Here's the Bright Side: Of Failure, Fear, Cancer, Divorce, and Other Bum Raps

Betty Rollin

$14.95, hardcover

Betty Rollin, a former NBC News correspondent and author of three books, shares the lessons she has learned in life, especially through her battle with breast cancer. After some of her darkest days, she has learned to be grateful for what she has, whether it's her breast reconstruction—made possible by surgical advances in the '90s (eliminating the need to stuff her bra with her husband's sock or, later, with a heavy rubber prosthesis)—or the fact that she's cancer free. Wryly putting things into perspective, she writes, "The plumber's late, but it's not cancer." Thoughtful and honest, Rollin's reflections encourage living in the present and enjoying the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Scrapbooking Journey: A Hands-On Guide to Spiritual Discovery

Cory Richardson-Lauve

$18.99, paperback

Scrapbooking is a lot more than just pasting photos on a page. It can be a way to organize your thoughts, learn to appreciate life's little blessings and set future goals for yourself and your family.

It can be cathartic and spiritual. In The Scrapbooking Journey Richardson-Lauve teaches you how to tap your creativity and turn life experiences—even challenging ones—into beautiful, personal albums. As you reflect on what's important to you, and which pictures or visuals to include in your scrapbook, you might discover new beauty in the world and in life.

Intimacy after Cancer: A Woman's Guide

Dr. Sally Kydd and Dana Rowett

$14.95, paperback

This book gives you all the tools you need for restoring intimacy after cancer. It provides straightforward sex advice on issues like how to deal with dryness ("lubricate, lubricate, lubricate") and illustrates gentle ways you can be intimate with your partner, even if treatment has made you hypersensitive in some areas of your body. Most important, it teaches you how to rebuild your self-esteem after cancer by changing the way you think about your body, making intimacy possible and important again after a physically devastating disease.

No One Wrote a Manual: The Art of Fran Padgett

Fran Padgett

$35, hardcover

Fran Padgett is an artist who chronicles her experience from breast cancer diagnosis to reconstruction and recovery. Edgy and thought provoking, Padgett's paintings express her frustrations and celebrate the female form. Her personal musings accompany each painting, highlighting the profound effect of cancer on her creativity and art.