Why am I passionate about this?

As the co-author of Broken But Healing, I know firsthand what it means to survive emotional, physical, and psychological trauma—and to slowly piece yourself back together. Books were a lifeline during my healing journey. They offered comfort, clarity, and the reminder that I wasn’t alone. These five books helped shape my own recovery and inspired me to share my story so others could find the strength to rebuild, too.


I wrote...

Broken but Healing

By Bella St. Patrick , Arista,

Book cover of Broken but Healing

What is my book about?

Broken But Healing is a memoir about surviving emotional, physical, and sexual trauma—and finding the quiet courage to rebuild a…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self

Bella St. Patrick Why I love this book

This book helps readers understand the emotional disconnect that happens when we live for others instead of ourselves.

Beck explains how suppressing our real feelings builds lifelong patterns of pain, avoidance, and resentment. She offers practical steps to help readers follow their truth, reconnect with their emotional instincts, and release the weight of old wounds.

Men who struggle with emotional expression or who were raised to hide their feelings may find this book particularly freeing because it teaches that honesty—with yourself and others—is the foundation of real peace.

By Martha Beck ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Way of Integrity as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'A roadmap on the journey to truth and authenticity... [The Way of Integrity] is filled with aha moments and practical exercises that can guide us as we seek enlightenment' Oprah Winfrey

'This radiant book will not only change your life, but perhaps even save it' Elizabeth Gilbert

'Martha Beck's genius is that her writing is equal parts comforting and challenging. A teacher, a mother, a sage, she holds our hand as she leads us back home to ourselves' Glennon Doyle

_____________________

Bestselling author, life coach and sociologist Martha Beck explains why…


Book cover of The Mountain Is You

Bella St. Patrick Why I love this book

Wiest’s book explores how self-sabotage is often rooted in unprocessed emotional pain, fear of vulnerability, and unresolved trauma. 

She explains why people repeat destructive patterns and how to break them with self-compassion, accountability, and emotional clarity.

Men who carry quiet stress or who have difficulty opening up may connect with the book’s clear explanations of emotional cycles and its gentle approach to personal transformation. It gives readers tools to understand their inner world and begin managing emotions in healthier, more intentional ways.

By Brianna Wiest ,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

- Amazon Best Seller
- An international best seller translated into 40+ languages
- Selected by Inc. as one of the top 5 books to improve leadership mindset
- Listed on Entrepreneur's “These 10 Bestselling Books Will Help Improve Your Self-Esteem”
- Ranked #1 on the Associated Press "US Audiobooks Top 10"

This is a book about self-sabotage. Why we do it, when we do it, and how to stop doing it—for good. Coexisting but conflicting needs create self-sabotaging behaviors. This is why we resist efforts to change, often until they feel completely futile. But by extracting crucial insight from…


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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 Letting Go

Bella St. Patrick Why I love this book

A powerful guide for anyone struggling to release emotional pain, anger, heartbreak, or long-standing resentment. 

Hawkins explains how holding onto old emotions can affect your health, relationships, and sense of self.

For men who grew up believing emotions should be controlled or hidden, this book offers a practical method to process feelings rather than store them. The teachings are simple but profound, helping readers move from tension to peace. It is especially helpful during transitions—divorce, loss, career changes, or the slow rebuilding of a wounded heart.

By David R. Hawkins ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Letting Go as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A powerful mechanism to help you surrender anything holding you back on your path to Enlightenment and find fulfilment, truth and spiritual growth.

Letting Go describes a simple and effective means by which to let go of the obstacles to Enlightenment and become free of negativity. During the many decades of the author's clinical psychiatric practice, the primary aim was to seek the most effective ways to relieve human suffering in all of its many forms.

The inner mechanism of surrender was found to be of great practical benefit and is described in this book. Dr Hawkins's previous books focused…


Book cover of The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Bella St. Patrick Why I love this book

This book reveals how the body stores emotional and traumatic memories long after the mind tries to forget them.

Van der Kolk explains why symptoms like anxiety, emotional numbness, anger, or disconnection can surface years later.

Many men who “push through” or never talk about their trauma find clarity in this book’s explanation of how stress affects the brain and nervous system. It helps readers understand themselves physically and emotionally, while giving hope that healing is possible through therapy, mindfulness, and self-awareness.

By Bessel Van Der Kolk ,

Why should I read it?

25 authors picked The Body Keeps the Score as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 New York Times bestseller

"Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society." -Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies

A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times bestseller

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der…


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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 Healing the Shame That Binds You

Bella St. Patrick Why I love this book

This classic explores the deep emotional wounds created by shame—often carried silently by men who were taught to be tough or stoic.

Bradshaw explains how toxic shame forms in childhood and adulthood, shaping relationships, self-worth, and emotional patterns. The book offers clarity, compassion, and practical steps for breaking generational cycles and learning to reconnect with your true self.

Readers who feel “not enough,” emotionally guarded, or disconnected often find relief and understanding in Bradshaw’s approach. It’s a powerful resource for anyone seeking emotional freedom and personal growth.

By John Bradshaw ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Healing the Shame That Binds You as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"I used to drink," writes John Bradshaw, "to solve the problems caused by drinking. The more I drank to relieve my shame-based loneliness and hurt, the more I felt ashamed."

Shame is the motivator behind our toxic behaviors: the compulsion, co-dependency, addiction and drive to superachieve that breaks down the family and destroys personal lives. This book has helped millions identify their personal shame, understand the underlying reasons for it, address these root causes and release themselves from the shame that binds them to their past failures.

Key Features
This is not just a recovery book. Among other things, it…


Explore my book 😀

Broken but Healing

By Bella St. Patrick , Arista,

Book cover of Broken but Healing

What is my book about?

Broken But Healing is a memoir about surviving emotional, physical, and sexual trauma—and finding the quiet courage to rebuild a life from the inside out. Bella shares her deeply personal journey of self-worth, resilience, and learning to let go of pain that was never hers to carry.

Told with honesty and compassion, the book offers hope to anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or unprotected. It is especially meaningful for readers who have endured heartbreak, betrayal, or years of silent suffering. Through her story, Bella shows that healing is not about being perfect—it’s about choosing yourself, choosing peace, and choosing to rise again.

Book cover of The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self
Book cover of The Mountain Is You
Book cover of Letting Go

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Interested in self esteem, shame, and PTSD?

Self Esteem 117 books
Shame 15 books
PTSD 114 books