Why am I passionate about this?

I’m Mariah Avery, a clinic owner, adjunct professor, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®). When I was a new BCBA I felt like I had been thrown out of the frying pan into the fire. Even worse, the fire kept judging me for not knowing things and telling me I didn’t work quickly enough. These books are, in part, what got me through that time and helped me back on my feet—I hope they do the same for you. 


I wrote

Now What?

By Mariah Avery ,

Book cover of Now What?

What is my book about?

This book is my attempt to give behavior analysts a toolkit for when they get those certification letters (BCBA) and…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Get Your Sh*t Together

Mariah Avery Why I love this book

Sometimes, you need someone to yell at you (lovingly) through a book. Knight's no-nonsense guide is like a friend who calls you out and then hands you a to-do list, making life's chaos a lot more manageable—with a side of sass.

This book doesn't teach you how to be a behavior analyst, but it will teach you how to live a little better. I recommend it because it can help you manage your time and tasks effectively, which is crucial in the field of ABA. Please note that, as the title suggests, there is explicit language, and it may not be suitable for everyone. 

By Sarah Knight ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Get Your Sh*t Together as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


A New York Times bestseller from the author of the bestselling book everyone is talking about, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k.

How to stop worrying about what you should do, so you can finish what you need to do and start doing what you want to do.

Ever find yourself snowed under at the office - or even just glued to the sofa - when you really want to get out (for once), get to the gym (at last), and get started on that daunting dream project you're always putting off? Or if you are confined to…


Book cover of How to Win Friends and Influence People

Mariah Avery Why I love this book

You can’t talk about personal growth without this classic. Carnegie's principles of communication and persuasion are timeless. When I was taking my coursework to become a supervisor, this book was part of the training, and it completely changed the way I practiced.

This book is like the grandparent you didn't know you needed: wise, encouraging, and surprisingly relevant.  

By Dale Carnegie ,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked How to Win Friends and Influence People as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Millions of people around the world have - and continue to - improve their lives based on the teachings of Dale Carnegie. In How to Win Friends and Influence People Carnegie offers practical advice and techniques, in his exuberant and conversational style, for how to get out of a mental rut and make life more rewarding.

His advice has stood the test of time and will teach you how to:
- make friends quickly and easily
- increase your popularity
- win people to your way of thinking
- enable you to win new clients and customers
- become a…


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Book cover of Gifts from a Challenging Childhood: Healing the Legacy of Childhood Trauma

Gifts from a Challenging Childhood by Jan Bergstrom,

Learn to understand and work with your childhood wounds. Do you feel like old wounds or trauma from your childhood keep showing up today? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with what to do about it and where to start? If so, this book will help you travel down a path…

Book cover of 25 Essential Skills for the Successful Behavior Analyst

Mariah Avery Why I love this book

This book is to improve your "craft," so to speak. Bailey and Burch offer practical, step-by-step strategies for sharpening your professional skills. I especially love how the “just say no” chapter is immediately followed up by a chapter on how to professionally say no.

The structure of the book flows as well as the content. This was mandatory reading for me in graduate school, but I have kept returning to it repeatedly. 

By Jon Bailey , Mary Burch ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked 25 Essential Skills for the Successful Behavior Analyst as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This second edition of Bailey and Burch's best-selling 25 Essential Skills for the Successful Behavior Analyst is an invaluable guide to the professional skills required in the rapidly growing field of applied behavior analysis.

The demands on professional behavior analysts, BCBAs and BCBA-Ds, are constantly increasing such that several new skills are required to keep up with new developments. Each chapter has been thoroughly updated and seven new chapters address recognizing the need to understand client advocacy, cultural responsiveness, and the movement toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field.

The authors present five basic skills and strategy areas which…


Book cover of Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Mariah Avery Why I love this book

I’ll be honest; I was skeptical because of all the hype. I read it, and ultimately, small changes do add up to big wins. It clearly shows you exactly how to make that happen.

This is great for anyone who wants to master consistency without losing their mind. I found this helpful when I was overwhelmed and felt like I needed to overhaul my lifestyle (spoiler alert: I didn’t need to upend my life to make changes). 

By James Clear ,

Why should I read it?

39 authors picked Atomic Habits as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The #1 New York Times bestseller. Over 4 million copies sold!

Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the…


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Book cover of Gifts from a Challenging Childhood: Healing the Legacy of Childhood Trauma

Gifts from a Challenging Childhood by Jan Bergstrom,

Learn to understand and work with your childhood wounds. Do you feel like old wounds or trauma from your childhood keep showing up today? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with what to do about it and where to start? If so, this book will help you travel down a path…

Book cover of The Business of Behavior

Mariah Avery Why I love this book

Even if you aren't ready to run your own practice (and if you are a new behavior analyst, I caution you against it), this book is still worth a read. It offers a peak behind the curtain and will help you understand the business side of being a clinician.

She goes over everything from billing to branding. I recommend reading this to see the bigger picture. 

By Charity Steele ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Business of Behavior as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Interested in a career as an independent Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practitioner but are uncertain of the journey ahead? Then this book is for you! The Business of Behavior is a comprehensive roadmap filled with actionable steps to help you establish your independent ABA practice with greater ease. Think of this as your treatment plan for business success, or as your guide prefers to call it, your Business Support Plan (BSP). In this book, you will learn strategies, techniques, tools, and resources that help you establish the direction of your independent practice, pursue viable sources of income, identify potential barriers…


Explore my book 😀

Now What?

By Mariah Avery ,

Book cover of Now What?

What is my book about?

This book is my attempt to give behavior analysts a toolkit for when they get those certification letters (BCBA) and life gets real. Whether it's a challenging schedule or a tough conversation with a colleague, this book combines ABA principles with humor and honesty to help you figure it out. It's like having a BCBA BFF on your bookshelf.

Book cover of Get Your Sh*t Together
Book cover of How to Win Friends and Influence People
Book cover of 25 Essential Skills for the Successful Behavior Analyst

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