7 Books about Mindfulness and Meditation Everyone Should Read

            Over the last few years, I’ve started reading more about mindfulness and meditation. It’s one of the best ways that I’ve learned more about meditation and different practices. It also inspires me to build a stronger practice by showing me the potential of meditation in one’s life.

            These are some of the books that I’ve found most inspiring:

1. The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by BeingPresent to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo

The Book of Awakening

            This book is calendar based, each day has a quote, short reflection, and meditation. It was written by Mark Nepo, a poet and teacher, after recovering from his fight with cancer. He shares his journey of living in the present moment by helping readers awaken to their lives.. For me, it has been an incredible way to start each morning by reminding myself of what’s most important.

           

2. Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

            This is a beautiful book filled with short passages reflecting on various themes. Thich Nhat Hanh, who has sold millions of books with his Buddhist teachings, describes ways to be present during your everyday life: while you brush your teeth, in the car, or folding laundry. It’s filled with entertaining stories and brilliant life lessons.

3. Cave in the Snow by Vicki Mackenzie

            This book describes the life of Tenzin Palmo as she spends over 12 years living alone in a cave in the Himalayas.  She details not only Palmo's experiences in the cave, but her journey to the cave after growing up in England, as well as the ways she has since worked to advance Buddhism for women in the West. It’s an eye-opening story of how mindfulness changed one woman’s life, and how she has used that to change the lives of many others.

4. The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

            This book is a practical guide to meditation. Like many of his other books, it is written in a poetic language. It simplifies meditation, making it easier for beginners to understand, before diving deeply into principles behind meditation that are insightful for any level practitioner. Above all, he describes how to discover the joy in meditation.

5. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Timesby Pema Chodron

            This book guides readers through facing difficult times and helps readers learn how to emerge stronger from challenges. It helps readers break problematic habits, communicate more effectively, and practice compassion and courage from their difficulties. Many of Chodron’s over 20 books belong on this list, as they are an excellent guide to mindfulness, but this book particularly guides readers mindfully through life’s challenges.

6. Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart ofa Buddha by Tara Brach

            Brach’s book offers a path to freedom from the suffering we all face by not accepting ourselves as we are. From her over 40 years as a meditation teacher, and her experience as a clinical psychologist, she gives practical steps people can take to accept themselves. Through clients’ stories, traditional Buddhist stories, and personal experience, Brach guides people to live more compassionately, opening themselves up to helping the world.

7. 21 questions for the 21st century by YuvalNoah Harari

            This book looks at the biggest problems that will come up this century-sociological, technological, political, and philosophical- and how we can hope to solve them. While it’s not about meditation, meditation and mindfulness are tools that Harari encourages readers to embrace while thinking about these problems and ways to advance our society and adapt to the constant changes.

            These are seven of the books that I have found most helpful and inspiring in my meditation practice. What would you add to the list?