In a world of stress, anxiety, and pressure you can find calmness and mindfulness in your life. Meditation can be a way to live a more peaceful, balanced, and meaningful life.
You can learn more about mindfulness, meditation, living in the present moment, and human consciousness to take your journey to a peaceful life.
We have listed some of the best books on meditation and mindfulness to learn more about it. You can read those books to find tools, techniques, and ideas that help you to excel in your life.
Each book in this article has to offer something valuable and you can start reading those books to observe yourself.
If you are a beginner I highly recommend these three books to be your book to start with.
- The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness By Andi Puddicombe
- 10% Happier By Dan Harris
- Meditation and Its Methods By Swami Vivekananda
We also have listed other best books on different topics and categories, you can check them to find the best book to read. Here are some of the related best books list.
- Best books on Psychology
- Best books on Stress and Anxiety
- Best books on Mental Health
- Best books on Happiness
Let’s begin with the best books on meditation and mindfulness list.
Meditation and Its Methods By Swami Vivekananda
Meditation and Its Methods is a collection of lectures delivered by Swami Vivekananda, a well-respected Indian spiritual leader. The book comprises various topics of meditation and its techniques.
The book talks about the philosophy of meditation, its significant role in spiritual growth, and practical methods to practice meditation.
This book is not for someone who is just starting out, you should read the next book and then read this one to understand it deeply.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- Swami Vivekananda explains that the ultimate purpose of meditation is to realize the divine nature within oneself.
- The book talks about various meditation techniques like concentration, contemplation, mantra repetition, visualization, and other various methods. Each method has its own focus and benefits.
- The primary focus of meditation is to still the waves of thought in the mind and achieve a state of calmness.
- With regular practice, you will be able to take the benefits of meditation.
Quotes from the Book:
- The easiest way to make ourselves happy is to see that others are happy.― Swami Vivekananda
- Do not criticize others, for all doctrines and all dogmas are good; but show them by your lives that religion is no matter of books and beliefs, but of spiritual realization.― Swami Vivekananda
- It is the coward and the fool who says, ‘This is fate.’” But it is the strong man who stands up and says, “I will make my fate.”― Swami Vivekananda
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness By Andi Puddicombe
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andi Puddicombe is a practical guidebook to practice meditation and mindfulness.
Andy Puddicombe is the co-founder of Headspace, one of the best and most popular meditation apps.
Drawing from his own experience as a Buddhist monk Andy founded Headspace, in the app he teaches meditation and his different methods and techniques.
In this book, the author shared his journey and experience as a Buddhist monk and how you can practice meditation, with simple techniques that can be fully synced with your modern-day life. You should read this book as a beginner to take your journey with meditation.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- The author breaks down some misconceptions and myths about meditation for beginners.
- The book also emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in everyday life not just during meditation but also in daily activities like eating, walking, and listening.
- Live and focus on the present moment without judgment with the state of awareness.
Quotes from the Book:
- When it comes to meditation, though, the goal and the journey are the same thing.― Andy Puddicombe
- The kind of happiness that I’m talking about is the ability to feel comfortable no matter what emotion arises.― Andy Puddicombe
- Meditation isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training in awareness and understanding how and why you think and feel the way you do, and getting a healthy sense of perspective in the process.― Andy Puddicombe
Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Mindfulness in Plain English is a guide to practicing mindfulness meditation By a Shri Lankan Buddhist Monk. This book provides a guide and practical instructions to be mindful in your daily life.
This book is a must-read for beginners and experienced meditators to know more about mindfulness.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- Breath is a primary example of mindfulness meditation and how you can observe the breath as it occurs naturally.
- Mindfulness meditation exceeds meditation sessions and this book gives a guide on how you can integrate into your life.
- The book also provides guidance on how to deal with distractions during meditation.
Quotes from the Book:
- The crucial thing is to be mindful of what is occurring, not to control what is occurring.― Henepola Gunaratana
- Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. You may not be perfect, but you are all you’ve got to work with.― Henepola Gunaratana
- Meditation changes your character by a process of sensitization, by making you deeply aware of your own thoughts, words, and deeds.― Henepola Gunaratana
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life By Jon Kabat-Zinn
Wherever you go, there you are is a book that talks about the practice of mindfulness meditation and how you can integrate it with your daily life.
In this book, the author also shares his experience and through this, he helps individuals cultivate mindfulness and find a sense of presence in daily life.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- Be present in your every moment without any distraction or judgment.
- Mindfulness involves observing thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment.
- Mindfulness can reduce stress and make people more calm.
- Observe your thoughts as they arise and recognize that they are thoughts, not facts.
Quotes from the Book:
- For men and women alike, this journey is a trajectory between birth and death, a human life lived. No one escapes the adventure. We only work with it differently.—Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Give yourself permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow yourself to be exactly as you are.—Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Meditation does not involve trying to change your thinking by thinking some more. It involves watching thought itself.—Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation By Thich Nhat Hanh
The Miracle Mindfulness is a classic book By Thich Nhat Hanh talks about the practice of mindfulness meditation in a simple and accessible way.
The author is a renowned Zen Buddhist monk and teacher who dedicated his life to spreading mindfulness and peace.
He gives practical guidance on reducing stress from everyday life, cultivating your inner peace, and becoming aware of every single moment of your life. This book is also a good book to read for beginners and advanced people.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- Walking can be meditation and the author walking meditation as a way to be present in the moment.
- Observing your breath can help you be aware of the present moment.
- This book provides techniques to deal with negative emotions and how you can transfer them in a more positive way.
Quotes from the Book:
- To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is.― Thich Nhat Hanh
- In mindfulness one is not only restful and happy, but alert and awake. Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.― Thich Nhat Hanh
- Those who are without compassion cannot see what is seen with the eyes of compassion.― Thich Nhat Hanh
Total Meditation: Practices in Living the Awakened Life By Deepak Chopra
Total Meditation By Deepak Chopra is a book that talks about the various forms of meditation techniques to integrate into your daily life.
The author mixes spirituality and modern science and presents it to the people as a path to greater awareness and spiritual awakening.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- The book introduces a wide range of meditation practices to find what resonates with you.
- The book also talks about mantra meditation which involves repeating work to quiet your mind.
- Meditation has many health benefits stress reduction, improved well-being, and enhanced brain function.
Quotes from the Book:
- In the end, learning how to feel your way through life offers the best hope of happiness and success.― Deepak Chopra
- One person’s emotional set point can be very different from another person’s, which is why we notice people who seem naturally happy or naturally glum.― Deepak Chopra
- Consciousness is harmonious—every level of Nature is part of the whole. Every thread contributes to the cosmic tapestry.― Deepak Chopra
Freedom from the Known By Jiddu Krishnamurti
Freedom from the Known is a philosophical and spiritual book by Jiddu Krishnamurti that talks about challenging conventional thinking and questioning the limitations of their conditioning.
Jiddu Krishnamurti, a philosopher and spiritual teacher, explores self-awareness, freedom, consciousness, and the nature of reality.
This book provides a perspective on life, self-improvement, and human existence. This book is not an easy read, you have to read and re-read multiple times to grasp the ideas the author has to offer.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- The author talks about the difference between the known and the unknown.
- According to the author, fear is a barrier to freedom, and confronting fear is the path towards liberation.
- Krishnamurti introduces the form of meditation that involves observing the mind in silence without any use of technique or mantra.
Quotes from the Book:
- Thought is so cunning, so clever, that it distorts everything for its own convenience.― Jiddu Krishnamurti
- Passion is a rather frightening thing because if you have passion you don’t know where it will take you.― Jiddu Krishnamurti
- All outward forms of change brought about by wars, revolutions, reformations, laws, and ideologies have failed completely to change the basic nature of man and therefore of society.― Jiddu Krishnamurti
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment By Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a book that explores the nature of human consciousness and offers guidance on how to live a more fulfilling life.
The book talks about living in the present moment and the power it holds to transfer personally and spiritually. In this book, he introduces the concept of “being present” to help individuals free from their past and future.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- The book talks about the egoist mind and how it constantly seeks attention through thoughts and beliefs.
- Practice to observe thoughts without judgment.
- The book explores the concept of time as a mental construct and how it influences our perspective and suffering.
Quotes from the Book:
- The past has no power over the present moment.—Eckhart Tolle
- Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.—Eckhart Tolle
- Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.—Eckhart Tolle
- The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.—Eckhart Tolle
10% Happier By Dan Harris
10% Happier by Dan Harris is a memoir and self-help book that talks about the author’s journey from a news anchor struggling with anxiety and stress to a more mindful person.
The book explores meditation and mindfulness as a tool for personal development and happiness. Dan shared his experience, insights, and the scientific research behind mindfulness while pointing out the myths of meditation.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- The book explores the author’s pursuit of happiness and how it led him to explore mindfulness meditation.
- Harris shares how mindfulness meditation really helped him to manage stress, and anxiety and improve his overall life.
- The book also includes interviews with prominent meditation teachers and scientists to learn more about it.
Quotes from the Book:
- There’s no point in being unhappy about things you can’t change, and no point being unhappy about things you can.—Dan Harris
- We live so much of our lives pushed forward by these “if only” thoughts, and yet the itch remains. The pursuit of happiness becomes the source of our unhappiness.—Dan Harris
- When you have one foot in the future and the other in the past, you piss on the present. —Dan Harris
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself By Michael A. Singer
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer is a spiritual book that talks about the nature of human consciousness and the path to inner freedom. The book explores the idea that the self is not limited to ego or the physical body but an infinite consciousness. He also introduces the concept of “inner roommate”—the constant stream of thoughts and inner dialogues.
Lessons From the Book:
Here are some lessons from the book.
- The nature of consciousness is vast and limitless beyond the egoist self.
- Develop awareness, by observing thoughts, emotions, and experiences without attachment.
- True happiness can be found beyond external factors.
Quotes from the Book:
- There is nothing more important to true growth than realizing that you are not the voice of the mind – you are the one who hears it.― Michael A. Singer
- Only you can take inner freedom away from yourself, or give it to yourself. Nobody else can.― Michael A. Singer
- If you truly love someone, your love sees past their humanness.― Michael A. Singer
Wrapping Up…
So, these are some of the best books on meditation and mindfulness you should read to learn more about meditation and its techniques, mindfulness, living in the present, and much more.
Remember, you have to go a long way in the journey to discover yourself and an empty room, mind, and these books are best friends to start with.
I highly recommend choosing one of these three books as your first read if you are a newbie.
- The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness By Andi Puddicombe
- 10% Happier By Dan Harris
- Meditation and Its Methods By Swami Vivekananda
We also have listed other best books on different topics and categories, you can check them to find the best book to read. Here are some of the related best books list.
- Best books on Psychology
- Best books on Stress and Anxiety
- Best books on Mental Health
- Best books on Happiness
