The Best Books on Mindfulness and Meditation
Whether you're just considering dipping your toes in, or have been meditating for years, these books offer helpful guidance and inspiration on meditation, mindfulness, and living a rich life.
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Jon Kabat-Zinn was among the first to translate the ancient traditions of mindfulness into terms and practices that make sense in the context of our modern lives. His gentle, persuasive style makes you want to get out there and try the simple, yet powerful practices he suggests. Reading this book will inspire you to bring more mindfulness into your life, and show you how to do it.
Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness, (and World Peace) by Chade-Meng Tan
Written with a directness and sense of humor that could only come out of Silicon Valley, Search Inside Yourself is Googler Chade-Meng Tan's answer to the non-stop whirlwind of life inside a tech company. He includes many exercises for developing your meditation practice, and no-holds-barred perspective on why it's worth cultivating.
Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Guaratana
When you're ready to really dig into the practice of meditation, turn to this book. You'll be hard-pressed to find another detailed how-to manual for mindfulness meditation that is as readable and thorough.
A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield
This is a beautiful, heartfelt book to dip into, think over, and let marinate over time. Kornfield has a delightfully meandering style that weaves in many anecdotes from his own life as he offers guidance on mindfulness, meditation, and building a life worth living.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
With a laser-sharp focus that cuts through all the excuses we can come up with for not being here, now, Eckhart Tolle offers a radically different worldview from the one we’ve grown up with, one that is tremendously hopeful and inspiring. Written in a straightforward Q&A style, this book will deepen your understanding of mindfulness, and light a fire under your meditation practice.
We hope these books fuel your meditation practice, and inspire you to infuse your life with mindfulness.
What other books inspire you? We'd love to hear them! Share your favorites in the comments, below.
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