8 Best-Selling Borderline Personality Disorder Books Millions Love

Experts Jerold Kreisman, Marsha Linehan, and Matthew McKay highlight these best-selling Borderline Personality Disorder books, valued for practical impact and reader trust.

Updated on June 24, 2025
We may earn commissions for purchases made via this page

There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, and when it comes to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), this list of eight best-sellers has captured the attention of millions. BPD remains a complex and challenging condition, making accessible, well-regarded books vital for those affected and their supporters. These titles offer proven strategies and compassionate insights, reflecting the latest advances and enduring wisdom in the field.

Experts like Jerold J. Kreisman, a psychiatrist known for his authoritative work on BPD, Marsha Linehan, the pioneering developer of dialectical behavior therapy, and Matthew McKay, a clinical psychologist focused on cognitive behavioral treatments, have helped shape the discourse around BPD. Their recommendations and contributions have propelled some of these books to widespread acclaim, blending clinical rigor with practical guidance.

While these popular books provide tested frameworks and powerful narratives, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Borderline Personality Disorder needs might consider creating a personalized Borderline Personality Disorder book that combines these validated approaches into a unique, focused resource just for you.

Best for practical DBT skill-building
Matthew McKay, PhD, a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley and author of multiple psychology books, brings deep expertise in cognitive behavioral treatment to this workbook. His background in anxiety and depression treatment shaped this guide, which builds on dialectical behavior therapy principles to help you manage emotions effectively. With his experience and practical approach, this book offers you tested techniques to improve your emotional and interpersonal skills.

What started as a need to provide clear, practical tools for managing intense emotions led Matthew McKay and his coauthors to create this workbook rooted in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), originally developed for borderline personality disorder. You'll learn to build skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness through structured exercises, including new chapters on cognitive rehearsal and self-compassion. The book guides you from foundational concepts to more advanced techniques, helping you develop concrete mental skills to handle emotional challenges more constructively. This resource suits both mental health professionals and individuals seeking to improve their emotional resilience and relationships.

View on Amazon
Best for deep borderline insights
Jerold J. Kreisman, MD, is a psychiatrist and leading expert on borderline personality disorder. He has authored bestselling books on the topic and contributes regularly to Psychology Today, bringing decades of clinical experience to this revised edition. Kreisman’s expertise helps demystify the disorder, offering you grounded insights into its biological and psychological aspects, as well as pragmatic advice for interacting with those affected.

Drawing from decades of psychiatric practice and extensive study, Jerold J. Kreisman offers a deeply informed exploration of borderline personality disorder that goes beyond surface-level understanding. This third edition integrates the latest research on the neurobiological and genetic underpinnings of BPD, while connecting it to common comorbidities like substance abuse and PTSD. You’ll find detailed guidance on navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics with borderline individuals, alongside updated insights into both medication and therapy options. If you engage with BPD professionally or personally, this book delivers clear, actionable clarity about a complex condition and its treatment.

View on Amazon
Best for personal coping plans
This AI-created book on Borderline Personality Disorder is designed specifically around your background and challenges. By sharing your experience level and areas of focus, you receive a tailored book that addresses the exact BPD techniques and knowledge you want to explore. This personalized approach allows you to engage deeply with content that matches your goals, making the learning process more relevant and meaningful compared to general BPD books.
2025·50-300 pages·Borderline Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Skills, Distress Tolerance

This tailored book explores battle-tested methods for managing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), crafted to align with your unique challenges and goals. It covers core therapeutic concepts such as emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance, while delving into personalized approaches that resonate with your background. By focusing on your specific interests and needs, this book reveals how validated BPD techniques can be adapted to foster lasting change and self-understanding. Through a blend of widely accepted knowledge and individualized focus, it offers a thoughtful and targeted learning experience that addresses the complexities of BPD in a way that speaks directly to you.

Tailored Content
BPD Adaptive Methods
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for personal recovery stories
Rachel Reiland offers a rare, deeply personal account of struggling with borderline personality disorder after her diagnosis at 29. Her memoir doesn't just tell a story—it invites you into the complexities of her emotional life and the difficult journey toward recovery through therapy and support. Reiland’s narrative sheds light on a condition often misunderstood, providing a voice that resonates with hope and honesty.

What started as Rachel Reiland's personal struggle with borderline personality disorder evolved into a candid memoir that unpacks the raw reality of living with this condition. Diagnosed at 29, Reiland dives into the complex emotions behind her behaviors—like explosive anger and self-destructive episodes—offering readers a firsthand look at the disorder’s impact. Through detailed accounts of therapy and support systems, you gain insight into the practical pathways toward healing, especially the role of loved ones and intensive treatment. This book suits anyone seeking to understand the inner workings of borderline personality disorder from an authentic, lived perspective rather than clinical abstraction.

View on Amazon
Best for mindful recovery approaches
Kiera Van Gelder, MFA, is an artist, educator, and writer diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. An international speaker and advocate, she is featured in the documentary Back from the Edge: Living With and Recovering From Borderline Personality Disorder. She currently lives in Massachusetts at a Buddhist meditation center, bringing a unique perspective to her memoir that blends therapy, spirituality, and real-life struggles.

What started as Kiera Van Gelder's personal battle with borderline personality disorder evolved into a candid memoir that combines therapy, spirituality, and life’s unpredictability. Drawing from her experiences with dialectical behavior therapy and Buddhism, she offers insight into managing emotional turmoil and building self-compassion. You’ll find chapters detailing her journey from chaotic relationships and addiction toward healing, with reflections on how mindfulness practices supported her recovery. This book suits anyone seeking a nuanced understanding of borderline personality disorder through an authentic, lived experience rather than clinical jargon.

View on Amazon
Best for evidence-based coping strategies
This guide offers a clear, compassionate roadmap through borderline personality disorder, combining clinical expertise with accessible language. It’s recognized with the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit for integrating scientifically supported strategies consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy. Whether you’re living with BPD or supporting someone who is, this book explains the disorder, outlines common treatments like DBT and medication, and shares coping skills to manage difficult emotions and suicidal urges. Its broad appeal lies in addressing real concerns with clarity and care, making complex information approachable for many.

The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide emerges from the combined expertise of Alex L. Chapman, Kim L. Gratz, and Perry D. Hoffman, who bring years of clinical experience to this accessible resource. You’ll find clear explanations about what BPD is, its typical progression, and common co-occurring issues, paired with detailed chapters on treatments like DBT and mentalization-based therapy. The book also offers practical coping techniques for managing intense emotions and suicidal thoughts, making it helpful whether you’re newly diagnosed or supporting someone with BPD. This guide suits anyone seeking straightforward, evidence-informed insight without getting lost in jargon.

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit
View on Amazon
Best for personal progress plans
This personalized AI book on borderline personality disorder is created by considering your unique experience and goals. It focuses on your specific symptoms and interests within BPD, providing a clear 30-day plan that suits your background and learning pace. By tailoring content to what matters most to you, this book makes the complex journey of managing BPD more approachable and relevant. This AI-driven approach ensures you receive focused guidance designed just for your progress.
2025·50-300 pages·Borderline Personality Disorder, Emotional Regulation, Interpersonal Skills, Impulsivity Control, Mindfulness Practices

This tailored book offers a focused, step-by-step exploration of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), designed to match your unique background and specific goals. It examines the core symptoms of BPD and reveals practical ways to navigate emotional regulation, interpersonal challenges, and impulsivity through a 30-day personalized plan. The approach integrates widely validated knowledge with your individual interests, ensuring the content is both relevant and deeply engaging. By concentrating on areas that matter most to you, this book fosters progressive understanding and meaningful progress in managing BPD, making complex concepts accessible and actionable in your daily life.

Tailored Plan
Symptom Progression Insights
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for integrative therapeutic programs
Daniel J. Fox, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with over fifteen years of specialized experience treating personality disorders in challenging environments like prisons and universities. His expertise, reflected in numerous publications and workshops, grounds this workbook’s integrative approach. Drawing on evidence-based therapies, Fox offers a guide to understanding and managing borderline personality disorder with practical tools tailored for varied therapeutic journeys.

Daniel J. Fox, PhD, brings over fifteen years of experience treating personality disorders in diverse settings, including state and federal prisons, universities, and private practice, to this integrative workbook. You’ll learn how to understand your unique experience with borderline personality disorder through a blend of dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interpersonal therapy techniques. The workbook guides you to identify emotional triggers and develop personal motivations for change, making it practical for those at any stage of their therapeutic journey. If you seek a nuanced, evidence-based approach to managing BPD symptoms and improving emotional balance, this workbook offers structured support without oversimplifying the challenges.

View on Amazon
Best for relationship support techniques
Shari Y. Manning, PhD, a clinician with over two decades of experience and former President/CEO of Behavioral Tech, draws on her extensive work with borderline personality disorder to create this guide. Her leadership in DBT training and deep clinical insight shape the book’s practical strategies, offering you tools grounded in science to better understand and support loved ones coping with intense emotions.

What started as Dr. Shari Manning's decades-long clinical work with individuals affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD) evolved into this approachable guide designed specifically for those in relationships with someone experiencing intense emotional instability. You gain clear insights into why your loved one's emotions feel overwhelming and learn how to respond in ways that reduce conflict and foster connection. The book breaks down techniques rooted in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), such as setting healthy boundaries and defusing emotional crises, with practical examples that illuminate how to apply these strategies day-to-day. If you're navigating the challenges of loving someone with BPD, this book offers a grounded perspective on maintaining your relationship without losing yourself.

View on Amazon
Marsha Linehan’s Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder stands as a foundational text in understanding and treating this challenging condition. The book presents dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an approach proven through controlled trials to effectively address the emotional dysregulation and behavioral difficulties characteristic of BPD. Its detailed presentation equips clinicians to navigate complex cases with a structured framework emphasizing mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance skills. This work not only advances therapy for BPD but also informs treatment for other disorders involving emotional challenges, making it a critical resource in mental health care.
1993·558 pages·Borderline Personality Disorder, Personality Disorders, Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy

What started as Marsha Linehan's own struggle to understand mental health challenges became a pioneering therapeutic method known as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This book dives deep into DBT’s framework, offering clinicians detailed guidance on treating borderline personality disorder through mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance skills. You’ll find practical insights into managing the complex emotional and behavioral patterns common in BPD, supported by controlled trial evidence. While tailored primarily for clinicians, anyone interested in the mechanics of effective psychological treatment for emotion dysregulation will find substantial value here.

View on Amazon

Proven BPD Strategies, Personalized for You

Get expert-backed methods tailored to your specific Borderline Personality Disorder challenges and goals.

Targeted insights fast
Customized coping plans
Expert strategies combined

Trusted by thousands seeking tailored Borderline Personality Disorder support

BPD Mastery Blueprint
30-Day BPD Reset
Borderline Foundations Guide
BPD Success Formula

Conclusion

These eight best-selling Borderline Personality Disorder books reveal clear themes: the value of dialectical behavior therapy as a cornerstone treatment, the power of personal stories that illuminate lived experiences, and comprehensive guides that provide evidence-based coping strategies. If you prefer proven methods, starting with The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook offers hands-on skills. For validated approaches blending science and empathy, The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide complements personal memoirs like Get Me Out of Here.

Combining these resources can deepen your understanding and support your journey, whether you are managing BPD yourself or helping a loved one. Alternatively, you can create a personalized Borderline Personality Disorder book to combine proven methods with your unique needs.

These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in navigating the challenges of BPD with greater resilience and clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for practical exercises that build foundational skills. It offers clear, structured help to manage emotions and improve relationships effectively.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Borderline Personality Disorder?

No, many books like The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide explain concepts accessibly, making them suitable for beginners seeking to understand BPD without clinical jargon.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with practical guides like The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, then explore personal memoirs such as Get Me Out of Here for lived experience, followed by comprehensive works like I Hate You--Don't Leave Me.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your needs—practical skills, personal stories, or clinical insights. Each book offers a unique perspective, so choose what resonates most with your current goals.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder delves into clinical theory, while The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook emphasizes hands-on exercises for daily use.

Can I get targeted help tailored to my situation instead of reading multiple books?

Yes, popular expert books provide valuable insights, but personalized Borderline Personality Disorder books can tailor these methods to your unique needs. Consider creating a personalized Borderline Personality Disorder book for focused guidance.

📚 Love this book list?

Help fellow book lovers discover great books, share this curated list with others!