Recommended Reading
A short list is more useful than a long one. These hold up across re-reads.
This page has been written and edited by the publisher. It has not been reviewed by a licensed clinician.
Trauma & the nervous system
- The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk. The modern foundation text on trauma.
- What Happened to You? — Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey. Trauma-informed framing, accessible.
- Waking the Tiger — Peter Levine. The somatic experiencing tradition.
Depression
- The Noonday Demon — Andrew Solomon. Comprehensive, humane, beautifully written.
- Lost Connections — Johann Hari. Social and lifestyle drivers of depression.
- Feeling Good — David Burns. The classic CBT self-help book.
Psychedelics, ketamine & integration
- How to Change Your Mind — Michael Pollan. Accessible overview of the psychedelic renaissance.
- The Ketamine Papers — Phil Wolfson & Glenn Hartelius (eds.). Clinical perspectives on ketamine therapy.
- The Way of the Psychonaut — Stanislav Grof. Deep-end integration and consciousness work.
Practice & everyday tools
- Full Catastrophe Living — Jon Kabat-Zinn. The MBSR program in book form.
- Why We Sleep — Matthew Walker. Sleep as foundational mental health.
- Atomic Habits — James Clear. Practical behavior change.
Publisher and editor of Ketalux, based in Chicago, Illinois. Ira is a ketamine therapy patient, not a clinician. This is editorial review, not medical review: Ira is not a licensed clinician and does not provide diagnosis or medical care. Ketalux does not accept compensation from providers in exchange for favorable editorial coverage, evidence ratings, recommendations, patient referrals, or organic provider ranking. Read the full publisher disclosure →
Educational use only. The content on this page is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ketamine and related therapies carry risks and are appropriate only under qualified medical supervision. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional about your individual situation. Information may change as research evolves.