The Mind's Own Physician: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama on the Healing Power of Meditation This is basically the transcripts of a summit which brought the Dalai Llama and many of his contemporaries together with leaders in the forefront of neuroscience and contemplative psychology to discuss the psychological and physical benefits of meditation. So far it's been a very enlightening read. Pun intended.
The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases From a State Hospital Attic
I grew up across the street from one of the oldest and largest mental asylums in the state of New York: The Willard State Asylum, later to be renamed Willard Psychiatric Center. Surprisingly, it wasn't until very recently that I became curious enough to go digging into its history. This was the only book on Amazon that I was able to find. I've only briefly skimmed through it, but I'm sure it's going to be a very interesting.
