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Psychology is a fascinating subject, and I think everyone can find at least something they like about it. Learning a new subject can be overwhelming and confusing though, especially if you have no prior experience. To help reach more people and get them into the human mind, I have compiled a small list of casual reads. I think each of these is not only educational but incredibly interesting as well.

Here are some more books that psychiatric clinicians would love. Also, some helpful books if you are considering telemedicine!

The Social Animal

If you have ever taken a social psychology class, you may have been assigned or heard of The Social Animal. Elliot Aronson expertly depicts the patterns and motives of human behavior in this landmark text on social psychology. This book delves into various groups and activities like terrorism, race relations, war, obediency, and much more. This book is written in a style for academics but is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology.

The Lucifer Effect

The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) is one of the most notorious and controversial experiments to date. Written by the man who created that very experiment, Philip Zimbardo uses The Lucifer Effect to show how normal people do bad things. In this book, the reader will get the full story of the SPE, as well as historical examinations on “evil” deeds in the past. Be warned though, seeing the reflection of humanity can call into question our outlook on human behavior. Zimbardo challenges the idea of the “bad apple” and instead places blame on environmental and social reasons for immoral behavior. It’s not all doom and gloom here though, Zimbardo also offers hope. Just as we can fall easily into darkness, so can we resist that temptation. I would recommend this psychology book to anyone interested in the SPE or human behavior.

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Celebrated psychologist Daniel Kahneman breaks down the mind into 2 systems in Thinking, Fast and Slow. These are system 1, which is fast, intuitive, and emotional and System 2, the slow, deliberate, and logical one. Kahneman engages the reader in a conversation to determine how we think, and what external factors influence that. How can we even know to trust our senses? This book will help answer these questions and more by shedding light on the inconsistencies in our thinking. Kahneman shows how our choices differ between personal life and business and offer guidance on how to guard against any mental inconsistencies. Whether your purpose is to learn about the brain, investing, or self-help then this book is sure to a great read.

Smarter Than You Think

This deserves a disclaimer that some of the technology in this book is outdated or obsolete now. However, that does not change the core content of this psychology book and it may be more relevant than ever in 2020. With every new technological innovation, there will be alarmists that go against it. This phenomenon can be seen throughout history, from the telegraph to vaccinations and everything in between. Clive Thompson does a great job explaining this doomsayer rhetoric, as well as showing technology makes us smarter. It is very easy to be concerned or existentially depressed about the future. This book, however, helps instill hope and excitement for that future. I believe this is one of the most fascinating books on this list, and we should all educate ourselves more on technology. Certainly, pick this up if you have any interest in how technology and the human brain interact.

Hallucinations

Admittedly, this is a book on neuroscience and not specifically psychology. However, I had to include it on the list for the subject matter alone. Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks is a fascinating look into an often misunderstood phenomenon. Hallucinations are often seen as a side effect of mental disorders. However, it turns out that they are quite common for various states of mind and health.

Oliver Sacks looks into all other situations that cause hallucinations, like fever, exhaustion, migraines, drugs, and even grief. He has done a fantastic job of normalizing hallucinations and fights the narrative that these are only from any illness. The reader will learn about the cultural significance of hallucinations (i.e. religious epiphanies, folklore, mythology, etc.). This book also keeps things personal with Oliver’s own experiences with hallucinations to draw upon. If you are interested in learning the social and psychological intricacies of hallucinations, this book will be perfect for you.

Any books you think should be on this list? Let me know in the comments! Also, feel free to join my LinkedIn group to keep up with fellow nurses and professionals.

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