The best books for empaths & emotionally sensitive souls

Oh boy, this monumental book certainly expanded my empathetic mind! The greatest lesson? The fact that true empathy requires a compassionate response. That was an eye-opener! This book has really stuck with me. I remember being entrenched and enthralled with every page while on a writing retreat. I can’t thank the author enough for helping me fine-tune my own books about the empathic experience!

Similar in tone to her well-known The Language of Emotions, this book doesn’t dive too deeply into metaphysical perspectives. Instead, this book is primarily grounded in psychology, history, and science. That is the very reason why we highly sensitive souls benefit from books like these; we are admittedly gullible and easy to manipulate if our empathy is uncontrolled! Understanding our abilities through a grounded psychological lens such as this is crucial for our emotional understanding.

This book is indispensable for highly empathic souls. From it, I learned a great deal about what emotions are and how to manage them for positive purposes. Touching on empathy, the book dives deeply into reacting versus responding, especially in the face of life’s inevitable challenges. What can emotionally sensitive people do when the feelings become overwhelming and nearly unbearable or when they absorb chaotic emotional energy from outside themselves? This book helps guide the way, encouraging readers to get to the root of issues by maintaining self-awareness and always returning to a place of loving-kindness both toward others and oneself.

Psychologist Judith Orloff would go on to write the bestselling Empath’s Survival Guide and other works specifically for self-identifying empaths. I found this book and her others to be brilliantly helpful. If other book reviews are any indication, her work continues to profoundly assist developing empaths in their lives—my own included!

This book is the number one book I’d bring along if stranded on a desert island. Like my magickal friend Stephanya once said, “I rejoice that such a beautiful thing can spring from the brain of a human being!” I couldn’t agree more. This book begins with a story documenting the author’s psychedelic research as a Harvard professor (then known as Richard Alpert), as well as his adventures in India, where he met his mountaintop Guru, Neem Karoli Baba. Ram Dass would soon become a Guru himself and help introduce Western spiritual seekers to deep mysticism and Eastern philosophy.

So, why is this relevant to empaths, even those who aren’t into psychedelics? The reason is simple: every part of this book, most especially the profoundly artistic “brown pages,” deeply, acutely, and spiritually reminds us that separation is an illusion, that we are all one, and we need to live in the present moment in order for our inherent emotions and compassion to grow and thrive. This book is not a mere “read.” It’s a mystical experience. Without comparison, this book contributed to my empathic development, my spiritual vocation, and my ability to navigate this strange experience we call life.

Groundbreaking in the mid-90s, this down-to-earth study of emotional sensitivity provided education about my empathetic gifts and strong emotions in general. Before reading this book and others, I, like many empaths, had viewed it as something of a curse. Instead, I understand now that empathy is biological, social, and directly linked to the evolution of species. This no-frills book helped me gain this wisdom for life!

This book isn’t written specifically for empaths, which is something I actually appreciate. Besides, it was written before “empath” became a mainstream term. This book is actually where we get the term HSP: Highly Sensitive Person. One of my biggest takeaways from this book was learning that not every emotionally sensitive person is an empath! That was a shocker, but it entirely makes sense. Although perhaps not as “warm” as the other books on my list, the information presented here is pertinent, relevant, and solid.

There is nothing about this masterful book I don’t absolutely adore. This title, as well as her husband Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, are rooted in Buddhist psychology. However, one needn’t be a Buddhist to approach their works—I mean, I’m a Pagan Witch and American Hindu, for goodness’ sake!

We all have something to learn from this book. This book gets to the heart of the human emotional experience. I found that it presents “shadow work” in a manner that’s encouraging, not frightening, and teaches emotionally sensitive souls—whether or not they identify as empaths—how to successfully manage emotions, confront traumas, and put an end to negative behavioral cycles with kindness and wisdom prevail. This is one of the rare books I will regularly return to and forever treasure.