Recommended Reading for Women

	A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps A general 12 step book, but very thorough – used for the co-addict, codependent or when addictions are present. There is a chapter that has New Age references – PIP skips that portion.		A Hunger For Healing This is the definitive Christian book on the Twelve Steps. Provides insight into the spiritual aspect of recovery and a clear understanding of how to apply the 12-steps to daily walk with Christ. It is the ideal text for men who struggle with addiction and want to understand the grace of recovery.
	S-Anon A sharing of the collective experience of the S-Anon International Family Groups fellowship, this book offers hope for recovery to people whose lives have been affected by sexaholism by showing how members have put the principles of the Twelve Steps into practice.		The Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions Originally published in 1952, this classic book is used by A.A. members and groups around the world. It lays out the principles by which A.A. members recover and by which the fellowship functions. The basic text clarifies the Steps which constitute the A.A. way of life and the Traditions, by which A.A. maintains its unity.
	Paths to Recovery The Healing Process for Wives of Sexual Addicts		After the Locusts Jan provides encouragement for those with dreams that have been shattered using the book of Joel as the book’s framework. She shares her own story and those whose lives God put in her life. She writes clearly, in a way that feels as though you are joining her in her living room or coffee shop.
	An Affair of the Mind: One Woman’s Courageous Battle to Salvage Her Family from the Devastation of Pornography A popular, first person narrative of the author’s journey toward healing. Although it is usually difficult to read, based on imagining what our husband’s have been doing, she writes in a very easy to read, clear way.		Back From Betrayal Still the classic text for wives recovering from their husbands’ affairs, and from their own co-addiction, written by a woman who’s been there.
	Codependent No More: How to stop controlling others and start caring for yourself The classic on how to disengage from your spouse’s addiction and walk your own path toward health.		Hope After Betrayal A very tender and compassionate book written by one who has been there and has experienced healing and recovery for herself and walked alongside her husband in his recovery.
	Living With Your Husband’s Secret Wars Guidebook for wives of sex addicts, from the “crazy time” after disclosure, through grieving, facing your own issues, and the rebirth of trust. Marsha will walk you through a confrontation of your partner through this book. Written by someone who has lived through the addiction. Includes Guide for Weekly Support Group Meeting. Proactive and hopeful.		Love Must Be Tough This is a very general book written by the former president of Focus on the Family which contains reference to many different issues. Dr. Dobson explains the biblical basis for the wife of a sexually-addicted man “drawing a line in the sand” regarding the husband’s addictive behavior.
	Mending a Shattered Heart This is a very easy to read book with several chapters, each written by different therapists. Find a chapter that addresses your issues and skip to it. Read what topics apply to you and skip those that don’t.		My Husband Has a Secret: Healing From the Betrayal of Sex Addiction Molly writes very candidly and openly shares the pain, fear and anger that she went through regarding her husband’s additions. Her husband and children each wrote a chapter to share their side of the story and how this affected them.
	Shattered Vows: Hope and Healing for Women Who Have Been Betrayed Written by a compassionate wife who understands the pain of affairs and the healing that needs to take place for herself, her husband and her marriage.		Step by Step A daily devotional based chronologically on the 12 Steps. Inspiring meditations help us along our way to lead healthier, more productive lives.

Restoring the Marriage

	*Intimacy: 100 Day Guide to Lasting Relationships by Douglas Weiss Dr. Weiss instructs the reader how to strengthen their relationship with their spouse by connecting emotionally and teaching the “3 dailies” for lasting love.		*Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve Christian theologian Smedes writes an easy-to-read book on what authentic forgiveness is, what it isn’t, and how to get there.
	*The Art of Forgiving This is a follow up book to Forgive and Forget, providing the answers to many questions that surface as one begins to explore the process of forgiveness.		*Restoring the Fallen: A Team Approach to Caring, Confronting, & Reconciling Powerful and honest; an excellent restoration road map for those going through the process or for those helping others. Describes the 3-year marital restoration process for the Wilsons following the discovery of Earl’s long-term sexual addiction while a Christian leader.
	Sex, Lies, and Forgiveness: Couples Speaking Out on Healing From Sex Addiction Co-authored by Dr. Schneider and her recovering sex addict husband, on their work with other sexually addicted couples.		*False intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction An intensely personal, highly readable book by a couple who has walked back from the brink of divorce; very balanced and thoroughly biblical. Highly recommended.
	Surviving An Affair Excellent overview of the path toward marital restoration following an affair; well-written, practical and realistic.		False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction Excellent, in-depth approach to understanding the issues underneath sexual addiction; includes chapters on “The Recovering Marriage” and on children.
	Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction Classic text on sexual addiction from the most-recognized expert in the U.S. on the subject.  Even though the book is dated and the statistics have changed dramatically, Dr. Carnes understands the progression of sex addiction like no one else.

Popularly Written Books For General Reading

	*Breaking Free: Understanding Sexual Addiction & the Healing Power of Jesus Practical, biblical, and balanced, with an especially helpful perspective on why it’s difficult to recover from sexual addiction within the church. This book offers a new way to see the world for every person who wants to understand and break free from sexual addiction. It provides an honest examination of sexual addiction by showing how Jesus offers forgiveness and healing through real-life stories of individuals who struggle.
	*Every Man’s Battle Very honest, hard-hitting book on the issue of lust and how to combat it. Especially helpful for the man who has not yet become addicted to pornography or other sexual sin.		Facing Codependence The authors provide an explanation of codependency and its root causes. Practical help for healing.
	Breaking Free Workbook A workbook to go along with Facing Codependence.		Facing Love Addiction Carefully describes love addiction and distinguishes between it and codependency. Provides help for those who struggle with love addiction.
	*Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction Dr. Arterburn helps the reader to understand the birth of sexual addiction and effects of unmet needs as a child.		*The Life Recovery Bible Edited A Bible full of step teaching, serenity devotionals, recovery principles and recovery profiles. Recovery notes pinpoint passages and thoughts important to people in recovery. For those who are seeking God's view on recovery and the non-Christian who is seeking God and answers to recovery, the Life Recovery Bible will lead readers to the source of true healing-God himself. The features of this best-selling Bible were brought together by two of today's leading recovery experts.
	*Men’s Secret Wars The story of one Christian leader’s moral failure and recovery; the factors that lead to the formation of “secret lives” among Christian men. Includes Leader’s Guide for Group study		*Pure Desire A pastor presents the steps to healing sexual addiction from his own experience; compassionate, practical, and biblically-based.
	*Sex, Men and God Dr. Doug provides practical suggestions and principles to enjoy your sexuality and provides help dealing with some of the barriers that may be experienced.		*Steering Clear Earl is a psychologist and counselor in private practice and an experienced conference speaker on issues of addiction and restoration. Earl shares practical help for those caught in patterns of sexual and emotional sin. He helps the reader to understand the slide into moral failure.
	*The War Within: Gaining Victory in the Battle for Sexual Purity One man’s story of victory over pornography addiction; practical and biblical strategies for recovery		*When Good Men Are Tempted Highly readable book on temptation, by a pastor and popular men’s speaker. Possibly the best explanation in print on how God wired men sexually. Very educational for wives, although it will probably be upsetting.

*Books that are written by a Christian author with a Christian perspective.