10 Great Books for People Dealing With Illness

This book became a bible of sorts for both my mother and me. When Rabbi Levy was a teenager, her father was murdered. Her spiritual journey from that point on has become bread for our own, whether it is illness, loss or any other difficulty we face. She really does reach out to us with comfort, faith and strength through this book.

Poetic and practical, this journal of a man dealing with the ever increasing limitations of Lou Gehrig’s disease is a road map for our own spiritual and emotional freedom.

Enlightenment is power. The compassionate yet straightforward approach to illness (especially cancer) by this Jungian psychologist is both enlightening and powerful.

Whether patient or caregiver, the "dark emotions" are huge part of any illness. We're often overwhelmed by and ashamed of those feelings. Miriam Greenspan helps us use the dark to see the light.

You may be surprised to see this book on this list, but as a tool for the despairing soul, the act and art of photography, and the way Jan teaches us to use it, can be powerfully healing.

This holistic assessment tool is an in-depth, step-by-step, practical guide to starting conversations about spirituality with patients and their families in order to encourage healing and alleviate (or diminish) emotional, physical, and/or spiritual suffering.

Helps you to find or re-establish your commitment to life, even in the midst of turmoil, illness or dying.

My sister’s template for how she lived the last years of her young life was taken from this book. Although it’s the story of Frankl's years in a Nazi concentration camp, it’s ultimately about finding your power in a situation where you appear to be powerless. A mighty metaphor for those dealing with a life-threatening illness.

Really helps you to re-frame your experience. Lots of food for thought; a very compassionate book. A Buddhist perspective on coping that’s approachable from any spiritual background.

If there are two must-haves when facing serious illness, they're fearlessness and compassion. Pema gets you there with 108 short lessons that you can read again and again, in any order. A book to carry around in your handbag!