Did you know that reading a book can help reduce stress faster than walking or listening to music?
That’s right!
According to this research by Neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis, reading a newspaper or book for as little as 6 minutes reduces stress levels by up to 68%. A higher level than other relaxation methods like walking (42%), drinking a cup of coffee or tea (54%), and listening to music (61%).
How amazing is that?
Well, to help you test how true this research is, we’ve got a list of the best books for the highly sensitive person. Books that will help you learn a little more about your trait of high sensitivity. And also provide you with coping strategies for this not-so-sensitive world.
Are you ready for the list?
13 Best Books for the Highly Sensitive Person
- 1. Sensitive, by Jenn Granneman & Andre Sólo
- 2. The Highly Sensitive Person by Diana Jacobs
- 3. Different, by Heather Dominick – Kosmicki
- 4. Sensitive is the New Strong, by Anita Moorjani
- 5. The Highly Sensitive Person, by Dr. Elaine Aron
- 6. The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person, by Julie Bjelland
- 7. The Orchid and the Dandelion, by Dr. Thomas Boyce
- 8. The Highly Sensitive Parent, by Dr. Elaine Aron
- 9. The Strong Sensitive Boy, by Dr. Ted Zeff
- 10. The Highly Sensitive Child, by Dr. Elaine N. Aron
- 11. Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person, by Dr. Elaine N. Aron
- 12. The Empath’s Survival Guide, by Dr. Judith Orloff
- 13. The Highly Sensitive Person in Love, by Dr. Elaine N. Aron
- In the End
1. Sensitive, by Jenn Granneman & Andre Sólo
Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World is one of the newest books for the Highly Sensitive Person. It was released in February 2023 and it’s growing in popularity as the number 1 new release under the Psychology of Personalities category on Amazon.
Sensitive is a book by Jenn Granneman & Andre Sólo – the co-founders of Highly Sensitive Refuge. It will teach you how to identify and leverage the strengths of the HSP trait across important areas of your life. Areas like relationships, workplace, parenting, leadership, and more.
And you will also learn how to stop hiding your sensitivity and instead, embrace it.
2. The Highly Sensitive Person by Diana Jacobs
With an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon, this is another recent release in this list of books for the Highly Sensitive Person.
Diana Jacobs is a Psychologist, Author and Empath specializing in HSPs, Empaths and Social Disorders.
And in this book, The Highly Sensitive Person: A Survival Guide to Stop Absorbing Negative Energy and Avoid Emotional Overload, Diana shares everyday strategies to help you set boundaries and blossom in calmness and positivity.
The book comes with a free self-care workbook to guide you as you work towards a better life as a Highly Sensitive Person.
3. Different, by Heather Dominick – Kosmicki
Are you a Highly Sensitive Leader? Maybe at your workplace or in your own business? Released in September 2022, Different: The Highly Sensitive Leadership Revolution was written especially for you.
You see, Heather Dominick – Koasmicki is a Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur helping HSP leaders and entrepreneurs thrive in their businesses and jobs.
She is the creator of Business Miracles, and in this new book for the Highly Sensitive Person, Heather will teach you how to be of service without drowning in overwhelm and overload.
4. Sensitive is the New Strong, by Anita Moorjani
Anita Moorjani is the bestselling author of Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing. And now she’s back in 2021 with a new book for sensitive empaths.
In Sensitive is the New Strong, Anita argues that it’s possible to turn the emotional burden empaths face into a powerful tool. She wants to help you, as an HSP empath, navigate obstacles you may face and identify what makes you unique.
And she wants you to learn how to claim your true powers as an empath, and to be your most authentic self.
Are You a Highly Sensitive Man?
Explore our List of Best Books for the Highly Sensitive Man
5. The Highly Sensitive Person, by Dr. Elaine Aron
A better understanding of the trait of high sensitivity starts with this book.
In it, Dr. Elaine Aron, who also happens to be highly sensitive, explains what it means to be a highly sensitive person and shares strategies on how to thrive when the world overwhelms you.
And here’s a quick summary of what you’ll find in the book:
- Self-assessment tests to help you identify your particular sensitivities
- Ways to reframe your past experiences in a positive light and gain greater self-esteem in the process
- Insight into how high sensitivity affects both work and personal relationships
- Tips on how to deal with over-arousal
- Information on medications and when to seek help
- Techniques to enrich the soul and spirit
Get the book on Amazon here.
6. The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person, by Julie Bjelland
Julie Bjelland is a psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity.
Being highly sensitive herself, Julie writes The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person to help you learn how to harness your sensitive trait into a strength for navigating a chaotic world.
The book promises to “explore strategies that will empower you to reach your goals, live your best life, and help you access your gifts and strengths.”
7. The Orchid and the Dandelion, by Dr. Thomas Boyce
Dandelions are said to be hardy and resilient, while orchids are said to be fragile and sensitive. In The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and Why All Can Thrive, Dr. Thomas Boyce uses the term Orchid to refer to highly sensitive people, and Dandelion to refer to those who score low on the HSP scale.
He explores what it means to be an introvert, extrovert, and Highly Sensitive Person. And then goes on to show “how a combination of environmental and genetic factors contribute to what makes us who we are.”
Grab the book if you want to understand why Highly Sensitive People struggle and how they can learn to thrive.
8. The Highly Sensitive Parent, by Dr. Elaine Aron
As the name suggests, this book is for parents who score high on the HSP scale and are Highly Sensitive individuals. There’s a different book for parents raising Highly Sensitive Children (see below).
So if you are a parent who goes through intense emotions because of your parenting responsibilities, and suffers enigmatic stress as a result, this book is for you.
It offers help in the following ways:
- A self-examination test to help parents identify their level of sensitivity
- Tools to cope with overstimulation
- Advice on dealing with the negative feelings that can surround parenting
- Ways to manage the increased social stimulation and interaction that comes with having a child
- Techniques to deal with shyness around other parents
- Insight into the five big problems that face highly sensitive parents in relationships – and how to work through them
9. The Strong Sensitive Boy, by Dr. Ted Zeff
From the title, you can already tell what this book is about.
The late Dr. Ted Zeff writes openly about children bothered by crowds, violence and loud noises. And those fearful of new situations, easily hurt by criticism, or hesitant to play aggressive games.
So basically, The Strong Sensitive Boy: Help Your Son Become a Strong Confident Man teaches readers how to help highly sensitive boys.
It explores the various challenges sensitive boys face. Shows parents, educators, and mentors how they can help sensitive boys become strong, confident, and happy men.
And it goes on to offer advice on how these boys can increase their self-esteem and thrive in school, family, sports, and with friends.
10. The Highly Sensitive Child, by Dr. Elaine N. Aron
Before you became a Highly Sensitive Person, you were a Highly Sensitive Child.
And that’s why this book, The Highly Sensitive Child: The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them is so important in this list of books for the Highly Sensitive Person.
The book demonstrates how sensitive children can thrive in a world that constantly overwhelms them. It explores the unique challenges these children face and goes on to show how wrong parenting can turn otherwise creative and conscientious children into timid and fearful individuals.
You will also learn the following:
- The challenges of raising a highly sensitive child (HSC)
- The four keys to successfully parenting an HSC
- How to soothe highly sensitive infants
- Helping sensitive children survive in a not-so-sensitive world
- Making school and friendships enjoyable
11. Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person, by Dr. Elaine N. Aron
It’s a known fact that highly sensitive people (HSPs) are often misunderstood. And when it comes to seeking therapy services, this misunderstanding can often lead to more damage; because many HSPs tend to get a misdiagnosis.
And that’s why Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person: Improving Outcomes for That Minority of People Who Are the Majority of Clients is an important entry on this list of books for the highly sensitive person.
So if you are an HSP professional in the field of therapy, this will help you understand the HSP trait in relation to related (but different) traits such as introversion and inhibition.
You will also learn how to:
- assess for the trait,
- distinguish the trait from clinical diagnoses such as panic disorder or avoidant personality disorder,
- understand how sensitivity may change the presentation of a problem such as depression or shyness,
- generally inform, validate, and improve the quality of life for HSPs.
12. The Empath’s Survival Guide, by Dr. Judith Orloff
This book offers exactly what its subtitle says: life strategies for sensitive people.
So if you’ve ever been told to “toughen up” or “grow a thick skin”, you’re going to love this practical book by Dr. Judith Orloff.
It explains the difference between being an empath and being empathetic and offers self-assessment tests to help readers understand themselves better.
After which, it provides strategies to cope with overwhelm and advice on how to replenish lost energies.
13. The Highly Sensitive Person in Love, by Dr. Elaine N. Aron
Last, and definitely not least, in this list of best books for the Highly Sensitive Person, is another gem by Dr. Elaine Aron.
The Highly Sensitive Person in Love offers practical advice on how to manage and understand relationships when the world overwhelms you. It’s based on the fact that 50% of the time, genetic temperament is the reason people get a divorce.
And being that high sensitivity is an inborn trait, Dr. Elaine wants you to learn how to navigate a relationship without the influence of your trait.
So if you fall in love hard, struggle to respect a not-so-sensitive partner, are sick of being told you’re “too sensitive”, and have (or almost) given up on love, you’re going to love this book.
In the End
These books for the Highly Sensitive Person aren’t the only best books you will come across. There are many others written by different authors and focusing on different (but related) topics. However, this is our personal selection of some of the best books on high sensitivity out there.
The selection is based on the many reviews by readers online, as well as our own assessment of the books. We hope you love them as much as we do, and that you find meaningful advice between the lines.
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with love and kindness,
HSP Tools