
Books
Books that explore psychology, self-awareness, emotional life, and the search for meaning. Written to deepen understanding and inspire personal growth.
Across personality, emotion, identity, leadership, and social behavior, these books offer a psychologically grounded lens on what it means to live, relate, and grow. Whether you're drawn to inner work or big-picture insight, each title is written to make complex ideas usable — and to help you understand both yourself and the world with greater clarity. All titles are published through Depthmark, LLC, a psychology-focused imprint created by RJ Starr.
Psychology for the complexities of modern life.
Introducing My Most Comprehensive Work to Date: The Psychology of Being Human
Release Date: September 20, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-9996293-0-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2025916521
The Psychology of Being Human is my most comprehensive work to date. It explores the emotional, cognitive, and existential structures that shape human experience, bringing together decades of psychological inquiry into a unified framework for understanding the self.
This book marks a turning point in my publishing journey. My earlier works reflected distinct phases of inquiry—experiments in form, tone, and audience, each shaped by the questions I was asking at the time. In September, 2025, The Psychology of Being Human will be released by Depthmark Press, signaling a new chapter in my work: more integrated, more mature, and more expansive in scope.
The Psychology of Being Human is not just a continuation of previous work—it is a deeper articulation of the themes I’ve spent a lifetime exploring.
Explore by Category
The Psychology of Being Human
The Psychology of Being Human offers a clear, emotionally grounded framework for understanding the mind, emotion, and meaning. Integrating decades of psychological insight, it explores identity, perception, regulation, and existential depth. This is not a guide for quick fixes—it’s a structured, usable model for making sense of complexity and reclaiming internal clarity in a fragmented world.
The Myth of Healing: Reclaiming Wholeness in a Culture That Pathologizes Being Human
What if healing isn’t the goal? In this honest, psychology-informed reflection, RJ Starr explores why our obsession with self-improvement may be the very thing keeping us stuck. The Myth of Healing offers a powerful reframing of emotional growth—one rooted in permission, presence, and the radical idea that you’re not broken.
The Psychology of Modern Inadequacy
Why do we always feel behind, even when we’re doing everything right? The Psychology of Modern Inadequacy explores the emotional cost of self-optimization, burnout, and the endless performance of worth. This post introduces the book, its core questions, and why so many of us are quietly unraveling in plain sight.
The Psychology of “This is Us” — Family, Memory and the Stories That Shape Us
This Is Us didn’t just entertain—it opened emotional doors. In this deeply reflective exploration, psychology professor RJ Starr unpacks how the Pearson family’s story reveals real-world truths about memory, identity, and love. This book is for anyone still carrying the show’s emotional weight.
The Psychology of Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy isn’t just entertainment—it’s a psychological case study in trauma, grief, and identity. This post explores how the show captures emotional healing through its characters, and why their struggles resonate so deeply. If you’ve ever seen yourself in their pain, this book was written for you.
After They're Grown
In After They're Grown, I explore the psychological and emotional shifts parents face when their children leave home. With psychological insights and practical strategies, this book helps you rediscover yourself during this transformative phase. It's a guide to embracing change, rebuilding identity, and finding purpose in the empty nest years.
Rebuilding Home After Everything Fell Apart
What happens when life no longer looks familiar? Rebuilding Home After Everything Fell Apart is a companion for those quietly starting over—emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. RJ Starr offers a grounded, reflective guide for those rebuilding from the inside out.
How to Stop Overthinking Everything
A practical, psychology-rooted guide to help you break free from constant mental loops. This book teaches why your brain spirals, how to ground yourself in the moment, and what to do when thinking becomes a trap. Includes real tools and rituals for finding peace without needing every answer first.
Seeing Ourselves Clearly
A psychology-based guide to self-awareness, identity, and emotional clarity. Seeing Ourselves Clearly helps you understand how your past shaped your present, and how to reconnect with who you truly are—beyond roles, habits, and expectations. Real tools and prompts support your return to a more grounded, authentic self.
The Emotionally Intelligent Life
Emotional intelligence is a daily practice, not a fixed trait. In The Emotionally Intelligent Life, psychology professor RJ Starr offers real-life tools for presence, accountability, and repair—helping readers grow into people who show up with clarity, care, and integrity when it matters most.
The Basics Still Matter
The Basics Still Matter is a heartfelt return to human truths we’ve forgotten in a fast, performative world. RJ Starr reminds us that presence, kindness, and emotional integrity still hold power—and that small, sincere acts are what truly sustain our relationships and sense of self.
Gone Without Goodbye
Ghosting isn’t just silence—it’s uncertainty that unravels memory and identity. The deepest pain comes not from the disappearance, but from losing the chance to understand the story you thought you were writing with someone else.
Family, Fear, and the Final Fade to Black
Family, Fear, and the Final Fade to Black is a psychological portrait of the collapse at the heart of The Sopranos. Through trauma theory, family systems, and emotional survival, RJ Starr explores how the characters reveal the fragile selves we construct, protect, and sometimes lose.
The Psychology of Gilmore Girls
The Psychology of Gilmore Girls explores identity, family, and emotional growth through the lives of Lorelai, Rory, and Stars Hollow. Blending psychological theory with character analysis, it reveals how the series mirrors our attachment styles, coping strategies, and longing for connection.
Managing Social Media Anxiety for Gen X
Managing Social Media Anxiety for Gen X offers a compassionate guide for navigating the emotional challenges of digital life. With humor and grounded psychology, it helps readers move beyond comparison, reclaim their presence, and redefine connection on their own terms.
Managing Social Media Anxiety for Millennials
Managing Social Media Anxiety: A Real Talk Guide for the Millennial Generation explores how curated digital life fuels self-doubt and anxiety. With honesty and practical tools, it helps readers move beyond comparison and reconnect with authenticity, purpose, and peace.
No Filter Needed
No Filter Needed explores why social media fuels anxiety and how to reclaim confidence and authenticity online. Through relatable stories and practical tools, this guide helps you set healthier boundaries, resist constant comparison, and remember that your worth was never up for likes.
Have You Ever Seen Anyone Yelling at a Dog?
This article explores the central themes of Have You Ever Seen Anyone Yelling at a Dog? by RJ Starr, examining emotional overreaction, impulse-driven behavior, and the psychology of misplaced frustration. It highlights key insights and practical strategies for emotional regulation and growth.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
The Stories We Tell Ourselves by RJ Starr explores how personal narratives shape thoughts, emotions, and behavior. This book helps readers identify limiting beliefs, challenge old stories, and create empowering new narratives that lead to greater fulfillment, purpose, and growth.
The Psychology of Dawson’s Creek
The Psychology of Dawson's Creek: Love, Identity, and Growth in Capeside explores the emotional and psychological journeys of its characters through frameworks like Erikson’s stages and attachment theory, offering fresh insights into love, identity, and personal growth across adolescence.