Below I’ll give you my selections for the best Empathy books by a few categories. I will cover these and other great books more in depth later.
1. The Art of Empathy: A Complete Guide to Life’s Most Essential Skill (2013)
What if there were a single skill that could directly and radically improve your relationships and your emotional life? Empathy, teaches Karla McLaren, is that skill. With The Art of Empathy, she teaches us how to perceive and feel the experiences of others with clarity and authenticity―to connect with them more deeply and effectively.Informed by current insights from neuroscience, social psychology, and healing traditions, this book explores: Why empathy is not a mystical phenomenon but a natural, innate ability that we can strengthen and…
2. Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It (2015)
A popular speaker and co-founder of The School of Life, Roman Krznaric has traveled the world researching and lecturing on the subject of empathy. In this lively and engaging book, he argues that our brains are wired for social connection. Empathy, not apathy or self-centeredness, is at the heart of who we are. By looking outward and attempting to identify with the experiences of others, Krznaric argues, we can become not only a more equal society, but also a happier and more creative one.Through encounters with groundbreaking actors, activists, designers, nurses, bankers and neuroscientists,…
3. Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion (2018)
New York Post Best Book of 2016We often think of our capacity to experience the suffering of others as the ultimate source of goodness. Many of our wisest policy-makers, activists, scientists, and philosophers agree that the only problem with empathy is that we don’t have enough of it.Nothing could be farther from the truth, argues Yale researcher Paul Bloom. In AGAINST EMPATHY, Bloom reveals empathy to be one of the leading motivators of inequality and immorality in society. Far from helping us to improve the lives of others, empathy is a capricious and irrational…
4. Empathy (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series) (2017)
Empathy is credited as a factor in improved relationships and even better product development. But while it’s easy to say “just put yourself in someone else’s shoes,” the reality is that understanding the motivations and emotions of others often proves elusive.This book helps you understand what empathy is, why it’s important, how to surmount the hurdles that make you less empathetic―and when too much empathy is just too much.This volume includes the work of:Daniel GolemanAnnie McKeeAdam WaytzThis collection of articles includes “What Is Empathy?” by Daniel Goleman; “Why Compassion Is a Better Managerial Tactic Than…
5. Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential-and Endangered (2011)
“Bruce Perry is both a world-class creative scientist and a compassionate therapist.”—Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia Born for Love is the definitive book on empathy. Renowned psychiatrist Bruce Perry has appeared on Oprah, CNN, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, and other programs as an expert in this hot area of neuroscience, and has been cited as such in Newsweek, the New York Times, and The New Yorker (in a story written by Malcolm Gladwell). He and co-writer Maia Szalavitz explore empathy’s startling importance in human evolution and its significance for our children…
6. The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People (2018)
What is the difference between having empathy and being an empath? “Having empathy means our heart goes out to another person in joy or pain,” says Judith Orloff, MD. “But for empaths it goes much further. We actually feel others’ emotions, energy, and physical symptoms in our own bodies, without the usual defenses that most people have.” With The Empath’s Survival Guide, Dr. Orloff offers a practical tool set to help sensitive people develop healthy coping mechanisms in our high-stimulus world―while fully embracing the empath’s gifts of intuition, compassion, creativity, and spiritual connection. This…
7. Empathy Is My Superpower: A Story about Showing You Care (Without Limits) (2018)
Why does her brother cry when it’s dark? Why does her classmate Kayla take so long to do her math? And what’s up with that strange-smelling dish that Priya brings to lunch every day? With the help of her parents, Amelia soon learns about the importance of empathy and starts to see the power it can have! Will Amelia be able to put her new-found skill to good use and help others find the strength in empathy as well? Written for readers in grades K-6, this storybook also includes tips to help parents and teachers foster empathy in every child….
8. Teach Your Dragon Empathy: Help Your Dragon Understand Empathy. A Cute Children Story To Teach Kids Empathy, Compassion and Kindness. (My Dragon Books) (2019)
Having a pet dragon is very fun!He can sit, roll over, and play…He can candle a birthday cake, lit a campfire, or so many other cool things…But what if your dragon does not care about other people’s feelings?What if he does and says things to others that he will regret?What should you do?You teach him empathy! You show him how to be considerate, to understand how others feel, to put himself in others’ shoes, and to get along!How do you do that?Get this book and learn how!Fun, cute, and entertaining with beautiful illustrations, this is a must have book for children, parents and teachers to…
9. You, Me and Empathy: Teaching children about empathy, feelings, kindness, compassion, tolerance and recognising bullying behaviours (2017)
One of the most important social skills a child can learn is empathy. Being able to understand how another person is feeling and recognizing their needs helps people to connect to one another across race, culture and the diversity that is ever-present and so important to our world. This charming story uses verse, beautiful illustrations and a little person called Quinn to model the meaning of empathy. Throughout the story, Quinn shows an abundance of understanding, compassion and kindness towards others. Showing empathy towards others is a learnt trait, and one…
10. Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning About Empathy (2013)
When Emily asks her big sister what the word empathy means, Emily has no idea that knowing the answer will change how she looks at people. But does it really matter to others if Emily notices how they’re feeling? Stand in My Shoes shows kids how easy it is to develop empathy toward those around them. Empathy is the ability to notice what other people feel. Empathy leads to the social skills and personal relationships which make our lives rich and beautiful, and it is something we can help our children learn. This book teaches young children the value of noticing how other people feel. We’re hoping that many…
11. Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership (2019)
Having built his career working with iconic brands and institutions such as General Electric, Google, Nike, Warby Parker, and also The United Nations and the Obama Administration, Michael Ventura offers entrepreneurs and executives a radical new business book and way forward. Empathy is not about being nice. It’s not about pity or sympathy either. It’s about understanding—your consumers, your colleagues, and yourself—and it’s a direct path to powerful leadership. As such, Applied Empathy presents real strategies, based on Sub Rosa’s design work and the popular…
12. The Dark Sides of Empathy (2019)
Many consider empathy to be the basis of moral action. However, the ability to empathize with others is also a prerequisite for deliberate acts of humiliation and cruelty. In The Dark Sides of Empathy, Fritz Breithaupt contends that people often commit atrocities not out of a failure of empathy but rather as a direct consequence of over-identification and a desire to increase empathy. Even well-meaning compassion can have many unintended consequences, such as intensifying conflicts or exploiting others.Empathy plays a central part in a variety of highly problematic…
13. The Age of Empathy: Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society (2010)
Are we our brothers’ keepers? Do we have an instinct for compassion? Or are we, as is often assumed, only on earth to serve our own survival and interests? By studying social behaviors in animals, such as bonding, the herd instinct, the forming of trusting alliances, expressions of consolation, and conflict resolution, Frans de Waal demonstrates that animals–and humans–are “preprogrammed to reach out.” He has found that chimpanzees care for mates that are wounded by leopards, elephants offer “reassuring rumbles” to youngsters in distress, and dolphins support sick companions near the…
14. Intellectual Empathy: Critical Thinking for Social Justice (2014)
Intellectual Empathy provides a step-by-step method for facilitating discussions of socially divisive issues. Maureen Linker, a philosophy professor at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, developed Intellectual Empathy after more than a decade of teaching critical thinking in metropolitan Detroit, one of the most racially and economically divided urban areas, at the crossroads of one of the Midwest’s largest Muslim communities. The skills acquired through Intellectual Empathy have proven to be significant for students who pursue careers in education, social work, law, business, and medicine. Now,…
Best Empathy Books that Should be on Your Bookshelf
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Genesis and download some empathy books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
The Spiritual Power of Empathy: Develop Your Intuitive Gifts for Compassionate Connection
Author(s): Cyndi Dale
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, Year: 8 Oct 2014, Size: 3 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2297910
White People and Black Lives Matter: Ignorance, Empathy, and Justice
Author(s): Johanna C. Luttrell
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, Year: 25 July 2019, Size: 559 Kb, Download: epub
ID: 2392999
Second Nature: How Parents Can Use Neuroscience to Help Kids Develop Empathy, Creativity, and Self-Control
Author(s): Erin Clabough
Publisher: Sounds True, Year: 2019, Size: 3 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2316522
The Everyday Politics of Migration Crisis in Poland: Between Nationalism, Fear and Empathy
Author(s): Krzysztof Jaskulowski
Publisher: Springer International Publishing;Palgrave Pivot, Year: 2019, Size: 1 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2354737
Our Symphony with Animals: On Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies
Author(s): Aysha Akhtar
Publisher: Pegasus Books, Year: 2019, Size: 29 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2376615
The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World
Author(s): Jamil Zaki
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY), Year: 2019, Size: 1 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2377290
Exploring Empathy with Medical Students
Author(s): David Ian Jeffrey
Publisher: Springer International Publishing;Palgrave Macmillan, Year: 2019, Size: 2 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2407063
Professional Education with Fiction Media: Imagination for Engagement and Empathy in Learning
Author(s): Christine Jarvis, Patricia Gouthro
Publisher: Springer International Publishing; Palgrave Macmillan, Year: 2019, Size: 3 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2408171
Compassion and Empathy in Educational Contexts
Author(s): Georgina Barton, Susanne Garvis
Publisher: Springer International Publishing; Palgrave Macmillan, Year: 2019, Size: 4 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2408360
Empathy, Emotion and Education
Author(s): Helen Demetriou
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, Year: 2018, Size: 2 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2187266
Please note that this booklist is not definite. Some books are absolutely best-sellers according to USA Today, others are composed by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.