I have a VERY dysfunctional family. Name the problem and we’ve got it, but for the most part I think I turned out "normal". I feel afraid that my upbringing is eventually going to potentially hurt me when I start a family though, and most importantly hurt them. I want to find a book to help me cope with my family and to help me learn how to deal with the lasting effects that may be invisible now but might show up in the future
Here are three that I found particularly interesting:
Adult Children of Abusive Parents: A Healing Program for Those Who Have Been Physically, Sexually, or Emotionally Abused by Stephen Farmer
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345363884/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Adult Children as Husbands, Wives, and Lovers: A Solutions Book by Stephen Farmer
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345373405/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life by Susan Forward
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553381407/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Good for you for wanting to escape the cycle of abuse and do better for your future family. Best of luck to you!

every family is severely dysfunctional. sexual abusers, alcoholics, closet potheads, criminals
you are not special
References :
There’s something wrong with a good family therapist?
http://www.aamft.org
References :
Meaty: go to hell
I have a totally effed up family. The books that help me most are anything in the Chicken Soup for the Soul department. It sometimes helps to read about normal families or families overcoming problems.
The bible is really good too. If you’re not christian, check this out:
Eve talked her husband into eating fruit that was like Pandora’s box.
A brother was so envious of another that he slaughtered him. It didn’t bother him at all. In fact, when he was asked about his brother, he got an attitude and said "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
Two twin brothers were at war with each other, and it was all the parent’s fault pretty much. The father favored one son, the mother another. It was a mess!
A father was willing to offer his daughters to be raped as a way to protect the safety of some strangers!
The biggest mess of all: A father favored one son so much, that his older brothers plotted to get rid of him. They sold him into slavery and had the father believe he was dead for years!
You can also write a book yourself about your family. That would help a lot too.
References :
Here are three that I found particularly interesting:
Adult Children of Abusive Parents: A Healing Program for Those Who Have Been Physically, Sexually, or Emotionally Abused by Stephen Farmer
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345363884/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Adult Children as Husbands, Wives, and Lovers: A Solutions Book by Stephen Farmer
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345373405/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life by Susan Forward
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553381407/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Good for you for wanting to escape the cycle of abuse and do better for your future family. Best of luck to you!
References :