“Why Does he Do That?” inside the minds of angry and controlling men” by Lundy Bancroft – based on years of working with abuse perpetrators, this book is clear, easy to read and highly accurate.
If you are only going to read 1 book on abuse, this is the one!
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Abandoned Parents, the Devil’s Dilemma: Causes and Consequences of Adult Children Abandoning their Parents by Sharon A. Wildey – Useful chapters on parental alienation and isolation as part of domestic abuse, also relates to elder abuse.
Broken and Betrayed: The True Story of the Rotherham Abuse Scandal by Jane Senior – easy to read and eye opening. Shows the need for dogged perseverance in trying to make services and authorities listen and do something to obtain change.
“Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life” by Professor Evan Stark – Evan Stark was first to identify and define Coercive Control – described as one of the most important books ever written on the subject and a catalyst for change.
Coordinating Community Responses to Domestic Violence, Lessons from Duluth and Beyond edited by Melanie F Shephard and Ellen l Pence – a book for Professionals and service providers about the Duluth system and how to apply it to other communities (Deluth Minnesota was the first to espouse a community intervention approach to DV, mandatory arrest, perpetrator programs and the “Power and Control Wheel”).
Garnethill by Denise Mina – a novel (crime thriller) but really depicts well how it feels to be a survivor of domestic abuse and childhood sexual abuse, and the impact when even your own family doesn’t believe or support you, won’t talk about it, or engages in “victim blaming”.
Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship by Lisa Aronson Fontes.
Living with the Dominator by Pat Craven – an easy read, explains the different tactics employed by an abuser, Pat Craven is the creator of the Freedom Programme.
Operation Lighthouse: reflections on our Family’s Devastating Story of Coercive Control and Domestic Homicide by Luke and Ryan Hart – useful insight into the effect on children and the attitudes of media and society that need to be challenged and changed.
Out of Control: Couples, Conflict and the Capacity for Change by Natalie Collins – Natalie is an abuse survivor and an experienced and well-researched worker in the Domestic Abuse field, creator of the DAY Programme for young people and the Own My Life Course for women. This book has a Christian focus, but her clear thinking and incisive observations make it relevant to all.
Power and Control: Why Charming Men can make Dangerous Lovers by Sandra Horley – contains numerous stories of women’s experience and was produced by Refuge UK. Sandra received an OBE for her work supporting victims of domestic abuse.
Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Guide to Knowing if your Relationship can – and should – be Saved by Lundy Bancroft and Jac Patrissi.
Surviving Domestic Violence: A Guide to Healing Your Soul and Building Your Future by Danielle F. Wozniak and Karen Allen – helpful tips based on solid research.
The Batterer as Parent, Addressing the Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics by Lundy Bancroft and Jay Silverman – can an abusive partner ever be a safe and “good enough” parent? An issue often misunderstood by the Family Courts.
The Boy Who was raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry – a very accessible look at the effect of abuse and trauma on the developing brain, and outcomes for children.
The Devil at Home by Rachel Williams – an easy to read biographical story of survival: Rachel is a hairdresser who was shot at work by her ex-partner, she is now an Ambassador for Welsh Women’s Aid.
The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans.
Women at Risk: Domestic Violence and Women’s Health by Ann Flitcraft and Evan Stark.
Verbal Abuse Survivors Speak Out on Relationship and Recovery by Patricia Evans – survivors stories with commentary and analysis relating them to research and theory.
Violence Against Women in Families and Relationships: Victimization and the Community Response edited by Professor Evan Stark.