interesting and far more useful: a distinct...

David Grand: From EMDR Trainer to Brainspotting Pioneer Through a Champion Skater’s Frozen Gaze

Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology

David Grand discovered brainspotting in 2003 when a figure skater’s eye wobble revealed where trauma was stored in her brain. By maintaining fixed eye position on that “brainspot” rather than using bilateral movement, processing accelerated dramatically. His development of this approach, now used by 13,000+ therapists worldwide, demonstrates how careful clinical observation combined with willingness to deviate from protocol can produce genuine therapeutic innovation for treating trauma, the yips, and performance blocks.

Bessel van der Kolk: The Psychiatrist Who Made Trauma Visible in the Body

Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology

Bessel van der Kolk revolutionized trauma treatment by proving trauma lives in the body. Discover his groundbreaking research on EMDR, yoga, neurofeedback, and MDMA therapy that transformed PTSD treatment and validated somatic approaches to healing developmental trauma.

The Architecture of the Soul and the Machine: A Critical History and Future of Psychotherapy

Alternative Medicine and Holistic Health, History of Psychotherapy, Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

A critical deep dive into the hidden history of psychotherapy, exploring how the personal traumas of founders like Freud and Jung collided with societal forces to shape modern mental health. Drawing on the works of Adam Curtis, James Hillman, and Sonu Shamdasani, this article traces the shift from the “architecture of the soul” to the “technocratization of care,” exposing the impact of profit motives and algorithmic logic while proposing a metamodern path forward for the profession.

Stephen Porges: The Neuroscientist Who Mapped Safety in the Nervous System

Neuroscience and the Brain for Therapists, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology

When Stephen Porges began studying heart rate variability in newborn infants in the early 1970s, he noticed something curious. Babies whose heart rates fluctuated rhythmically with their breathing, a phenomenon called respiratory sinus arrhythmia, responded better to stress and developed more robustly than infants whose heart rates remained steady. This subtle observation, pursued across five decades of research, would eventually revolutionize how clinicians understand trauma, attachment, social engagement, and...

Peter Levine: The Biophysicist Who Taught Trauma to Speak Through the Body

Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology

Peter Levine revolutionized trauma treatment through Somatic Experiencing, proving trauma lives in the body’s nervous system. Discover how his work on completing frozen defensive responses, titration, and the SIBAM model provides somatic grounding for Jungian depth psychology and transforms PTSD healing.

Beyond Sex: Why Freud Was Wrong About Libido (And Where the Energy Actually Went)

History of Psychotherapy, Parts Based Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

The Architecture of Desire: Rethinking Libido from Freud to Friston The history of depth psychology is, at its core, a history of a single argument: What fuels the human machine? For Sigmund Freud, the answer was singular, biological, and relentless. He believed the human psyche was a steam engine powered by the burning coal of sexual instinct. In his model, every cathedral built, every symphony composed, and every panic attack suffered was merely libido—sexual energy—that had been repressed or sublimated into a...

The Psychology of War: Who Therapists Conceptualized War Through the Ages

Alabama Local History, Birmingham, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of History, Psychology of Politics

The analysis of the psychology of war reveals that the history of American conflict is a history of the human mind under extreme duress. From the nervous sensibility of the founding fathers to the moral injury of the modern drone operator the way we experience and understand war has evolved but the fundamental trauma remains the same. The work of theorists like Freud Jung Lifton and Shay provides a roadmap for understanding this trauma not as a pathology but as a deeply human response to the inhumanity of war. By integrating these insights into clinical practice and personal reflection we can begin the work of healing the wounds of history and perhaps breaking the cycle of violence that has defined so much of our past.

Finding Beauty in America’s Forgotten Corners: Toby Huss on Photography, Acting, and the Art of Authentic Seeing

Interviews and Case Studies, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Film and TV, Psychology of Media and Culture

Where Art Meets Life in the American Landscape In an era where social media algorithms and political narratives seem determined to divide us, actor and visual artist Toby Huss offers a radically different perspective on American identity. Through his photography book "American Sugar Gristle" and a career spanning from cult classics like "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" to prestige television like AMC's "Halt and Catch Fire," Huss has cultivated a unique ability to find profound beauty in the most unexpected...

Werner Herzog on Psychotherapy: A Review of Into the Abyss by Werner Herzog

Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Fiction / Flash Fiction / Screenwriting, Psychology of Film and TV, Psychology of Media and Culture

A Review of Into the Abyss by Werner Herzog Trigger Warning: This essay discusses capital punishment, murder, violence, death, and contains descriptions of violent acts including attempted murder. The film and essay examine traumatic events and their psychological impact on individuals and communities. Reader discretion is advised. Werner Herzog operates on the principle that perception is reality, and to criticize the perceiver who is deeply watching based on some outmoded collective objectification is foolish...

Interview on Photo Essay American Sugar Gristle by Toby Huss

Discover + Heal + Grow: Taproot Therapy Collective Podcast Episodes, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Artists, Poets, and Writers, Psychology of Fiction / Flash Fiction / Screenwriting, Psychology of Film and TV

Actor Toby Huss on Art, Trauma, and Finding Beauty in America's Forgotten Places: A Deep Dive into Creative Healing Buy the Book! Get Toby Huss's American Sugar Gristle Now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89zo1lyVFbM In a captivating podcast episode, acclaimed actor and artist Toby Huss opens up about the profound connections between creativity, trauma processing, and authentic human connection. Best known for his roles in "Halt and Catch Fire" and "King of the Hill," Huss reveals how his artistic...

Exploring Science, Pseudoscience, and the Supernatural: An Interview with Matt Hongoltz-Hetling on The Ghost Lab

Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Politics

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling on The Ghost Lab: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Supernatural Welcome back to the Taproot Therapy Collective podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Matt Hongoltz-Hetling, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and George Polk Award winner, to discuss his latest book, The Ghost Lab, available for preorder and set to release on May 20th. Known for his incisive investigative journalism, Matt delves into the world of paranormal research, exploring its intersections with science, pseudoscience, and...

Understanding Carl Jung’s The Red Book

History of Psychotherapy, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology, Symbolism and Meaning in Psychotherapy

The Holy Grail of the Unconscious: A Comprehensive Guide to Jung's Red Book For nearly a century, the history of psychology contained a massive black hole. We knew that between 1913 and 1930, the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung underwent a terrifying and transformative "confrontation with the unconscious." We knew he recorded his visions, dialogues with internal figures, and prophetic dreams in a large, red leather-bound volume. But almost no one had seen it. It was locked in a Swiss bank vault, a rumor, a ghost. In...

Sonu Shamdasani: The Red Book and Keeping Jung Relevant

Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology

The Historian Who Rescued the Soul of Psychology In the history of depth psychology, there is a distinct "Before 2009" and "After 2009." Before 2009, Analytical Psychology was a field largely defined by clinical hearsay, sanitized publications, and a rigid adherence to the "scientific" face Carl Jung presented to the world in his later years. After 2009, the publication of The Red Book: Liber Novus shattered that facade, revealing the chaotic, artistic, and deeply mystical furnace from which Jung’s psychology was...

Book Review: Erich Neumann’s The Origins and History of Consciousness

Neuroscience and the Brain for Therapists, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers

Jungian Thought with a Unique Perspective on Ego Development in Mythology Erich Neumann's "The Origins and History of Consciousness" is a dense and relatively early exploration of Jungian psychology. The book not only delves into the intricate web of myths and archetypes but also introduces a unique concept that sheds light on the evolution of ego consciousness within the human species across time using mythological and religious development. While Neumann's work is ambitious and commendable, it is not perfect. I...

Book Review of of Aztec Philosophy by James Maffie

Mythology and Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychology of Buildings and Architecture, Psychology of Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers, Symbolism and Meaning in Psychotherapy, Trauma Treatment in Alabama, Trauma, Depth Psychology, and Social Work

The Collision of Ontologies: When Monism Met Dualism The historical collision that occurred when Hernán Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlán in 1519 was not merely a military conquest; it was a catastrophic clash of incompatible metaphysical realities. To the Spanish Catholic mind, the universe was dualistic: God vs. Creation, Good vs. Evil, Spirit vs. Matter. When they encountered the Aztecs, they projected this framework onto them, seeing "idols" and "devils." However, as contemporary philosopher James Maffie argues...

Book Review of Love’s Executioner by Irvin Yalom

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

Love's Executioner: A Critical Autopsy of the Therapeutic Relationship In the sterilized world of clinical psychology, where manuals like the DSM-5 attempt to reduce the human condition to diagnostic codes and billing increments, Irvin D. Yalom’s 1989 masterpiece, Love’s Executioner & Other Tales of Psychotherapy, landed like a sledgehammer. It was not a textbook on technique, nor was it a sanitized collection of success stories. Instead, it was a raw, literary confession that exposed the therapist not as a...

Book Review of The Sacred in the Profane: Exploring Religion and Order

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Comparative Religion for Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

"The Sacred and the Profane": A Pioneering Study of Religion Mircea Eliade’s The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion is a seminal text in the academic study of religion. Unlike theology, which approaches religion as an unquestionable truth about the universe, Eliade delves into it as a phenomenological subject—exploring how the religious experience shapes human consciousness. If you have taken a Religious Studies 101 class, chances are you encountered Eliade's work. While the book may feel dense to...

Exploring the Symbolic World: A Review of “The Book of Symbols”

Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Symbolism and Meaning in Psychotherapy, Therapy Resources, Tips and Tools

Unveiling the Mysteries of Symbolism: A Comprehensive Review of "The Book of Symbols" by Taschen As a therapist deeply fascinated by the power of symbolism and metaphor, I am always on the lookout for resources that explore the rich tapestry of meaning behind various images and archetypes. Recently, I had the pleasure of receiving a remarkable book as a birthday gift from my wife: "The Book of Symbols" by Taschen. This voluminous tome has quickly become a treasured addition to the waiting room of Taproot Therapy,...

A Book Review of “Please Understand Me Too: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator”

Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

A Review of "Please Understand Me Too: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator" Book The book "Please Understand Me Too: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator" provides a valuable resource for individuals seeking insights into their personalities and utilizing typology in therapy sessions. As an avid user of this book with my patients, I find it immensely helpful in understanding and analyzing different personality types. In this review, I will discuss the book's content, its usability for therapists and clients, and address...

The Body Keeps the Score 2? ; The Path Forward for Trauma Treatment

Discover + Heal + Grow: Taproot Therapy Collective Podcast Episodes, Free Resources for Therapists in Private Practice, Neuroscience and the Brain for Therapists, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Therapy Resources, Tips and Tools, Trauma Treatment in Alabama, Trauma, Depth Psychology, and Social Work

What if Bessel van der Kolk wrote a sequel to his influential book on trauma today? Did you enjoy this article? Checkout the podcast here: https://gettherapybirmingham.podbean.com/ e If anyone is familiar with the book The Body Keeps the Score, by world renowned physician Bessel van der Kolk, the title of this article is obvious hyperbole. I have no idea if he would or what Bessel van der Kolk would write as a sequel to The Body Keeps the Score. I am sure his publishers have offered him an enormous cash advance...

Book Review of Lament of the Dead: Psychology after Jung’s The Red Book by James Hillman and Sonu Shamdasani

History of Psychotherapy, Neuroscience and the Brain for Therapists, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology

“The years, of which I have spoken to you, when I pursued the inner images, were the most important time of my life. Everything else is to be derived from this. It began at that time, and the later details hardly matter anymore. My entire life consisted in elaborating what had burst forth from the unconscious and flooded me like an enigmatic stream and threatened to break me. That was the stuff and material for more than only one life. Everything later was merely the outer classification, the scientific...

Aztec Philosophy by James Maffie Book Review

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Mythology and Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

Beyond the Pyramids: The Shocking Modernity of Aztec Metaphysics When we think of the Aztecs (or more accurately, the Nahua people), the popular imagination is often dominated by images of stone temples, jaguar warriors, and the sanguinary rituals of human sacrifice. However, beneath the surface of these dramatic cultural expressions lay a sophisticated, rigorous, and shockingly modern system of metaphysics. As philosopher James Maffie argues in his groundbreaking work Aztec Philosophy: Understanding a World in...

The Origins and History of Consciousness by Erich Neuman Book Review

Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKa1rKKQGI Was Erich Neumann the First Evolutionary Psychologist? A Review of The Origins and History of Consciousness Evolutionary psychology is a buzzing field today, with theorists constantly debating how our biology dictates our behavior. But long before the modern "evo-psych" boom, there was Erich Neumann. A student of Carl Jung, Neumann took on a massive project: charting the specific psychological evolution of mankind. What actually changed in the human animal as we...

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman Book Review

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Depth Psychology Approaches and Techniques, Discover + Heal + Grow: Taproot Therapy Collective Podcast Episodes, Mythology and Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Bgj0Y1nNs Chaos, Entropy, and Neil Gaiman: A Therapist's Take on Norse Mythology It is rare that I discuss fiction in a professional capacity. My focus is usually squarely on clinical therapy and the mechanics of healing. However, as a clinician who leans toward depth psychology, I find that mythology is inextricably linked to clinical work. The way we view the world, the narratives we construct about our lives, and the way we make meaning out of chaos are all deeply mythological...

10 Books That Every Therapist Should Read

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Psychology Book Reviews and Non Fiction

I get asked all the time "How do I become a psychotherapist?" or "How do I go into private practice as a therapist?". The short answer is always to READ, READ, READ. I listened to every audiobook I could get my hands on as an outpatient social worker in my car all day. I read every book I could get my hands on at night. Unfortunately you will not leave a graduate degree with all the tools it takes to function as a private practice therapist. Nor will you stay a very informed clinician if you do not continue to...

Psychology Book Reviews: Insights from the Clinical Library

Featured Reviews & Clinical Reading Lists

Myth & Depth Psychology

Philosophy & Systems

Why Reading Matters for Your Healing

Connect with a Literate Practice in Birmingham

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