The best memoirs about traumatic childhoods and dysfunctional families

Book cover of A Child Called It Book cover of The Liars' Club Book cover of Educated: A Memoir Book cover of Running with Scissors: A Memoir Book cover of The Glass Castle

The best memoirs that use humor to balance difficult circumstances

Book cover of Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things Book cover of Running with Scissors: A Memoir Book cover of You're Leaving When?: Adventures in Downward Mobility Book cover of A Heart That Works Book cover of Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (As Told to Me) Story

The best books about people breaking from their pasts to claim their lives back

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The best books about surviving dysfunctional families

Book cover of On Beauty Book cover of Out Stealing Horses Book cover of Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger Book cover of Running with Scissors: A Memoir Book cover of Alfred and Emily

The best books about gritty queers figuring their lives out

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The best “fun” books on living with or living with someone with a mental disorder

Book cover of The More You Ignore Me Book cover of The Answer to the Riddle Is Me: A Memoir of Amnesia Book cover of The Catcher in the Rye Book cover of She's Come Undone Book cover of Running with Scissors: A Memoir

The best books that can help you survive a kooky childhood

Book cover of Monkeys Book cover of Shuggie Bain Book cover of When You and Your Mother Can't Be Friends: Resolving the Most Complicated Relationship of Your Life Book cover of Eloise: A Book for Precocious Grown Ups Book cover of Running with Scissors: A Memoir

The best memoirs from tickling your funny bone to breaking your heart

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The best books about trauma and addiction

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The best books for intellectual and creative inspiration

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Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Running with Scissors.

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5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in dysfunctional families, psychiatrists, and mental disorders?

Dysfunctional Families 118 books
Psychiatrists 68 books
Mental Disorders 193 books