Mindfulness Books To Help You Find Your Zen

In an increasingly frenetic world, mindfulness has become a key way that people slow down, take stock, and learn to really enjoy their lives. The benefits of mindfulness and meditation are many, but when you’re on a mission to find your zen, it can be hard to know where to start.

At Blinkist, we know a thing or two about which books are worth their salt, so we’ve compiled a list of the best mindfulness books to get you started on your journey to being a calmer, more mindful you. Browse this calming list of the best mindfulness books

Browse this calming list of the best mindfulness books

Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Are you interested in learning how to meditate? In Wherever You Go, There You Are from 1994, Thích Nhất Hạnh-student Jon Kabat-Zinn shares step-by-step meditation practices that are easy to implement into your daily life and that will help you fully enjoy the present moment — and not worry about the past or the future.

The Power of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

This bestseller from Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, functions as a guide for everyday living and puts emphasis on how important it is in practicing mindfulness to be in the present moment — or now, as it’s more commonly known. The book shows you how you can detach yourself from your “ego” and how that will help you to enjoy a better life.

Thoughts Without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective by Mark Epstein

Did you know that meditation and mindfulness can soothe the mind and even heal mental illness? In Thoughts Without a Thinker (1995), which has often been recognized as one of the best mindfulness books, Harvard-educated psychotherapist and Buddhist practitioner, Mark Epstein, describes the fundamental principles of the Buddhist tradition through a psychoanalytic lens. And just in case Harvard isn’t enough of a sign that he knows what he’s talking about: Epstein’s works have even earned the praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama! That’s serious mindfulness cred!

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice by Shunryu Suzuki

If you’re curious about mindfulness as a life philosophy, you should read Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind (1970) by Japanese Monk Shunryu Suzuki. This book functions as a starter’s guide to Zen Buddhism and explains how Zen is not only a system of meditation, but also a philosophy of life. This book will teach you how to sit, breathe and observe while maintaining a vital connection to the present moment.

How to Have a Good Day: Think Bigger, Feel Better and Transform Your Working Life by Caroline Webb

You can use mindfulness to make the most of your working day, too! In How to Have a Good Day (2016), Caroline Webb explains how to navigate the challenges of the modern workplace like a pro and keep your energy high even during stressful and exhausting days. This book offers great advice for anyone who wants to have a greater impact in their workplace.

The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance by George Mumford

What superpowers are you hiding? In The Mindful Athlete (2015), George Mumford shares how a personal practice can help you find and unlock your secret powers. By learning to channel your own inner divinity, you can reach peak performance in sports, work, or wherever else you need it.

You Are Not Your Brain: The Four-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life by Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Rebecca Gladding

Have you ever suffered from harmful thoughts that tell you “you’re not good enough”? You Are Not Your Brain explores the deceptive brain messages that give birth to such thoughts and shows how you can change this detrimental wiring by challenging those messages and focusing your attention elsewhere.

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress without Losing My Edge and Found Self-Help That Actually Works by Dan Harris

News anchor Dan Harris quickly climbed the career ladder within the television industry and lived a life many of us would envy. But when he experienced a panic attack on live television during a broadcast of Good Morning America, it became evident to him that he had to change his life. In 10% Happier, Harris’s personal account shows how meditation can be used to help you cope with the chaos and stress of modern life. The book demystifies meditation with the help of recent scientific research into its effects on the body and mind.

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh & Dr. Lilian Cheung

Can mindfulness help you lose weight? Savor (2010) is one of the top mindfulness books for illustrating how an appreciation for the richness of life in the present moment can help you find inner peace, joy, and strength — especially if you’re trying to sustainably lose weight. With the latest research on best ways to eat and exercise, this book offers a holistic method for improving your physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being.

Buddha’s Brain: Happiness, Love and Wisdom by Rick Hanson

Would you like to have more happiness, love and wisdom in your life? Buddha’s Brain empowers you to achieve this by offering practical skills and tools to tap into your brain’s potential — so that you can achieve a greater peace of mind.

Better Sex through Mindfulness by Dr. Lori Brotto

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From the above mentioned books, it is clear that mindfulness can have a positive impact on just about every aspect of one’s life. Sex is no different. Dr. Lori Brotto examines how modern life has brought new stresses into women’s personal spheres. By using mindfulness, Dr. Brotto argues, women can achieve greater satisfaction. In her appearance on Blinkist’s podcast, Simplify, she discusses this concept further.

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris, Jeff Warren, and Carlyle Adler

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As Dan Harris admitted in his episode of Simplify, he himself was initially skeptical about the benefits of meditation. However, as the improvements he described in 10% Happier manifested, he decided to help others achieve similar results. With Warren and Adler, Harris describes methods that even the busiest among us can use to add a bit of mindfulness to our days.

Mindfulness by Mark Williams and Danny Penman

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If you’d like some structure at the beginning, this is probably the best mindfulness book to get you started on your journey. Mark Williams and Danny Penman guide you through an eight-week course of meditations that will help you find a little peace of mind.

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thích Nhất Hạnh

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Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist Thích Nhất Hạnh, is one of the most famous names in mindfulness — and with good reason! This classic mindfulness book from 1975 explains how the Buddhist art of mindfulness can improve our well-being, and in the long-term, our lives.

There’s a lot of information out there about mindfulness, both helpful and not-so-helpful. By curating this list of the best mindfulness books, we hope to provide a depth of clarity and insight that many other resources might fail to achieve. And that’s the goal with mindfulness, right? Just researching this article has already given me a few new books for my to-be-read list.

And watch this space—we’ll keep this list regularly updated to make sure you’re abreast of all the best mindfulness books on the market!