# High Functioning but Barely Holding it Together: Books and Mental Health Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bibliofilles-7704872/high-functioning-but-barely-holding-it-together-books-and-mental-health Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bibliofilles-7704872/high-functioning-but-barely-holding-it-together-books-and-mental-health.md Podcast: [The Bibliofilles](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bibliofilles-7704872) Published: 2026-03-02T15:34:00+00:00 Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/LPS1095588574.mp3?updated=1772455359 Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/LPS1095588574.mp3?updated=1772455359 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-bibliofilles-7704872/episodes/high-functioning-but-barely-holding-it-together-books-and-mental-health Duration seconds: 2437 ## Resource This week we’re diving headfirst into books & mental health. Over the years we have received many messages asking for books for when life feels wobbly, overwhelming, or is unravelling at the seams, & we wanted to create a resource to help anyone who may need it. We’ve organised our recommendations into three groups, the self help & non fiction books (from candid memoirs to practical, perspective-shifting guides), the novels that teach you through character & the gloriously escapist fantasy reads, because sometimes salvation comes with dragons. There is also a healthy dose of lively chaos & airing of laundry! If you’ve ever needed a book to steady you, distract you, or quietly rebuild you, this one’s for you. πŸ‘‡ All books mentioned are linked below πŸ‘‡ How to Thrive with Adult ADHD by Dr James Kustow πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/4bNtcWw Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontΓ« πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/3M5Pd8v The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/3YYKecQ Open Water by Dr Julie Smith πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/4bjrlbU Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/45xHoPD Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/3NFGpqn Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/3LTS84b There’s Nothing Wrong With Her by Kate Weinberg πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/45z58Tw The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/4sX4Yze The Women by Kristin Hannah πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/49WSw9Y Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/45YEsM0 The Examined Life by Stephen Grosz πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/4pXR6SI When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/4aeaTbN Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/4qErV8G Mythos by Stephen Fry πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/49UxzML Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson πŸ‘‰ https://amzn.to/4abQsw6 The Opposite of Butt… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-bibliofilles-7704872/episodes/high-functioning-but-barely-holding-it-together-books-and-mental-health/transcription-requests` β€” Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bibliofilles-7704872/high-functioning-but-barely-holding-it-together-books-and-mental-health.md` β€” Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.