Helpful BOOKS on communication and relationships!

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I have read a small handful of books related to communication that have helped me and provided useful insight. I thought I would share them below, and also ask if anyone else found any other books on friendship, relationships, communication, or aspergers that were actually beneficial to your relationships! If so, what are they?


Games People Play by Eric Berne- interesting to help you understand the nature of human exchanges, and the nature of the way that people (unknowingly) manipulate each other. Ideas from the 60s, but I find it still very helpful, especially the parent-adult-child analogies. It helps me understand how I may be spurring others by accident, and also how I can be the mediator and put a stop to conflict before it escalates.

I'm OK, You're OK - along the same lines as Games People Play and builds on Berne's ideas. Can be a little heavy to read, but insightful on the nature of people's need for attention, recognition, or approval from others and how you can be healthful in the way that you seek these things.

How to Communicate from Barnes and Noble, by Mckay, Davis, Fanning - I picked this up randomly at a thrift store, but it's what first introduced me to Berne's ideas and made me want to run and read his works! I actually like this book a lot because it is kind of a workbook format, so you do the activities and write stuff down as you read. I wasn't crazy about all the chapters, but I thought it had some good stuff and was a good place to start.

Those sound like good books. I have read similar books such as Toxic People by Lillian Glass and Safe People by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I found these books helpful for discerning friendships and acquaintanceships in my life. I learned about what makes a good friend and how to identify people that aren't good for me. I learned ways to deal with toxic people that are harder to get out of my life such as coworkers.

While they aren't self help books, I'd say R.A. Salvatore books have something to offer. There is quite a bit of inter and intra personal conflict and resolution. He's good at writing details. I think I always find something I wasn't expecting in his books.

How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving by David Richo. How to be present and have respectful, caring relationships. I think I'm going to read it again.