Whether you’re looking to mindfulness as a way to help yourself, your children, or your clients, and whether you’re looking for the written word, recorded audio books or even free PDFs, there should be something here for you. This article is meant to be an extremely wide-ranging collection of books relating to mindfulness, so go ahead and dive in. We hope you find what you are looking for.

Our Picks: Top 5 Books on Mindfulness for Beginners

If you do not how to get started with mindfulness, one of these books should help you out. These books are directed towards mindfulness newcomers, so you should feel comfortable picking up any of them and beginning to learn from square one.

Real World Mindfulness for Beginners: Navigate Daily Life One Practice at a Time by Brenda Salgado:

Salgado’s book for newcomers aims to introduce mindfulness by relating mindfulness to daily life. She accomplishes this by introducing several different mindfulness practices beginners can make use of immediately, no matter how new they are to mindfulness. Some of these mindfulness exercises are so short they can fit into any schedule. The book also comes recommended by Sharon Salzberg, an accomplished mindfulness leader who will show up later in this article.

Mindfulness for Beginners: A Simple Concise & Complete Guide to Mindfulness Meditation by Jeffrey Holloway:

Holloway’s book for beginners serves as an introduction to mindfulness and mindfulness meditation both in theory and in practice. Reading this book should help someone learn the science of mindfulness as well as different ways to incorporate mindfulness meditation into their lives. The author began learning about mindfulness as a way to combat his anxiety, so people struggling with anxiety might find this book to be a helpful approach in learning mindfulness.

Mindfulness for Beginners: Practical Guide to Mindfulness Meditation & Productive Life:

Tips for The 21st Century Human by Martin Lippmann: Lippmann’s book is one of the shortest books on this list, so it might be a good option for people itching to get into mindfulness. The book focuses on teaching you everything you need to know to start a mindfulness meditation practice, as well as tips on how to make your meditation sessions the most effective they can be. This book is a good option for someone who does not necessarily need to be sold on mindfulness and is just looking for a quick way to get started.

Mindfulness for Beginners: How to Live in the Moment, Stress and Worry Free in a Constant State of Peace and Happiness by Yesenia Chavan:

Chavan’s introduction to mindfulness is not the shortest book on this list yet still a breezy read. It spends a bit more time selling the reader on mindfulness if they are not quite convinced yet, then goes on to suggest ways you can start your own mindfulness practice, from mindfulness meditation sessions to mindful breathing exercises. Chavan’s book is aimed at people who want to dive headfirst into mindfulness and completely change their lives. This is because the author herself used mindfulness teachings on her way to a healthier weight and happier lifestyle.

Mindfulness: Ultimate Beginners Guide to Embrace Peace, Happiness, and Zen by Eliminating Stress and Anxiety by Kemal Ravakar:

Ravakar’s book is meant to show beginners all the different times in their day that they can practice mindfulness, so that they can start applying mindfulness to their lives in the way they choose. This makes it a good solution for people who want to learn the basics of mindfulness on their own time to fit their own schedule, whether they can afford to dedicate a lot of time to mindfulness or just a little bit. This is the book for people who are looking to learn from a Zen master rather than a more Western teacher.

Best Selling Mindfulness Books + Short Reviews

If you prefer proven commodities, here are our picks of mindfulness books that have helped thousands of people before you on their way to becoming bestsellers. These books have become bestsellers by appealing to a wide range of people, so it is likely that you will be able to find value in some of them too.

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World by Haemin Sunim:

Sunim’s mindfulness book is an international bestseller that aims to help people adopt mindfulness in their lives if they want to be happier. The author was born in South Korea but educated in the United States, giving him a unique, broad perspective that many can find value in. In his book, Sunim stresses the importance of healthy relationships with others, along with the necessity of having a strong relationship with ourselves.

This book can help you deepen your existing mindfulness practice, but might also convince someone without an existing practice to establish one.

Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana:

Henepola Gunaratana’s book on mindfulness is meant for people who want to completely change their lives with mindfulness and are ready to commit. It is short enough to read over and over but long enough to make a lasting impact on the reader’s life. The author’s experience teaching in the United States also makes this book on mindfulness very helpful for those in the West while still being rooted in Eastern tradition. This bestseller comes recommended by many mindfulness experts, not the least of which is Jon Kabat-Zinn, who this article will discuss in more depth later.

Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking (Mindfulness Books Series Book 1) by S.J. Scott & Barrie Davenport:

Scott & Davenport’s bestseller is a book focused on a few of the benefits of mindfulness, such as improved relationships and reduced anxiety and mental clutter. It then teaches you how to achieve these benefits through mindfulness meditation and other mindful exercises. The book aims to be actionable, so that any one can pick it up and start benefiting from mindfulness right away. The fact that it is actionable combined with the fairly short length makes this the choice for people who are looking for quick results from their books.

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer:

Singer’s book aims to help the reader discover themselves, their inner space and their inward journey. The author believes that learning and practicing mindfulness is the best path towards becoming conscious and free. He helps the reader achieve this by showing them how to let go of painful memories and start living in the moment. The bestseller has found success all around the world, showing that its lessons are accessible to many cultures.

Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration by Meera Lee Patel:

Patel’s bestseller is the most interactive book on this list, as it is partly a journal for the reader to keep. This journal, however, includes writing prompts and creative exercises aimed towards helping readers discover mindfulness in their own way. This book is an excellent option for independent learners who prefer interactive experiences to more traditional books. It is also the clear choice for fellow artists, as it is presented in a very visually attractive way, unlike the more traditional books that make up the rest of this list.

The Little Book of Mindfulness

The Little Book of Mindfulness : 10 minutes a day to less stress, more peace by Patrizia Collard aims be an easy-to-follow path to mindful awareness for anyone who has ten minutes a day to commit to it. Collard is a psychotherapist with plenty of experience in psychology and mindfulness, so you can have faith that the little book’s mindfulness teachings are rooted in scientific backing. This book is a great way to learn mindfulness and apply it in bite-size chunks, and at just under 100 pages its teachings are condensed enough to digest in a short amount of time.

The 5 Best Mindfulness Meditation Books

If you are particularly interested in mindfulness as it pertains to mindfulness meditation, this section is for you. From guided mindfulness meditation sessions to a full mindfulness meditation program, one of these books should help your practice.

The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thích Nhất Hạnh:

Thích Nhất Hạnh’s introduction to mindfulness meditation takes a casual approach by pointing out opportunities for mindfulness in things you already do. Rather than suggesting you slot mindfulness into your schedule, the author suggests practicing mindfulness while doing everyday things you already do anyways, such as washing the dishes. Thích Nhất Hạnh is a Zen master who is not only well-respected in the mindfulness community, but whose ideas were even praised by Martin Luther King, Jr while he nominated Nhất Hạnh for a Nobel Peace Prize. For readers who prefer to learn from proven authorities, you cannot do much better than Thích Nhất Hạnh.

Mindfulness Meditation: Your Guide To Achieving A Life of Peace By Reducing Stress and Anxiety Through Mindfulness Meditation by Daniel K. Barton:

Barton’s book is an all-in-one guide to mindfulness meditation, from the history of mindfulness meditation to its benefits and ultimately how to begin practicing it. The author does not just assume you have already decided to begin a mindfulness meditation practice, but helps get you there before he begins giving examples. This book is a good option for people who like having a lot of information available before they start doing something, as Barton will convince you to start a mindfulness meditation practice if you are on the fence in any way.

Five Minute Meditation: Mindfulness, Stress Relief, and Focus for Absolute Beginners by Lisa Shea:

This mindfulness meditation handbook is targeted towards helping “absolute beginners” begin a mindful meditation practice, starting with five minutes a day. It is a very short read, and it is completely free, so readers have nothing to lose. If you are already sold on mindfulness meditation and just do not know where to start, this is a good, zero-commitment option. You might need to eventually supplement it with something else on this list, but this book is a great start.

Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program by Sharon Salzberg:

On the other side of the spectrum is Real Happiness, which is a full mindfulness meditation program from Sharon Salzberg, a leader in mindfulness and mindfulness meditation. This book is also aimed at newcomers to mindfulness meditation, but it provides four full weeks of guidance. For people who want to get into mindfulness meditation but need a rigid schedule to stick to rather than looser, less-structured guidance, there is no better option.

Mindfulness: A Mindful Eternity in Meditation: Mindfulness Meditation Guide for All and All Moments by Dhumavarna Patkar:

This book is another how-to guide for mindfulness meditation, though it relates mindfulness to Buddhism more than the other books on this list. It discusses a history of mindfulness, Buddhism, and mindfulness meditation before instructing the reader in how to begin mindfulness meditation. This is a good option for anyone who wants to learn mindfulness meditation with a bit more focus on how it pertains to Buddhism, though its mindfulness teachings are solid on their own.

Mindful Eating Books

Mindful eating is a response to emotional eating, where people eat for reasons other than hunger. Of course, eating more than you need to can lead to health problems, and that’s where mindfulness comes in. By harnessing the power of mindfulness in your diet, you can lead a healthier and more mindful life.

The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution: Proven Strategies to End Overeating, Satisfy Your Hunger, and Savor Your Life by Lynn Rossy, PhD:

This book aims to teach people about mindful eating so they can lose weight or just be happier with their bodies. It is written by Dr. Lynn Rossy, who is not only a clinical psychologist but also on the board of directors for The Center for Mindful Eating. The book helps people be more mindful while eating by helping them figure out how to read their body better as well as understand the reasons for which they are eating.

If you often find yourself eating food just because you’re bored, or for any other reasons besides hunger, this book will give you the strategies you need to stop.

Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food by Jan Chozen Bays, MD:

This book on mindful eating comes from Dr. Jan Chozen Bays, who is also a Zen master. The book aims to help people get started with mindful eating in part by identifying eating habits and patterns, so they can better understand their reasons for eating when they do. It also includes an audio CD with guided meditation exercises. This added CD makes this book an excellent option for people who learn best from multiple forms of media rather than just reading.

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thích Nhất Hạnh & Dr. Lilian Cheung:

This book is a collaboration between the aforementioned Thích Nhất Hạnh and Harvard nutritionist Dr. Lilan Cheung. The two combine their expertise for an extremely well-rounded approach to mindful eating with solid scientific backing. Anyone who is drawn to mindful eating for its basis in nutrition should start right here. While all the authors on this list are qualified to write about mindful eating, this pair’s wealth of knowledge regarding both mindfulness and nutrition cannot be matched.

50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food by Susan Albers, PsyD:

For those of us who like having options, Dr. Albers has put together a great handbook for mindful eating that will show you 50 different things you can do to avoid eating food for the wrong reasons. The author hopes that food cravings can be fought off by turning to this book and picking a strategy. This book is a good option for people who do not need to be sold on mindful eating but are just looking for a collection of ways to start practicing it. In fact, you can even leave it lying on your coffee table until you need it.

Mindful Emotional Eating: Mindfulness Skills to Control Cravings, Eat in Moderation and Optimize Coping by Pavel G. Somov, PhD:

Dr. Somov’s book on mindful eating might be the most helpful one on this list for clinicians, though anyone who wants to start practicing mindful eating will find useful lessons as well. The author believes that “emotional eating is a legitimate form of self-care” and wants people to have the tools to make sure they do not overdo it rather than completely avoid emotional eating. Readers who are looking for a non-judgmental overview of mindful eating techniques might appreciate this book more than some of the others on this list.

Best Books on Mindful Parenting

Mindful parenting is a field dedicated to helping improve the lives of parents, their kids, and families as a whole. By teaching parents mindfulness strategies, parents can raise their children in a more holistic way, and even pass on mindfulness techniques to their children. This benefits the whole family.

Mindful Parenting: Simple and Powerful Solutions for Raising Creative, Engaged, Happy Kids in Today’s Hectic World by Kristen Race, Ph.D.:

Dr. Race’s book aims to teach parents how to raise their kids in a world filled with stress. The author is an expert in family psychology, so you would be hard-pressed to find a more qualified individual to speak on mindful parenting. Dr. Race aims to help parents and children reduce their stress levels while realizing that stress is a reality of the world we live in today. She also has two children of her own, so you can trust that her teachings are based in real-world experience as well.

Mindful Discipline: A Loving Approach to Setting Limits and Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by Shauna Shapiro, PhD & Chris White, MD:

Mindful discipline is a dual effort from a clinical psychologist/mindfulness expert and a pediatrician/life coach. This combined experience leads to a holistic approach to mindful parenting from the authors which combines neuroscience and mindfulness. Their goal with the book is for parents to have the tools to raise their children with confidence by adhering to five simple principles starting with unconditional love and ending with learning from mistakes. This is the book for anyone who prefers their psychology readings to integrate neuroscience and social psychology.

The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting by Shefali Tsabary, PhD:

The awakened family is another offering from a clinical psychologist, though it should be noted that this one comes recommended by Oprah Winfrey herself. The author prides herself on combining Western and Eastern teachings and has previously written a bestselling book on parenting before this one.

The goal of this book is to help parents raise children who can thrive, starting by increasing the well-being of the parents themselves.

The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate by Susan Kaiser Greenland:

Greenland’s book is based on her mindful parenting program which has found support from the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. In it, she teaches parents a step-by-step approach with which they can give their children mindfulness tools to overcome stress and stressful situations. The teachings in the book are aimed at a wide range of children from four to 18 years old, so all parents can find value in it. The systematic organization of its teachings might also make it easier to follow for parents who do not have experience with psychology or mindfulness.

The Mindful Parent: Strategies from Peaceful Cultures to Raise Compassionate, Competent Kids by Charlotte Peterson:

Dr. Peterson’s book takes a different approach from the others discussed here. The author spent years observing parenting strategies from different Eastern cultures and condensed her research into this book aimed at parents in the West. The point of the book is to teach parents how to organize their lives to best fit their children’s (and their own) needs. Any parent looking for a way to use mindfulness to increase their family’s well-being can find value in this compilation of mindful parenting strategies from around the world.

Better Start Young: The Best Mindfulness Books for Kids

While mindful parenting includes ways for parents to teach mindfulness to their kids, these books cut out the middleman and present mindfulness techniques directly to children in a way they can relate to and understand. These books are better suited for children who are interested in mindfulness on their own, as well as parents who are not sure if they can commit to mindful parenting. Of course, these books in combination with mindful parenting books are an excellent option as well.

Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents) by Eline Snel:

This book is aimed at children from 5 to twelve years old who struggle with anxiety, emotions, and other normal aspects of childhood. After explaining the benefits of mindfulness, the book provides 11 mindfulness exercises children can easily add to their schedules. The book also includes a CD with guided meditations read by Myla Kabat-Zinn (who, along with her husband who will be discussed later in this article, is a major figure in mindfulness). The author has years of experience with mindfulness and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in particular, so Sitting Still Like a Frog is an excellent choice for anyone looking to share mindfulness with their children.

Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety: A Workbook for Overcoming Anxiety at Home, at School, and Everywhere Else (Teen Instant Help) by Christopher Willard, PsyD:

Dr. Willard’s mindfulness book is more aimed at teenagers specifically, as its title indicates. In it, the author shares different strategies teenagers can use to get over their anxiety and other social worries so they can enjoy their adolescence. The book focuses on all aspects of a teenager’s life, from home anxiety to school anxiety to relationship anxiety, so the mindfulness techniques within can benefit any teenager dealing with anxiety. Teenagers who find the books aimed at children too young for them might find value in Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety.

Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and Meditation with Children, Teens, and Families by Susan Kaiser Greenland:

This book from Susan Kaiser Greenland is aimed more directly at children than her mindful parenting book which was discussed above. Greenland has compiled more than 50 games and activities that kids and their families can enjoy on their way to learning and practicing mindfulness. The book focuses on teaching “Attention, Balance, and Compassion” along with concentration skills, so most kids should be able to learn from its teachings. Since this book teaches mindfulness in a fun way, many families might find it a useful tool in sharing mindfulness with each other.

Yoga and Mindfulness Practices for Children Card Deck by Jennifer Cohen Harper:

Harper’s book also offers 50 ways for children to practice mindfulness, though they are in the very accessible form of a card deck. These exercises are split into five categories: Connect, Breathe, Move, Focus and Relax. The book is also illustrated by Karen Gilmour, a children’s yoga teacher, so the illustrations are true-to-life. Any clinicians who mainly deal with children might also find this a helpful tool in their practice. A sample of a few of the book’s cards can be accessed here

Mindfulness Skills for Kids & Teens: A Workbook for Clinicians & Clients with 154 Tools, Techniques, Activities & Worksheets by Debra Burdick:

If 50 techniques is not enough for you, this book triples that number in presenting over 150 mind tools that children and adolescents can use to practice mindfulness. These tools are meant to explain mindfulness in kid-friendly ways, allow children to gain their own mindfulness skills, and let children track their mindfulness practices, among other things. Some of the tools are targeted at differently-aged kids, but because there are so many options available, there is value in this book for children and adolescents of all ages. This book is a versatile option for multi-children households, and can also stay relevant as kids get older.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Books

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an eight-week program partially inspired by Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which was founded by the soon-to-be-discussed Jon Kabat-Zinn. MBCT is most often a group therapy treatment plan aimed at people struggling with major depressive disorder. Some of the following books might be helpful for clinicians with depressive patients, while others might be helpful for people dealing with depression.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Dummies by Dr. Patrizia Collard:

Whether or not you consider yourself a dummy, Dr. Collard’s book is an excellent guide to MBCT. Along with introducing the reader to MBCT, it also includes access to downloadable guided meditations you can use when undergoing or administering the eight-week course. This book is an excellent starting point for learning about MBCT, even for those who have absolutely no idea how to start. It can be helpful to show clinicians how a program might look, as well as for showing patients what they should expect before beginning a program.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Distinctive Features by Rebecca Crane:

Crane’s book is aimed at clinical practitioners who want to learn about MBCT. The author presents the concept by describing thirty features of the program that define it and set it apart. It should be noted that the book specifically focuses on MBCT “that is offered in a group context to those who are vulnerable to depressive relapses”, so it is most applicable to that situation, though it can still serve as a good overview of MBCT in general. This option might not be as useful for people dealing with major depressive disorder, as it is mostly intended to help train clinicians.

Building Competence in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy:

Transcripts and Insights for Working With Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Other Problems by Richard W. Sears: Dr. Sears’s book aims to serve as an example of a full, eight-week MBCT program for people to study and learn about. It is the next-best thing to actual experience with an MBCT program, and the author shares some insights that can further help someone administer the program. This is a good option for someone who wants to know what an MBCT program actually looks like in practice before administering one on their own.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Anxious Children:

A Manual for Treating Childhood Anxiety by Randye J. Semple, PhD & Jennifer Lee, PhD: Dr. Semple and Dr. Lee’s MBCT book is the only one this list focused on children. It is particularly aimed at 9-12 year old kids, so would be most useful for practitioners dealing with pre-teenagers. The book not only describes how to treat a child with a twelve-session MBCT program, but also includes supplementary poems and activities to deepen a child’s engagement with the program. This book is the clear choice for anyone concerned with MBCT for children specifically.

The Mindful Way Workbook: An 8-Week Program to Free Yourself from Depression and Emotional Distress by John D. Teasdale, PhD, J. Mark G. Williams, DPhil, Zindel V. Segal, PhD:

This book is not necessarily aimed at clinicians, but instead at people who think they could benefit from MBCT. It offers mindfulness practices, guided meditations (which are downloadable as well as on an included MP3 CD), and a way to track your progress in the mindfulness program. It is a great option for people who wish to learn on their own as the authors are each extremely qualified to speak on MBCT.

Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World

Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams & Danny Penman:

While the previous section highlighted five different books dedicated to MBCT, this one merits consideration by itself. The authors have taken teachings from MBCT and presented them in such a way that the reader can use them to improve their own lives. By dedicated 20 minutes or fewer a day to learning from MBCT, readers who struggle with depression or are otherwise stressed by daily life can find techniques to manage their struggle. The foreword of this edition is by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Speaking of which…

Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Books

Jon Kabat-Zinn studied Buddhism under Thích Nhất Hạnh and went on to found the Oasis Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the MBSR program. He is a major figure in popularizing mindfulness teachings in the West, and we felt he has written too many valuable books to pick just one. Mindfulness beginners as well as experienced practitioners should find value amongst these offerings.

Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment – and Your life by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

Although this article already had a section on mindfulness books for beginners, Kabat-Zinn’s offering deserves its own mention. The book is meant to be read either all at once, or little by little for a versatile way to learn about mindfulness from the man who popularized it in the West. It also includes a CD with guided mindfulness meditation sessions, making this book perhaps the single best one from which to learn about mindfulness.

Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition): Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

This book was first published over two decades ago yet still stands tall as an entry into the field of popular mindfulness. It is a long overview of mindfulness and the science behind it (with this edition updated with more recent studies), and serves as a fairly complete handbook for mindfulness for anyone interested in the field. People who prefer the scientific side of mindfulness might find this to be their favorite book from Kabat-Zinn.

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

This follow-up to Full Catastrophe Living is a much more condensed overview of mindfulness which focuses more heavily on mindfulness meditation than the previous book did. This makes it a better option for someone who is more interested in the meditation aspect of mindfulness, as well as someone who is looking for a shorter book to deal with. It has been a bestseller for decades meaning that countless other people have found it helpful, so you probably will too.

Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

Released well after Wherever You Go, There You Are, Coming to Our Senses is an updated overview of mindfulness for anyone interested in its teachings. It is much longer than Wherever You Go, There You Are, and the fact that it is so much more recent makes it a good option for someone who wants more up-to-date scientific evidence for mindfulness. This book focuses on the relationship between our minds and our bodies, so people interested in mind-body integration should find it interesting. Of course, it is also a good option for anyone who has read and liked Kabat-Zinn’s other books, as it is just another branch of his extensive teachings on mindfulness.

Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

Finally, Kabat-Zinn’s Arriving at Your Own Door is easily the shortest book of his on this list, making it the clear option for fans of brevity. Just as it sounds, it is a collection of over 100 mindfulness lessons anyone can learn from. As a series of bite-sized reflections, this book can be used like a daily teacher when it comes to mindfulness, for those of us who could use reminding to be mindful every now and then. It can also be a great way to start learning about Kabat-Zinn’s teachings with little commitment.

Freely Available Mindfulness Books in PDF

Free PDFs are always an excellent learning tool, as they are accessible to anyone with an internet connection and can be shared just as easily. Here are a few great choices to learn about mindfulness in the cheapest way possible. If you like these books, you can share them with anyone willing to learn.

The Little Book of Mindfulness by medibank:

The Little Book of Mindfulness is indeed a very little book and probably more accurately called a pamphlet, but some might find it an engaging, quick introduction to mindfulness. It is by no means exhaustive or all-encompassing, but can serve as a good introduction to some aspects of mindfulness, from stress relief to meditations to smartphone apps one might find helpful on their journey. This easily shareable, free PDF is a good way to share mindfulness with people and try to pique their interest.

Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners by Sean Fargo:

This free option can be a great introduction to mindfulness meditation for a self-motivated learner. It functions as a journal as well as an idea guide, as it prompts you to try an exercise then allows you to write down how it made you feel. It is also just a great collection of mindfulness exercises anyone can easily start practicing. The book can be viewed in-browser or downloaded and shared, so that people who find its teachings valuable can spread the joy of mindfulness meditation with their friends.

Anapanasanti – Mindfulness of Breathing by Buddhadàsa Bhikkhu:

The contents of this free ebook were originally delivered as a series of lectures on the mindfulness of breathing to a group of monks. It is a good option for those who want their mindfulness teachings to be explicitly based in Buddhism. Intended to be a manual to mindful breathing, this very long guide can be an extensive introduction for beginners who do not have access to a teacher of their own. That is to say, it is not for people looking for a breezy introduction to mindfulness.

Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond: A Meditator’s Handbook by Ajahn Brahm:

This meditation handbook is about 1/10th the length of Anapanasanti – Mindfulness of Breathing, so it might be helpful for people who do not yet have as much time to dedicate to mindfulness. The book comes recommended by Jack Kornfield, an expert in mindfulness, and its short length does not make it any less valuable. The book guides the reader through the beginning stages of establishing a mindfulness meditation practice, and the fact that it is freely available as a PDF makes it easy to share its teachings with anyone who wishes to have a handbook for mindfulness meditation.

The Proactive Twelve Steps For Mindful Recovery by Serge Prengel:

Finally, Prengel’s book is meant to help people use mindfulness for the purpose of recovery from whatever they are dealing with. It was inspired by the original twelve steps program for alcohol recovery, though it is retooled to de-emphasize the presence of a higher power for anyone who feels uncomfortable with that idea. Instead, it is meant to encourage personal growth and transformation from within. People who have undergone the original twelve-step program from Alcoholics Anonymous may also find value in this as a supplement.

Audio Books on Mindfulness

Some of us prefer learning by audio rather than by reading, and others of us just prefer audio books. Whatever your reasoning, here are five great audio books on mindfulness you should enjoy. One of them is so good that we mention it here for the second time, but most of the rest are great audio books which are also available in tradition book form that we have not yet mentioned.

Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief: Guided Practices for Reclaiming Your Body and Your Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

Kabat-Zinn is so highly thought of in the mindfulness community that we not only felt it necessary to dedicate a section to him above, but we also felt that he also deserves to be the first author mentioned in this section. In this audio book, Kabat-Zinn both talks about mindfulness meditation and leads guided mindfulness meditation sessions, so this is a good option for someone looking for both. Since the meditations contained within are specifically geared towards pain relief, this audio book is a particularly good option for someone who is in pain and does not find it comfortable to sit and read.

The Art of Meditation by Daniel Goleman, Ph.D.:

This CD has a simple goal that it executes well: presenting four different guided meditation sessions you can follow and practice with. Dr. Goleman includes a body scan meditation, a walking meditation, a breathing meditation, and finally a general mindfulness meditation. This makes the book useful for people seeking mindfulness for several different reasons, and listeners might even find a benefit of mindfulness that they did not know they needed.

Mindfulness: An Eight- Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams & Danny Penman:

The audio book version of this aforementioned book can come in handy for people who find it hard to follow a program while reading, and prefer to listen instead. This audio book will walk you through the entire 8-week program. You can even put it onto your phone or mp3 player and have a full mindfulness program available to you at all times.

Mindful Birthing: Training the Mind, Body, and Heart for Childbirth and Beyond by Nancy Bardacke, CNM:

As the title suggests, this audio book is not for everyone. Instead, it is targeted to expecting families who want to use mindfulness to ease their pregnancy as well as their actual birthing. This audio book uses mindfulness to ease an expecting family’s fears going into childbirth and should help with reducing stress in every step. It is written by a nurse, midwife, and mindfulness teacher, so it would be hard to find someone with more relevant experience when it comes to mindful birthing.

Joyful Wisdom by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche:

For those who want mindfulness that is based in Buddhism, Joyful Wisdom is the way to go. In it, the author deals with anxiety in the modern world and how we can deal with it. It is not an audio book of guided meditation sessions, but one to be listened to as a lesson and as a story. This audio book will give any practitioner of mindfulness and Buddhism plenty to think about long after finishing it, as the author is a respected meditation master.

A Take Home Message

Although we have just listed many of our favorites above, there are countless books out there which can help you learn about and practice many aspect of mindfulness. Whatever your learning style is, whatever your experience level is, and whatever you need mindfulness for in your life, we hope this page has a book for you. Even better, we hope it has several. If you have a favorite mindfulness book that you think should be on this list, let us know!

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