Letter D
Discriminatory Bullying
Exploring bullying rooted in prejudice towards identity, background, disability, religion, sexuality or other personal characteristics.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best books to read about discriminatory bullying?
A good place to start is the fiction, nonfiction, and poetry suggested in this reading list. They each explore this theme differently, so you can select what you are connecting with the most.
Can reading really help with discriminatory bullying?
Yes, although it should not be viewed as a substitute for therapy. The right book can help you articulate feelings you have struggled to explain, offer reassurance that you are not alone, and provide a new perspective. Sometimes that insight is exactly what you need; at other times, it can encourage you to seek further support.
Who curates the Discriminatory Bullying reading list?
Bijal Shah, a bibliotherapist, founder of Book Therapy and The Book Therapy Method and the author of Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading (Hachette, 2024). She has spent over ten years matching readers to books for all kinds of emotional and life themes, including discriminatory bullying.
Do I need a Book Therapy membership to see the full discriminatory bullying list?
Yes. The full Discriminatory Bullying reading list, with my notes on each book and the personal reading tools, lives inside the Book Therapy membership. You also get the whole A to Z of Book Prescriptions, the journalling, and writing tools and reading progress tracking.
Are these discriminatory bullying books suitable if I've never read anything on the topic before?
Yes. The list is deliberately diverse in order to ensure there is something for everyone, whether that's a short memoir, a poem to sit with over a cup of tea, or a novel to properly disappear into. If something feels too close to what you're going through right now, you have the option to put it down. And another book on the list might be more helpful.
Related reading lists
If Discriminatory Bullying resonates, these companion themes from the A–Z of Book Prescriptions may meet you next.
Letter D
Decision-Making
Exploring uncertainty, competing priorities and the process of making thoughtful choices with greater confidence.
Letter D
Depression
Exploring experiences of low mood, disconnection and hopelessness, alongside stories and perspectives that offer understanding and hope.
Letter D
Dissociation
Exploring experiences of feeling disconnected from thoughts, emotions, memories, surroundings or one's sense of self.
Letter D
Dyslexia
Exploring dyslexic experiences, learning differences and the strengths and challenges of processing information differently.
Letter D
Divorce
Exploring separation, grief, identity and rebuilding life following the end of a marriage or long-term partnership.
Letter J
Jealousy
Exploring insecurity, attachment and fear of loss, and what jealousy can reveal about our emotional needs.