Thought you might want to know about some of the books we have read or tracked down about multiple personality. The comments are either our own or taken from the internet. As you may or may not notice, this list is comprised of books published earlier than 2000 so if you know of more recent books and that you would recommend or even warn people about, we would love to hear from you.
“When Rabbit Howls” by Truddi Chase.[1987]
This is our favourite book about multiple personality. Truddi was multiple as well and this is her story, told by a number of her personalities. HOWEVER, A WORD OF WARNING: this book has very graphic descriptions of her abuse so make sure you have good support or are able to handle it. It is a tough read but it is written so well. You get to know a fair bit about her system of alters and her description of her multiplexity resonated a lot with us. Many similarities.
“Multiple Personality Disorder form the Inside Out” edited by Barry M Cohen, Esther Giller, and Lynn W [1991].
We have read it. This book is a collection of writings both by multiples and friends and family of multiples. We highly recommend this book because it covers such broad experiences. The editors asked two questions – “What do you wish you had known about MPD when you were first diagnosed?” And “What do you think spouses, friends, and/or supportive family members should know about MPD?” Significant others were also asked for contributions to the question – “What would you like to share with other friends and supportive family members of individuals with MPD?” They received answers from over 150 people from Canada and the U.S.
“Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder” by Frank W Putnam [1989]
We have read it. An excellent book on the condition. Very easy to understand. Comes from a medical model perspective.
“The Flock” by Joan Frances Casey [1992]
We have read it. Excellent. Got a lot of good reviews on the internet. Casey is also multiple.
“Living With Your Selves: A Survival Manual for People with Multiple Personalities” by Phoenix Hocking [1992]
We have read it and own it. It has a sensible and practical approach and is very helpful for multiples.
“Partners in Recovery: How Mates, Lovers & Other Prosurivors Can Learn to Support & Cope with Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse” by Beverly Engel [1991]
We own this book and found it immensely helpful. It covers things like what someone needs to know in order to help a survivor of abuse, the phases in recovery and what to expect, as well as special issues for partners who are intimate such as sexual issues, control in the relationship and recommended reading.
“The 3 Faces of Eve” by Corbett H Thigpen and Hervey M Cleckley [1957]
We have read this book and it’s quite a read. Having been written so long ago and when there wasn’t as much information about multiple personality, well it comes off as a bit of a strange story. It’s a very different perspective on Eve’s multiplexity. Her therapists have some interesting ideas about how to help Eve but they seem very kind and caring. They made a film out of it starring Joanne Woodward.
“Sybil” by Flora Rheta Schreiber [1973]
We own this book. It was rather sensational in that it kind of broke a barrier around multiplexity. It brought multiple personality to the public’s attention after a long period of “silence”. Interestingly, there was a movie made of it and it starred Joanne Woodward again. She was previously in The 3 Faces of Eve, playing the multiple Eve. In “Sybil” she plays the therapist while Sally Field plays Sybil. It’s definitely an interesting read and the movie is interesting too. There are some depictions of her abuse which was triggering for us.
“Safe Passage to Healing: A Guide for Survivors of Ritual Abuse” by Chrystine Oksana [1994]
We own this book and it is amazing. It is so thorough and warns you when there’s graphic descriptions of abuse. It is an extremely helpful book for survivors of ritual abuse with lots of personal accounts. Oksana talks a lot about ritual abuse and cults, as well as programming and indoctrination, cult conditioning and destructive family systems. She also covers a lot about dissociation and multiplexity as well as the recovery process. There are also plenty of resources in the book. This book is so well written and so very helpful. We highly recommend it.
“Memory and Abuse: Remembering and Healing the Effects of Trauma” by Charles L Whitfield. [1995]
We also own this book and have found it very helpful and extremely useful. As the title says it’s all about memory including the “False Memory” debate. Whitfield explains how memory works, the difference between ordinary memory and traumatic memory, about denial, sorting out untrue from true memory, repression and dissociation, verifying and corroborating memory, internal verification and corroboration and much more.
“Trauma and Recovery: The aftermath of violence – from domestic abuse to political terror” by Judith Lewis Herman [1992]
We own this book and find it very informative and well written. It is very simply laid out with part 1 focusing on traumatic disorders and part 2 about the stages of recovery.
“A Mind of My Own” by Chris Costner Sizemore [1989]
This woman is “Eve” from “The 3 Faces of Eve”. It focuses on her “last year” of being multiple and her integration into one self, as well as the effect this had on her family.
“Can I Look Now” by Rachel Downing [1992]
The author is multiple. The book looks at the therapy process. It is supposed to be nice and simple to read and is good for child personalities as well.
“Coping With Trauma” by Jon G Allen [1999]
Apparently applies to Dissociative Disorders in general as well as more specifically to multiple personality.
“The Fractured Mirror: Healing Multiple Personality Disorder” by C. W. Duncan [1993]
This book is supposed to be a good starting point for multiplexity. It is intended for four different groups of people
- those who have been newly diagnosed or in the early phases of treatment
- friends and family of multiples
- those in self-help groups
- mental health professionals
It summarizes the work of the strongest researchers and clinicians in the field. Hmm ... maybe we’ll look it up and read it ourselves sometime.
“Getting Through the Day: Strategies for Adults Hurt as Children” by Nancy J Napier [1994]
This is supposed to be a good book for people who are not sure if they are multiple. It got good reviews on the Internet.
“The Magic Daughter: A Memoir of Living with Multiple Personality Disorder” by Jane Phillips [1996]
The internet said it is excellent, “non-sensationalist”, and about the everyday life of a multiple. Not a lot of graphic description of abuse. Also talks about dual diagnosis (now called Concurrent Disorder) which is when a person has an addiction problem and a mental illness.
“Many Minds: Information for People Who Have Multiple Personalities” by Lauren and David Lund [1993]
The internet says this is a small book, only 34 pages but is thorough and intelligent. It is a beginner’s overview of multiple personality, covers all the basic information for someone just diagnosed and for support people who are not familiar with the condition. It is supposed to be compassionate, straight forward, encouraging and full of common sense advice.
“Mending Ourselves: Expressions of Healing and Self-Integration” edited by Lynn W [1993]
This book is a collection of essays, poetry and art. Focuses on healing and self-integration, discusses a wide range of experiences with the condition, has many styles of writing and drawing and the material is pertinent to all stages of recovery.
“Michelle Remembers” by Michelle Smith [1987]
This book has “big time triggers” is raw and honest, and is about a ritual abuse survivor.
“The Mosaic Mind: Empowering the Tormented Selves of Child Abuse Survivors” by Regina A Goulding and Richard C Schwartz [1995]
Despite it being quite academic it is also readable and empowering. Its primary purpose is to help therapists
“The Multiple’s Guide to Harmonized Family Living: A Healthy Alternative (or Prelude) to Integration” by Tammy Colleen Whiteman and Susan C Shore [1994]
This is an alternative approach to integration and emphasizes harmony among the personalities rather than integration. It is supposed to be very easy to read.
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