âčïž Skipped - page is already crawled
| Filter | Status | Condition | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTTP status | PASS | download_http_code = 200 | HTTP 200 |
| Age cutoff | PASS | download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH | 0 months ago |
| History drop | PASS | isNull(history_drop_reason) | No drop reason |
| Spam/ban | PASS | fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0 | ml_spam_score=0 |
| Canonical | PASS | meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed | Not set |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| URL | https://www.shortform.com/best-books/genre/best-mindfulness-books-of-all-time |
| Last Crawled | 2026-04-13 20:30:50 (19 hours ago) |
| First Indexed | 2020-07-09 14:38:31 (5 years ago) |
| HTTP Status Code | 200 |
| Meta Title | 100 Best Mindfulness Books of All Time (Updated for 2025) |
| Meta Description | The worldâs best mindfulness books of all time. Recommended by leading experts like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Eric Schmidt. |
| Meta Canonical | null |
| Boilerpipe Text | 1
Eckhart Tolle is emerging as one of today's most inspiring teachers. In The
Power of Now, a #1 national bestseller, the author describes his transition
from despair to self-realization soon after his 29th birthday. Tolle took
another ten years to understand this transformation, during which time he
evolved a philosophy that has parallels in Buddhism, relaxation techniques,
and meditation theory but is also eminently practical. In The Power of Now
he shows readers how to recognize themselves as the creators of their own
pain, and how to have a pain-free...
more
Recommended by
Roxana Bitoleanu,Â
Darrah Brustein,Â
Valeria Mercado,Â
and 10 others.
Roxana Bitoleanu
[One of the books that had the biggest impact on ] The power of now, as time is a limited resource and we should spend it as wonderfully as possible.
(Source)
Darrah Brustein
Others include The Power Of Now which is powerful reminder that all we have is the present and helps give you meaningful ways to live in it, not in the past or the future.
(Source)
Valeria Mercado
@Ye_Ali The best book
(Source)
2
In this book, the author maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one's own life. It speaks both to those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime practitioners, anyone who cares deeply about reclaiming the richness of his or her moments.
more
Recommended by
Rick Rubin,Â
Henry Medine,Â
and 2 others.
Rick Rubin
Itâs a great book if youâve never meditated, and if youâve been meditating for 50 years.
(Source)
Henry Medine
I promote range and diversity. Thus, I recommend readers to expose themselves to as many different topics as possible. I usually have 2-4 books I refer back to at any given time. They range in topics from management, art, spirituality and philosophy. Trying to get the engineering thing going but don't much of a mind for science.
(Source)
3
In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.
more
4
Man's Search for Meaning has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 psychiatrist Viktor Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the stories of his many patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theoryâknown as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")âholds...
more
Tony Robbins
Another book that Iâve read dozens of times. It taught me that if you change the meaning, you change everything. Meaning equals emotion, and emotion equals life.
(Source)
Dustin Moskovitz
[Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.]
(Source)
Simon Sinek
This is essential reading for anyone interested in the topic of purpose. Because Franklâs personal experience was so extreme, the lessons are that much more stark. And, most importantly, his lessons are universally applicable to all our lives.
(Source)
5
Nightline
anchor Dan Harris embarks on an unexpected, hilarious, and deeply skeptical odyssey through the strange worlds of spirituality and self-help, and discovers a way to get happier that is truly achievable.
After having a nationally televised panic attack on
Good Morning America
, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure, involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing...
more
Peter Attia
Modulating hormones as necessary - weâve not really talked about that. Fixing anything that needs to be fixed, on top of that pharmacologically, and Iâm a huge proponent of pharmacotherapy under the right setting. The final component is managing your stress. So as a guy whoâs thinking about this, I became really interested after actually reading Dan Harrisâs book.
(Source)
Chris Goward
I remember reading 10% Happier by Dan Harris on one of my many flights to speak at a conference a couple years ago. I had been practicing meditation for a few years, and had tried to get deeper into learning about it, I struggled with the religious aspect many Buddhist authors brought, which seemed to bring more confusion than clarity. The way Dan described his process of skepticism and discovery...
(Source)
Veronica Belmont
Made me totally rethink mindfulness and meditation.
(Source)
6
Thich Nhat Hahn is a Vietnamese Zen master, poet and writer whose humane, benevolent presence and spiritual influence is comparable only to that of the Dalai Lama. His teachings show how to use Zen mindfulness in everyday aspects of life, live in the world peacefully, and weather daily mundane crises as well as larger spiritual trials.
more
Recommended by
Joel Gascoigne,Â
and 1 others.
Joel Gascoigne
Around two and a half years ago I found myself on a very organic path from business, success and self-improvement books to those that spanned both personal success and spirituality. Books like The Monk and the Riddle mentioned above address this topic. After reading some of these books, I naturally found myself interested in meditation and Zen Buddhism. One of the most fascinating Zen Buddhists...
(Source)
7
âA masterpiece.â
âJon Kabat-Zinn
SinceÂ
Mindfulness in Plain English
 was first published in 1994, it has become one of the bestselling â and most
influential â books in the field of mindfulness. Itâs easy to see why.
Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us
 step by step through the myths, realities, and
benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness.Â
The book showcases Bhanteâs trademark clarity and wit, as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work.
more
8
From one of the leading thinkers on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, a pioneering set of simple practices to dissolve anxiety, stress, exhaustion, and unhappiness.In "Mindfulness," Oxford professor Mark Williams and award-winning journalist Dr. Danny Penman reveal the secrets to living a happier and less anxious, stressful and exhausting life. Based on the techniques of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, the unique program developed by Williams and his colleagues, the book offers simple and straightforward forms of mindfulness meditation that can be done by anyone--and it can take just...
more
Recommended by
Tessa Watt,Â
Will MacAskill,Â
and 2 others.
Tessa Watt
This is the book that I would recommend as the most practicalâŠIt takes you through an eight-week course and it has audio to go with it.
(Source)
Will MacAskill
This book is a friendly and accessible introduction to mindfulness meditation, and includes an 8-week guided meditation course. Will completed this course, and it had a significant impact on his life.
(Source)
9
In
The Four Agreements
, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. The Four Agreements are: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best.
more
Jack Dorsey
Question: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most.
: Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading!
(Source)
Karlie Kloss
I just think itâs got a lot of great principles and ideas.
(Source)
10
2005 15th anniversary edition reprint
Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is perhaps the best-known proponent of using meditation to help patients deal with illness. (The somewhat confusing title is from a line in
Zorba the Greek
in which the title character refers to the ups and downs of family life as "the full catastrophe.") But this book is also a terrific introduction for anyone who has considered meditating but was afraid it would be too difficult or would include religious practices they found foreign....
more
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
11
Who are you? When you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. Are you a physical body? A collection of experiences and memories? A partner in a relationship? Each time you consider these aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define.
In
The Untethered Soul
â
now a
New York Times
bestseller
â
spiritual teacher Michael Singer explores the question of who we are and arrives at the conclusion that our identity is to be found in our consciousness, the fact of our ability to...
more
Deepak Chopra
eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_5',164,'0','1']));
In the book The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer takes you step-by-step through the process of Gyana, the yoga of the Intellect, to the Source. Moreover, he does it with elegant simplicity. Read this book carefully, and you will get more than a glimpse of eternity.
(Source)
Ray Kurzweil
East is East and West is West, but Michael A. Singer bridges these two great traditions in a radiant treatise on how to succeed in life from our spiritual quest to our everyday tribulations. Freud said that life was composed of love and work. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singerâs brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless...
(Source)
James Altucher
Michael moved to an empty patch of forest, set up his trailer, and started to meditate in the early 70s.
He surrendered to whatever happened in his life.
Well...what ended up happening is that he created a multi-billion dollar company.
His book is about the spiritual beauty of surrender. And how that can go hand in hand with financial success.
I was so astonished by the book that I contacted him...
(Source)
12
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line of Shunryu Suzuki's classic. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that's just the beginning.
In the thirty years since its original publication,
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind...
more
Steve Jobs
often used the methods found in this book to center himself during difficult moments in his career. He was such an avid practitioner that he considered going to Japan to continue his practice, but was advised against it.
(Source)
Kevin Rose
Isnât a religious book, but more on self-realization, study on yourself, breathing exercises, relaxation and understanding human nature. Really cool book, very short read and you will really enjoy reading.
(Source)
David Heinemeier Hansson
Zen Mind, Beginnerâs Mind is an introduction to Buddhism and meditation. There are a lot of echoes between Stoicism and Buddhism, and I thought Iâd dive deeper into this on recommendation from Eric Dodson (great YouTube channel for existentialist and stoic explainers and introductions). So far Iâm finding that thereâs longer between the nuggets of wisdom that slot into my brain than with the...
(Source)
13
Building on the astonishing success of
The Power of Now
, Eckhart Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: He implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity.
Tolle tells us there is good news, however. There is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current...
more
Recommended by
Aubrey Marcus,Â
Abid Zaidi,Â
Patricia Reed,Â
and 4 others.
Abid Zaidi
Day 1 : #30Days of posting cover of books I love (1 book a day for 30 days). No expectations, no reviews, just the covers #MyFavouriteBooks Not invited by
@rekha_bhardwaj ji or @virtual_opinion but still posting: đ https://t.co/rDKfaLADsm
(Source)
Patricia Reed
"The Power of Now", by Eckhart Tolle, as well as "A New Earth". Understanding the ego, and being able to separate it from self, is a powerful thing. It has changed my outlook on people and situations, and made me able to see my inner critic for what it is, and choose how I want to engage or respond to situations.
(Source)
Catherine Molloy
I am an experiential learner I need to see it, feel it, etc. so the book must move me to do something, feel something. With A New Earth I even read snippets to my students as I have experienced a lot of these concepts and write and train in similar concepts.
(Source)
14
This program was previously published as Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day.
Quiet the mind, feel less stressed and less tired, and achieve a new level of calm and fulfillment in just ten minutes a day.
Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, the Voice of Headspace, and the UK's foremost mindfulness expert, is on a mission: to get people to take 10 minutes out of their day to sit in the here and now.
Like his readers and students, Andy began his own meditation practice as a normal, busy person with everyday concerns,...
more
Bill Gates
Iâm sure 25-year-old me would scoff at this one, but Melinda and I have gotten really into meditation lately. The book starts with Puddicombeâs personal journey from a university student to a Buddhist monk and then becomes an entertaining explainer on how to meditate. If youâre thinking about trying mindfulness, this is the perfect introduction.
(Source)
Haralabos Voulgaris
@Property531 Best way to start is to simply do - Try one of the following app courses @wakingup
@Headspace
@10percent
They are all good choices. If you want to read a book https://t.co/yEwmKHTUUL is decent as well.
(Source)
Alexandra Stroe
I am trying to bring some daily habits into my life, such as meditation, that would help me stay balanced and present in everyday moments. One of the books that helped me understand more about the practice of meditation is The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe. After reading this book, I understood that meditation does not have to be some sacred, difficult practice...
(Source)
15
Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062457738
In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.
For decades, weâve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F**k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Letâs be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesnât sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it isâa dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth...
more
Recommended by
Ryan Holiday,Â
Jason Kander,Â
Jason Hook,Â
and 24 others.
Ryan Holiday
I loved Mark Mansonâs The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck. Thereâs a reason this book is blowing up. Itâs that good.
(Source)
Jason Kander
Tomorrow morning is the season finale of @dianakanderâs podcast #ProfessionalAF. Itâs a conversation with yours truly about mental health and âThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***,â a book I read last year at the suggestion of my therapist at the VA. Subscribe now! Enjoy tomorrow!
(Source)
Jason Hook
My new favorite book! ... super relatable! đ„Ž I highly recommend it. #selfimprovement #fivefingerdeathpunch https://t.co/BrybqTuayH
(Source)
16
There is a fundamental opportunity for happiness right within our reach, yet we usually miss itâironically while we are caught up in attempts to escape pain and suffering. Drawn from traditional Buddhist wisdom, Pema Chödrön's radical and compassionate advice for what to do when things fall apart in our lives goes against the grain of our usual habits and expectations. There is only one approach to suffering that is of lasting benefit, Pema teaches, and that approach involves moving
toward
painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, relaxing into the essential groundlessness of...
more
Seth Godin
Almost the flip side. I'm so much better at [protracted difficult periods] because of Pema and because of meditation and because of knowing how to sit with it and not insist that the tension go away.
(Source)
17
What if you could profoundly change your life just by becoming more mindful of your breathing? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, you can. What if paying attention on purpose (and nonjudgmentally) could improve your health? Again, according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn--it can.
On
Mindfulness for Beginners,
this internationally known scientist, bestselling author, and teacher who brought mindfulness meditation into the mainstream of medicine and society gives you immediate access to a practice that can potentially add years to your life, and will certainly enhance the quality of your...
more
Recommended by
Ev Williams,Â
and 1 others.
18
For many of us, feelings of deficiency are right around the corner. It doesnât take much--just hearing of someone elseâs accomplishments, being criticized, getting into an argument, making a mistake at work--to make us feel that we are not okay. Beginning to understand how our lives have become ensnared in this trance of unworthiness is our first step toward reconnecting with who we really are and what it means to live fully.
--
from
Radical Acceptance
Radical Acceptance
âBelieving that something is wrong with us is a deep and tenacious...
more
Timothy Ferriss
This book was recommended to me by a PhD neuroscientist and is what finally helped me tame anger, one of my most destructive (and persistent) emotions. Itâs easy to aim for 'successful' and be miserable. This book is the antidote.
(Source)
19
Major
New York Times
bestseller
Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012
Selected by the
New York Times Book Review
as one of the best books of 2011
A
Globe and Mail
Best Books of the Year 2011 Title
One of
The Economist
's 2011 Books of the Year
One of
The Wall Street Journal
's Best Nonfiction Books of the Year 2011
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
In the international bestseller,
Thinking, Fast and Slow
, Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and winner of the Nobel...
more
Barack Obama
A few months ago, Mr. Obama read âThinking, Fast and Slow,â by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions â quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text.
(Source)
Marc Andreessen
Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale?
(Source)
20
For the millions of Americans who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harrisâs new book is a guide to meditation as a rational spiritual practice informed by neuroscience and psychology.
From multiple New York Times bestselling author, neuroscientist, and ânew atheistâ Sam Harris, Waking Up is for the 30 percent of Americans who follow no religion, but who suspect that Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history could not have all been epileptics, schizophrenics, or frauds. Throughout the book, Harris argues that there are important truths to be...
more
Recommended by
Susan Cain,Â
Chris Goward,Â
Fabrice Grinda,Â
and 4 others.
Susan Cain
Such a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging.
(Source)
Chris Goward
I also highly recommend Sam Harris' Waking Up, which is a more well-rounded unpacking of non-religious mindfulness practice.
(Source)
Fabrice Grinda
Very well thought through analysis of spirituality without religion.
(Source)
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
21
Now updated with new research â the book that has changed millions of lives.
After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a
fixed mindset
â those who believe that abilities are fixed â are less likely to flourish than those with a
growth...
more
Bill Gates
One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because itâs solutions-oriented. In the bookâs final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that âjust learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives.
(Source)
Satya Nadella
Written by a Stanford psychology professor, this book offers advice on retaining an appreciation for the things you donât yet know and first resonated with Nadella as a father. As Microsoftâs new CEO, he aspired to steer the company toward âa culture that allowed us to constantly refresh and renew,â and incorporated Dweckâs perspective into his blueprint for change. âNow three years into it, I...
(Source)
22
The mind contains the seeds of its own awakening--seeds that we can cultivate to bring forth the fruits of a life lived consciously. With
Mindfulness
, Joseph Goldstein shares the wisdom of his four decades of teaching and practice in a book that will serve as a lifelong companion for anyone committed to mindful living and the realization of inner freedom.Goldstein's source teaching is the
Satipatthana Sutta
, the Buddha's legendary discourse on the four foundations of mindfulness that became the basis for the many types of Vipassana (or insight meditation) found today....
more
23
A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition.
Written more than two thousand years ago, the
Tao Teh Ching
, or -The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue, - is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Traditionally attributed to the legendary -Old Master, - Lao Tzu, the
Tao Teh Ching
teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu's words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in...
more
Jack Dorsey
Q: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most.
: Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading!
(Source)
Jack Ma
According to a Yibada interview with Chen Wei, who wrote Maâs 2014 authorized biography, the Alibaba founder and executive chairman always carries the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoist philosophy, religion and ethics composed by Lao Tzu in the sixth century B.C.
(Source)
Tim O'Reilly
The Way of Life According to Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching), translated by Witter Bynner. My personal religious philosophy, stressing the rightness of what is, if only we can accept it. Most people who know me have heard me quote from this book. "Seeing as how nothing is outside the vast, wide-meshed net of heaven, who is there to say just how it is cast?"
(Source)
24
This lyrical, evocative, thought-provoking journal of a man's quest for truth - and for himself - has touched and changed an entire generation, and is ready to reach out to a new one. At its heart, the story is all too simple: a man and his son take a motorcycle trip across America. But this is not a simple trip at all, for around every corner, through mountain and desert, wind and rain, and searing heat and biting cold, their pilgrimage leads them to new vistas of self-discovery and renewal.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
is an elemental work that has helped to...
more
Recommended by
Brad Feld,Â
Ev Williams,Â
Drew Houston,Â
and 10 others.
Brad Feld
I think every entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur should read the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It was written in the 1970s by a guy named Robert Pirsig. It was his first book, it's kind of a hippie philosophy treatised journey. The word that sort of came out of it was Chautauqua, he's like having a conversation with his son as they do a motorcycle trip across the country, and...
(Source)
Drew Houston
[There are] engineers who [dismiss] all these things that canât be fit into an algorithm, or that donât have some kind of mathematical rigor underpinning them, [this book] is about that question.
(Source)
Tyler Cowen
Honorable mentions: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and The Joy of Sex, all given to me by my mother. I believe they helped inculcate some of the 1960s-70s ethos of individual freedom into my thinking.
(Source)
25
Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and an increasingly popular speaker and statesman. What's more, he'll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is towards happiness." How to get there has always been the question. He's tried to answer it before, but he's never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand. Through...
more
26
With
Search Inside Yourself
, Chade-Meng Tan, one of Googleâs earliest engineers and personal growth pioneer, offers a proven method for enhancing mindfulness and emotional intelligence in life and work.
Mengâs job is to teach Googleâs best and brightest how to apply mindfulness techniques in the office and beyond; now, readers everywhere can get insider access to one of the most sought after classes in the country, a course in health, happiness and creativity that is improving the livelihood and productivity of those responsible for one of the most successful businesses in...
more
Recommended by
Eric Schmidt,Â
Tony Hsieh,Â
Chip Conley,Â
and 6 others.
Chip Conley
[Chip Conley recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".]
(Source)
Henry Medine
This book is written by an early core member/lead engineer from Google. Chade does a fantastic job proving the reader reasons why soft skills like emotional intelligence, acceptance, and empathy matter in a work environment. The book is great for any business person who wants to establish a strong company culture that promotes longevity, employee empowerment and self confidence. Chade reveals how...
(Source)
27
The Mindful Way through Depression
draws on the collective wisdom of four internationally renowned cognitive therapy and mindfulness experts, including bestselling author Jon Kabat-Zinn, to help you break the mental habits that can lead to despair. This authoritative, easy-to-use self-help program is based on methods clinically proven to reduce the recurrence of chronic unhappiness. Informative chapters reveal the hidden psychological mechanisms that cause depression and demonstrate powerful ways to strengthen your resilience in the face of life's misfortunes. Kabat-Zinn lends his...
more
28
"Thought-provoking and charming."-- "Library Journal" Not all Great Masters of Wisdom are venerable graybeards. One is as familiar to us as that beloved teddy bear Winnie the Pooh. From the "how" of Pooh to the Tao of Pooh is a simple, effortless, joyous step...a delicious journey to Pooh Corner illuminated by the timeless teachings of the Taoist immortals.
more
Recommended by
Audrey Russo,Â
and 1 others.
Audrey Russo
Question: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path?
Answer:
Anything by Peter Senge.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things â Ben Horowitz
Once you are Lucky, Twice you are good â Sara Lacey
Revolutionary Wealth â Alvin Toffler
Black Swan â Taleb
Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change, by Ellen Pao.
Creative Class â Richard Florida
Creativity Inc. by Ed...
(Source)
29
Describes one man's transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga & gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of human nature. Illustrated.
The book is divided into four sections:
Journey: The Transformation: Dr Richard Alpert, PhD into Baba Ram Dass
From Bindu to Ojas: The Core Book
Cookbook for a Sacred Life: A Manual for Conscious Being
Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger): Books
more
Recommended by
Steve Jobs,Â
Jack Kornfield,Â
Travis Brewer,Â
and 3 others.
Steve Jobs
In late 1972, Jobs had just started at Reed College, an elite liberal arts school in Portland, Oregon. He started doing lots of LSD and reading lots of books about spirituality.
(Source)
Jack Kornfield
Changed countless lives.
(Source)
Travis Brewer
[Travis Brewer said this is one of his most-recommended books.]
(Source)
30
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?
Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed...
more
David Heinemeier Hansson
On a lighter note, I finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. Itâs a short book, but it still manages to repeat itself a lot. And yet the core patterns it covers are as effective as they are simple. Iâve been on a decluttering kick at home and feel so much better because of it. It was also the kickstarter for the conversation...
(Source)
Benjamin Spall
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo [...] I started reading on vacation. I interviewed Marie for my own book and while the translation is somewhat quirky in places, her book is worth the hype.
(Source)
Annie Loves Covfefe
@Benny29143790 @Thereal_ssteele Oh how I love Kondo cleaning. Her first book is fantastic too!!
(Source)
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
31
The third title in Parallaxâs
Mindfulness Essentials Series
of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh,
How to Love
introduces beginners and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. This time Nhat Hanh brings his signature clarity, compassion, and humor to the thorny question of how to love and distills one of our strongest emotions down to four essentials: you can only love another when you feel true love for yourself; love is understanding; understanding brings compassion; and deep listening and loving speech are key ways of showing our...
more
32
In this book Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, author, and meditation master, distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. âMindfulness is not an evasion or an escape,â he explains. âIt means being here, present, and totally alive. It is true freedomâand without this freedom, there is no happiness.â
Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, this book offers a range of simple, effective practices for cultivating mindfulness, including awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening,...
more
33
âą
Â
A
New York Times
Science BestsellerÂ
âą
âPacked with science and human stories, the book is an intense read. . . . The struggle and resilience of [van der Kolkâs] patients is very moving.â â
New Scientist
A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing
Â
Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one...
more
Recommended by
Matthew Green,Â
and 1 others.
Matthew Green
Reading The Body Keeps the Score was a eureka moment for me.
(Source)
34
The book that started the Quiet Revolution
At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introvertsâRosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniakâthat we owe many of the great contributions to society.Â
In
Quiet,
Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth...
more
Recommended by
Simon Sinek,Â
Danielle Morrill,Â
Ken Norton,Â
and 13 others.
Simon Sinek
eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',164,'0','1']));
Leaders neednât be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. Itâs not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we neednât try to be extroverts if we want to lead....
(Source)
James Altucher
Probably half the world is introverts.
Maybe more. Itâs not an easy life to live.
I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, âuh-oh. I just shut down. I canât talk anymore and thereâs a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.â
Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Letâs try to lock eyes at the party.
âQuietâ shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers...
(Source)
Danielle Morrill
Anyway, maybe youâre like me and figuring this out for yourself. Itâs a good book for introverts and for those who love them
(Source)
35
Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and other great teachers were born with brains built essentially like anyone else's. Then they used their minds to change their brains in ways that changed history.
With the new breakthroughs in neuroscience, combined with the insights from thousands of years of contemplative practice, you, too, can shape your own brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom.
Buddha's Brain
joins the forces of modern science with ancient teachings to show readers how to have greater emotional balance in turbulent times, as well as healthier...
more
36
One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most...
more
Ryan Holiday
I've been a fan of Cal for a long time. His book So Good They Can't Ignore You is one of my favorites, but it's his new book that's probably had the biggest and most immediate impact on me. For those of you who enjoyed Tyler Cowen's Average is Over, you already know how important the ability to focus, be creative, and think at a high level is going to be in the future. This is a book that...
(Source)
Seth Godin
Cal Newport is a clear voice in a sea of noise, bringing science and passion in equal measure.
(Source)
Daniel Pink
As automation and outsourcing reshape the workplace, what new skill do we need? The ability to do deep work. Cal Newport's exciting new book is an introduction and guide to the kind of intense concentration in a distraction-free environment that results in fast, powerful learning and performance. Think of it as calisthenics for your mind-and start your exercise program today.
(Source)
37
Start Where You Are
is an indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. With insight and humor, Pema Chödrön presents down-to-earth guidance on how we can "start where we are"âembracing rather than denying the painful aspects of our lives. Pema Chödrön frames her teachings on compassion around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, or slogans, such as: "Always apply only a joyful state of mind," "Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness," and "Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment."
Working...
more
38
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. What starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.
more
Daniel Ek
It was fascinating to talk to [the author] about how this book came to be such a hitâhe never backed down, and he allowed people to read it for free in order to then boost salesâmuch like how Spotifyâs freemium model was perceived in the early days.
(Source)
Brené Brown
There's a great quote in [this book]: When you're on the right path the universe conspires to help you!
(Source)
Eric Ripert
Speaks of everyone having an ultimate goal in life, but most of us are too afraid to pursue it. The encouragement to fulfill your dreams is very inspirational!
(Source)
39
We always have a choice, Pema Chodron teaches: We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder. Here Pema provides the tools to deal with the problems and difficulties that life throws our way. This wisdom is always available to us, she teaches, but we usually block it with habitual patterns rooted in fear. Beyond that fear lies a state of openheartedness and tenderness. This book teaches us how to awaken our basic goodness and connect with others, to accept ourselves and others complete with...
more
40
From one of Americaâs greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness.
Robert Wright famously explained in
The Moral Animal
how evolution shaped the human brain. The mind is designed to often delude us, he argued, about ourselves and about the world. And it is designed to make happiness hard to sustain.
But if we know our minds are rigged for anxiety, depression, anger, and greed, what do we do? Wright locates the answer in Buddhism, which figured out...
more
Nigel Warburton
Wright has a degree of evangelism about him, but heâs not saying this is the only way to achieve a better life. He says itâs a way of eliminating suffering from many peopleâs lives, and it worked for him.
(Source)
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
41
A
New York TimesÂ
best sellerânow revised and updated with new exercises and guided meditations.
âAn inviting gateway to the interior territory of profound well-being and wisdom.ââJon Kabat-Zinn, author of
Wherever You Go, There You Are
From Sharon Salzberg, a pioneer in the field of meditation and world-renowned teacher acclaimed for her down-to-earth style,
Real Happiness
is a complete guide to starting and maintaining a meditation practice. Beginning with the simplest breathing and sitting techniques, and based on three...
more
42
Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Our fear of intimacyâboth with others and with ourselvesâcreates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path.
In this inspiring book, Sharon Salzberg, one of America's leading spiritual teachers, shows us how the Buddhist path of lovingkindness (
metta
in Pali), can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. This practice of lovingkindness is...
more
43
One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The
Meditations
of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it...
more
Arianna Huffington
I find [this book] so inspirational and instructive, it lives on my nightstand.
(Source)
Marvin Liao
My list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make...
(Source)
Ryan Holiday
To me, this is not only one of greatest books ever written but perhaps the only book of its kind. Just imagine: the private thoughts of the most powerful man in the world, admonishing himself on how to be better, more just, more immune to temptation, wiser. It is the definitive text on self-discipline, personal ethics, humility, self-actualization and strength. If you read it and arenât...
(Source)
44
From leading psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff comes a step-by-step guide explaining how to be more self-compassionate and achieve your dreams in life
The relentless pursuit of high self-esteem has become a virtual religionâand a tyrannical one at that. Our ultracompetitive culture tells us we need to be constantly
above average
to feel good about ourselves, but there is always someone more attractive, successful, or intelligent than we are. And even when we
do
manage to grab hold of high self-esteem for a brief moment, we can't seem to keep it. Our sense of...
more
Recommended by
Genevieve Von Lob,Â
and 1 others.
Genevieve Von Lob
I learnt to treat myself more gently after reading this. I also learnt the power of really beginning to feel my own feelings.
(Source)
45
A revolutionary, science-based approach to meditation from a neuroscientist turned meditation master,
The Mind Illuminated
is an accessible, step-by-step toolkit for anyone looking to startâor improveâtheir daily meditation practice.
The book that bestselling meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg raves âbrings the path of meditation to life,â
The Mind Illuminated
is the first how-to meditation guide from a neuroscientist who is also an acclaimed meditation master. This innovative book offers a 10-stage program that is both deeply grounded in ancient spiritual teachings...
more
46
Come to your senses with the definitive guide to living a meaningful life from a world expert in the connection between mindfulness and physical and spiritual wellbeing.
"[The] journey toward health and sanity is nothing less than an invitation to wake up to the fullness of our lives as if they actually mattered . . ."
--Jon Kabat-Zinn, from the Introduction
Jon Kabat-Zinn changed the way we thought about awareness in everyday life with his now-classic introduction to mindfulness,
Wherever You Go, There You Are
. Now, with
Coming to...
more
47
New York Times best-selling author and professor Brené Brown offers a powerful and inspiring book that explores how to cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to embrace your imperfections and to recognize that you are enough.
Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can't keep all of these balls in the...
more
48
Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.
Â
The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet.
From the beginning the...
more
Recommended by
Chelsea Frank,Â
Bogdan Lucaciu,Â
and 2 others.
Chelsea Frank
I read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness.
(Source)
Bogdan Lucaciu
I recently read âThe Book of Joyâ. Itâs a series of dialogues between Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu (beautifully narrated in the audio version). They share their view on living a happy life in the face of adversity. The book brought profound clarity on topics like compassion, gratitude, generosity, and it deeply resonated with my worldview. If thereâs one book you end up reading from my list, I...
(Source)
49
âIf there is a candidate for âLiving Buddhaâ on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh.â
                                                                                                â Richard Baker-roshi
Â
In
The Heart of the Buddhaâs Teaching
, now with added material and new insights, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddhaâs teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in...
more
50
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
51
Since its publication in 1987, "Being Peace" has become a classic of contemporary religious literature. In his simple and readable style, Thich Nhat Hanh shows how our state of mind and body can make the world a peaceful place. We learn to transform the very situations that pressure and antagonize us into opportunities for practicing mindfulness.
more
52
You have within you unlimited capacities for love, for joy, for communion with life, and for unshakable freedomâand here is how to awaken them. In
The Wise Heart
, one of the leading spiritual teachers of our time offers the most accessible and illuminating guide to Buddhismâs transformational psychology ever published in the West.
Trained as a monk in Thailand, Burma, and India, Jack Kornfield experienced at first hand the life-changing power of Buddhist teachings: the emphasis on the nobility and sacredness of the human spirit, the fine-grained analysis of emotion and...
more
53
A guide to reconciling Buddhist spirituality with the American way of life addresses the challenges of spiritual living in the modern world and offers guidance for bringing a sense of the sacred to everyday experience.
more
54
When the world feels chaotic, find peace within through an accessible mindfulness practice from the bestselling picture-book dream team that brought us
I Am Yoga.
Express emotions through direct speech. Find empathy through imagination. Connect with the earth. Wonder at the beauty of the natural world. Breathe, taste, smell, touch, and be present.
Perfect for the classroom or for bedtime, Susan Verdeâs gentle, concrete narration and Peter H. Reynoldsâs expressive watercolor illustrations bring the tenets of mindfulness to a kid-friendly level. Featuring an authorâs note...
more
55
These are essential teachings for developing compassion and clarity amid the anxieties and hardships of real life. Collecting some of the most powerful passages from Pema Chödrönâs many beloved books, this compact handbook for spiritual practice is rich with inspiration and insight. Here she explores life-changing concepts, themes, and practices from the Buddhist tradition, showing how anyone (not just Buddhists) can draw from them to become more courageous, aware, and kindhearted. It includes the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, letting go of the fixations that weigh us down, working...
more
56
This manual-style book instantly dives into Eckhart Tolle's principles of "living in the moment," which could be a jarring experience for readers who haven't read his preceding book,
The Power of Now
. For the initiated, though, this makes an excellent companion guide--rich in exercises and meditations to help readers get out of their minds so they can live more peacefully in their bodies. Sometimes it's hard to fathom what on earth Tolle is talking about: "To regain awareness of Being and to abide in that state of 'feeling-realization' is enlightenment." Be patient. All concepts will...
more
57
For millennia, Buddhists have enjoyed the limitless benefits of meditation. But how does it work? And why? The principles behind this ancient practice have long eluded some of the best minds in modern science. Until now.
In this groundbreaking work, world-renowned Buddhist teacher
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
invites us to join him in unlocking the secrets behind the practice of meditation. Working with neuroscientists at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Yongey Mingyur provides clear insights into modern research indicating that systematic training in...
more
58
Researcher and thought leader Dr. Brené Brown offers a powerful new vision that encourages us to dare greatly: to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives.
âIt is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at...
more
Recommended by
Chase Jarvis,Â
Chelsea Frank,Â
AnneMarie Schindler,Â
and 3 others.
Chase Jarvis
[Chase Jarvis recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".]
(Source)
Chelsea Frank
I read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness.
(Source)
AnneMarie Schindler
I suggest these [books] because they really open up 'how' you think about life and in turn work, success/challenges/setbacks, and in general, yourself. I believe that the more you can understand yourself and broaden your approach to work, the easier it will be to find work that energizes you. Finally, I'm a team player at heart, and love working with others to achieve a huge goal so a portion of...
(Source)
59
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness...
more
Austin Kleon
While re-reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyiâs wonderful book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, I came across this passage on working crossword puzzles. I think he could just as well be talking about making blackout poems:
"There is much to be said in favor of this popular pastime, which in its best form resembles the ancient riddle contests. It is inexpensive and portable, its challenges...
(Source)
Tom Chatfield
The notion of flow is the idea that there is a state that is characterised by complete immersion in an activity, by a constant response to stimuli, and a perfect match between your ability and the challenge in front of you.
(Source)
60
Could psychedelic drugs change our worldview? One of America's most admired writers takes us on a mind-altering journey to the frontiers of human consciousness
When LSD was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. It promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. But in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. In recent years,...
more
Daniel Goleman
Michael Pollan masterfully guides us through the highs, lows, and highs again of psychedelic drugs. How to Change Your mind chronicles how itâs been a longer and stranger trip than most any of us knew.
(Source)
David Heinemeier Hansson
How we get locked into viewing the world, ourselves, and each other in a certain way, and then finding it difficult to relate to alternative perspectives or seeing other angles.
Studying philosophy, psychology, and sociology is a way to break those rigid frames we all build over time. But thatâs still all happening at a pretty high level of perception.
Mind altering drugs, and especially...
(Source)
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
61
The Zen master and one of the world's most beloved teachers returns with a concise, practical guide to understanding and developing our most powerful inner resourceâsilenceâto help us find happiness, purpose, and peace.
Many people embark on a seemingly futile search for happiness, running as if there is somewhere else to get to, when the world they live in is full of wonder. To be alive is a miracle. Beauty calls to us every day, yet we rarely are in the position to listen. To hear the call of beauty and respond to it, we need silence.
Silence shows us how to find and...
more
62
How do you cope when facing life-threatening illness, family conflict, faltering relationships, old trauma, obsessive thinking, overwhelming emotion, or inevitable loss? If youâre like most people, chances are you react with fear and confusion, falling back on timeworn strategies: anger, self-judgment, and addictive behaviors. Though these old, conditioned attempts to control our life may offer fleeting relief, ultimately they leave us feeling isolated and mired in pain.
Â
There
is
another way. Beneath the turbulence of our thoughts and emotions exists a profound stillness,...
more
63
THE
NEW YORK TIMES
BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF
10% HAPPIER
Too busy to meditate? Can't turn off your brain? Curious about mindfulness but more comfortable in the gym? This book is for you.
You'll also get access to guided audio meditations on the 10% Happier app, to jumpstart your practice from day one.
ABC News anchor Dan Harris used to think that meditation was for people who collect crystals, play Ultimate Frisbee, and use the word "namaste" without irony. After he had a panic attack on live television, he went on a...
more
Gretchen Rubin
If youâre intrigued by meditation but donât know how to beginâor youâve benefited from meditation in the past but need help to get started againâDan Harris has written the book for you. Well researched, practical, and crammed with expert advice, itâs also an irreverent, hilarious page-turner.
(Source)
Joseph Goldstein
A gold mine of wise guidance for fidgety skeptics and experienced meditators alike . . .With Danâs humorous, self-revelatory style and incisive questioning and Jeffâs down-to-earth, transforming wisdom, this book addresses the common obstacles people face as they begin and deepen their meditation practice. . . . Highly recommended.
(Source)
Mark Epstein
If your mind has a mind of its own, this is the book for you! With humor, generosity, and devastating candor, Dan Harris makes meditation make sense. This is news we can all use.
(Source)
64
From a pioneer in the field of mental health comes a groundbreaking book on the healing power of "mindsight," the potent skill that is the basis for both emotional and social intelligence.
Mindsight
allows you to make positive changes in your brain-and in your life.
- Is there a memory that torments you, or an irrational fear you can' t shake?
- Do you sometimes become unreasonably angry or upset and find it hard to calm down?
- Do you ever wonder why you can't stop behaving the way you do, no matter how hard you try?
- Are you and your child (or parent,...
more
Recommended by
Kara Nortman,Â
and 1 others.
Kara Nortman
@patrick_oshag @JohnCGreer @zackkanter Mindsight by @DrDanSiegel - Great book on board and executive team management w/o intending to be
Meant to be a summary of broad range of research on brain science + best ways to impact your brain (for better outcomes) in the moment
https://t.co/sMH9rfO0Ba
(Source)
65
How to Sit
is the first in a new series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces beginners to and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized with bold black-and-white illustrations by Jason DeAntonis,
How to Sit
provides explicit, simple directions on the mechanics of posture and breathing, along with instructions for how best to achieve the awakened, relaxed state of clarity to cultivate concentration and compassion. Following the instructions, Thich Nhat Hanh shares a series of secular guided meditations that...
more
66
The Secretâs 10th Anniversary Edition includes a new foreword by Rhonda Byrne, and 10 of the most life-changing insights sheâs had over the last 10 years of practicing and living The Secret every day. The 10 insights alone will accelerate your understanding and mastery of the law of attraction.
more
Recommended by
Ntwana Kasi.,Â
Woman In Purpose,Â
and 2 others.
Ntwana Kasi.
@Sibongubuhle_N Don't you have pdf of it i love this book
(Source)
Woman In Purpose
@Anele_Nks Best book ever!
(Source)
67
Living in the moment - living in the breath is the foundation of mindfulness. In this book Dr. Ray explores mindfulness as the source of inspiration and inner peace. He shows the ways to transform our fear, expectation, anger, regret, cravings, frustration, and fatigue into positive energy of love and compassion. Ray explains how to apply mindfulness to everything we encounter so we can transcend unconscious habits of misunderstanding that have imprisoned us for so long. The book is a treasury of wisdom. Dr. Ray presents us with information that can help us live long, healthy and happy lives....
more
68
"Is it the world that's busy, or is it my mind?"
The world moves fast, but that doesn't mean we have to. In this best-selling mindfulness guide - it has sold more than three million copies in Korea, where it was a number-one best-seller for 41 weeks and received multiple best book of the year awards - Haemin Sunim (which means "spontaneous wisdom"), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life.
By offering guideposts to well-being and...
more
Recommended by
Arianna Huffington,Â
and 1 others.
Arianna Huffington
Not only a useful and practical book, itâs a beautiful one as well. Everyone who wants to thrive more in their life should have it on their nightstand.
(Source)
69
How to Relax
is part of
The Mindfulness Essentials
series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing beginners and reminding seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Relax shows how critical it is to regularly interrupt the hub-bub and routine of our lives to stop, relax mindfully, and recharge.
Thich Nhat Hanh says that when we relax, we âbecome calm water, and we will reflect reality as it is. If weâre not calm, the image we reflect will be...
more
70
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, bestselling author of
Peace is Every Step
and one of the most respected and celebrated religious leaders in the world, delivers a powerful path to happiness through mastering life's most important skill.
How do we say what we mean in a way that the other person can really hear?
How can we listen with compassion and understanding?
Communication fuels the ties that bind, whether in relationships, business, or everyday interactions. Most of us, however, have never been taught the fundamental skills of communicationâor how to...
more
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
71
Philosopher-poet and cancer survivor, Mark Nepo opens a new season of freedom and joy--an escape from deadening, asleep-at-the wheel sameness--that is both profound and clarifying. His spiritual daybook is a summons to reclaim aliveness, liberate the self, take each day one at a time, and to savor the beauty offered by life's unfolding. Reading his poetic prose is like being given second sight, exposing the reader to life's multiple dimensions, each one drawn with awe and affection. The Book of Awakening is the result of his journey of the soul and will inspire others to embark on their own....
more
Jamie Lee Curtis
The most important book I have ever read, the best gift I have ever given. A daily touchstone to center, balance, inspire & comfort. I was honored @marknepo asked me to write the forward for this 20th anniversary edition. It is available now for pre-order. Publication date 1/1/20 https://t.co/6PIQFBI1Wz
(Source)
Marian Keyes
Oh! So GREAT! If you're able, PLEASE read her powerful book. https://t.co/3itlgrS7Mz
(Source)
72
Eating is a chance to return to the present moment.
How to Eat
is the second in Parallaxâs series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. These friendly, pocket-sized books contain several delightful illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, and are appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition and all levels of familiarity with mindfulness practice.
How to Eat
clearly and succinctly explains how you can incorporate eating as a form of meditation. The book provides practical advice on how to become truly nourished through the mindful...
more
73
âWritten in words so intimate, calm, kind, and immediate, this extraordinary book feels like a message from our very own heartâŠ.Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most important voices of our time, and we have never needed to listen to him more than now.â
âSogyal Rinpoche
Fear is destructive, a pervasive problem we all face. Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, peace activist, and one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the worldâa gifted teacher who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.âThich Nhat Hanh has written a powerful and...
more
74
It was under the bodhi tree in India twenty-five centuries ago that Buddha achieved the insight that three states of mind were the source of all our unhappiness: wrong knowing, obsessive desire, and anger. All are difficult, but in one instant of angerâone of the most powerful emotionsâlives can be ruined, and health and spiritual development can be destroyed. With exquisite simplicity, Buddhist monk and Vietnam refugee Thich Nhat Hanh gives tools and advice for transforming relationships, focusing energy, and rejuvenating those parts of ourselves that have been laid waste by anger. His...
more
75
Simple mindfulness practices to help your child (ages 5-12) deal with anxiety, improve concentration, and handle difficult emotions.Â
Includes a 60-minute audio CD of guided exercises read by Myla Kabat-Zinn.
Mindfulnessâthe quality of attention that combines full awareness with acceptance of each moment, just as it isâis gaining broad acceptance among mental health professionals as an adjunct to treatment. This little book is a very appealing introduction to mindfulness meditation for children and their parents. In a simple and accessible way, it describes what...
more
76
The #1
New York Times
Bestseller
You Are A Badass
is the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don't want to get busted doing it.
In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, #1
New York Times
Bestselling Author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word. If you're ready to make some serious changes around here,
You Are a Badass
will help you: Identify and change the...
more
Recommended by
Stacey Minton,Â
Chelsea Frank,Â
Jessica Lauria,Â
and 3 others.
Stacey Minton
That book helped me realize I wasnât alone in not necessarily having direction or all of the answers, but as long as I put one foot in front of the other, I would get to where I wanted to be.
(Source)
Chelsea Frank
I read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness.
(Source)
Jessica Lauria
I bought this book because I was curious about the title. I loved it and bought it for my entire team.
The universe matches the energy you put out. Itâs so true. If you put out positivity, you get it back. Itâs a great reminder that you are in charge of your destiny. Another point in this book that I love - if someone has a problem with you, itâs their issue. Not yours. We put some much weight on...
(Source)
77
Itâs true, as they say, that we can only love others when we first love ourselves and we can only experience real joy when we stop running from pain. The key to understanding these truisms lies in remaining open to life in all circumstances, and here Pema Chödrön shows us how. Because when we embrace the happiness and suffering, intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of life, we can begin to discover a wellspring of courageous love within our hearts.
4 CDs, 4 œ hours. Unabridged.
more
78
From the author of the internationally-acclaimed best-selling text
The Developing Mind
, and esteemed leader and educator in the field of mental health, comes the first book ever to integrate neuroscience research with the ancient art of mindfulness. The result is a groundbreaking approach to not simply mental health, but life in general, which shows readers how personal awareness and attunement can actually stimulate emotional circuits in the brain, leading to a host of physiological benefits, including greater well-being, resilience, emotional balance, and improved cardiac and...
more
Recommended by
Tessa Watt,Â
and 1 others.
Tessa Watt
This is a book that focuses on the neuroscience of mindfulness.
(Source)
79
In this modern spiritual classic, the Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa highlights a common pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls
spiritual materialism
. The universal human tendency, he shows, is to see spirituality as a process of self-improvementâthe impulse to develop and refine the ego when the ego is, by nature, essentially empty. âThe problem,â Trungpa says, âis that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality.â His incisive, compassionate teachings serve to wake us up from this trick we all play on ourselves, and...
more
Steve Jobs
During his freshman year at Reed College, Jobs befriended Daniel Kottke, who went on to work at Apple, and together they devoured books such as Shunryu Suzukiâs âZen Mind, Beginnerâs Mind,â Chogyam Trungpaâs âCutting Through Spiritual Materialismâ and Paramahansa Yoganandaâs âAutobiography of a Yogi,â a book Jobs read and re-read many times during his life.
(Source)
Andy Puddicombe
He was calling out probably the biggest trap in the journey of self-discovery, that of spiritual materialism ⊠If we meditate in order to let go of labels, to let go of identity, the last thing we want to do is take on another label: of being âspiritual.â Weâre looking to let go of that kind of judgment.
(Source)
80
In this little treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, offers timeless insight into the nature of real love. With simplicity, warmth, and directness, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedomâexplaining how to experience them in our day-to-day lives. He also emphasizes that in order to love in a real way, we must first learn how to be fully present in our lives, and he offers simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition that anyone can use to establish the conditions of love.
Thich Nhat...
more
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
81
A newly revised and updated edition of the internationally bestselling spiritual classic,
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
, written by Sogyal Rinpoche, is the ultimate introduction to Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. An enlightening, inspiring, and comforting manual for life and death that the
New York Times
calls, âThe Tibetan equivalent of [Danteâs]
The Divine Comedy
,â this is the essential work that moved Huston Smith, author of
The Worldâs Religions
, to proclaim, âI have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive,...
more
82
A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike
In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to
believe in
but something to
do
âand as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a...
more
83
The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it. In
No Mud, No Lotus
, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practices and inspiration for transforming suffering and finding true joy. Thich Nhat Hanh acknowledges that because suffering can feel so bad, we try to run away from it or cover it up by consuming. We find something to eat or turn on the television. But unless weâre able to face our suffering, we canât be present and available to life, and happiness will continue to elude us. Nhat Hanh shares how the practices of stopping, mindful breathing, and deep...
more
84
Two
New York Times
-bestselling authors unveil new research showing what meditation can really do for the brain.
In the last twenty years, meditation and mindfulness have gone from being kind of cool to becoming an omnipresent Band-Aid for fixing everything from your weight to your relationship to your achievement level. Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it.
more
85
Autobiography of a Yogi is one of the best-selling spiritual biographies of all time. The book is not merely read it is treasured and cherished by millions of spiritual seekers throughout the world.
more
Recommended by
Steve Jobs,Â
Marc Benioff,Â
Dominic Steil,Â
and 5 others.
Steve Jobs
One book in particular stayed with Jobs his entire life, and Isaacson noted that it was the only book Jobs had downloaded on his iPad 2: âAutobiography of a Yogi,â âthe guide to meditation and spirituality that he had first read as a teenager,â Isaacson writes, âthen re-read in India and had read once a year ever since.â
(Source)
Marc Benioff
If you haven't read it, and if you want to understand Steve Jobs, it's a goood idea to dip into [this book].
(Source)
Dominic Steil
[One of the books that had the biggest impact on .]
(Source)
86
Itâs easy to disconnect when life moves fast. Practicing Mindfulness offers effective exercises and meditations to live every moment of your daily routine, in the moment.
From finding your breath to feeling grounded, these practice-based exercises make integrating mindfulness into your routine easy. With over 75 essential meditationsâthat take between 5-20 minutes from start to finishâPracticing Mindfulness is an approachable way to apply mindfulness in your day-to-day life.
Reduce stress, improve mental health, and stay present no matter what the day holds when you...
more
87
In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts explains the principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, he delves into the origins and history of Zen to explain what it means for the world today with incredible clarity. Watts saw Zen as âone of the most precious gifts of Asia to the world,â and in
The Way of Zen
he gives this gift to readers everywhere.
more
88
Common sense tells us that to lose weight, we must eat less and exercise more. But somehow we get stalled. We start on a weight-loss program with good intentions but cannot stay on track. Neither the countless fad diets, nor the annual spending of $50 billion on weight loss helps us feel better or lose weight.
Too many of us are in a cycle of shame and guilt. We spend countless hours worrying about what we ate or if we exercised enough, blaming ourselves for actions that we can't undo. We are stuck in the past and unable to live in the present--that moment in which we do have the...
more
89
Best-seller Pema Chödrön draws on the Buddhist concept of shenpa to help us see how certain habits of mind tend to âhookâ us and get us stuck in states of anger, blame, self-hatred, and addiction. The good news is that once we start to recognize these patterns, they instantly begin to lose their hold on us and we can begin to change our lives for the better.
âThis path entails uncovering three basic human qualities,â explains Pema. âThey are natural intelligence, natural warmth, and natural openness. Everyone, everywhere, all over the globe, has these qualities and can call on them...
more
90
In this fascinating book, Alan Watts explores man's quest for psychological security, examining our efforts to find spiritual and intellectual certainty in the realms of religion and philosophy. The Wisdom of Insecurity underlines the importance of our search for stability in an age where human life seems particularly vulnerable and uncertain. Watts argues our insecurity is the consequence of trying to be secure and that, ironically, salvation and sanity lie in the recognition that we have no way of saving ourselves.
more
Oliver Burkeman
This is a very thin book but a mind-blowing one. In many ways it was part of my motivation to write my book. Alan Watts was a philosophical populariser. He called himself a âspiritual entertainerâ, and went around the world giving lectures and writing popular books about Eastern philosophies such as Zen Buddhism and Taoism. This book is about non-dualism â the theory that in some sense,...
(Source)
Antonio Eram
This book was recommended by Antonio when asked for titles he would recommend to young people interested in his career path.
(Source)
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance.
91
Encouraging readers to be intelligent and skillful in their practice, this new collection by Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the essential steps by which we can all obtain real and lasting happiness. Each day, we perform the tasks of everyday life without thought or awareness â walking, sitting, working, eating, driving, and much more. But Hanh points out that if we remain truly aware of our actions, no matter the task weâre performing, we can stay engaged in our lives and better our outlook through mindfulness. This key practice is the foundation for this accessible, easy-to-understand volume, and...
more
92
A beautifully packaged, gifty daily devotional of Stoic wisdom, from the author of
The Obstacle is the Way
.
Â
Modern readers praise Stoic philosophy for its unique blend of practicality and wisdom. But it's admittedly hard for the average reader to decipher the Dover Thrift edition of Marcus Aurelius' work. The antiquated, needlessly formal language of most modern translations is stripped down in this book, revealing powerful aphorisms that cut straight to the heart of our day-to-day challenges.
Â
Presented in a page-per-day format, this daily resource...
more
Recommended by
Brad Feld,Â
Jack Canfield,Â
Louis Grenier,Â
and 3 others.
Brad Feld
This book was a delight. I started reading it earlier this year, caught up quickly (I started in July), and then mostly read a page each day when I was in the bathroom in the morning. I let it unfold slowly, reading the daily quote and Ryan Holidayâs (and Stephen Hanselmanâs) thoughts on the quote, and then rereading the quote.
(Source)
Jack Canfield
A richly rewarding spring of practical wisdom to help you focus on what's in your control, eliminate false and limiting beliefs, and take more effective action. Make The Daily Stoic your guide and you will grow in clarity, efectiveness, and serenity each day!
(Source)
Louis Grenier
About tranquility and stoicism and focusing on change, you need to read âThe Daily Stoicâ which is 365 essays, small essays about stoicism and why you should focus on things that donât change.
(Source)
93
âAmong Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.â âNew York Times
âThich Nhat Hanh is a holy manâŠ. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.â âMartin Luther King, Jr., nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.
In this much-anticipated follow-up to his bestselling classic,
Peace Is Every Step
, Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâoffers an insightful guide to living a fuller life. In this...
more
94
In troubled times, there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâreveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer lifeâs deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.Â
Thich Nhat Hanh presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships and our...
more
95
Langer offers the reader the essence of her 15 years of research in social psychology. She demonstrates the grave and pervasive consequences of mindlessness and the startling benefits of mindfulness.
more
Recommended by
Dave Elitch,Â
and 1 others.
96
Growing up in the high desert of California, Jim Doty was poor, with an alcoholic father and a mother chronically depressed and paralyzed by a stroke. Today he is the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University, of which the Dalai Lama is a founding benefactor. But back then his life was at a dead end until at twelve he wandered into a magic shop looking for a plastic thumb. Instead he met Ruth, a woman who taught him a series of exercises to ease his own suffering and manifest his greatest desires. Her final mandate was that he...
more
Recommended by
Robin Sharma,Â
Roxana Bitoleanu,Â
and 2 others.
Robin Sharma
I think youâll gain great valueâand reading joyâfrom this book. Have an excellent Saturday. Love, Robin https://t.co/8e5D4Y2LLp
(Source)
Roxana Bitoleanu
[One of the books recommends to young people interested in her career path.]
(Source)
97
For decades, Western psychology has promised fulfillment through building and strengthening the ego. We are taught that the ideal is a strong, individuated self, constructed and reinforced over a lifetime. But Buddhist psychiatrist Mark Epstein has found a different way. Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart shows us that happiness doesn't come from any kind of acquisitiveness, be it material or psychological. Happiness comes from letting go. Weaving together the accumulated wisdom of his two worlds--Buddhism and Western psychotherapy--Epstein shows how "the happiness that we seek depends on...
more
98
You are a person worthy of love. You donât have to do anything to deserve all the love in the world.
Real Love is a creative tool kit of mindfulness exercises and meditation techniques that help you to truly engage with your present experience and create deeper love relationships with yourself, your partner, friends and family, and with life itself.
Sharon Salzberg, a leading expert in Lovingkindness[GR1] meditation, encourages us to strip away layers of negative habits and obstacles, helping us to experience authentic love based on direct experience, rather than...
more
99
In this groundbreaking book, Matthieu Ricard makes a passionate case for happiness as a goal that deserves as least as much energy as any other in our lives.
Wealth? Fitness? Career success? How can we possibly place these above true and lasting well-being? Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, Western philosophy, Buddhist beliefs, scientific research, and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward-looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast-moving modern world. With its revelatory lessons and exercises,
Happiness
...
more
Richard Branson
Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime.
(Source)
Joel Gascoigne
The author of this book has sometimes been called the "happiest man in the world". He is a French Biochemist turned Buddhist monk and has been in a unique position to merge science with mindfulness and meditation.
The underlying theme of the book is that happiness is indeed within our control, and is much more a skill than something that simply happens to us.
One of the biggest revelations for me...
(Source)
100
A Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects as compassion and holiness, and offers inspiration to believers in both religions.
more
Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
Being comprehensive: you learn the
most important points in the book
Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
Interactive exercises:
apply the book's ideas to your own life
with our educators' guidance. |
| Markdown | [](https://www.shortform.com/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/)
- [Our Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/summaries)
- [Pricing](https://www.shortform.com/pricing)
- [About](https://www.shortform.com/about)
- [Log in](https://www.shortform.com/app/login)
- [SIGN UP](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
[Genres](https://www.shortform.com/best-books) \> [Self-Improvement](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/genre/best-self-improvement-books-of-all-time) \> [Mindfulness](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/genre/best-mindfulness-books-of-all-time)
# 100 Best Mindfulness Books of All Time
We've researched and ranked the best mindfulness books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. [Learn more](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/eric-schmidt-recommended-books-reading-list-2394)Featuring recommendations from [Richard Branson,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742) [Steve Jobs,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453) [Eric Schmidt,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/eric-schmidt-recommended-books-reading-list-2394) and 337 other experts.
1
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002361MLA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002361MLA/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Power of Now](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002361MLA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002361MLA/?tag=allencheng-20)
Eckhart Tolle \| 5.00
Eckhart Tolle is emerging as one of today's most inspiring teachers. In The
Power of Now, a \#1 national bestseller, the author describes his transition
from despair to self-realization soon after his 29th birthday. Tolle took
another ten years to understand this transformation, during which time he
evolved a philosophy that has parallels in Buddhism, relaxation techniques,
and meditation theory but is also eminently practical. In The Power of Now
he shows readers how to recognize themselves as the creators of their own
pain, and how to have a pain-free... [more]()
Eckhart Tolle is emerging as one of today's most inspiring teachers. In The
Power of Now, a \#1 national bestseller, the author describes his transition
from despair to self-realization soon after his 29th birthday. Tolle took
another ten years to understand this transformation, during which time he
evolved a philosophy that has parallels in Buddhism, relaxation techniques,
and meditation theory but is also eminently practical. In The Power of Now
he shows readers how to recognize themselves as the creators of their own
pain, and how to have a pain-free existence by living fully in the present.
Accessing the deepest self, the true self, can be learned, he says, by
freeing ourselves from the conflicting, unreasonable demands of the mind and
living present, fully, and intensely, in the Now. [less]()
Recommended by Roxana Bitoleanu, Darrah Brustein, Valeria Mercado, and 10 others.

Roxana Bitoleanu\[One of the books that had the biggest impact on \] The power of now, as time is a limited resource and we should spend it as wonderfully as possible. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/roxana-bitoleanu-16152.html)

Darrah BrusteinOthers include The Power Of Now which is powerful reminder that all we have is the present and helps give you meaningful ways to live in it, not in the past or the future. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/darrah-brustein-13125.html)

Valeria Mercado@Ye\_Ali The best book [(Source)](https://twitter.com/thevalmercado/status/1192944325715345408)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/the-power-of-now) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002361MLA/?tag=allencheng-20)
2
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037B6QSY/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037B6QSY/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Wherever You Go, There You Are](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037B6QSY/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037B6QSY/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jon Kabat-Zinn \| 4.91
In this book, the author maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one's own life. It speaks both to those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime practitioners, anyone who cares deeply about reclaiming the richness of his or her moments. [more]()
In this book, the author maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one's own life. It speaks both to those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime practitioners, anyone who cares deeply about reclaiming the richness of his or her moments. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149)Recommended by [Rick Rubin,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149) Henry Medine, and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149)
[Rick Rubin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149)Itâs a great book if youâve never meditated, and if youâve been meditating for 50 years. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2015/05/15/rick-rubin/)

Henry MedineI promote range and diversity. Thus, I recommend readers to expose themselves to as many different topics as possible. I usually have 2-4 books I refer back to at any given time. They range in topics from management, art, spirituality and philosophy. Trying to get the engineering thing going but don't much of a mind for science. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/henry-medine-5735.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037B6QSY/?tag=allencheng-20)
3
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6VM/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6VM/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Miracle of Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6VM/?tag=allencheng-20)
[An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation (Gift Edition)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6VM/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.76
In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness. [more]()
In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marshall-goldsmith-recommended-books-reading-list-3040)Recommended by [Kevin Rose,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191) [Marshall Goldsmith,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marshall-goldsmith-recommended-books-reading-list-3040) and 2 others.
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6VM/?tag=allencheng-20)
4
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6FI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6FI/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Man's Search for Meaning](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6FI/?tag=allencheng-20)
Viktor E. Frankl, William J. Winslade, et al. \| 4.65
Man's Search for Meaning has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 psychiatrist Viktor Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the stories of his many patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theoryâknown as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")âholds... [more]()
Man's Search for Meaning has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 psychiatrist Viktor Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the stories of his many patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theoryâknown as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")âholds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful. In the decades since its first publication in 1959, Man's Search for Meaning has become a classic, with more than twelve million copies in print around the world. A 1991 Library of Congress survey that asked readers to name a "book that made a difference in your life" found Man's Search for Meaning among the ten most influential books in America. At once a memoir, a meditation, a treatise, and a history, it continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living.
(back cover) [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)Recommended by [Tony Robbins,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127) Dustin Moskovitz, [Simon Sinek,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054) and 63 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)
[Tony Robbins](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)Another book that Iâve read dozens of times. It taught me that if you change the meaning, you change everything. Meaning equals emotion, and emotion equals life. [(Source)](https://www.tonyrobbins.com/news/tonys-top-6-books-right-now/)

Dustin Moskovitz\[Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.\] [(Source)](https://twitter.com/moskov/status/1194062081143627776?s=20)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)
[Simon Sinek](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)This is essential reading for anyone interested in the topic of purpose. Because Franklâs personal experience was so extreme, the lessons are that much more stark. And, most importantly, his lessons are universally applicable to all our lives. [(Source)](https://ideas.ted.com/what-makes-a-great-leader-a-recommended-reading-list/)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/man-s-search-for-meaning) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6FI/?tag=allencheng-20)
5
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R4NMHJ2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R4NMHJ2/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [10% Happier](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R4NMHJ2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R4NMHJ2/?tag=allencheng-20)
Dan Harris \| 4.64
*Nightline* anchor Dan Harris embarks on an unexpected, hilarious, and deeply skeptical odyssey through the strange worlds of spirituality and self-help, and discovers a way to get happier that is truly achievable.
After having a nationally televised panic attack on *Good Morning America*, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure, involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing... [more]()
*Nightline* anchor Dan Harris embarks on an unexpected, hilarious, and deeply skeptical odyssey through the strange worlds of spirituality and self-help, and discovers a way to get happier that is truly achievable.
After having a nationally televised panic attack on *Good Morning America*, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure, involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing he always thought was his greatest asset: the incessant, insatiable voice in his head, which had both propelled him through the ranks of a hyper-competitive business and also led him to make the profoundly stupid decisions that provoked his on-air freak-out.
We all have a voice in our head. Itâs what has us losing our temper unnecessarily, checking our email compulsively, eating when weâre not hungry, and fixating on the past and the future at the expense of the present. Most of us would assume weâre stuck with this voice â that thereâs nothing we can do to rein it in â but Harris stumbled upon an effective way to do just that. Itâs a far cry from the miracle cures peddled by the self-help swamis he met; instead, itâs something he always assumed to be either impossible or useless: meditation. After learning about research that suggests meditation can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain, Harris took a deep dive into the underreported world of CEOs, scientists, and even marines who are now using it for increased calm, focus, and happiness.
*10% Happier* takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of Americaâs spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/peter-attia-recommended-books-reading-list-46435)Recommended by [Timothy Ferriss,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530) [Peter Attia,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/peter-attia-recommended-books-reading-list-46435) Chris Goward, and 6 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/peter-attia-recommended-books-reading-list-46435)
[Peter Attia](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/peter-attia-recommended-books-reading-list-46435)Modulating hormones as necessary - weâve not really talked about that. Fixing anything that needs to be fixed, on top of that pharmacologically, and Iâm a huge proponent of pharmacotherapy under the right setting. The final component is managing your stress. So as a guy whoâs thinking about this, I became really interested after actually reading Dan Harrisâs book. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2014/12/18/peter-attia/)

Chris GowardI remember reading 10% Happier by Dan Harris on one of my many flights to speak at a conference a couple years ago. I had been practicing meditation for a few years, and had tried to get deeper into learning about it, I struggled with the religious aspect many Buddhist authors brought, which seemed to bring more confusion than clarity. The way Dan described his process of skepticism and discovery... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chris-goward-18011.html)

Veronica BelmontMade me totally rethink mindfulness and meditation. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R4NMHJ2/?tag=allencheng-20)
6
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553351397/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553351397/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Peace Is Every Step](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553351397/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.64
Thich Nhat Hahn is a Vietnamese Zen master, poet and writer whose humane, benevolent presence and spiritual influence is comparable only to that of the Dalai Lama. His teachings show how to use Zen mindfulness in everyday aspects of life, live in the world peacefully, and weather daily mundane crises as well as larger spiritual trials. [more]()
Thich Nhat Hahn is a Vietnamese Zen master, poet and writer whose humane, benevolent presence and spiritual influence is comparable only to that of the Dalai Lama. His teachings show how to use Zen mindfulness in everyday aspects of life, live in the world peacefully, and weather daily mundane crises as well as larger spiritual trials. [less]()
Recommended by Joel Gascoigne, and 1 others.

Joel GascoigneAround two and a half years ago I found myself on a very organic path from business, success and self-improvement books to those that spanned both personal success and spirituality. Books like The Monk and the Riddle mentioned above address this topic. After reading some of these books, I naturally found myself interested in meditation and Zen Buddhism. One of the most fascinating Zen Buddhists... [(Source)](http://joel.is/50-books-that-transformed-my-business-and-my-life/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553351397/?tag=allencheng-20)
7
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XF1LKW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XF1LKW/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindfulness in Plain English](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XF1LKW/?tag=allencheng-20)
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana \| 4.62
**âA masterpiece.â âJon Kabat-Zinn**
**Since *Mindfulness in Plain English* was first published in 1994, it has become one of the bestselling â and most influential â books in the field of mindfulness. Itâs easy to see why.**
Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us **step by step through the myths, realities, and benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness.** The book showcases Bhanteâs trademark clarity and wit, as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work.
[more]()
**âA masterpiece.â âJon Kabat-Zinn**
**Since *Mindfulness in Plain English* was first published in 1994, it has become one of the bestselling â and most influential â books in the field of mindfulness. Itâs easy to see why.**
Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us **step by step through the myths, realities, and benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness.** The book showcases Bhanteâs trademark clarity and wit, as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work.
This expanded edition includes the complete text of its predecessor along with a new chapter on cultivating loving
kindness, an especially important topic in todayâs world. For anyone who is new to meditation, this is a great
resource for learning how to live a more productive and peaceful life. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/vinod-khosla-recommended-books-reading-list-46486)Recommended by [Vinod Khosla,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/vinod-khosla-recommended-books-reading-list-46486) and 1 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/vinod-khosla-recommended-books-reading-list-46486)
[Vinod Khosla](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/vinod-khosla-recommended-books-reading-list-46486)Easy access to meditation. [(Source)](https://medium.com/@vkhosla/2017-book-recommendations-aa3633a18baf)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/mindfulness-in-plain-english) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XF1LKW/?tag=allencheng-20)
8
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NJ2T1G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NJ2T1G/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NJ2T1G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NJ2T1G/?tag=allencheng-20)
Mark Williams, Danny Penman, Jon Kabat-Zinn \| 4.61
From one of the leading thinkers on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, a pioneering set of simple practices to dissolve anxiety, stress, exhaustion, and unhappiness.In "Mindfulness," Oxford professor Mark Williams and award-winning journalist Dr. Danny Penman reveal the secrets to living a happier and less anxious, stressful and exhausting life. Based on the techniques of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, the unique program developed by Williams and his colleagues, the book offers simple and straightforward forms of mindfulness meditation that can be done by anyone--and it can take just... [more]()
From one of the leading thinkers on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, a pioneering set of simple practices to dissolve anxiety, stress, exhaustion, and unhappiness.In "Mindfulness," Oxford professor Mark Williams and award-winning journalist Dr. Danny Penman reveal the secrets to living a happier and less anxious, stressful and exhausting life. Based on the techniques of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, the unique program developed by Williams and his colleagues, the book offers simple and straightforward forms of mindfulness meditation that can be done by anyone--and it can take just 10-20 minutes a day for the full benefits to be revealed. [less]()
Recommended by Tessa Watt, Will MacAskill, and 2 others.

Tessa WattThis is the book that I would recommend as the most practicalâŠIt takes you through an eight-week course and it has audio to go with it. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/mindfulness-tessa-watt/)

Will MacAskillThis book is a friendly and accessible introduction to mindfulness meditation, and includes an 8-week guided meditation course. Will completed this course, and it had a significant impact on his life. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Tools-Titans-Billionaires-World-Class-Performers/dp/1328683788/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NJ2T1G/?tag=allencheng-20)
9
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BRS8Z6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BRS8Z6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Four Agreements](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BRS8Z6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BRS8Z6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Don Miguel Ruiz, Janet Mills \| 4.61
In *The Four Agreements*, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. The Four Agreements are: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best. [more]()
In *The Four Agreements*, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. The Four Agreements are: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/charlamagne-tha-god-recommended-books-reading-list-19476)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)Recommended by [Charlamagne Tha God,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/charlamagne-tha-god-recommended-books-reading-list-19476) [Jack Dorsey,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073) [James Altucher,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954) and 17 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)
[Jack Dorsey](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)Question: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading\! [(Source)](https://www.producthunt.com/live/jack-dorsey)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/charlamagne-tha-god-recommended-books-reading-list-19476)
[Charlamagne Tha God](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/charlamagne-tha-god-recommended-books-reading-list-19476)These are the books I recommend people to listen to on @applebooks. [(Source)](https://twitter.com/cthagod/status/1043509465478320129)

Karlie KlossI just think itâs got a lot of great principles and ideas. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2018/04/04/karlie-kloss/)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/the-four-agreements) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BRS8Z6/?tag=allencheng-20)
10
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4BA3UK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4BA3UK/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Full Catastrophe Living](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4BA3UK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4BA3UK/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jon Kabat-Zinn and Random House Audi \| 4.58
2005 15th anniversary edition reprint
Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is perhaps the best-known proponent of using meditation to help patients deal with illness. (The somewhat confusing title is from a line in *Zorba the Greek* in which the title character refers to the ups and downs of family life as "the full catastrophe.") But this book is also a terrific introduction for anyone who has considered meditating but was afraid it would be too difficult or would include religious practices they found foreign.... [more]()
2005 15th anniversary edition reprint
Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is perhaps the best-known proponent of using meditation to help patients deal with illness. (The somewhat confusing title is from a line in *Zorba the Greek* in which the title character refers to the ups and downs of family life as "the full catastrophe.") But this book is also a terrific introduction for anyone who has considered meditating but was afraid it would be too difficult or would include religious practices they found foreign. Kabat-Zinn focuses on "mindfulness," a concept that involves living in the moment, paying attention, and simply "being" rather than "doing." While you can practice anything "mindfully," from taking a walk to cleaning your house, Kabat-Zinn presents several meditation techniques that focus the attention most clearly, whether it's on a simple phrase, your breathing, or various parts of your body. The book goes into detail about how hospital patients have either improved their health or simply come to feel better *despite* their illness by using these techniques, but these meditations can help anyone deal with stress and gain a calmer outlook on life. "When we use the word *healing* to describe the experiences of people in the stress clinic, what we mean above all is that they are undergoing a profound transformation of view," Kabat-Zinn writes. "Out of this shift in perspective comes an ability to act with greater balance and inner security in the world." *\--Ben Kallen*
reissue 2005 [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4BA3UK/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
11
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU29WA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU29WA/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Untethered Soul](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU29WA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Journey Beyond Yourself](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU29WA/?tag=allencheng-20)
Michael A. Singer \| 4.54
Who are you? When you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. Are you a physical body? A collection of experiences and memories? A partner in a relationship? Each time you consider these aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define.
In ***The Untethered Soul*****â**now a *New York Times* bestseller**â**spiritual teacher Michael Singer explores the question of who we are and arrives at the conclusion that our identity is to be found in our consciousness, the fact of our ability to... [more]()
Who are you? When you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. Are you a physical body? A collection of experiences and memories? A partner in a relationship? Each time you consider these aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define.
In ***The Untethered Soul*****â**now a *New York Times* bestseller**â**spiritual teacher Michael Singer explores the question of who we are and arrives at the conclusion that our identity is to be found in our consciousness, the fact of our ability to observe ourselves, and the world around us. By tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization.
This book, copublished with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), offers a frank and friendly discussion of consciousness and how we can develop it. In part one, he examines the notion of self and the inner dialogue we all live with. Part two examines the experience of energy as it flows through us and works to show readers how to open their hearts to the energy of experience that permeates their lives. Ways to overcome tendencies to close down to the rest of the world are the subject of part three. Enlightenment, the embrace of universal consciousness, is the subject of part four. And finally, in part five, Singer returns to daily life and the pursuit of unconditional happiness. Throughout, the book maintains a light and engaging tone, free from heavy dogma and prescriptive religious references. The easy exercises that figure in each chapter help readers experience the ideas that Singer presents.
Visit [www.untetheredsoul.com](http://www.untetheredsoul.com/) for more information. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/deepak-chopra-recommended-books-reading-list-7682)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ray-kurzweil-recommended-books-reading-list-661)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)Recommended by [Deepak Chopra,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/deepak-chopra-recommended-books-reading-list-7682) [Ray Kurzweil,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ray-kurzweil-recommended-books-reading-list-661) [James Altucher,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954) and 6 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/deepak-chopra-recommended-books-reading-list-7682)
[Deepak Chopra](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/deepak-chopra-recommended-books-reading-list-7682)eval(ez\_write\_tag(\[\[250,250\],'theceolibrary\_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot\_5',164,'0','1'\])); In the book The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer takes you step-by-step through the process of Gyana, the yoga of the Intellect, to the Source. Moreover, he does it with elegant simplicity. Read this book carefully, and you will get more than a glimpse of eternity. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1626250766)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ray-kurzweil-recommended-books-reading-list-661)
[Ray Kurzweil](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ray-kurzweil-recommended-books-reading-list-661)East is East and West is West, but Michael A. Singer bridges these two great traditions in a radiant treatise on how to succeed in life from our spiritual quest to our everyday tribulations. Freud said that life was composed of love and work. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singerâs brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless... [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1626250766)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)
[James Altucher](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)Michael moved to an empty patch of forest, set up his trailer, and started to meditate in the early 70s. He surrendered to whatever happened in his life. Well...what ended up happening is that he created a multi-billion dollar company. His book is about the spiritual beauty of surrender. And how that can go hand in hand with financial success. I was so astonished by the book that I contacted him... [(Source)](https://jamesaltucher.com/2017/02/reading-good-guide-makes-good-day/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU29WA/?tag=allencheng-20)
12
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOM0/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOM0/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOM0/?tag=allencheng-20)
Shunryu Suzuki, David Chadwick \| 4.49
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line of Shunryu Suzuki's classic. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that's just the beginning.
In the thirty years since its original publication, *Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind...* [more]()
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line of Shunryu Suzuki's classic. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that's just the beginning.
In the thirty years since its original publication, *Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind* has become one of the great modern Zen classics, much beloved, much re-read, and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Suzuki Roshi presents the basicsâfrom the details of posture and breathing in *zazen* to the perception of nondualityâin a way that is not only remarkably clear, but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page. It's a book to come back to time and time again as an inspiration to practice. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)Recommended by [Steve Jobs,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453) [Kevin Rose,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191) [David Heinemeier Hansson,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461) and 6 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)often used the methods found in this book to center himself during difficult moments in his career. He was such an avid practitioner that he considered going to Japan to continue his practice, but was advised against it. [(Source)](http://www.lifehack.org/290532/10-eye-opening-books-steve-jobs-would-have-recommended)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191)
[Kevin Rose](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191)Isnât a religious book, but more on self-realization, study on yourself, breathing exercises, relaxation and understanding human nature. Really cool book, very short read and you will really enjoy reading. [(Source)](http://favobooks.com/enterpreneurs/64-kevin-rose.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)
[David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)Zen Mind, Beginnerâs Mind is an introduction to Buddhism and meditation. There are a lot of echoes between Stoicism and Buddhism, and I thought Iâd dive deeper into this on recommendation from Eric Dodson (great YouTube channel for existentialist and stoic explainers and introductions). So far Iâm finding that thereâs longer between the nuggets of wisdom that slot into my brain than with the... [(Source)](https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-books-i-read-in-2018/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOM0/?tag=allencheng-20)
13
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PC0S5K/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PC0S5K/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [A New Earth](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PC0S5K/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Awakening to Your Life's Purpose](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PC0S5K/?tag=allencheng-20)
Editorial América, Eckhart Tolle, Roque Marley \| 4.44
Building on the astonishing success of **The Power of Now**, Eckhart Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: He implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity.
Tolle tells us there is good news, however. There is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current... [more]()
Building on the astonishing success of **The Power of Now**, Eckhart Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: He implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity.
Tolle tells us there is good news, however. There is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current egoic consciousness to an entirely new one.
In illuminating the nature of this shift in consciousness, Tolle describes in detail how our current ego-based state of consciousness operates. Then gently, and in very practical terms, he leads us into this new consciousness. We will come to experience who we truly areâwhich is something infinitely greater than anything we currently think we areâand learn to live and breathe freely. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/aubrey-marcus-recommended-books-reading-list-37695)Recommended by [Aubrey Marcus,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/aubrey-marcus-recommended-books-reading-list-37695) Abid Zaidi, Patricia Reed, and 4 others.

Abid ZaidiDay 1 : \#30Days of posting cover of books I love (1 book a day for 30 days). No expectations, no reviews, just the covers \#MyFavouriteBooks Not invited by @rekha\_bhardwaj ji or @virtual\_opinion but still posting: đ https://t.co/rDKfaLADsm [(Source)](https://twitter.com/AbidZaidi1/status/1153902268669812737)

Patricia Reed"The Power of Now", by Eckhart Tolle, as well as "A New Earth". Understanding the ego, and being able to separate it from self, is a powerful thing. It has changed my outlook on people and situations, and made me able to see my inner critic for what it is, and choose how I want to engage or respond to situations. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/patricia-reed-8494.html)

Catherine MolloyI am an experiential learner I need to see it, feel it, etc. so the book must move me to do something, feel something. With A New Earth I even read snippets to my students as I have experienced a lot of these concepts and write and train in similar concepts. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/catherine-molloy-7398.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PC0S5K/?tag=allencheng-20)
14
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZL1KAW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZL1KAW/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Headspace Guide to Meditation & Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZL1KAW/?tag=allencheng-20)
Andy Puddicombe \| 4.42
This program was previously published as Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day.
Quiet the mind, feel less stressed and less tired, and achieve a new level of calm and fulfillment in just ten minutes a day.
Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, the Voice of Headspace, and the UK's foremost mindfulness expert, is on a mission: to get people to take 10 minutes out of their day to sit in the here and now.
Like his readers and students, Andy began his own meditation practice as a normal, busy person with everyday concerns,... [more]()
This program was previously published as Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day.
Quiet the mind, feel less stressed and less tired, and achieve a new level of calm and fulfillment in just ten minutes a day.
Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, the Voice of Headspace, and the UK's foremost mindfulness expert, is on a mission: to get people to take 10 minutes out of their day to sit in the here and now.
Like his readers and students, Andy began his own meditation practice as a normal, busy person with everyday concerns, and he has since designed a program of mindfulness and guided meditation that fits neatly into a jam-packed daily routine - proving that just 10 minutes a day can make a world of difference.
Accessible and portable, The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness offers simple but powerful meditation techniques that positively impact every area of physical and mental health: from productivity and focus, to stress and anxiety relief, sleep, weight-loss, personal relationships...the benefits are limitless. The result? More headspace, less stress. Andy brings this ancient practice into the modern world, tailor made for the most time starved among us.
Switch off after work
Fall asleep at night
Feel less anxious, sad, or angry
Control your cravings
Find a healthy weight
©2011 Andy Puddicombe (P)2012 Macmillan Audio [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/haralabos-voulgaris-recommended-books-reading-list-45000)Recommended by [Bill Gates,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906) [Haralabos Voulgaris,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/haralabos-voulgaris-recommended-books-reading-list-45000) Alexandra Stroe, and 3 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)
[Bill Gates](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)Iâm sure 25-year-old me would scoff at this one, but Melinda and I have gotten really into meditation lately. The book starts with Puddicombeâs personal journey from a university student to a Buddhist monk and then becomes an entertaining explainer on how to meditate. If youâre thinking about trying mindfulness, this is the perfect introduction. [(Source)](https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/Best-Books-2018)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/haralabos-voulgaris-recommended-books-reading-list-45000)
[Haralabos Voulgaris](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/haralabos-voulgaris-recommended-books-reading-list-45000)@Property531 Best way to start is to simply do - Try one of the following app courses @wakingup @Headspace @10percent They are all good choices. If you want to read a book https://t.co/yEwmKHTUUL is decent as well. [(Source)](https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/1178076708982816768)

Alexandra StroeI am trying to bring some daily habits into my life, such as meditation, that would help me stay balanced and present in everyday moments. One of the books that helped me understand more about the practice of meditation is The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe. After reading this book, I understood that meditation does not have to be some sacred, difficult practice... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/alexandra-stroe-and-iulia-ghita-17441.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZL1KAW/?tag=allencheng-20)
15
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MMUA8S/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MMUA8S/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F\*ck](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MMUA8S/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MMUA8S/?tag=allencheng-20)
Mark Manson, Roger Wayne, et al \| 4.42
*Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062457738*
In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.
For decades, weâve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F\*\*k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Letâs be honest, shit is f\*\*ked and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesnât sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it isâa dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth... [more]()
*Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062457738*
In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.
For decades, weâve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F\*\*k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Letâs be honest, shit is f\*\*ked and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesnât sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it isâa dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F\*\*k* is his antidote to the coddling, letâs-all-feel-good mindset that has infected American society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limitedâ"not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault." Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.
There are only so many things we can give a f\*\*k about so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F\*\*k* is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)Recommended by [Ryan Holiday,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272) Jason Kander, Jason Hook, and 24 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)
[Ryan Holiday](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)I loved Mark Mansonâs The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck. Thereâs a reason this book is blowing up. Itâs that good. [(Source)](https://ryanholiday.net/the-very-best-books-i-read-in-2016/)

Jason KanderTomorrow morning is the season finale of @dianakanderâs podcast \#ProfessionalAF. Itâs a conversation with yours truly about mental health and âThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F\*\*\*,â a book I read last year at the suggestion of my therapist at the VA. Subscribe now! Enjoy tomorrow\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/JasonKander/status/1226677581900140546)

Jason HookMy new favorite book! ... super relatable! đ„Ž I highly recommend it. \#selfimprovement \#fivefingerdeathpunch https://t.co/BrybqTuayH [(Source)](https://twitter.com/jasonhook_5fdp/status/1163261659739127809)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-f-ck) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MMUA8S/?tag=allencheng-20)
16
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH2C/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH2C/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [When Things Fall Apart](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH2C/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Heart Advice for Difficult Times](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH2C/?tag=allencheng-20)
P. Chodron \| 4.40
There is a fundamental opportunity for happiness right within our reach, yet we usually miss itâironically while we are caught up in attempts to escape pain and suffering. Drawn from traditional Buddhist wisdom, Pema Chödrön's radical and compassionate advice for what to do when things fall apart in our lives goes against the grain of our usual habits and expectations. There is only one approach to suffering that is of lasting benefit, Pema teaches, and that approach involves moving *toward* painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, relaxing into the essential groundlessness of... [more]()
There is a fundamental opportunity for happiness right within our reach, yet we usually miss itâironically while we are caught up in attempts to escape pain and suffering. Drawn from traditional Buddhist wisdom, Pema Chödrön's radical and compassionate advice for what to do when things fall apart in our lives goes against the grain of our usual habits and expectations. There is only one approach to suffering that is of lasting benefit, Pema teaches, and that approach involves moving *toward* painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, relaxing into the essential groundlessness of our entire situation. It is there, in the midst of chaos, that we can discover the truth and love that are indestructible.
The Shambhala Library is a series of exquisitely designed and produced cloth editions of the world's spiritual and literary classics, both ancient and modern. Perfect for collecting or as gifts, each volume features a sewn binding, decorative endsheets, and a ribbon markerâin a delightful-to-hold 4ÂŒ x 6Ÿ trim size. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)Recommended by [Seth Godin,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336) and 1 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)
[Seth Godin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)Almost the flip side. I'm so much better at \[protracted difficult periods\] because of Pema and because of meditation and because of knowing how to sit with it and not insist that the tension go away. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Tools-Titans-Billionaires-World-Class-Performers/dp/1328683788/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH2C/?tag=allencheng-20)
17
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007L659U2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007L659U2/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindfulness for Beginners](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007L659U2/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jon Kabat-Zinn \| 4.39
What if you could profoundly change your life just by becoming more mindful of your breathing? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, you can. What if paying attention on purpose (and nonjudgmentally) could improve your health? Again, according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn--it can.
On *Mindfulness for Beginners,* this internationally known scientist, bestselling author, and teacher who brought mindfulness meditation into the mainstream of medicine and society gives you immediate access to a practice that can potentially add years to your life, and will certainly enhance the quality of your... [more]()
What if you could profoundly change your life just by becoming more mindful of your breathing? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, you can. What if paying attention on purpose (and nonjudgmentally) could improve your health? Again, according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn--it can.
On *Mindfulness for Beginners,* this internationally known scientist, bestselling author, and teacher who brought mindfulness meditation into the mainstream of medicine and society gives you immediate access to a practice that can potentially add years to your life, and will certainly enhance the quality of your moments and your years.
Join Dr. Kabat-Zinn to:
Explore five guided meditations that lead you breath-by-breath into the essence of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a program offered in medical clinics and hospitals around the world
\- Cultivate the Seven Key Attitudinal Factors of MBSR--qualities of heart and mind that lay the foundation for mindfulness practice and for seeing and accepting things as they are as a first step to working wisely and compassionately with stress, pain, illness, and sorrow as well as life's joys and pleasures
\- Free yourself from limiting perspectives, and become more intimate with your own boundless awareness
You're already in the perfect moment for inhabiting this liberating awareness, which is always available, teaches Jon Kabat-Zinn. With *Mindfulness for Beginners*, he invites you to cultivate mindfulness as if your life depended on it, which it surely does, and experience the magnitude and beauty of who you already are.
**Course objectives:**
Apply an understanding of the concept of mindfulness
\- Utilize simple guided meditations led by Kabat-Zinn
\- List the ethical and attitudinal foundations necessary to cultivating mindfulness
\- Assess how we can choose where to focus our awareness
\- Plan to use mindfulness to help us develop compassion and insight into our true nature [less]()
Recommended by Ev Williams, and 1 others.
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007L659U2/?tag=allencheng-20)
18
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2NHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2NHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Radical Acceptance](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2NHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2NHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
Tara Brach \| 4.39
*For many of us, feelings of deficiency are right around the corner. It doesnât take much--just hearing of someone elseâs accomplishments, being criticized, getting into an argument, making a mistake at work--to make us feel that we are not okay. Beginning to understand how our lives have become ensnared in this trance of unworthiness is our first step toward reconnecting with who we really are and what it means to live fully.* \--*from* **Radical Acceptance Radical Acceptance** âBelieving that something is wrong with us is a deep and tenacious... [more]()
*For many of us, feelings of deficiency are right around the corner. It doesnât take much--just hearing of someone elseâs accomplishments, being criticized, getting into an argument, making a mistake at work--to make us feel that we are not okay. Beginning to understand how our lives have become ensnared in this trance of unworthiness is our first step toward reconnecting with who we really are and what it means to live fully.* \--*from* **Radical Acceptance Radical Acceptance** âBelieving that something is wrong with us is a deep and tenacious suffering,â says Tara Brach at the start of this illuminating book. This suffering emerges in crippling self-judgments and conflicts in our relationships, in addictions and perfectionism, in loneliness and overwork--all the forces that keep our lives constricted and unfulfilled. Radical Acceptance offers a path to freedom, including the day-to-day practical guidance developed over Dr. Brachâs twenty years of work with therapy clients and Buddhist students.
Writing with great warmth and clarity, Tara Brach brings her teachings alive through personal stories and case histories, fresh interpretations of Buddhist tales, and guided meditations. Step by step, she leads us to trust our innate goodness, showing how we can develop the balance of clear-sightedness and compassion that is the essence of **Radical Acceptance**. **Radical Acceptance** does not mean self-indulgence or passivity. Instead it empowers genuine change: healing fear and shame and helping to build loving, authentic relationships. When we stop being at war with ourselves, we are free to live fully every precious moment of our lives.
*From the Hardcover edition.* [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530)Recommended by [Timothy Ferriss,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530) and 1 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530)
[Timothy Ferriss](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530)This book was recommended to me by a PhD neuroscientist and is what finally helped me tame anger, one of my most destructive (and persistent) emotions. Itâs easy to aim for 'successful' and be miserable. This book is the antidote. [(Source)](https://blog.scribd.com/home/2017/8/17/books-every-entrepreneur-should-read-according-to-tim-ferriss)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2NHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
19
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00555X8OA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00555X8OA/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Thinking, Fast and Slow](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00555X8OA/?tag=allencheng-20)
Kahneman \| 4.38
Major *New York Times* bestseller
Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012
Selected by the *New York Times Book Review* as one of the best books of 2011
A *Globe and Mail* Best Books of the Year 2011 Title
One of *The Economist*'s 2011 Books of the Year
One of *The Wall Street Journal*'s Best Nonfiction Books of the Year 2011
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
In the international bestseller, *Thinking, Fast and Slow*, Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and winner of the Nobel... [more]()
Major *New York Times* bestseller
Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012
Selected by the *New York Times Book Review* as one of the best books of 2011
A *Globe and Mail* Best Books of the Year 2011 Title
One of *The Economist*'s 2011 Books of the Year
One of *The Wall Street Journal*'s Best Nonfiction Books of the Year 2011
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
In the international bestseller, *Thinking, Fast and Slow*, Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. The impact of overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning our next vacationâeach of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems shape our judgments and decisions.
Engaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He offers practical and enlightening insights into how choices are made in both our business and our personal livesâand how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble. Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and selected by *The New York Times Book Review* as one of the ten best books of 2011, Thinking*, Fast and Slow* is destined to be a classic. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/barack-obama-recommended-books-reading-list-7425)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)Recommended by [Barack Obama,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/barack-obama-recommended-books-reading-list-7425) [Bill Gates,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906) Ron Conway, and 48 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/barack-obama-recommended-books-reading-list-7425)
[Barack Obama](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/barack-obama-recommended-books-reading-list-7425)A few months ago, Mr. Obama read âThinking, Fast and Slow,â by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions â quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. [(Source)](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/us/politics/obama-seeking-re-election-asks-for-patience.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)
[Bill Gates](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)\[On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.\] [(Source)](https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books#BooksRead)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marc-andreessen-recommended-books-reading-list-7914)
[Marc Andreessen](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marc-andreessen-recommended-books-reading-list-7914)Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/gilles-bernhard-14626.html)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/thinking-fast-and-slow) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00555X8OA/?tag=allencheng-20)
20
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GEEB9YC/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GEEB9YC/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Waking Up](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GEEB9YC/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GEEB9YC/?tag=allencheng-20)
Sam Harris \| 4.34
For the millions of Americans who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harrisâs new book is a guide to meditation as a rational spiritual practice informed by neuroscience and psychology.
From multiple New York Times bestselling author, neuroscientist, and ânew atheistâ Sam Harris, Waking Up is for the 30 percent of Americans who follow no religion, but who suspect that Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history could not have all been epileptics, schizophrenics, or frauds. Throughout the book, Harris argues that there are important truths to be... [more]()
For the millions of Americans who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harrisâs new book is a guide to meditation as a rational spiritual practice informed by neuroscience and psychology.
From multiple New York Times bestselling author, neuroscientist, and ânew atheistâ Sam Harris, Waking Up is for the 30 percent of Americans who follow no religion, but who suspect that Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history could not have all been epileptics, schizophrenics, or frauds. Throughout the book, Harris argues that there are important truths to be found in the experiences of such contemplativesâand, therefore, that there is more to understanding reality than science and secular culture generally allow.
Waking Up is part seekerâs memoir and part exploration of the scientific underpinnings of spirituality. No other book marries contemplative wisdom and modern science in this way, and no author other than Sam Harrisâa scientist, philosopher, and famous skepticâcould write it. [less]()
Recommended by Susan Cain, Chris Goward, Fabrice Grinda, and 4 others.

Susan CainSuch a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2019/01/24/susan-cain/)

Chris GowardI also highly recommend Sam Harris' Waking Up, which is a more well-rounded unpacking of non-religious mindfulness practice. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chris-goward-18011.html)

Fabrice GrindaVery well thought through analysis of spirituality without religion. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/fabrice-grinda-6337.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GEEB9YC/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
21
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindset](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The New Psychology of Success](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
Carol S. Dweck \| 4.33
**Now updated with new research â the book that has changed millions of lives.**
After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a *fixed mindset* â those who believe that abilities are fixed â are less likely to flourish than those with a *growth...* [more]()
**Now updated with new research â the book that has changed millions of lives.**
After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a *fixed mindset* â those who believe that abilities are fixed â are less likely to flourish than those with a *growth mindset* â those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment.
In this edition, Dweck offers new insights into her now famous and broadly embraced concept. She introduces a phenomenon she calls false growth mindset and guides people toward adopting a deeper, truer growth mindset. She also expands the mindset concept beyond the individual, applying it to the cultures of groups and organizations. With the right mindset, you can motivate those you lead, teach, and love â to transform their lives and your own. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/satya-nadella-recommended-books-reading-list-4466)Recommended by [Bill Gates,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906) [Tony Robbins,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127) [Satya Nadella,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/satya-nadella-recommended-books-reading-list-4466) and 29 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)
[Bill Gates](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because itâs solutions-oriented. In the bookâs final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that âjust learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives. [(Source)](https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/294467#13)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)
[Tony Robbins](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)\[Tony Robbins recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".\] [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2014/10/07/global-learning-xprize/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/satya-nadella-recommended-books-reading-list-4466)
[Satya Nadella](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/satya-nadella-recommended-books-reading-list-4466)Written by a Stanford psychology professor, this book offers advice on retaining an appreciation for the things you donât yet know and first resonated with Nadella as a father. As Microsoftâs new CEO, he aspired to steer the company toward âa culture that allowed us to constantly refresh and renew,â and incorporated Dweckâs perspective into his blueprint for change. âNow three years into it, I... [(Source)](https://www.fastcompany.com/40457479/the-7-books-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-says-you-need-to-lead-smarter)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/mindset) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
22
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYYXT9G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYYXT9G/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYYXT9G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Practical Guide to Awakening](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYYXT9G/?tag=allencheng-20)
Joseph Goldstein \| 4.32
The mind contains the seeds of its own awakening--seeds that we can cultivate to bring forth the fruits of a life lived consciously. With *Mindfulness*, Joseph Goldstein shares the wisdom of his four decades of teaching and practice in a book that will serve as a lifelong companion for anyone committed to mindful living and the realization of inner freedom.Goldstein's source teaching is the *Satipatthana Sutta*, the Buddha's legendary discourse on the four foundations of mindfulness that became the basis for the many types of Vipassana (or insight meditation) found today.... [more]()
The mind contains the seeds of its own awakening--seeds that we can cultivate to bring forth the fruits of a life lived consciously. With *Mindfulness*, Joseph Goldstein shares the wisdom of his four decades of teaching and practice in a book that will serve as a lifelong companion for anyone committed to mindful living and the realization of inner freedom.Goldstein's source teaching is the *Satipatthana Sutta*, the Buddha's legendary discourse on the four foundations of mindfulness that became the basis for the many types of Vipassana (or insight meditation) found today. Exquisite in detail yet wholly accessible and relevant for the modern student, *Mindfulness* takes us through a profound study of: Ardency, clear knowing, mindfulness, and concentration--how to develop these four qualities of mind essential for walking the path wiselyThe *Satipatthana* refrain--how deeply contemplating the four foundations of mindfulness opens us to bare knowing and continuity of mindfulnessMindfulness of the body, including the breath, postures, activities, and physical characteristicsMindfulness of feelings--how the experience of our sense perceptions influences our inner and outer worldsMindfulness of mind--learning to recognize skillful and unskillful states of mind and thoughtMindfulness of *dhammas* (or categories of experience), including the Five Hindrances, the Six Sense Spheres, the Seven Factors of Awakening, and much more
"There is a wealth of meaning and nuance in the experience of mindfulness that can enrich our lives in unimagined ways," writes Goldstein. In *Mindfulness* you have the tools to mine these riches for yourself. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYYXT9G/?tag=allencheng-20)
23
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SHDM8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SHDM8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Tao Te Ching](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SHDM8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
[By Lao Tzu - Illustrated](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SHDM8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
Lao Tse \| 4.31
**A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition.**
Written more than two thousand years ago, the *Tao Teh Ching*, or -The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue, - is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Traditionally attributed to the legendary -Old Master, - Lao Tzu, the *Tao Teh Ching* teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu's words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in... [more]()
**A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition.**
Written more than two thousand years ago, the *Tao Teh Ching*, or -The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue, - is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Traditionally attributed to the legendary -Old Master, - Lao Tzu, the *Tao Teh Ching* teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu's words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in business and politics as they are in developing a sense of balance and harmony in everyday life. To follow the *Tao* or Way of all things and realize their true nature is to embody humility, spontaneity, and generosity.
John C. H. Wu has done a remarkable job of rendering this subtle text into English while retaining the freshness and depth of the original. A jurist and scholar, Dr. Wu was a recognized authority on Taoism and the translator of several Taoist and Zen texts and of Chinese poetry.
This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-ma-recommended-books-reading-list-28694)Recommended by [Jack Dorsey,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073) [Jack Ma,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-ma-recommended-books-reading-list-28694) Tim O'Reilly, and 14 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)
[Jack Dorsey](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)Q: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading\! [(Source)](https://www.producthunt.com/live/jack-dorsey)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-ma-recommended-books-reading-list-28694)
[Jack Ma](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-ma-recommended-books-reading-list-28694)According to a Yibada interview with Chen Wei, who wrote Maâs 2014 authorized biography, the Alibaba founder and executive chairman always carries the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoist philosophy, religion and ethics composed by Lao Tzu in the sixth century B.C. [(Source)](https://www.inc.com/ilan-mochari/books-zhang-ruimin.html)

Tim O'ReillyThe Way of Life According to Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching), translated by Witter Bynner. My personal religious philosophy, stressing the rightness of what is, if only we can accept it. Most people who know me have heard me quote from this book. "Seeing as how nothing is outside the vast, wide-meshed net of heaven, who is there to say just how it is cast?" [(Source)](http://archive.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/articles/favebooks_0705.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SHDM8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
24
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026772N8/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026772N8/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026772N8/?tag=allencheng-20)
[An Inquiry Into Values](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026772N8/?tag=allencheng-20)
Robert M. Pirsig \| 4.31
This lyrical, evocative, thought-provoking journal of a man's quest for truth - and for himself - has touched and changed an entire generation, and is ready to reach out to a new one. At its heart, the story is all too simple: a man and his son take a motorcycle trip across America. But this is not a simple trip at all, for around every corner, through mountain and desert, wind and rain, and searing heat and biting cold, their pilgrimage leads them to new vistas of self-discovery and renewal.
*Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance* is an elemental work that has helped to... [more]()
This lyrical, evocative, thought-provoking journal of a man's quest for truth - and for himself - has touched and changed an entire generation, and is ready to reach out to a new one. At its heart, the story is all too simple: a man and his son take a motorcycle trip across America. But this is not a simple trip at all, for around every corner, through mountain and desert, wind and rain, and searing heat and biting cold, their pilgrimage leads them to new vistas of self-discovery and renewal.
*Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance* is an elemental work that has helped to shape and define the past 25-years of American culture. This special audio edition presents this adventure in an exciting new way - for the millions who have already taken this journey and want to travel these roads again, and for the many more who will discover for the first time the wonders and challenges of a story that will change the way they think and feel about their lives. Unique to audio, this edition features a new introduction by the author. [less]()
Recommended by Brad Feld, Ev Williams, Drew Houston, and 10 others.

Brad FeldI think every entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur should read the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It was written in the 1970s by a guy named Robert Pirsig. It was his first book, it's kind of a hippie philosophy treatised journey. The word that sort of came out of it was Chautauqua, he's like having a conversation with his son as they do a motorcycle trip across the country, and... [(Source)](https://growtheverywhere.com/growth-everywhere-interview/brad-feld-foundry-group/)

Drew Houston\[There are\] engineers who \[dismiss\] all these things that canât be fit into an algorithm, or that donât have some kind of mathematical rigor underpinning them, \[this book\] is about that question. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2018/08/27/drew-houston/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tyler-cowen-recommended-books-reading-list-839)
[Tyler Cowen](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tyler-cowen-recommended-books-reading-list-839)Honorable mentions: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and The Joy of Sex, all given to me by my mother. I believe they helped inculcate some of the 1960s-70s ethos of individual freedom into my thinking. [(Source)](http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2017/11/books-hidden-influence.html)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026772N8/?tag=allencheng-20)
25
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UK6NO0/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UK6NO0/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Art of Happiness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UK6NO0/?tag=allencheng-20)
Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler \| 4.29
Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and an increasingly popular speaker and statesman. What's more, he'll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is towards happiness." How to get there has always been the question. He's tried to answer it before, but he's never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand. Through... [more]()
Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and an increasingly popular speaker and statesman. What's more, he'll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is towards happiness." How to get there has always been the question. He's tried to answer it before, but he's never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand. Through conversations, stories, and meditations, the Dalai Lama shows us how to defeat day-to-day anxiety, insecurity, anger, and discouragement. Together with Dr. Cutler, he explores many facets of everyday life, including relationships, loss, and the pursuit of wealth, to illustrate how to ride through life's obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UK6NO0/?tag=allencheng-20)
26
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070XF474/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070XF474/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Search Inside Yourself](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070XF474/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (And World Peace)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070XF474/?tag=allencheng-20)
Chade-Meng Tan, Daniel Goleman, Jon Kabat-Zinn \| 4.28
With *Search Inside Yourself*, Chade-Meng Tan, one of Googleâs earliest engineers and personal growth pioneer, offers a proven method for enhancing mindfulness and emotional intelligence in life and work.
Mengâs job is to teach Googleâs best and brightest how to apply mindfulness techniques in the office and beyond; now, readers everywhere can get insider access to one of the most sought after classes in the country, a course in health, happiness and creativity that is improving the livelihood and productivity of those responsible for one of the most successful businesses in... [more]()
With *Search Inside Yourself*, Chade-Meng Tan, one of Googleâs earliest engineers and personal growth pioneer, offers a proven method for enhancing mindfulness and emotional intelligence in life and work.
Mengâs job is to teach Googleâs best and brightest how to apply mindfulness techniques in the office and beyond; now, readers everywhere can get insider access to one of the most sought after classes in the country, a course in health, happiness and creativity that is improving the livelihood and productivity of those responsible for one of the most successful businesses in the world.
With forewords by Daniel Goleman, author of the international bestseller *Emotional Intelligence*, and Jon Kabat-Zinn, renowned mindfulness expert and author of *Coming To Our Senses*, Mengâs *Search Inside Yourself* is an invaluable guide to achieving your own best potential. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/eric-schmidt-recommended-books-reading-list-2394)Recommended by [Eric Schmidt,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/eric-schmidt-recommended-books-reading-list-2394) Tony Hsieh, Chip Conley, and 6 others.

Chip Conley\[Chip Conley recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".\] [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2019/06/20/chip-conley/)

Henry MedineThis book is written by an early core member/lead engineer from Google. Chade does a fantastic job proving the reader reasons why soft skills like emotional intelligence, acceptance, and empathy matter in a work environment. The book is great for any business person who wants to establish a strong company culture that promotes longevity, employee empowerment and self confidence. Chade reveals how... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/henry-medine-5735.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070XF474/?tag=allencheng-20)
27
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T9FZRS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T9FZRS/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Mindful Way through Depression](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T9FZRS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T9FZRS/?tag=allencheng-20)
Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn \| 4.28
*The Mindful Way through Depression* draws on the collective wisdom of four internationally renowned cognitive therapy and mindfulness experts, including bestselling author Jon Kabat-Zinn, to help you break the mental habits that can lead to despair. This authoritative, easy-to-use self-help program is based on methods clinically proven to reduce the recurrence of chronic unhappiness. Informative chapters reveal the hidden psychological mechanisms that cause depression and demonstrate powerful ways to strengthen your resilience in the face of life's misfortunes. Kabat-Zinn lends his... [more]()
*The Mindful Way through Depression* draws on the collective wisdom of four internationally renowned cognitive therapy and mindfulness experts, including bestselling author Jon Kabat-Zinn, to help you break the mental habits that can lead to despair. This authoritative, easy-to-use self-help program is based on methods clinically proven to reduce the recurrence of chronic unhappiness. Informative chapters reveal the hidden psychological mechanisms that cause depression and demonstrate powerful ways to strengthen your resilience in the face of life's misfortunes. Kabat-Zinn lends his calm, familiar voice to the accompanying CD of guided meditations, making this a complete package for anyone looking to regain a sense of balance and contentment. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T9FZRS/?tag=allencheng-20)
28
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S37RN7Z/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S37RN7Z/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Tao of Pooh](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S37RN7Z/?tag=allencheng-20)
Benjamin Hoff \| 4.27
"Thought-provoking and charming."-- "Library Journal" Not all Great Masters of Wisdom are venerable graybeards. One is as familiar to us as that beloved teddy bear Winnie the Pooh. From the "how" of Pooh to the Tao of Pooh is a simple, effortless, joyous step...a delicious journey to Pooh Corner illuminated by the timeless teachings of the Taoist immortals. [more]()
"Thought-provoking and charming."-- "Library Journal" Not all Great Masters of Wisdom are venerable graybeards. One is as familiar to us as that beloved teddy bear Winnie the Pooh. From the "how" of Pooh to the Tao of Pooh is a simple, effortless, joyous step...a delicious journey to Pooh Corner illuminated by the timeless teachings of the Taoist immortals. [less]()
Recommended by Audrey Russo, and 1 others.

Audrey RussoQuestion: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path? Answer: Anything by Peter Senge. The Hard Thing About Hard Things â Ben Horowitz Once you are Lucky, Twice you are good â Sara Lacey Revolutionary Wealth â Alvin Toffler Black Swan â Taleb Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change, by Ellen Pao. Creative Class â Richard Florida Creativity Inc. by Ed... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/audrey-russo-9532.html)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/the-tao-of-pooh) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S37RN7Z/?tag=allencheng-20)
29
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R9HK8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R9HK8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Be Here Now](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R9HK8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
Ram Dass \| 4.27
Describes one man's transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga & gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of human nature. Illustrated.
The book is divided into four sections:
Journey: The Transformation: Dr Richard Alpert, PhD into Baba Ram Dass
From Bindu to Ojas: The Core Book
Cookbook for a Sacred Life: A Manual for Conscious Being
Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger): Books [more]()
Describes one man's transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga & gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of human nature. Illustrated.
The book is divided into four sections:
Journey: The Transformation: Dr Richard Alpert, PhD into Baba Ram Dass
From Bindu to Ojas: The Core Book
Cookbook for a Sacred Life: A Manual for Conscious Being
Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger): Books [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)Recommended by [Steve Jobs,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453) Jack Kornfield, Travis Brewer, and 3 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)In late 1972, Jobs had just started at Reed College, an elite liberal arts school in Portland, Oregon. He started doing lots of LSD and reading lots of books about spirituality. [(Source)](http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-reading-list-favorite-books-2015-10/#be-here-now-by-ram-dass-4)

Jack KornfieldChanged countless lives. [(Source)](https://jackkornfield.com/loving-ram-dass/)

Travis Brewer\[Travis Brewer said this is one of his most-recommended books.\] [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R9HK8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
30
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/?tag=allencheng-20)
Marie KondĆ \| 4.27
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?
Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed...
[more]()
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?
Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).
With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house "spark joy" (and which don't), this international best seller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.
[less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)Recommended by [David Heinemeier Hansson,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461) David Kadavy, Benjamin Spall, and 6 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)
[David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)On a lighter note, I finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. Itâs a short book, but it still manages to repeat itself a lot. And yet the core patterns it covers are as effective as they are simple. Iâve been on a decluttering kick at home and feel so much better because of it. It was also the kickstarter for the conversation... [(Source)](https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-books-i-read-in-2017-9992b9bd0d4)

Benjamin SpallThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo \[...\] I started reading on vacation. I interviewed Marie for my own book and while the translation is somewhat quirky in places, her book is worth the hype. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/benjamin-spall-14743.html)

Annie Loves Covfefe@Benny29143790 @Thereal\_ssteele Oh how I love Kondo cleaning. Her first book is fantastic too!\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/4annegs/status/1217158846029946880)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
31
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006883/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006883/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [How to Love (Mindfulness Essentials, \#3)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006883/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.26
The third title in Parallaxâs *Mindfulness Essentials Series* of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, *How to Love* introduces beginners and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. This time Nhat Hanh brings his signature clarity, compassion, and humor to the thorny question of how to love and distills one of our strongest emotions down to four essentials: you can only love another when you feel true love for yourself; love is understanding; understanding brings compassion; and deep listening and loving speech are key ways of showing our... [more]()
The third title in Parallaxâs *Mindfulness Essentials Series* of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, *How to Love* introduces beginners and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. This time Nhat Hanh brings his signature clarity, compassion, and humor to the thorny question of how to love and distills one of our strongest emotions down to four essentials: you can only love another when you feel true love for yourself; love is understanding; understanding brings compassion; and deep listening and loving speech are key ways of showing our love. Featuring original illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, *How to Love* shows that when we feel closer to our loved ones, we are also more connected to the world as a whole. With sections on Love vs. Need, Being in Love, Reverence, Intimacy, Children and Family, Reconciling with Parents, and more, *How to Love* includes meditations readers can do alone or with a partner to expand their capacity to love. This comprehensive guide to understanding the many different kinds of love also includes meditative practices that expand the understanding of and capacity for love, appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition, whether seasoned practitioners or new to meditation. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006883/?tag=allencheng-20)
32
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOG6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOG6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [You Are Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOG6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOG6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh, Sherab Chodzin Kohn \| 4.25
In this book Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, author, and meditation master, distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. âMindfulness is not an evasion or an escape,â he explains. âIt means being here, present, and totally alive. It is true freedomâand without this freedom, there is no happiness.â
Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, this book offers a range of simple, effective practices for cultivating mindfulness, including awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening,... [more]()
In this book Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, author, and meditation master, distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. âMindfulness is not an evasion or an escape,â he explains. âIt means being here, present, and totally alive. It is true freedomâand without this freedom, there is no happiness.â
Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, this book offers a range of simple, effective practices for cultivating mindfulness, including awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening, and skillful speech. *You Are Here* also offers guidance on healing emotional pain and manifesting real love and compassion in our relationships with others.
Simple, warm, direct, and startlingly potent, this book reveals the heart of the Buddhist path and helps us to reconnect with the joy and wonder of being alive, regardless of lifeâs changing circumstances.
***Praise for Thich Nhat Hanh***
âAmong Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.ââ*New York Times*
âThich Nhat Hanh writes with the voice of the Buddha.ââSogyal Rinpoche, author of *The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying* [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOG6/?tag=allencheng-20)
33
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1C2K/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1C2K/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Body Keeps the Score](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1C2K/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1C2K/?tag=allencheng-20)
Bessel van der Kolk M.D. \| 4.22
*********âą***** **A *New York Times* Science Bestseller *****âą******* âPacked with science and human stories, the book is an intense read. . . . The struggle and resilience of \[van der Kolkâs\] patients is very moving.â â*New Scientist*** A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing**
Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one... [more]()
*********âą***** **A *New York Times* Science Bestseller *****âą******* âPacked with science and human stories, the book is an intense read. . . . The struggle and resilience of \[van der Kolkâs\] patients is very moving.â â*New Scientist*** A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing**
Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the worldâs foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In *The Body Keeps the Score*, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferersâ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatmentsâfrom neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yogaâthat offer new paths to recovery by activating the brainâs natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolkâs own research and that of other leading specialists, *The Body Keeps the Score* exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to healâand offers new hope for reclaiming lives. [less]()
Recommended by Matthew Green, and 1 others.

Matthew GreenReading The Body Keeps the Score was a eureka moment for me. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/psychological-trauma-matthew-green/)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/the-body-keeps-the-score) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1C2K/?tag=allencheng-20)
34
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4WNL2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4WNL2/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Quiet](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4WNL2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4WNL2/?tag=allencheng-20)
Susan Cain \| 4.22
**The book that started the Quiet Revolution**
At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introvertsâRosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniakâthat we owe many of the great contributions to society.
In *Quiet,* Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth... [more]()
**The book that started the Quiet Revolution**
At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introvertsâRosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniakâthat we owe many of the great contributions to society.
In *Quiet,* Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introvertsâfrom a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, *Quiet* has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.
Now with Extra Libris material, including a readerâs guide and bonus content. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)Recommended by [Simon Sinek,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054) Danielle Morrill, Ken Norton, and 13 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)
[Simon Sinek](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)eval(ez\_write\_tag(\[\[250,250\],'theceolibrary\_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot\_5',164,'0','1'\])); Leaders neednât be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. Itâs not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we neednât try to be extroverts if we want to lead.... [(Source)](https://ideas.ted.com/what-makes-a-great-leader-a-recommended-reading-list/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)
[James Altucher](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)Probably half the world is introverts. Maybe more. Itâs not an easy life to live. I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, âuh-oh. I just shut down. I canât talk anymore and thereâs a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.â Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Letâs try to lock eyes at the party. âQuietâ shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers... [(Source)](https://jamesaltucher.com/2015/09/books-brain-expand/)

Danielle MorrillAnyway, maybe youâre like me and figuring this out for yourself. Itâs a good book for introverts and for those who love them [(Source)](https://twitter.com/DanielleMorrill/status/1218530309752442881)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/quiet-the-power-of-introverts) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4WNL2/?tag=allencheng-20)
35
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572246952/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572246952/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Buddha's Brain](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572246952/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572246952/?tag=allencheng-20)
Rick Hanson \| 4.22
Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and other great teachers were born with brains built essentially like anyone else's. Then they used their minds to change their brains in ways that changed history.
With the new breakthroughs in neuroscience, combined with the insights from thousands of years of contemplative practice, you, too, can shape your own brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom.
*Buddha's Brain* joins the forces of modern science with ancient teachings to show readers how to have greater emotional balance in turbulent times, as well as healthier... [more]()
Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and other great teachers were born with brains built essentially like anyone else's. Then they used their minds to change their brains in ways that changed history.
With the new breakthroughs in neuroscience, combined with the insights from thousands of years of contemplative practice, you, too, can shape your own brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom.
*Buddha's Brain* joins the forces of modern science with ancient teachings to show readers how to have greater emotional balance in turbulent times, as well as healthier relationships, more effective actions, and a deeper religious or spiritual practice.
Well-referenced and grounded in science, the book is full of practical tools and skills readers can use in daily life to tap the unused potential of the brain-and rewire it over time for greater peace and well-being.
If you can change your brain, you can change your life. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572246952/?tag=allencheng-20)
36
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X47ZVXM/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X47ZVXM/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Deep Work](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X47ZVXM/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X47ZVXM/?tag=allencheng-20)
Cal Newport \| 4.22
**One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.**
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most... [more]()
**One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.**
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most people have lost the ability to go deep-spending their days instead in a frantic blur of e-mail and social media, not even realizing there's a better way.
In *Deep Work*, author and professor Cal Newport flips the narrative on impact in a connected age. Instead of arguing distraction is bad, he instead celebrates the power of its opposite. Dividing this book into two parts, he first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a deep work ethic will produce massive benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four "rules," for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill.
A mix of cultural criticism and actionable advice, *Deep Work* takes the reader on a journey through memorable stories-from Carl Jung building a stone tower in the woods to focus his mind, to a social media pioneer buying a round-trip business class ticket to Tokyo to write a book free from distraction in the air-and no-nonsense advice, such as the claim that most serious professionals should quit social media and that you should practice being bored. *Deep Work* is an indispensable guide to anyone seeking focused success in a distracted world. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-pink-recommended-books-reading-list-46565)Recommended by [Ryan Holiday,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272) [Seth Godin,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336) [Daniel Pink,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-pink-recommended-books-reading-list-46565) and 23 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)
[Ryan Holiday](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)I've been a fan of Cal for a long time. His book So Good They Can't Ignore You is one of my favorites, but it's his new book that's probably had the biggest and most immediate impact on me. For those of you who enjoyed Tyler Cowen's Average is Over, you already know how important the ability to focus, be creative, and think at a high level is going to be in the future. This is a book that... [(Source)](https://ryanholiday.net/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)
[Seth Godin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)Cal Newport is a clear voice in a sea of noise, bringing science and passion in equal measure. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-pink-recommended-books-reading-list-46565)
[Daniel Pink](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-pink-recommended-books-reading-list-46565)As automation and outsourcing reshape the workplace, what new skill do we need? The ability to do deep work. Cal Newport's exciting new book is an introduction and guide to the kind of intense concentration in a distraction-free environment that results in fast, powerful learning and performance. Think of it as calisthenics for your mind-and start your exercise program today. [(Source)](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/298646)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/deep-work) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X47ZVXM/?tag=allencheng-20)
37
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE414Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE414Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Start Where You Are](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE414Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Guide to Compassionate Living](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE414Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
Pema Chodron \| 4.21
*Start Where You Are* is an indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. With insight and humor, Pema Chödrön presents down-to-earth guidance on how we can "start where we are"âembracing rather than denying the painful aspects of our lives. Pema Chödrön frames her teachings on compassion around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, or slogans, such as: "Always apply only a joyful state of mind," "Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness," and "Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment."
Working... [more]()
*Start Where You Are* is an indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. With insight and humor, Pema Chödrön presents down-to-earth guidance on how we can "start where we are"âembracing rather than denying the painful aspects of our lives. Pema Chödrön frames her teachings on compassion around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, or slogans, such as: "Always apply only a joyful state of mind," "Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness," and "Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment."
Working with these slogans and through the practice of meditation, *Start Where You Are* shows how we can all develop the courage to work with our inner pain and discover joy, well-being, and confidence. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE414Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
38
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U6SFUSS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U6SFUSS/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Alchemist](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U6SFUSS/?tag=allencheng-20)
Paulo Coelho \| 4.20
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. What starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. [more]()
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. What starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brene-brown-recommended-books-reading-list-190)Recommended by [Tony Robbins,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127) Anthony Robbins, [Brené Brown,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brene-brown-recommended-books-reading-list-190) and 30 others.

Daniel EkIt was fascinating to talk to \[the author\] about how this book came to be such a hitâhe never backed down, and he allowed people to read it for free in order to then boost salesâmuch like how Spotifyâs freemium model was perceived in the early days. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brene-brown-recommended-books-reading-list-190)
[Brené Brown](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brene-brown-recommended-books-reading-list-190)There's a great quote in \[this book\]: When you're on the right path the universe conspires to help you\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/BreneBrown/status/392084144127094784?s=20)

Eric RipertSpeaks of everyone having an ultimate goal in life, but most of us are too afraid to pursue it. The encouragement to fulfill your dreams is very inspirational\! [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U6SFUSS/?tag=allencheng-20)
39
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH7W/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH7W/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Places That Scare You](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH7W/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH7W/?tag=allencheng-20)
Pema Chodron \| 4.20
We always have a choice, Pema Chodron teaches: We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder. Here Pema provides the tools to deal with the problems and difficulties that life throws our way. This wisdom is always available to us, she teaches, but we usually block it with habitual patterns rooted in fear. Beyond that fear lies a state of openheartedness and tenderness. This book teaches us how to awaken our basic goodness and connect with others, to accept ourselves and others complete with... [more]()
We always have a choice, Pema Chodron teaches: We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder. Here Pema provides the tools to deal with the problems and difficulties that life throws our way. This wisdom is always available to us, she teaches, but we usually block it with habitual patterns rooted in fear. Beyond that fear lies a state of openheartedness and tenderness. This book teaches us how to awaken our basic goodness and connect with others, to accept ourselves and others complete with faults and imperfections, and to stay in the present moment by seeing through the strategies of ego that cause us to resist life as it is. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH7W/?tag=allencheng-20)
40
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZNG63/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZNG63/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Why Buddhism is True](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZNG63/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZNG63/?tag=allencheng-20)
Robert Wright, Fred Sanders, et al \| 4.19
From one of Americaâs greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness.
Robert Wright famously explained in *The Moral Animal* how evolution shaped the human brain. The mind is designed to often delude us, he argued, about ourselves and about the world. And it is designed to make happiness hard to sustain.
But if we know our minds are rigged for anxiety, depression, anger, and greed, what do we do? Wright locates the answer in Buddhism, which figured out... [more]()
From one of Americaâs greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness.
Robert Wright famously explained in *The Moral Animal* how evolution shaped the human brain. The mind is designed to often delude us, he argued, about ourselves and about the world. And it is designed to make happiness hard to sustain.
But if we know our minds are rigged for anxiety, depression, anger, and greed, what do we do? Wright locates the answer in Buddhism, which figured out thousands of years ago what scientists are only discovering now. Buddhism holds that human suffering is a result of not seeing the world clearlyâand proposes that seeing the world more clearly, through meditation, will make us better, happier people.
In *Why Buddhism is True*, Wright leads readers on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and a great many silent retreats to show how and why meditation can serve as the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age. At once excitingly ambitious and wittily accessible, this is the first book to combine evolutionary psychology with cutting-edge neuroscience to defend the radical claims at the heart of Buddhist philosophy. With bracing honesty and fierce wisdom, it will persuade you not just that Buddhism is trueâwhich is to say, a way out of our delusionâbut that it can ultimately save us from ourselves, as individuals and as a species. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/nigel-warburton-recommended-books-reading-list-7766)Recommended by [Nigel Warburton,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/nigel-warburton-recommended-books-reading-list-7766) and 1 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/nigel-warburton-recommended-books-reading-list-7766)
[Nigel Warburton](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/nigel-warburton-recommended-books-reading-list-7766)Wright has a degree of evangelism about him, but heâs not saying this is the only way to achieve a better life. He says itâs a way of eliminating suffering from many peopleâs lives, and it worked for him. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/best-philosophy-books-2017/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZNG63/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
41
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGXKWK1/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGXKWK1/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Real Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGXKWK1/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A 28-Day Program to Realize the Power of Meditation](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGXKWK1/?tag=allencheng-20)
Sharon Salzberg \| 4.19
**A *New York Times* best sellerânow revised and updated with new exercises and guided meditations.**
**âAn inviting gateway to the interior territory of profound well-being and wisdom.ââJon Kabat-Zinn, author of *Wherever You Go, There You Are***
From Sharon Salzberg, a pioneer in the field of meditation and world-renowned teacher acclaimed for her down-to-earth style, ***Real Happiness*** is a complete guide to starting and maintaining a meditation practice. Beginning with the simplest breathing and sitting techniques, and based on three... [more]()
**A *New York Times* best sellerânow revised and updated with new exercises and guided meditations.**
**âAn inviting gateway to the interior territory of profound well-being and wisdom.ââJon Kabat-Zinn, author of *Wherever You Go, There You Are***
From Sharon Salzberg, a pioneer in the field of meditation and world-renowned teacher acclaimed for her down-to-earth style, ***Real Happiness*** is a complete guide to starting and maintaining a meditation practice. Beginning with the simplest breathing and sitting techniques, and based on three key skillsâconcentration, mindfulness, and lovingkindnessâitâs a practice anyone can do and that can transform our lives by bringing us greater resiliency, creativity, peace, clarity, and balance.
This updated 10th anniversary edition includes exercises, journal prompts, and ten guided meditations available for download online and through scannable QR codes. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGXKWK1/?tag=allencheng-20)
42
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XX9RFGQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XX9RFGQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Lovingkindness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XX9RFGQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Revolutionary Art of Happiness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XX9RFGQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
Sharon Salzberg, Jon Kabat-Zinn \| 4.19
Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Our fear of intimacyâboth with others and with ourselvesâcreates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path.
In this inspiring book, Sharon Salzberg, one of America's leading spiritual teachers, shows us how the Buddhist path of lovingkindness ( *metta* in Pali), can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. This practice of lovingkindness is... [more]()
Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Our fear of intimacyâboth with others and with ourselvesâcreates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path.
In this inspiring book, Sharon Salzberg, one of America's leading spiritual teachers, shows us how the Buddhist path of lovingkindness ( *metta* in Pali), can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. This practice of lovingkindness is revolutionary because it has the power to radically change our lives, helping us create true happiness in ourselves and genuine compassion for others. The Buddha described the nature of such a spiritual path as "the liberation of the heart, which is love." The author draws on simple Buddhist teachings, wisdom stories from various traditions, guided meditation practices, and her own experience from twenty-five years of practice and teaching to illustrate how each one of us can cultivate love, compassion, joy, and equanimityâthe four "heavenly abodes" of traditional Buddhism. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XX9RFGQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
43
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Meditations](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
Marcus Aurelius \| 4.18
One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The *Meditations* of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it... [more]()
One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The *Meditations* of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it does, both aphoristically ("Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly.") and rhetorically ("What is it in ourselves that we should prize?"). Whether these, and other entries ("Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life.") sound life-changing or like entries in a teenager's diary is up to the individual reader, as it should be. Hays's introduction, which sketches the life of Marcus Aurelius (emperor of Rome A.D. 161-180) as well as the basic tenets of stoicism, is accessible and jaunty. *\--H. O'Billovich* [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/naval-ravikant-recommended-books-reading-list-45527)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)Recommended by [Naval Ravikant,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/naval-ravikant-recommended-books-reading-list-45527) Arianna Huffington, [Ryan Holiday,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272) and 15 others.

Arianna HuffingtonI find \[this book\] so inspirational and instructive, it lives on my nightstand. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)

Marvin LiaoMy list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/marvin-liao-6846.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)
[Ryan Holiday](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)To me, this is not only one of greatest books ever written but perhaps the only book of its kind. Just imagine: the private thoughts of the most powerful man in the world, admonishing himself on how to be better, more just, more immune to temptation, wiser. It is the definitive text on self-discipline, personal ethics, humility, self-actualization and strength. If you read it and arenât... [(Source)](https://ryanholiday.net/reading-list/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
44
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN1DBO/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN1DBO/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Self-Compassion](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN1DBO/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN1DBO/?tag=allencheng-20)
Dr. Kristin Neff \| 4.17
From leading psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff comes a step-by-step guide explaining how to be more self-compassionate and achieve your dreams in life
The relentless pursuit of high self-esteem has become a virtual religionâand a tyrannical one at that. Our ultracompetitive culture tells us we need to be constantly *above average* to feel good about ourselves, but there is always someone more attractive, successful, or intelligent than we are. And even when we *do* manage to grab hold of high self-esteem for a brief moment, we can't seem to keep it. Our sense of... [more]()
From leading psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff comes a step-by-step guide explaining how to be more self-compassionate and achieve your dreams in life
The relentless pursuit of high self-esteem has become a virtual religionâand a tyrannical one at that. Our ultracompetitive culture tells us we need to be constantly *above average* to feel good about ourselves, but there is always someone more attractive, successful, or intelligent than we are. And even when we *do* manage to grab hold of high self-esteem for a brief moment, we can't seem to keep it. Our sense of self-worth goes up and down like a ping-pong ball, rising and falling in lockstep with our latest success or failure.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to self-esteem that many experts believe is a better and more effective path to happiness: self-compassion. The research of Dr. Kristin Neff and other leading psychologists indicates that people who are compassionate toward their failings and imperfections experience greater well-being than those who repeatedly judge themselves. The feelings of security and self-worth provided by self-compassion are also highly stable, kicking in precisely when self-esteem falls down. This book powerfully demonstrates why it's so important to be self-compassionate and give yourself the same caring support you'd give to a good friend.
This groundbreaking work will show you how to let go of debilitating self-criticism and finally learn to be kind to yourself. Using solid empirical research, personal stories, practical exercises, and humor, Dr. Neffâthe world's foremost expert on self-compassionâexplains how to heal destructive emotional patterns so that you can be healthier, happier, and more effective. Engaging, highly readable, and eminently accessible, this book has the power to change your life. [less]()
Recommended by Genevieve Von Lob, and 1 others.

Genevieve Von LobI learnt to treat myself more gently after reading this. I also learnt the power of really beginning to feel my own feelings. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/mindful-parenting/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN1DBO/?tag=allencheng-20)
45
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INMZKAQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INMZKAQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Mind Illuminated](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INMZKAQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INMZKAQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
John Yates \| 4.17
A revolutionary, science-based approach to meditation from a neuroscientist turned meditation master, *The Mind Illuminated* is an accessible, step-by-step toolkit for anyone looking to startâor improveâtheir daily meditation practice.
The book that bestselling meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg raves âbrings the path of meditation to life,â *The Mind Illuminated* is the first how-to meditation guide from a neuroscientist who is also an acclaimed meditation master. This innovative book offers a 10-stage program that is both deeply grounded in ancient spiritual teachings... [more]()
A revolutionary, science-based approach to meditation from a neuroscientist turned meditation master, *The Mind Illuminated* is an accessible, step-by-step toolkit for anyone looking to startâor improveâtheir daily meditation practice.
The book that bestselling meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg raves âbrings the path of meditation to life,â *The Mind Illuminated* is the first how-to meditation guide from a neuroscientist who is also an acclaimed meditation master. This innovative book offers a 10-stage program that is both deeply grounded in ancient spiritual teachings about mindfulness and holistic health, and also draws from the latest brain science to provide a roadmap for anyone interested in achieving the benefits of mindfulness. Dr. John Yates offers a new and fascinating model of how the mind works, including steps to overcome mind wandering and dullness, extending your attention span while meditating, and subduing subtle distractions.
This groundbreaking manual provides illustrations and charts to help you work through each stage of the process, offering tools that work across all types of meditation practices. *The Mind Illuminated* is an essential read, whether you are a beginner wanting to establish your practice or a seasoned veteran ready to master the deepest state of peace and mindfulness. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INMZKAQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
46
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055DYAXK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055DYAXK/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Coming to Our Senses](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055DYAXK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055DYAXK/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD \| 4.17
**Come to your senses with the definitive guide to living a meaningful life from a world expert in the connection between mindfulness and physical and spiritual wellbeing.**
*"\[The\] journey toward health and sanity is nothing less than an invitation to wake up to the fullness of our lives as if they actually mattered . . ."* --Jon Kabat-Zinn, from the Introduction
Jon Kabat-Zinn changed the way we thought about awareness in everyday life with his now-classic introduction to mindfulness, *Wherever You Go, There You Are*. Now, with *Coming to...* [more]()
**Come to your senses with the definitive guide to living a meaningful life from a world expert in the connection between mindfulness and physical and spiritual wellbeing.**
*"\[The\] journey toward health and sanity is nothing less than an invitation to wake up to the fullness of our lives as if they actually mattered . . ."* --Jon Kabat-Zinn, from the Introduction
Jon Kabat-Zinn changed the way we thought about awareness in everyday life with his now-classic introduction to mindfulness, *Wherever You Go, There You Are*. Now, with *Coming to Our Senses*, he provides the definitive book for our time on the connection between mindfulness and our physical and spiritual wellbeing. With scientific rigor, poetic deftness, and compelling personal stories, Jon Kabat-Zinn examines the mysteries and marvels of our minds and bodies, describing simple, intuitive ways in which we can come to a deeper understanding, through our senses, of our beauty, our genius, and our life path in a complicated, fear-driven, and rapidly changing world.
In each of the book's eight parts, Jon Kabat-Zinn explores another facet of the great adventure of healing ourselves -- and our world -- through mindful awareness, with a focus on the "sensescapes" of our lives and how a more intentional awareness of the senses, including the human mind itself, allows us to live more fully and more authentically. By "coming to our senses" -- both literally and metaphorically by opening to our innate connectedness with the world around us and within us -- we can become more compassionate, more embodied, more aware human beings, and in the process, contribute to the healing of the body politic as well as our own lives in ways both little and big. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055DYAXK/?tag=allencheng-20)
47
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS03LL6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS03LL6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Gifts of Imperfection](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS03LL6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Brené Brown \| 4.17
New York Times best-selling author and professor Brené Brown offers a powerful and inspiring book that explores how to cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to embrace your imperfections and to recognize that you are enough.
Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can't keep all of these balls in the... [more]()
New York Times best-selling author and professor Brené Brown offers a powerful and inspiring book that explores how to cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to embrace your imperfections and to recognize that you are enough.
Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can't keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn't everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené rown, PhD, a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares what she's learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living--a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough, and to go to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS03LL6/?tag=allencheng-20)
48
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CZCW34Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CZCW34Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Book of Joy](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CZCW34Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Lasting Happiness in a Changing World](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CZCW34Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
Dalai Lama \| 4.16
**Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.**
The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet.
From the beginning the... [more]()
**Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.**
The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet.
From the beginning the book was envisioned as a three-layer birthday cake: their own stories and teachings about joy, the most recent findings in the science of deep happiness, and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives. Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have been tested by great personal and national adversity, and here they share their personal stories of struggle and renewal. Now that they are both in their eighties, they especially want to spread the core message that to have joy yourself, you must bring joy to others.
Most of all, during that landmark week in Dharamsala, they demonstrated by their own exuberance, compassion, and humor how joy can be transformed from a fleeting emotion into an enduring way of life. [less]()
Recommended by Chelsea Frank, Bogdan Lucaciu, and 2 others.

Chelsea FrankI read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chelsea-frank-11019.html)

Bogdan LucaciuI recently read âThe Book of Joyâ. Itâs a series of dialogues between Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu (beautifully narrated in the audio version). They share their view on living a happy life in the face of adversity. The book brought profound clarity on topics like compassion, gratitude, generosity, and it deeply resonated with my worldview. If thereâs one book you end up reading from my list, I... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/bogdan-lucaciu-8530.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CZCW34Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
49
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011G3HD6I/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011G3HD6I/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011G3HD6I/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011G3HD6I/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.16
**âIf there is a candidate for âLiving Buddhaâ on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh.â**
**â Richard Baker-roshi**
In *The Heart of the Buddhaâs Teaching*, now with added material and new insights, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddhaâs teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in... [more]()
**âIf there is a candidate for âLiving Buddhaâ on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh.â**
**â Richard Baker-roshi**
In *The Heart of the Buddhaâs Teaching*, now with added material and new insights, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddhaâs teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy â all qualities of enlightenment. Covering such significant teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening, *The Heart of the Buddhaâs Teaching* is a radiant beacon on Buddhist thought for the initiated and uninitiated alike.
âThich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth.â
â His Holiness the Dalai Lama
âThich Nhat Hanh is a real poet.â
â Robert Lowell [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011G3HD6I/?tag=allencheng-20)
50
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWSC06/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWSC06/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWSC06/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWSC06/?tag=allencheng-20)
Christopher K. Germer, Sharon Salzberg \| 4.16
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWSC06/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
51
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097CYI4G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097CYI4G/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Being Peace (Being Peace, \#1)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097CYI4G/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh, Arnold Kotler, Mayumi Oda \| 4.16
Since its publication in 1987, "Being Peace" has become a classic of contemporary religious literature. In his simple and readable style, Thich Nhat Hanh shows how our state of mind and body can make the world a peaceful place. We learn to transform the very situations that pressure and antagonize us into opportunities for practicing mindfulness. [more]()
Since its publication in 1987, "Being Peace" has become a classic of contemporary religious literature. In his simple and readable style, Thich Nhat Hanh shows how our state of mind and body can make the world a peaceful place. We learn to transform the very situations that pressure and antagonize us into opportunities for practicing mindfulness. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097CYI4G/?tag=allencheng-20)
52
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPVU6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPVU6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Wise Heart](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPVU6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPVU6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jack Kornfield \| 4.15
You have within you unlimited capacities for love, for joy, for communion with life, and for unshakable freedomâand here is how to awaken them. In **The Wise Heart**, one of the leading spiritual teachers of our time offers the most accessible and illuminating guide to Buddhismâs transformational psychology ever published in the West.
Trained as a monk in Thailand, Burma, and India, Jack Kornfield experienced at first hand the life-changing power of Buddhist teachings: the emphasis on the nobility and sacredness of the human spirit, the fine-grained analysis of emotion and... [more]()
You have within you unlimited capacities for love, for joy, for communion with life, and for unshakable freedomâand here is how to awaken them. In **The Wise Heart**, one of the leading spiritual teachers of our time offers the most accessible and illuminating guide to Buddhismâs transformational psychology ever published in the West.
Trained as a monk in Thailand, Burma, and India, Jack Kornfield experienced at first hand the life-changing power of Buddhist teachings: the emphasis on the nobility and sacredness of the human spirit, the fine-grained analysis of emotion and thought, the precise techniques for healing, training, and transforming the mind and heart. In contrast to the medical orientation of most Western psychology and psychiatry, here is a vision of radiant human dignity, and a practical path for realizing it in our own lives.
**The Wise Heart** is the fruit of a lifeâs work that includes such classics as **A Path with Heart** and **After the Ecstasy, the Laundry**. Filled with stories from Kornfieldâs Buddhist psychotherapy practice and portraits of remarkable teachers, it also includes a moving account of his own recovery from a violence-filled childhood. For meditators and mental health professionals, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, **The Wise Heart** offers an extraordinary journey from the roots of consciousness to the highest expression of human possibility. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPVU6/?tag=allencheng-20)
53
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXIF2W/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXIF2W/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [A Path with Heart](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXIF2W/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXIF2W/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jack Kornfield \| 4.15
A guide to reconciling Buddhist spirituality with the American way of life addresses the challenges of spiritual living in the modern world and offers guidance for bringing a sense of the sacred to everyday experience. [more]()
A guide to reconciling Buddhist spirituality with the American way of life addresses the challenges of spiritual living in the modern world and offers guidance for bringing a sense of the sacred to everyday experience. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXIF2W/?tag=allencheng-20)
54
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPZD9JW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPZD9JW/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [I Am Peace](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPZD9JW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Book of Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPZD9JW/?tag=allencheng-20)
Susan Verde, Peter H. Reynolds \| 4.15
When the world feels chaotic, find peace within through an accessible mindfulness practice from the bestselling picture-book dream team that brought us *I Am Yoga.* Express emotions through direct speech. Find empathy through imagination. Connect with the earth. Wonder at the beauty of the natural world. Breathe, taste, smell, touch, and be present.
Perfect for the classroom or for bedtime, Susan Verdeâs gentle, concrete narration and Peter H. Reynoldsâs expressive watercolor illustrations bring the tenets of mindfulness to a kid-friendly level. Featuring an authorâs note... [more]()
When the world feels chaotic, find peace within through an accessible mindfulness practice from the bestselling picture-book dream team that brought us *I Am Yoga.* Express emotions through direct speech. Find empathy through imagination. Connect with the earth. Wonder at the beauty of the natural world. Breathe, taste, smell, touch, and be present.
Perfect for the classroom or for bedtime, Susan Verdeâs gentle, concrete narration and Peter H. Reynoldsâs expressive watercolor illustrations bring the tenets of mindfulness to a kid-friendly level. Featuring an authorâs note about the importance of mindfulness and a guided meditation for children, *I Am Peace* will help readers of all ages feel grounded and restored.
[less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPZD9JW/?tag=allencheng-20)
55
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611805953/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611805953/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Comfortable with Uncertainty](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611805953/?tag=allencheng-20)
[108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611805953/?tag=allencheng-20)
Pema Chodron \| 4.13
These are essential teachings for developing compassion and clarity amid the anxieties and hardships of real life. Collecting some of the most powerful passages from Pema Chödrönâs many beloved books, this compact handbook for spiritual practice is rich with inspiration and insight. Here she explores life-changing concepts, themes, and practices from the Buddhist tradition, showing how anyone (not just Buddhists) can draw from them to become more courageous, aware, and kindhearted. It includes the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, letting go of the fixations that weigh us down, working... [more]()
These are essential teachings for developing compassion and clarity amid the anxieties and hardships of real life. Collecting some of the most powerful passages from Pema Chödrönâs many beloved books, this compact handbook for spiritual practice is rich with inspiration and insight. Here she explores life-changing concepts, themes, and practices from the Buddhist tradition, showing how anyone (not just Buddhists) can draw from them to become more courageous, aware, and kindhearted. It includes the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, letting go of the fixations that weigh us down, working directly with fear and other painful emotions, and much more. With these teachings, Pema lays the groundwork for how we can start to overcome the habitual patterns that so often hinder compassion for ourselves and othersâand that hold us back from embracing our lives joyfully and fearlessly. To anyone who ever wanted to experience true freedom, these teachings are a shining light on the path. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611805953/?tag=allencheng-20)
56
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442965088/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442965088/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Practicing the Power of Now](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442965088/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from the Power of Now](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442965088/?tag=allencheng-20)
Eckhart Tolle \| 4.13
This manual-style book instantly dives into Eckhart Tolle's principles of "living in the moment," which could be a jarring experience for readers who haven't read his preceding book, *The Power of Now*. For the initiated, though, this makes an excellent companion guide--rich in exercises and meditations to help readers get out of their minds so they can live more peacefully in their bodies. Sometimes it's hard to fathom what on earth Tolle is talking about: "To regain awareness of Being and to abide in that state of 'feeling-realization' is enlightenment." Be patient. All concepts will... [more]()
This manual-style book instantly dives into Eckhart Tolle's principles of "living in the moment," which could be a jarring experience for readers who haven't read his preceding book, *The Power of Now*. For the initiated, though, this makes an excellent companion guide--rich in exercises and meditations to help readers get out of their minds so they can live more peacefully in their bodies. Sometimes it's hard to fathom what on earth Tolle is talking about: "To regain awareness of Being and to abide in that state of 'feeling-realization' is enlightenment." Be patient. All concepts will be revealed (or at least more carefully explained). Ultimately, Tolle leads readers into a new form of thinking (or actually *not thinking*) that erases the consuming habits of waiting, worrying, and being in fear. The first step is ending the "delusion of time." He asks, "Are you always trying to get somewhere other than where you are? ... Is most of your doing just a means to an end?" If so, Tolle has a book full of advice for you. As simplistic as this may sound, Tolle's work has spiritual merit and depth, especially for frantic Westerners who find their lives diminished by packed schedules and busy-ness. *\--Gail Hudson* [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442965088/?tag=allencheng-20)
57
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OI0G6G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OI0G6G/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Joy of Living](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OI0G6G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OI0G6G/?tag=allencheng-20)
Eric Swanson \| 4.12
For millennia, Buddhists have enjoyed the limitless benefits of meditation. But how does it work? And why? The principles behind this ancient practice have long eluded some of the best minds in modern science. Until now.
In this groundbreaking work, world-renowned Buddhist teacher **Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche** invites us to join him in unlocking the secrets behind the practice of meditation. Working with neuroscientists at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Yongey Mingyur provides clear insights into modern research indicating that systematic training in... [more]()
For millennia, Buddhists have enjoyed the limitless benefits of meditation. But how does it work? And why? The principles behind this ancient practice have long eluded some of the best minds in modern science. Until now.
In this groundbreaking work, world-renowned Buddhist teacher **Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche** invites us to join him in unlocking the secrets behind the practice of meditation. Working with neuroscientists at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Yongey Mingyur provides clear insights into modern research indicating that systematic training in meditation can enhance activity in areas of the brain associated with happiness and compassion. He has also worked with physicists across the country to develop a fresh, scientifically based interpretation of the Buddhist understanding of the nature of reality.
With an infectious joy and insatiable curiosity, Yongey Mingyur weaves together the principles of Tibetan Buddhism, neuroscience, and quantum physics in a way that will forever change the way we understand the human experience. Using the basic meditation practices he provides, we can discover paths through everyday problems, transforming obstacles into opportunities to recognize the unlimited potential of our
own minds.
With a foreword by bestselling author Daniel Goleman, *The Joy of Living* is a stunning breakthrough, an illuminating vision of the science of Buddhism and a handbook for transforming our minds, bodies, and lives.
*From the Hardcover edition.* [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OI0G6G/?tag=allencheng-20)
58
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P7HRS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P7HRS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Daring Greatly](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P7HRS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P7HRS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
BreneÌ Brown \| 4.11
**Researcher and thought leader Dr. Brené Brown offers a powerful new vision that encourages us to dare greatly: to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives.**
âIt is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at... [more]()
**Researcher and thought leader Dr. Brené Brown offers a powerful new vision that encourages us to dare greatly: to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives.**
âIt is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.â âTheodore Roosevelt
Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable, or to dare greatly. Whether the arena is a new relationship, an important meeting, our creative process, or a difficult family conversation, we must find the courage to walk into vulnerability and engage with our whole hearts.
In *Daring Greatly*, Dr. Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability. Based on twelve years of research, she argues that vulnerability is not weakness, but rather our clearest path to courage, engagement, and meaningful connection. The book that Dr. Brownâs many fans have been waiting for, *Daring Greatly* will spark a new spirit of truthâand trustâin our organizations, families, schools, and communities. [less]()
Recommended by Chase Jarvis, Chelsea Frank, AnneMarie Schindler, and 3 others.

Chase Jarvis\[Chase Jarvis recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".\] [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2014/05/26/the-tim-ferriss-show-episode-8-chase-jarvis-master-photographer/)

Chelsea FrankI read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chelsea-frank-11019.html)

AnneMarie SchindlerI suggest these \[books\] because they really open up 'how' you think about life and in turn work, success/challenges/setbacks, and in general, yourself. I believe that the more you can understand yourself and broaden your approach to work, the easier it will be to find work that energizes you. Finally, I'm a team player at heart, and love working with others to achieve a huge goal so a portion of... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/annemarie-schindler-7391.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P7HRS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
59
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94FE6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94FE6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Flow](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94FE6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Psychology of Optimal Experience](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94FE6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi \| 4.11
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness... [more]()
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness and greatly improve the quality of our lives. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/austin-kleon-recommended-books-reading-list-1359)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brian-tracy-recommended-books-reading-list-2426)Recommended by [Austin Kleon,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/austin-kleon-recommended-books-reading-list-1359) [Brian Tracy,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brian-tracy-recommended-books-reading-list-2426) Tom Chatfield, and 4 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/austin-kleon-recommended-books-reading-list-1359)
[Austin Kleon](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/austin-kleon-recommended-books-reading-list-1359)While re-reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyiâs wonderful book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, I came across this passage on working crossword puzzles. I think he could just as well be talking about making blackout poems: "There is much to be said in favor of this popular pastime, which in its best form resembles the ancient riddle contests. It is inexpensive and portable, its challenges... [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Steal-Like-Artist-Things-Creative/dp/0761169253)

Tom ChatfieldThe notion of flow is the idea that there is a state that is characterised by complete immersion in an activity, by a constant response to stimuli, and a perfect match between your ability and the challenge in front of you. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/computer-games-tom-chatfield/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94FE6/?tag=allencheng-20)
60
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076GPJXWZ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076GPJXWZ/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [How to Change Your Mind](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076GPJXWZ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076GPJXWZ/?tag=allencheng-20)
POLLAN MICHAE \| 4.11
**Could psychedelic drugs change our worldview? One of America's most admired writers takes us on a mind-altering journey to the frontiers of human consciousness**
When LSD was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. It promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. But in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. In recent years,... [more]()
**Could psychedelic drugs change our worldview? One of America's most admired writers takes us on a mind-altering journey to the frontiers of human consciousness**
When LSD was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. It promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. But in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. In recent years, however, work has quietly begun again on the amazing potential of LSD, psilocybin and DMT. Could these drugs in fact improve the lives of many people? Diving deep into this extraordinary world and putting himself forward as a guinea-pig, Michael Pollan has written a remarkable history of psychedelics and a compelling portrait of the new generation of scientists fascinated by the implications of these drugs. *How to Change Your Mind* is a report from what could very well be the future of human consciousness. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-goleman-recommended-books-reading-list-178)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/yuval-noah-harari-recommended-books-reading-list-531)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)Recommended by [Daniel Goleman,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-goleman-recommended-books-reading-list-178) [Yuval Noah Harari,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/yuval-noah-harari-recommended-books-reading-list-531) [David Heinemeier Hansson,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461) and 8 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-goleman-recommended-books-reading-list-178)
[Daniel Goleman](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-goleman-recommended-books-reading-list-178)Michael Pollan masterfully guides us through the highs, lows, and highs again of psychedelic drugs. How to Change Your mind chronicles how itâs been a longer and stranger trip than most any of us knew. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225/ref=sr_1_2)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/yuval-noah-harari-recommended-books-reading-list-531)
[Yuval Noah Harari](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/yuval-noah-harari-recommended-books-reading-list-531)Changed my mind, or at least some of the ideas held in my mind. [(Source)](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/dec/03/best-books-of-2018-hilary-mantel-yuval-noah-harari-and-more-pick-their-favourites)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)
[David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)How we get locked into viewing the world, ourselves, and each other in a certain way, and then finding it difficult to relate to alternative perspectives or seeing other angles. Studying philosophy, psychology, and sociology is a way to break those rigid frames we all build over time. But thatâs still all happening at a pretty high level of perception. Mind altering drugs, and especially... [(Source)](https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-books-i-read-in-2018/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076GPJXWZ/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
61
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEIMCVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEIMCVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Silence](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEIMCVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEIMCVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.11
The Zen master and one of the world's most beloved teachers returns with a concise, practical guide to understanding and developing our most powerful inner resourceâsilenceâto help us find happiness, purpose, and peace.
Many people embark on a seemingly futile search for happiness, running as if there is somewhere else to get to, when the world they live in is full of wonder. To be alive is a miracle. Beauty calls to us every day, yet we rarely are in the position to listen. To hear the call of beauty and respond to it, we need silence.
Silence shows us how to find and... [more]()
The Zen master and one of the world's most beloved teachers returns with a concise, practical guide to understanding and developing our most powerful inner resourceâsilenceâto help us find happiness, purpose, and peace.
Many people embark on a seemingly futile search for happiness, running as if there is somewhere else to get to, when the world they live in is full of wonder. To be alive is a miracle. Beauty calls to us every day, yet we rarely are in the position to listen. To hear the call of beauty and respond to it, we need silence.
Silence shows us how to find and maintain our equanimity amid the barrage of noise. Thich Nhat Hanh guides us on a path to cultivate calm even in the most chaotic places. This gift of silence doesn't require hours upon hours of silent meditation or an existing practice of any kind. Through careful breathing and mindfulness techniques he teaches us how to become truly present in the moment, to recognize the beauty surrounding us, and to find harmony. With mindfulness comes stillnessâand the silence we need to come back to ourselves and discover who we are and what we truly want, the keys to happiness and well-being. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEIMCVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
62
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FKVXOS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FKVXOS/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [True Refuge](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FKVXOS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FKVXOS/?tag=allencheng-20)
Tara Brach, Cassandra Campbell, et al \| 4.11
How do you cope when facing life-threatening illness, family conflict, faltering relationships, old trauma, obsessive thinking, overwhelming emotion, or inevitable loss? If youâre like most people, chances are you react with fear and confusion, falling back on timeworn strategies: anger, self-judgment, and addictive behaviors. Though these old, conditioned attempts to control our life may offer fleeting relief, ultimately they leave us feeling isolated and mired in pain.
There *is* another way. Beneath the turbulence of our thoughts and emotions exists a profound stillness,... [more]()
How do you cope when facing life-threatening illness, family conflict, faltering relationships, old trauma, obsessive thinking, overwhelming emotion, or inevitable loss? If youâre like most people, chances are you react with fear and confusion, falling back on timeworn strategies: anger, self-judgment, and addictive behaviors. Though these old, conditioned attempts to control our life may offer fleeting relief, ultimately they leave us feeling isolated and mired in pain.
There *is* another way. Beneath the turbulence of our thoughts and emotions exists a profound stillness, a silent awareness capable of limitless love. Tara Brach, author of the award-winning *Radical Acceptance,* calls this awareness our true refuge, because it is available to every one of us, at any moment, no exceptions. In this book, Brach offers a practical guide to finding our inner sanctuary of peace and wisdom in the midst of difficulty.
Based on a fresh interpretation of the three classic Buddhist gateways to freedomâtruth, love, and awarenessâ*True Refuge* shows us the way not just to heal our suffering, but also to cultivate our capacity for genuine happiness. Through spiritual teachings, guided meditations, and inspirational stories of people who discovered loving presence during times of great struggle, Brach invites us to connect more deeply with our own inner life, one another, and the world around us.
*True Refuge* is essential reading for anyone encountering hardship or crisis, anyone dedicated to a path of spiritual awakening. The book reminds us of our own innate intelligence and goodness, making possible an enduring trust in ourselves and our lives. We realize that what we seek is within us, and regardless of circumstances, âthere is always a way to take refuge in a healing and liberating presence.â
**Advance praise for *True Refuge***
âTara Brach writes from the heart to the heart. With candor and calmness, she shares her own and othersâ struggles to overcome our deep and constant human dilemmas. Whenever I read Brach, I feel more peaceful and hopeful. I trust myself and the universe more. I feel more connected and grounded in what the Lakota Sioux call Wakan Tanka, The Great Mystery. *True Refuge* is itself a refuge and I thank the author for it.ââMary Pipher, Ph.D., *New York Times* bestselling author of *The Green Boat* and *Reviving Ophelia*
âThere is something very special about this exquisitely written bookâits clarity, beauty, simplicity, and humanity practically sing to you. Inspiring and uplifting to read, it also has eminently practical, implementable, step-by-step guidance to practice and live by. And the fifteen brief, powerful guided meditations offer an easy, gentle entry toward inner peace and wisdom. While turning the pages, I thought of a half dozen people who could really use this book as a friendly, loving reference pointâmyself included!ââBelleruth Naparstek, author of *Invisible Heroes* and creator of the Health Journeys guided imagery audio series [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FKVXOS/?tag=allencheng-20)
63
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y58KF6P/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y58KF6P/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y58KF6P/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A 10% Happier How-To Book](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y58KF6P/?tag=allencheng-20)
Dan Harris, Jeffrey Warren, et al. \| 4.11
**THE *NEW YORK TIMES* BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF *10% HAPPIER***
**Too busy to meditate? Can't turn off your brain? Curious about mindfulness but more comfortable in the gym? This book is for you.**
**You'll also get access to guided audio meditations on the 10% Happier app, to jumpstart your practice from day one.**
ABC News anchor Dan Harris used to think that meditation was for people who collect crystals, play Ultimate Frisbee, and use the word "namaste" without irony. After he had a panic attack on live television, he went on a... [more]()
**THE *NEW YORK TIMES* BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF *10% HAPPIER***
**Too busy to meditate? Can't turn off your brain? Curious about mindfulness but more comfortable in the gym? This book is for you.**
**You'll also get access to guided audio meditations on the 10% Happier app, to jumpstart your practice from day one.**
ABC News anchor Dan Harris used to think that meditation was for people who collect crystals, play Ultimate Frisbee, and use the word "namaste" without irony. After he had a panic attack on live television, he went on a strange and circuitous journey that ultimately led him to become one of meditation's most vocal public proponents.
Harris found that meditation made him more focused and less yanked around by his emotions. According to his wife, it also made him less annoying. Science suggests that the practice can lower your blood pressure, mitigate depression and anxiety, and literally rewire key parts of the brain. So what's holding you back?
In *Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics,* Harris and Jeff Warren, a masterful teacher and "Meditation MacGyver," embark on a gonzo cross-country quest to tackle the myths, misconceptions, and self-deceptions that keep people from meditating. It is filled with game-changing and deeply practical meditation instructions--all of which are also available (for free) on the *10% Happier* app. This book is a trip worth taking.
**Praise for *Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics***
"If you're intrigued by meditation but don't know how to begin--or you've benefited from meditation in the past but need help to get started again--Dan Harris has written the book for you. Well researched, practical, and crammed with expert advice, it's also an irreverent, hilarious page-turner."**\--Gretchen Rubin, author of *The Happiness Project***
"The ABC News anchor, a 'defender of worrying' who once had an anxiety attack on air, offers a hilarious and stirring account of his two-steps-forward-one-step-back campaign to sort 'useless rumination' from 'constructive anguish' via mindfulness, along with invaluable suggestions for following in his footsteps."**\--*O: The Oprah Magazine*** [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/gretchen-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-7530)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/joseph-goldstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11752)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/mark-epstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11761)Recommended by [Gretchen Rubin,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/gretchen-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-7530) [Joseph Goldstein,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/joseph-goldstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11752) [Mark Epstein,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/mark-epstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11761) and 3 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/gretchen-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-7530)
[Gretchen Rubin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/gretchen-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-7530)If youâre intrigued by meditation but donât know how to beginâor youâve benefited from meditation in the past but need help to get started againâDan Harris has written the book for you. Well researched, practical, and crammed with expert advice, itâs also an irreverent, hilarious page-turner. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Fidgety-Skeptics-Happier-How-ebook/dp/B06Y58KF6P)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/joseph-goldstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11752)
[Joseph Goldstein](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/joseph-goldstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11752)A gold mine of wise guidance for fidgety skeptics and experienced meditators alike . . .With Danâs humorous, self-revelatory style and incisive questioning and Jeffâs down-to-earth, transforming wisdom, this book addresses the common obstacles people face as they begin and deepen their meditation practice. . . . Highly recommended. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Fidgety-Skeptics-Happier-How-ebook/dp/B06Y58KF6P)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/mark-epstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11761)
[Mark Epstein](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/mark-epstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11761)If your mind has a mind of its own, this is the book for you! With humor, generosity, and devastating candor, Dan Harris makes meditation make sense. This is news we can all use. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Fidgety-Skeptics-Happier-How-ebook/dp/B06Y58KF6P)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y58KF6P/?tag=allencheng-20)
64
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XHNONS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XHNONS/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindsight](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XHNONS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The New Science of Personal Transformation](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XHNONS/?tag=allencheng-20)
Daniel J. Siegel \| 4.11
From a pioneer in the field of mental health comes a groundbreaking book on the healing power of "mindsight," the potent skill that is the basis for both emotional and social intelligence. **Mindsight** allows you to make positive changes in your brain-and in your life.
\- Is there a memory that torments you, or an irrational fear you can' t shake?
\- Do you sometimes become unreasonably angry or upset and find it hard to calm down?
\- Do you ever wonder why you can't stop behaving the way you do, no matter how hard you try?
\- Are you and your child (or parent,... [more]()
From a pioneer in the field of mental health comes a groundbreaking book on the healing power of "mindsight," the potent skill that is the basis for both emotional and social intelligence. **Mindsight** allows you to make positive changes in your brain-and in your life.
\- Is there a memory that torments you, or an irrational fear you can' t shake?
\- Do you sometimes become unreasonably angry or upset and find it hard to calm down?
\- Do you ever wonder why you can't stop behaving the way you do, no matter how hard you try?
\- Are you and your child (or parent, partner, or boss) locked in a seemingly inevitable pattern of conflict?
What if you could escape traps like these and live a fuller, richer, happier life? This isn't mere speculation but the result of twenty-five years of careful hands-on clinical work by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. A Harvard-trained physician, Dr. Siegel is one of the revolutionary global innovators in the integration of brain science into the practice of psychotherapy. Using case histories from his practice, he shows how, by following the proper steps, nearly everyone can learn how to focus their attention on the internal world of the mind in a way that will literally change the wiring and architecture of their brain.
Through his synthesis of a broad range of scientific research with applications to everyday life, Dr. Siegel has developed novel approaches that have helped hundreds of patients heal themselves from painful events in the past and liberate themselves from obstacles blocking their happiness in the present. And now he has written the first book that will help all of us understand the potential we have to create our own lives. Showing us mindsight in action, Dr. Siegel describes
\- a sixteen-year-old boy with bipolar disorder who uses meditation and other techniques instead of drugs to calm the emotional storms that made him suicidal
\- a woman paralyzed by anxiety, who uses mindsight to discover, in an unconscious memory of a childhood accident, the source of her dread
\- a physician-the author himself-who pays attention to his intuition, which he experiences as a "vague, uneasy feeling in my belly, a gnawing restlessness in my heart and my gut," and tracks down a patient who could have gone deaf because of an inaccurately written prescription for an ear infection
\- a twelve-year-old girl with OCD who learns a meditation that is "like watching myself from outside myself" and, using a form of internal dialogue, is able to stop the compulsive behaviors that have been tormenting her
These and many other extraordinary stories illustrate how mindsight can help us master our emotions, heal our relationships, and reach our fullest potential.
A book as inspiring as it is informative, as practical as it is profound, **Mindsight** offers exciting new proof that we aren't hardwired to behave in certain ways, but instead have the ability to harness the power of our minds to resculpt the neural pathways of our brains in ways that will be life-transforming. [less]()
Recommended by Kara Nortman, and 1 others.

Kara Nortman@patrick\_oshag @JohnCGreer @zackkanter Mindsight by @DrDanSiegel - Great book on board and executive team management w/o intending to be Meant to be a summary of broad range of research on brain science + best ways to impact your brain (for better outcomes) in the moment https://t.co/sMH9rfO0Ba [(Source)](https://twitter.com/karanortman/status/1170731228321828864)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XHNONS/?tag=allencheng-20)
65
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IQY3L1M/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IQY3L1M/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [How to Sit (Mindfulness Essentials, \#1)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IQY3L1M/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.10
*How to Sit* is the first in a new series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces beginners to and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized with bold black-and-white illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, *How to Sit* provides explicit, simple directions on the mechanics of posture and breathing, along with instructions for how best to achieve the awakened, relaxed state of clarity to cultivate concentration and compassion. Following the instructions, Thich Nhat Hanh shares a series of secular guided meditations that... [more]()
*How to Sit* is the first in a new series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces beginners to and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized with bold black-and-white illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, *How to Sit* provides explicit, simple directions on the mechanics of posture and breathing, along with instructions for how best to achieve the awakened, relaxed state of clarity to cultivate concentration and compassion. Following the instructions, Thich Nhat Hanh shares a series of secular guided meditations that help us return to our breath, spend some time in the present moment, and come home to ourselves.
The function of meditation practice is to heal and transform. Scientific studies indicate that meditation contributes tremendously to well-being, general health, and longevity. *How to Sit* is a unique gift for those who want a comprehensive yet simple guide to getting started with meditation practice, as well as meditators with training in any spiritual tradition who want to be reminded of the foundation of practice.
[less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IQY3L1M/?tag=allencheng-20)
66
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M5E2DW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M5E2DW/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Secret (The Secret, \#1)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M5E2DW/?tag=allencheng-20)
Rhonda Byrne \| 4.09
The Secretâs 10th Anniversary Edition includes a new foreword by Rhonda Byrne, and 10 of the most life-changing insights sheâs had over the last 10 years of practicing and living The Secret every day. The 10 insights alone will accelerate your understanding and mastery of the law of attraction. [more]()
The Secretâs 10th Anniversary Edition includes a new foreword by Rhonda Byrne, and 10 of the most life-changing insights sheâs had over the last 10 years of practicing and living The Secret every day. The 10 insights alone will accelerate your understanding and mastery of the law of attraction. [less]()
Recommended by Ntwana Kasi., Woman In Purpose, and 2 others.

Ntwana Kasi.@Sibongubuhle\_N Don't you have pdf of it i love this book [(Source)](https://twitter.com/TBanSA/status/1202162704498212865)

Woman In Purpose@Anele\_Nks Best book ever\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/Yvette_Aloe/status/1155908432614043648)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/the-secret) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M5E2DW/?tag=allencheng-20)
67
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YPA202/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YPA202/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindfulness Living in the Moment - Living in the Breath](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YPA202/?tag=allencheng-20)
Amit Ray \| 4.09
Living in the moment - living in the breath is the foundation of mindfulness. In this book Dr. Ray explores mindfulness as the source of inspiration and inner peace. He shows the ways to transform our fear, expectation, anger, regret, cravings, frustration, and fatigue into positive energy of love and compassion. Ray explains how to apply mindfulness to everything we encounter so we can transcend unconscious habits of misunderstanding that have imprisoned us for so long. The book is a treasury of wisdom. Dr. Ray presents us with information that can help us live long, healthy and happy lives.... [more]()
Living in the moment - living in the breath is the foundation of mindfulness. In this book Dr. Ray explores mindfulness as the source of inspiration and inner peace. He shows the ways to transform our fear, expectation, anger, regret, cravings, frustration, and fatigue into positive energy of love and compassion. Ray explains how to apply mindfulness to everything we encounter so we can transcend unconscious habits of misunderstanding that have imprisoned us for so long. The book is a treasury of wisdom. Dr. Ray presents us with information that can help us live long, healthy and happy lives. A selection of mindfulness practices of varying lengths and levels of difficulty provides challenges and inspiration for beginner, intermediate, and advanced meditators.
The book has five parts. It discusses the hierarchy of mindfulness, factors of mindfulness, micro-mindfulness, frameworks of mindfulness, goal setting and planning with mindfulness, and many other aspects of mindfulness. It explained several daily mindfulness meditation techniques in detail. Life is a collection of moments. In every moment there are so many miracles around us. Mostly we are unconscious about the miracles around us. In this book Dr. Ray helps us understand the miracles of the moments. . He shows us the ways and means to live in the moment and to live in the breath. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YPA202/?tag=allencheng-20)
68
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCGYXS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCGYXS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCGYXS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Guidance on the Path to Mindfulness from a Spiritual Leader](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCGYXS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
Haemin Sunim, Youngcheol Lee, Chi-Young Kim \| 4.09
"Is it the world that's busy, or is it my mind?"
The world moves fast, but that doesn't mean we have to. In this best-selling mindfulness guide - it has sold more than three million copies in Korea, where it was a number-one best-seller for 41 weeks and received multiple best book of the year awards - Haemin Sunim (which means "spontaneous wisdom"), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life.
By offering guideposts to well-being and... [more]()
"Is it the world that's busy, or is it my mind?"
The world moves fast, but that doesn't mean we have to. In this best-selling mindfulness guide - it has sold more than three million copies in Korea, where it was a number-one best-seller for 41 weeks and received multiple best book of the year awards - Haemin Sunim (which means "spontaneous wisdom"), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life.
By offering guideposts to well-being and happiness in eight areas - including relationships, love, and spirituality - Haemin Sunim emphasizes the importance of forging a deeper connection with others and being compassionate and forgiving toward ourselves. [less]()
Recommended by Arianna Huffington, and 1 others.

Arianna HuffingtonNot only a useful and practical book, itâs a beautiful one as well. Everyone who wants to thrive more in their life should have it on their nightstand. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Things-Only-When-Slow-Down-ebook/dp/B01HCGYXS4/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCGYXS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
69
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014OITP0E/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014OITP0E/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [How to Relax (Mindfulness Essentials, \#5)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014OITP0E/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.09
*How to Relax* is part of *The Mindfulness Essentials* series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing beginners and reminding seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Relax shows how critical it is to regularly interrupt the hub-bub and routine of our lives to stop, relax mindfully, and recharge.
Thich Nhat Hanh says that when we relax, we âbecome calm water, and we will reflect reality as it is. If weâre not calm, the image we reflect will be... [more]()
*How to Relax* is part of *The Mindfulness Essentials* series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing beginners and reminding seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Relax shows how critical it is to regularly interrupt the hub-bub and routine of our lives to stop, relax mindfully, and recharge.
Thich Nhat Hanh says that when we relax, we âbecome calm water, and we will reflect reality as it is. If weâre not calm, the image we reflect will be distorted. When the image is distorted by our minds, itâs not the reality, and it causes lots of suffering.â With sections on healing, relief from nonstop thinking, transforming unpleasant sounds, solitude, being peace, and more, How to Relax includes meditations you can do to help you achieve the benefits of relaxation no matter where you are.
Itâs a unique gift for those who want a simple guide to achieving deep relaxation, controlling stress, and renewing mental freshness and clarity, appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition, whether seasoned practitioners or new to meditations.
With fifteen two color drawings by celebrated artist Jason DeAntonis.
[less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014OITP0E/?tag=allencheng-20)
70
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BATKO2E/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BATKO2E/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Art of Communicating](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BATKO2E/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh, Dan Woren, et al \| 4.08
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, bestselling author of *Peace is Every Step* and one of the most respected and celebrated religious leaders in the world, delivers a powerful path to happiness through mastering life's most important skill.
How do we say what we mean in a way that the other person can really hear?
How can we listen with compassion and understanding?
Communication fuels the ties that bind, whether in relationships, business, or everyday interactions. Most of us, however, have never been taught the fundamental skills of communicationâor how to... [more]()
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, bestselling author of *Peace is Every Step* and one of the most respected and celebrated religious leaders in the world, delivers a powerful path to happiness through mastering life's most important skill.
How do we say what we mean in a way that the other person can really hear?
How can we listen with compassion and understanding?
Communication fuels the ties that bind, whether in relationships, business, or everyday interactions. Most of us, however, have never been taught the fundamental skills of communicationâor how to best represent our true selves. Effective communication is as important to our well-being and happiness as the food we put into our bodies. It can be either healthy (and nourishing) or toxic (and destructive).
In this precise and practical guide, Zen master and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh reveals how to listen mindfully and express your fullest and most authentic self. With examples from his work with couples, families, and international conflicts, *The Art of Communicating* helps us move beyond the perils and frustrations of misrepresentation and misunderstanding to learn the listening and speaking skills that will forever change how we experience and impact the world. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BATKO2E/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
71
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGNYPW4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGNYPW4/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Book of Awakening](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGNYPW4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGNYPW4/?tag=allencheng-20)
Mark Nepo \| 4.08
Philosopher-poet and cancer survivor, Mark Nepo opens a new season of freedom and joy--an escape from deadening, asleep-at-the wheel sameness--that is both profound and clarifying. His spiritual daybook is a summons to reclaim aliveness, liberate the self, take each day one at a time, and to savor the beauty offered by life's unfolding. Reading his poetic prose is like being given second sight, exposing the reader to life's multiple dimensions, each one drawn with awe and affection. The Book of Awakening is the result of his journey of the soul and will inspire others to embark on their own.... [more]()
Philosopher-poet and cancer survivor, Mark Nepo opens a new season of freedom and joy--an escape from deadening, asleep-at-the wheel sameness--that is both profound and clarifying. His spiritual daybook is a summons to reclaim aliveness, liberate the self, take each day one at a time, and to savor the beauty offered by life's unfolding. Reading his poetic prose is like being given second sight, exposing the reader to life's multiple dimensions, each one drawn with awe and affection. The Book of Awakening is the result of his journey of the soul and will inspire others to embark on their own. Nepo speaks of spirit and friendship, urging readers to stay vital and in love with this life, no matter the hardships. Encompassing many traditions and voices, Nepo's words offer insight on pain, wonder, and love. Each entry is accompanied by an exercise that will surprise and delight the reader in its mind-waking ability. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jamie-lee-curtis-recommended-books-reading-list-34419)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marian-keyes-recommended-books-reading-list-24178)Recommended by [Jamie Lee Curtis,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jamie-lee-curtis-recommended-books-reading-list-34419) [Marian Keyes,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marian-keyes-recommended-books-reading-list-24178) and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jamie-lee-curtis-recommended-books-reading-list-34419)
[Jamie Lee Curtis](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jamie-lee-curtis-recommended-books-reading-list-34419)The most important book I have ever read, the best gift I have ever given. A daily touchstone to center, balance, inspire \& comfort. I was honored @marknepo asked me to write the forward for this 20th anniversary edition. It is available now for pre-order. Publication date 1/1/20 https://t.co/6PIQFBI1Wz [(Source)](https://twitter.com/jamieleecurtis/status/1196509105873178629)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marian-keyes-recommended-books-reading-list-24178)
[Marian Keyes](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marian-keyes-recommended-books-reading-list-24178)Oh! So GREAT! If you're able, PLEASE read her powerful book. https://t.co/3itlgrS7Mz [(Source)](https://twitter.com/MarianKeyes/status/1196551231549911040)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGNYPW4/?tag=allencheng-20)
72
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFHX2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFHX2/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [How to Eat (Mindfulness Essentials, \#2)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFHX2/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.08
Eating is a chance to return to the present moment.
*How to Eat* is the second in Parallaxâs series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. These friendly, pocket-sized books contain several delightful illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, and are appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition and all levels of familiarity with mindfulness practice.
*How to Eat* clearly and succinctly explains how you can incorporate eating as a form of meditation. The book provides practical advice on how to become truly nourished through the mindful... [more]()
Eating is a chance to return to the present moment.
*How to Eat* is the second in Parallaxâs series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. These friendly, pocket-sized books contain several delightful illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, and are appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition and all levels of familiarity with mindfulness practice.
*How to Eat* clearly and succinctly explains how you can incorporate eating as a form of meditation. The book provides practical advice on how to become truly nourished through the mindful preparation, serving, eating, and cleaning up of food.
Eating a meal in mindfulness reveals that you are nourished by the whole universe. This awareness helps develop compassion and understanding, reminding practitioners that there are things they can do to help nourish people who are hungry and lonely.
*How to Eat* encourages moderation and taking time to truly savor what we eat. By doing so, you too can become healthier, more fully enjoy what you eat, and help reduce waste.
[less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFHX2/?tag=allencheng-20)
73
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HBY9RK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HBY9RK/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Fear](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HBY9RK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HBY9RK/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.07
âWritten in words so intimate, calm, kind, and immediate, this extraordinary book feels like a message from our very own heartâŠ.Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most important voices of our time, and we have never needed to listen to him more than now.â
âSogyal Rinpoche
Fear is destructive, a pervasive problem we all face. Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, peace activist, and one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the worldâa gifted teacher who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.âThich Nhat Hanh has written a powerful and... [more]()
âWritten in words so intimate, calm, kind, and immediate, this extraordinary book feels like a message from our very own heartâŠ.Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most important voices of our time, and we have never needed to listen to him more than now.â
âSogyal Rinpoche
Fear is destructive, a pervasive problem we all face. Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, peace activist, and one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the worldâa gifted teacher who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.âThich Nhat Hanh has written a powerful and practical strategic guide to overcoming our debilitating uncertainties and personal terrors. *The New York Times* said Hanh, âranks second only to the Dalai Lamaâ as the Buddhist leader with the most influence in the West. In *Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting through the Storm*, Hanh explores the origins of our fears, illuminating a path to finding peace and freedom from anxiety and offering powerful tools to help us eradicate it from our lives
[less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HBY9RK/?tag=allencheng-20)
74
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IATC4S/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IATC4S/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Anger](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IATC4S/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Wisdom for Cooling the Flames](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IATC4S/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.07
It was under the bodhi tree in India twenty-five centuries ago that Buddha achieved the insight that three states of mind were the source of all our unhappiness: wrong knowing, obsessive desire, and anger. All are difficult, but in one instant of angerâone of the most powerful emotionsâlives can be ruined, and health and spiritual development can be destroyed. With exquisite simplicity, Buddhist monk and Vietnam refugee Thich Nhat Hanh gives tools and advice for transforming relationships, focusing energy, and rejuvenating those parts of ourselves that have been laid waste by anger. His... [more]()
It was under the bodhi tree in India twenty-five centuries ago that Buddha achieved the insight that three states of mind were the source of all our unhappiness: wrong knowing, obsessive desire, and anger. All are difficult, but in one instant of angerâone of the most powerful emotionsâlives can be ruined, and health and spiritual development can be destroyed. With exquisite simplicity, Buddhist monk and Vietnam refugee Thich Nhat Hanh gives tools and advice for transforming relationships, focusing energy, and rejuvenating those parts of ourselves that have been laid waste by anger. His extraordinary wisdom can transform your life and the lives of the people you love, and in the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, can give each reader the power to "change everything." [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IATC4S/?tag=allencheng-20)
75
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS6H3E6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS6H3E6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Sitting Still Like a Frog](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS6H3E6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS6H3E6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Eline Snel, Myla Kabat-Zinn, Jon Kabat-Zinn \| 4.07
**Simple mindfulness practices to help your child (ages 5-12) deal with anxiety, improve concentration, and handle difficult emotions. Includes a 60-minute audio CD of guided exercises read by Myla Kabat-Zinn.**
Mindfulnessâthe quality of attention that combines full awareness with acceptance of each moment, just as it isâis gaining broad acceptance among mental health professionals as an adjunct to treatment. This little book is a very appealing introduction to mindfulness meditation for children and their parents. In a simple and accessible way, it describes what... [more]()
**Simple mindfulness practices to help your child (ages 5-12) deal with anxiety, improve concentration, and handle difficult emotions. Includes a 60-minute audio CD of guided exercises read by Myla Kabat-Zinn.**
Mindfulnessâthe quality of attention that combines full awareness with acceptance of each moment, just as it isâis gaining broad acceptance among mental health professionals as an adjunct to treatment. This little book is a very appealing introduction to mindfulness meditation for children and their parents. In a simple and accessible way, it describes what mindfulness is and how mindfulness-based practices can help children calm down, become more focused, fall asleep more easily, alleviate worry, manage anger, and generally become more patient and aware. The book contains eleven practices that focus on just these scenarios, along with short examples and anecdotes throughout. Included with purchase is an audio CD with guided meditations, voiced by Myla Kabat-Zinn, who along with her husband, Jon Kabat-Zinn, popularized mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) as a therapeutic approach. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS6H3E6/?tag=allencheng-20)
76
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3VWS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3VWS/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [You Are a Badass](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3VWS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3VWS/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jen Sincero \| 4.07
**The \#1 *New York Times* Bestseller *You Are A Badass* is the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don't want to get busted doing it.**
In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, \#1 *New York Times* Bestselling Author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word. If you're ready to make some serious changes around here, *You Are a Badass* will help you: Identify and change the... [more]()
**The \#1 *New York Times* Bestseller *You Are A Badass* is the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don't want to get busted doing it.**
In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, \#1 *New York Times* Bestselling Author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word. If you're ready to make some serious changes around here, *You Are a Badass* will help you: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, blast past your fears so you can take big exciting risks, figure out how to make some damn money already, learn to love yourself and others, set big goals and reach them - it will basically show you how to create a life you totally love, and how to create it *now*.
By the end of *You Are a Badass*, you'll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can't change, how to change what you don't love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass. [less]()
Recommended by Stacey Minton, Chelsea Frank, Jessica Lauria, and 3 others.

Stacey MintonThat book helped me realize I wasnât alone in not necessarily having direction or all of the answers, but as long as I put one foot in front of the other, I would get to where I wanted to be. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/)

Chelsea FrankI read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chelsea-frank-11019.html)

Jessica LauriaI bought this book because I was curious about the title. I loved it and bought it for my entire team. The universe matches the energy you put out. Itâs so true. If you put out positivity, you get it back. Itâs a great reminder that you are in charge of your destiny. Another point in this book that I love - if someone has a problem with you, itâs their issue. Not yours. We put some much weight on... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/jessica-lauria-karen-pfaff-manganillo-6209.html)
[Read Full Book Summary](https://www.shortform.com/app/book/you-are-a-badass) [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3VWS/?tag=allencheng-20)
77
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH5Y/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH5Y/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Wisdom of No Escape](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH5Y/?tag=allencheng-20)
[How to Love Yourself and Your World](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH5Y/?tag=allencheng-20)
Pema Chodron \| 4.07
Itâs true, as they say, that we can only love others when we first love ourselves and we can only experience real joy when we stop running from pain. The key to understanding these truisms lies in remaining open to life in all circumstances, and here Pema Chödrön shows us how. Because when we embrace the happiness and suffering, intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of life, we can begin to discover a wellspring of courageous love within our hearts.
4 CDs, 4 œ hours. Unabridged. [more]()
Itâs true, as they say, that we can only love others when we first love ourselves and we can only experience real joy when we stop running from pain. The key to understanding these truisms lies in remaining open to life in all circumstances, and here Pema Chödrön shows us how. Because when we embrace the happiness and suffering, intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of life, we can begin to discover a wellspring of courageous love within our hearts.
4 CDs, 4 œ hours. Unabridged. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH5Y/?tag=allencheng-20)
78
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P7GGSC/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P7GGSC/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Mindful Brain](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P7GGSC/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P7GGSC/?tag=allencheng-20)
Daniel J. Siegel M.D. \| 4.06
From the author of the internationally-acclaimed best-selling text *The Developing Mind*, and esteemed leader and educator in the field of mental health, comes the first book ever to integrate neuroscience research with the ancient art of mindfulness. The result is a groundbreaking approach to not simply mental health, but life in general, which shows readers how personal awareness and attunement can actually stimulate emotional circuits in the brain, leading to a host of physiological benefits, including greater well-being, resilience, emotional balance, and improved cardiac and... [more]()
From the author of the internationally-acclaimed best-selling text *The Developing Mind*, and esteemed leader and educator in the field of mental health, comes the first book ever to integrate neuroscience research with the ancient art of mindfulness. The result is a groundbreaking approach to not simply mental health, but life in general, which shows readers how personal awareness and attunement can actually stimulate emotional circuits in the brain, leading to a host of physiological benefits, including greater well-being, resilience, emotional balance, and improved cardiac and immune function. For clinicians and laypeople alike, Siegelâs illuminating discussions of the power of the focused mind provide a wealth of ideas that can transform our lives and deepen our connections with others, and with ourselves. [less]()
Recommended by Tessa Watt, and 1 others.

Tessa WattThis is a book that focuses on the neuroscience of mindfulness. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/mindfulness-tessa-watt/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P7GGSC/?tag=allencheng-20)
79
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQM20NK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQM20NK/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQM20NK/?tag=allencheng-20)
Chogyam Trungpa, Sakyong Mipham \| 4.06
In this modern spiritual classic, the Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa highlights a common pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls *spiritual materialism*. The universal human tendency, he shows, is to see spirituality as a process of self-improvementâthe impulse to develop and refine the ego when the ego is, by nature, essentially empty. âThe problem,â Trungpa says, âis that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality.â His incisive, compassionate teachings serve to wake us up from this trick we all play on ourselves, and... [more]()
In this modern spiritual classic, the Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa highlights a common pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls *spiritual materialism*. The universal human tendency, he shows, is to see spirituality as a process of self-improvementâthe impulse to develop and refine the ego when the ego is, by nature, essentially empty. âThe problem,â Trungpa says, âis that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality.â His incisive, compassionate teachings serve to wake us up from this trick we all play on ourselves, and to offer us a far brighter reality: the true and joyous liberation that inevitably involves letting go of the self rather than working to improve it. It is a message that has resonated with students for over thirty years and remains fresh as ever today.
This edition includes a foreward by Chögyam Trungpaâs son and lineage holder Sakyong Mipham.
[less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/andy-puddicombe-recommended-books-reading-list-2567)Recommended by [Steve Jobs,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453) [Andy Puddicombe,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/andy-puddicombe-recommended-books-reading-list-2567) and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)During his freshman year at Reed College, Jobs befriended Daniel Kottke, who went on to work at Apple, and together they devoured books such as Shunryu Suzukiâs âZen Mind, Beginnerâs Mind,â Chogyam Trungpaâs âCutting Through Spiritual Materialismâ and Paramahansa Yoganandaâs âAutobiography of a Yogi,â a book Jobs read and re-read many times during his life. [(Source)](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/the-steve-jobs-reading-list-the-books_n_1024021.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/andy-puddicombe-recommended-books-reading-list-2567)
[Andy Puddicombe](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/andy-puddicombe-recommended-books-reading-list-2567)He was calling out probably the biggest trap in the journey of self-discovery, that of spiritual materialism ⊠If we meditate in order to let go of labels, to let go of identity, the last thing we want to do is take on another label: of being âspiritual.â Weâre looking to let go of that kind of judgment. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/meditation-andy-puddicombe/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQM20NK/?tag=allencheng-20)
80
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LC9HU/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LC9HU/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [True Love](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LC9HU/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Practice for Awakening the Heart](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LC9HU/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.06
In this little treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, offers timeless insight into the nature of real love. With simplicity, warmth, and directness, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedomâexplaining how to experience them in our day-to-day lives. He also emphasizes that in order to love in a real way, we must first learn how to be fully present in our lives, and he offers simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition that anyone can use to establish the conditions of love.
Thich Nhat... [more]()
In this little treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, offers timeless insight into the nature of real love. With simplicity, warmth, and directness, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedomâexplaining how to experience them in our day-to-day lives. He also emphasizes that in order to love in a real way, we must first learn how to be fully present in our lives, and he offers simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition that anyone can use to establish the conditions of love.
Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, is an internationally known author, poet, scholar, and peace activist who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LC9HU/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
81
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062508342/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062508342/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062508342/?tag=allencheng-20)
Sogyal Rinpoche \| 4.06
A newly revised and updated edition of the internationally bestselling spiritual classic, *The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying*, written by Sogyal Rinpoche, is the ultimate introduction to Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. An enlightening, inspiring, and comforting manual for life and death that the *New York Times* calls, âThe Tibetan equivalent of \[Danteâs\] *The Divine Comedy*,â this is the essential work that moved Huston Smith, author of *The Worldâs Religions*, to proclaim, âI have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive,... [more]()
A newly revised and updated edition of the internationally bestselling spiritual classic, *The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying*, written by Sogyal Rinpoche, is the ultimate introduction to Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. An enlightening, inspiring, and comforting manual for life and death that the *New York Times* calls, âThe Tibetan equivalent of \[Danteâs\] *The Divine Comedy*,â this is the essential work that moved Huston Smith, author of *The Worldâs Religions*, to proclaim, âI have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive, practical, and wise.â [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062508342/?tag=allencheng-20)
82
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J3526Y6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J3526Y6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Buddhism without Beliefs](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J3526Y6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Contemporary Guide to Awakening](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J3526Y6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Stephen Batchelor \| 4.06
**A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike**
In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to *believe in* but something to *do*âand as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a... [more]()
**A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike**
In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to *believe in* but something to *do*âand as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/edward-norton-recommended-books-reading-list-19764)Recommended by [Edward Norton,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/edward-norton-recommended-books-reading-list-19764) and 1 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/edward-norton-recommended-books-reading-list-19764)
[Edward Norton](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/edward-norton-recommended-books-reading-list-19764)One of Edward Norton's favorites. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2016/01/18/edward-norton-on-mastery-must-read-books-and-the-future-of-crowdfunding/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J3526Y6/?tag=allencheng-20)
83
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006859/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006859/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [No Mud, No Lotus](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006859/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Art of Transforming Suffering](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006859/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.05
The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it. In *No Mud, No Lotus*, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practices and inspiration for transforming suffering and finding true joy. Thich Nhat Hanh acknowledges that because suffering can feel so bad, we try to run away from it or cover it up by consuming. We find something to eat or turn on the television. But unless weâre able to face our suffering, we canât be present and available to life, and happiness will continue to elude us. Nhat Hanh shares how the practices of stopping, mindful breathing, and deep... [more]()
The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it. In *No Mud, No Lotus*, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practices and inspiration for transforming suffering and finding true joy. Thich Nhat Hanh acknowledges that because suffering can feel so bad, we try to run away from it or cover it up by consuming. We find something to eat or turn on the television. But unless weâre able to face our suffering, we canât be present and available to life, and happiness will continue to elude us. Nhat Hanh shares how the practices of stopping, mindful breathing, and deep concentration can generate the energy of mindfulness within our daily lives. With that energy, we can embrace pain and calm it down, instantly bringing a measure of freedom and a clearer mind. *No Mud, No Lotus* introduces ways to be in touch with suffering without being overwhelmed by it. With his signature clarity and sense of joy, Thich Nhat Hanh helps us recognize the wonders inside us and around us that we tend to take for granted and teaches us the art of happiness. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006859/?tag=allencheng-20)
84
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3BUE70/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3BUE70/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Altered Traits](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3BUE70/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3BUE70/?tag=allencheng-20)
Daniel Goleman, Richard J. Davidson \| 4.04
**Two *New York Times*\-bestselling authors unveil new research showing what meditation can really do for the brain.**
In the last twenty years, meditation and mindfulness have gone from being kind of cool to becoming an omnipresent Band-Aid for fixing everything from your weight to your relationship to your achievement level. Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it.
[more]()
**Two *New York Times*\-bestselling authors unveil new research showing what meditation can really do for the brain.**
In the last twenty years, meditation and mindfulness have gone from being kind of cool to becoming an omnipresent Band-Aid for fixing everything from your weight to your relationship to your achievement level. Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it.
Sweeping away common misconceptions and neuromythology to open readers' eyes to the ways data has been distorted to sell mind-training methods, the authors demonstrate that beyond the pleasant *states* mental exercises can produce, the real payoffs are the lasting personality *traits* that can result. But short daily doses will not get us to the highest level of lasting positive change--even if we continue for years--without specific additions. More than sheer hours, we need smart practice, including crucial ingredients such as targeted feedback from a master teacher and a more spacious, less attached view of the self, all of which are missing in widespread versions of mind training. The authors also reveal the latest data from Davidson's own lab that point to a new methodology for developing a broader array of mind-training methods with larger implications for how we can derive the greatest benefits from the practice.
Exciting, compelling, and grounded in new research, this is one of those rare books that has the power to change us at the deepest level. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3BUE70/?tag=allencheng-20)
85
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JW44IAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JW44IAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Autobiography of a Yogi](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JW44IAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
Paramahansa Yogananda \| 4.04
Autobiography of a Yogi is one of the best-selling spiritual biographies of all time. The book is not merely read it is treasured and cherished by millions of spiritual seekers throughout the world. [more]()
Autobiography of a Yogi is one of the best-selling spiritual biographies of all time. The book is not merely read it is treasured and cherished by millions of spiritual seekers throughout the world. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)Recommended by [Steve Jobs,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453) Marc Benioff, Dominic Steil, and 5 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)One book in particular stayed with Jobs his entire life, and Isaacson noted that it was the only book Jobs had downloaded on his iPad 2: âAutobiography of a Yogi,â âthe guide to meditation and spirituality that he had first read as a teenager,â Isaacson writes, âthen re-read in India and had read once a year ever since.â [(Source)](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/the-steve-jobs-reading-list-the-books_n_1024021.html)

Marc BenioffIf you haven't read it, and if you want to understand Steve Jobs, it's a goood idea to dip into \[this book\]. [(Source)](https://youtu.be/4rO_Vs4M29k?t=211)

Dominic Steil\[One of the books that had the biggest impact on .\] [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/dominic-steil-15732.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JW44IAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
86
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBJPWY1/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBJPWY1/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Practicing Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBJPWY1/?tag=allencheng-20)
[75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday Paperback](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBJPWY1/?tag=allencheng-20)
Matthew Sockolov \| 4.04
Itâs easy to disconnect when life moves fast. Practicing Mindfulness offers effective exercises and meditations to live every moment of your daily routine, in the moment.
From finding your breath to feeling grounded, these practice-based exercises make integrating mindfulness into your routine easy. With over 75 essential meditationsâthat take between 5-20 minutes from start to finishâPracticing Mindfulness is an approachable way to apply mindfulness in your day-to-day life.
Reduce stress, improve mental health, and stay present no matter what the day holds when you... [more]()
Itâs easy to disconnect when life moves fast. Practicing Mindfulness offers effective exercises and meditations to live every moment of your daily routine, in the moment.
From finding your breath to feeling grounded, these practice-based exercises make integrating mindfulness into your routine easy. With over 75 essential meditationsâthat take between 5-20 minutes from start to finishâPracticing Mindfulness is an approachable way to apply mindfulness in your day-to-day life.
Reduce stress, improve mental health, and stay present no matter what the day holds when you practice mindfulness, with:
Mindfulness 101 that provides clear explanations of what mindfulness is, along with why and how it helps in your day-to-day life
75 mindfulness exercises that are organized by difficulty to help develop your practice
Practical advice for overcoming obstacles to your mindfulness practice like how to deal with distracting noises or fight off sleepiness
Today and every day, mindfulness takes practice. Practicing Mindfulness offers effective, modern meditations and exercises to start practicing everyday mindfulness, today. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBJPWY1/?tag=allencheng-20)
87
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4X76M/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4X76M/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Way of Zen](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4X76M/?tag=allencheng-20)
Alan Watts \| 4.04
In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts explains the principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, he delves into the origins and history of Zen to explain what it means for the world today with incredible clarity. Watts saw Zen as âone of the most precious gifts of Asia to the world,â and in *The Way of Zen* he gives this gift to readers everywhere. [more]()
In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts explains the principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, he delves into the origins and history of Zen to explain what it means for the world today with incredible clarity. Watts saw Zen as âone of the most precious gifts of Asia to the world,â and in *The Way of Zen* he gives this gift to readers everywhere. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4X76M/?tag=allencheng-20)
88
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00395ZYS6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00395ZYS6/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Savor](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00395ZYS6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Mindful Eating, Mindful Life](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00395ZYS6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh, Lilian Cheung \| 4.03
Common sense tells us that to lose weight, we must eat less and exercise more. But somehow we get stalled. We start on a weight-loss program with good intentions but cannot stay on track. Neither the countless fad diets, nor the annual spending of \$50 billion on weight loss helps us feel better or lose weight.
Too many of us are in a cycle of shame and guilt. We spend countless hours worrying about what we ate or if we exercised enough, blaming ourselves for actions that we can't undo. We are stuck in the past and unable to live in the present--that moment in which we do have the... [more]()
Common sense tells us that to lose weight, we must eat less and exercise more. But somehow we get stalled. We start on a weight-loss program with good intentions but cannot stay on track. Neither the countless fad diets, nor the annual spending of \$50 billion on weight loss helps us feel better or lose weight.
Too many of us are in a cycle of shame and guilt. We spend countless hours worrying about what we ate or if we exercised enough, blaming ourselves for actions that we can't undo. We are stuck in the past and unable to live in the present--that moment in which we do have the power to make changes in our lives.
With Savor, world-renowned Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and Harvard nutritionist Dr. Lilian Cheung show us how to end our struggles with weight once and for all.
Offering practical tools, including personalized goal setting, a detailed nutrition guide, and a mindful living plan, the authors help us to uncover the roots of our habits and then guide us as we transform our actions. Savor teaches us how to easily adopt the practice of mindfulness and integrate it into eating, exercise, and all facets of our daily life, so that being conscious and present becomes a core part of our being.
It is the awareness of the present moment, the realization of why we do what we do, that enables us to stop feeling bad and start changing our behavior. Savor not only helps us achieve the healthy weight and well-being we seek, but it also brings to the surface the rich abundance of life available to us in every moment. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00395ZYS6/?tag=allencheng-20)
89
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VYNVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VYNVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Taking the Leap](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VYNVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VYNVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
Pema Chödrön \| 4.03
Best-seller Pema Chödrön draws on the Buddhist concept of shenpa to help us see how certain habits of mind tend to âhookâ us and get us stuck in states of anger, blame, self-hatred, and addiction. The good news is that once we start to recognize these patterns, they instantly begin to lose their hold on us and we can begin to change our lives for the better.
âThis path entails uncovering three basic human qualities,â explains Pema. âThey are natural intelligence, natural warmth, and natural openness. Everyone, everywhere, all over the globe, has these qualities and can call on them... [more]()
Best-seller Pema Chödrön draws on the Buddhist concept of shenpa to help us see how certain habits of mind tend to âhookâ us and get us stuck in states of anger, blame, self-hatred, and addiction. The good news is that once we start to recognize these patterns, they instantly begin to lose their hold on us and we can begin to change our lives for the better.
âThis path entails uncovering three basic human qualities,â explains Pema. âThey are natural intelligence, natural warmth, and natural openness. Everyone, everywhere, all over the globe, has these qualities and can call on them to help themselves and others.â
This book gives us the insights and practices we can immediately put to use in our lives to awaken these essential qualities. In her friendly and encouraging style, Pema Chödrön helps us take a bold leap toward a new way of livingâone that will bring about positive transformation for ourselves and for our troubled world. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VYNVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
90
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YNPBH0/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YNPBH0/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Wisdom of Insecurity](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YNPBH0/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Message for an Age of Anxiety](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YNPBH0/?tag=allencheng-20)
Alan W. Watts \| 4.03
In this fascinating book, Alan Watts explores man's quest for psychological security, examining our efforts to find spiritual and intellectual certainty in the realms of religion and philosophy. The Wisdom of Insecurity underlines the importance of our search for stability in an age where human life seems particularly vulnerable and uncertain. Watts argues our insecurity is the consequence of trying to be secure and that, ironically, salvation and sanity lie in the recognition that we have no way of saving ourselves. [more]()
In this fascinating book, Alan Watts explores man's quest for psychological security, examining our efforts to find spiritual and intellectual certainty in the realms of religion and philosophy. The Wisdom of Insecurity underlines the importance of our search for stability in an age where human life seems particularly vulnerable and uncertain. Watts argues our insecurity is the consequence of trying to be secure and that, ironically, salvation and sanity lie in the recognition that we have no way of saving ourselves. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/oliver-burkeman-recommended-books-reading-list-5491)Recommended by [Oliver Burkeman,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/oliver-burkeman-recommended-books-reading-list-5491) Antonio Eram, and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/oliver-burkeman-recommended-books-reading-list-5491)
[Oliver Burkeman](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/oliver-burkeman-recommended-books-reading-list-5491)This is a very thin book but a mind-blowing one. In many ways it was part of my motivation to write my book. Alan Watts was a philosophical populariser. He called himself a âspiritual entertainerâ, and went around the world giving lectures and writing popular books about Eastern philosophies such as Zen Buddhism and Taoism. This book is about non-dualism â the theory that in some sense,... [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/negative-thinking-oliver-burkeman/)

Antonio EramThis book was recommended by Antonio when asked for titles he would recommend to young people interested in his career path. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/antonio-eram-7568.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YNPBH0/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
91
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTXVZ8/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTXVZ8/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Happiness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTXVZ8/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Essential Mindfulness Practices](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTXVZ8/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.03
Encouraging readers to be intelligent and skillful in their practice, this new collection by Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the essential steps by which we can all obtain real and lasting happiness. Each day, we perform the tasks of everyday life without thought or awareness â walking, sitting, working, eating, driving, and much more. But Hanh points out that if we remain truly aware of our actions, no matter the task weâre performing, we can stay engaged in our lives and better our outlook through mindfulness. This key practice is the foundation for this accessible, easy-to-understand volume, and... [more]()
Encouraging readers to be intelligent and skillful in their practice, this new collection by Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the essential steps by which we can all obtain real and lasting happiness. Each day, we perform the tasks of everyday life without thought or awareness â walking, sitting, working, eating, driving, and much more. But Hanh points out that if we remain truly aware of our actions, no matter the task weâre performing, we can stay engaged in our lives and better our outlook through mindfulness. This key practice is the foundation for this accessible, easy-to-understand volume, and an invaluable tool for change for both seasoned Buddhist practitioners and lay readers interested in bettering their lives through full awareness. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTXVZ8/?tag=allencheng-20)
92
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNJIJB2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNJIJB2/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Daily Stoic](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNJIJB2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[366 Meditations for Clarity, Effectiveness, and Serenity](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNJIJB2/?tag=allencheng-20)
Ryan Holiday \| 4.02
**A beautifully packaged, gifty daily devotional of Stoic wisdom, from the author of *The Obstacle is the Way*.**
Modern readers praise Stoic philosophy for its unique blend of practicality and wisdom. But it's admittedly hard for the average reader to decipher the Dover Thrift edition of Marcus Aurelius' work. The antiquated, needlessly formal language of most modern translations is stripped down in this book, revealing powerful aphorisms that cut straight to the heart of our day-to-day challenges.
Presented in a page-per-day format, this daily resource... [more]()
**A beautifully packaged, gifty daily devotional of Stoic wisdom, from the author of *The Obstacle is the Way*.**
Modern readers praise Stoic philosophy for its unique blend of practicality and wisdom. But it's admittedly hard for the average reader to decipher the Dover Thrift edition of Marcus Aurelius' work. The antiquated, needlessly formal language of most modern translations is stripped down in this book, revealing powerful aphorisms that cut straight to the heart of our day-to-day challenges.
Presented in a page-per-day format, this daily resource of Stoic inspiration combines new translations of Seneca, Epictetus, Zeno by Stephen Hanselman with calls to further reflection--and action--by Ryan Holiday. Arranged topically following the same three movements (Perception, Action, Will) that Holiday used in*The Obstacle is the Way*, this guide features twelve principles for overcoming obstacles and achieving greater satisfaction.
Aimed at the high-octane, action-oriented, doers of our wired world, this book is intended to open to them a new daily ritual and a new orientation that will bring balanced action, insight, effectiveness, and serenity. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991)Recommended by Brad Feld, [Jack Canfield,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991) Louis Grenier, and 3 others.

Brad FeldThis book was a delight. I started reading it earlier this year, caught up quickly (I started in July), and then mostly read a page each day when I was in the bathroom in the morning. I let it unfold slowly, reading the daily quote and Ryan Holidayâs (and Stephen Hanselmanâs) thoughts on the quote, and then rereading the quote. [(Source)](https://feld.com/archives/2017/12/book-daily-stoic-366-meditations-wisdom-perseverance-art-living.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991)
[Jack Canfield](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991)A richly rewarding spring of practical wisdom to help you focus on what's in your control, eliminate false and limiting beliefs, and take more effective action. Make The Daily Stoic your guide and you will grow in clarity, efectiveness, and serenity each day\! [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Stoic-Meditations-Wisdom-Perseverance/dp/0735211736)

Louis GrenierAbout tranquility and stoicism and focusing on change, you need to read âThe Daily Stoicâ which is 365 essays, small essays about stoicism and why you should focus on things that donât change. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/everyone-hates-marketers-how-louis-grenier-built-a-podcast-out-of-love-for-true-marketing-11099.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNJIJB2/?tag=allencheng-20)
93
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HD61H2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HD61H2/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Peace Is Every Breath](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HD61H2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Practice for Our Busy Lives](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HD61H2/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.02
âAmong Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.â âNew York Times
âThich Nhat Hanh is a holy manâŠ. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.â âMartin Luther King, Jr., nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.
In this much-anticipated follow-up to his bestselling classic, *Peace Is Every Step*, Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâoffers an insightful guide to living a fuller life. In this... [more]()
âAmong Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.â âNew York Times
âThich Nhat Hanh is a holy manâŠ. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.â âMartin Luther King, Jr., nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.
In this much-anticipated follow-up to his bestselling classic, *Peace Is Every Step*, Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâoffers an insightful guide to living a fuller life. In this deeply insightful meditation, the world-renowned Vietnamese Zen Buddhist master, poet, scholar, and peace activist illuminates how each of us can incorporate the practice of mindfulness into our every waking moment. In the tradition of *The Art of Happiness* and *Living Buddha, Living Christ*, Thich Nhat Hanhâs Peace Is Every Breath opens a pathway to greater spiritual fulfillment through its patient examination of how we live our lives.
[less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HD61H2/?tag=allencheng-20)
94
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER6FZVQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER6FZVQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [The Art of Living](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER6FZVQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER6FZVQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.02
In troubled times, there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâreveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer lifeâs deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.
Thich Nhat Hanh presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships and our... [more]()
In troubled times, there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâreveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer lifeâs deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.
Thich Nhat Hanh presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships and our interconnectedness with the world around us. Based on the last full talks before his sudden hospitalization, and drawing on intimate examples from his own life, Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how these seven meditations can free us to live a happy, peaceful and active life, and face ageing and dying with curiosity and joy and without fear.
Containing the essence of the Buddhaâs teachings and Thich Nhat Hanhâs poignant, timeless, and clarifying prose, *The Art of Living* provides a spiritual dimension to our lives. This is not an effort to escape life or to dwell in a place of bliss outside of this world. Instead, this path will allow us to discover where we come from and where we are going. And most of all, it will generate happiness, understanding, and love, so we can live deeply in each moment of our life, right where we are. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER6FZVQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
95
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4FSTUI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4FSTUI/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Mindfulness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4FSTUI/?tag=allencheng-20)
Ellen J. Langer \| 4.01
Langer offers the reader the essence of her 15 years of research in social psychology. She demonstrates the grave and pervasive consequences of mindlessness and the startling benefits of mindfulness. [more]()
Langer offers the reader the essence of her 15 years of research in social psychology. She demonstrates the grave and pervasive consequences of mindlessness and the startling benefits of mindfulness. [less]()
Recommended by Dave Elitch, and 1 others.

Dave ElitchSo good. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2018/11/26/dave-elitch/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4FSTUI/?tag=allencheng-20)
96
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBBKMHA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBBKMHA/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Into the Magic Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBBKMHA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBBKMHA/?tag=allencheng-20)
James R. Doty MD \| 4.01
Growing up in the high desert of California, Jim Doty was poor, with an alcoholic father and a mother chronically depressed and paralyzed by a stroke. Today he is the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University, of which the Dalai Lama is a founding benefactor. But back then his life was at a dead end until at twelve he wandered into a magic shop looking for a plastic thumb. Instead he met Ruth, a woman who taught him a series of exercises to ease his own suffering and manifest his greatest desires. Her final mandate was that he... [more]()
Growing up in the high desert of California, Jim Doty was poor, with an alcoholic father and a mother chronically depressed and paralyzed by a stroke. Today he is the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University, of which the Dalai Lama is a founding benefactor. But back then his life was at a dead end until at twelve he wandered into a magic shop looking for a plastic thumb. Instead he met Ruth, a woman who taught him a series of exercises to ease his own suffering and manifest his greatest desires. Her final mandate was that he keep his heart open and teach these techniques to others. She gave him his first glimpse of the unique relationship between the brain and the heart.
Doty would go on to put Ruthâs practices to work with extraordinary resultsâpower and wealth that he could only imagine as a twelve-year-old, riding his orange Sting-Ray bike. But he neglects Ruthâs most important lesson, to keep his heart open, with disastrous resultsâuntil he has the opportunity to make a spectacular charitable contribution that will virtually ruin him. Part memoir, part science, part inspiration, and part practical instruction, *Into the Magic Shop* shows us how we can fundamentally change our lives by first changing our brains and our hearts. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743)Recommended by [Robin Sharma,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743) Roxana Bitoleanu, and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743)
[Robin Sharma](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743)I think youâll gain great valueâand reading joyâfrom this book. Have an excellent Saturday. Love, Robin https://t.co/8e5D4Y2LLp [(Source)](https://twitter.com/RobinSharma/status/1020621379161403394)

Roxana Bitoleanu\[One of the books recommends to young people interested in her career path.\] [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/roxana-bitoleanu-16152.html)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBBKMHA/?tag=allencheng-20)
97
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0AM01U/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0AM01U/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0AM01U/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0AM01U/?tag=allencheng-20)
Mark Epstein M.D. \| 4.01
For decades, Western psychology has promised fulfillment through building and strengthening the ego. We are taught that the ideal is a strong, individuated self, constructed and reinforced over a lifetime. But Buddhist psychiatrist Mark Epstein has found a different way. Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart shows us that happiness doesn't come from any kind of acquisitiveness, be it material or psychological. Happiness comes from letting go. Weaving together the accumulated wisdom of his two worlds--Buddhism and Western psychotherapy--Epstein shows how "the happiness that we seek depends on... [more]()
For decades, Western psychology has promised fulfillment through building and strengthening the ego. We are taught that the ideal is a strong, individuated self, constructed and reinforced over a lifetime. But Buddhist psychiatrist Mark Epstein has found a different way. Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart shows us that happiness doesn't come from any kind of acquisitiveness, be it material or psychological. Happiness comes from letting go. Weaving together the accumulated wisdom of his two worlds--Buddhism and Western psychotherapy--Epstein shows how "the happiness that we seek depends on our ability to balance the ego's need to do with our inherent capacity to be." He encourages us to relax the ever-vigilant mind in order to experience the freedom that comes only from relinquishing control. Drawing on events in his own life and stories from his patients, Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart teaches us that only by letting go can we start on the path to a more peaceful and spiritually satisfying life.
About The Author: Mark Epstein, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice and the author of Thoughts Without a Thinker . He is a contributing editor to Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and clinical assistant professor of psychology at New York University. He lives in New York City. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0AM01U/?tag=allencheng-20)
98
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N928XGF/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N928XGF/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Real Love](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N928XGF/?tag=allencheng-20)
[The Art of Mindful Connection](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N928XGF/?tag=allencheng-20)
Sharon Salzberg \| 4.00
You are a person worthy of love. You donât have to do anything to deserve all the love in the world.
Real Love is a creative tool kit of mindfulness exercises and meditation techniques that help you to truly engage with your present experience and create deeper love relationships with yourself, your partner, friends and family, and with life itself.
Sharon Salzberg, a leading expert in Lovingkindness\[GR1\] meditation, encourages us to strip away layers of negative habits and obstacles, helping us to experience authentic love based on direct experience, rather than... [more]()
You are a person worthy of love. You donât have to do anything to deserve all the love in the world.
Real Love is a creative tool kit of mindfulness exercises and meditation techniques that help you to truly engage with your present experience and create deeper love relationships with yourself, your partner, friends and family, and with life itself.
Sharon Salzberg, a leading expert in Lovingkindness\[GR1\] meditation, encourages us to strip away layers of negative habits and obstacles, helping us to experience authentic love based on direct experience, rather than preconceptions. Across three sections, Sharon explains how to dispel cultural and emotional habits, and direct focused care and attention to recapture the essence of what it is to love and be loved.
With positive reflections and practices, Sharon teaches us how to shift the responsibilities of the love that we give and receive to rekindle the powerful healing force of true connection. By challenging myths perpetuated by popular culture, we can undo the limited definitions that reduce love to simply romance or passion, and give the heart a much needed tune-up to connect ourselves to the truest experience of love in our daily lives. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N928XGF/?tag=allencheng-20)
99
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEUSXW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEUSXW/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Happiness](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEUSXW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEUSXW/?tag=allencheng-20)
Matthieu Ricard, Daniel Goleman \| 4.00
**In this groundbreaking book, Matthieu Ricard makes a passionate case for happiness as a goal that deserves as least as much energy as any other in our lives.**
Wealth? Fitness? Career success? How can we possibly place these above true and lasting well-being? Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, Western philosophy, Buddhist beliefs, scientific research, and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward-looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast-moving modern world. With its revelatory lessons and exercises, *Happiness*... [more]()
**In this groundbreaking book, Matthieu Ricard makes a passionate case for happiness as a goal that deserves as least as much energy as any other in our lives.**
Wealth? Fitness? Career success? How can we possibly place these above true and lasting well-being? Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, Western philosophy, Buddhist beliefs, scientific research, and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward-looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast-moving modern world. With its revelatory lessons and exercises, *Happiness* is an eloquent and stimulating guide to a happier life. [less]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742)Recommended by [Richard Branson,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742) Joel Gascoigne, and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742)
[Richard Branson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742)Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this \#ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. [(Source)](https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/my-top-65-books-read-lifetime)

Joel GascoigneThe author of this book has sometimes been called the "happiest man in the world". He is a French Biochemist turned Buddhist monk and has been in a unique position to merge science with mindfulness and meditation. The underlying theme of the book is that happiness is indeed within our control, and is much more a skill than something that simply happens to us. One of the biggest revelations for me... [(Source)](http://joel.is/50-books-that-transformed-my-business-and-my-life/)
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEUSXW/?tag=allencheng-20)
100
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEHE66/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEHE66/?tag=allencheng-20)
## [Living Buddha, Living Christ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEHE66/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hanh \| 4.00
A Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects as compassion and holiness, and offers inspiration to believers in both religions. [more]()
A Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects as compassion and holiness, and offers inspiration to believers in both religions. [less]()
[Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEHE66/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
[Sign Up for Free Book Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup)
© 2025 Shortform
1449 S. Michigan Ave Ste 13130
Chicago, IL 60605
[help@shortform.com](mailto:help@shortform.com)
[](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1489472007?pt=120757037?pt=120757037&ct=homepage&mt=8)[](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shortform.app&utm_source=homepage)
- [Home](https://www.shortform.com/)
- [Our Summaries](https://www.shortform.com/summaries)
- [Pricing](https://www.shortform.com/pricing)
- [About](https://www.shortform.com/about)
- [Blog](https://www.shortform.com/blog)
- [Terms](https://www.shortform.com/terms)
- [Privacy](https://www.shortform.com/privacy)
- [Sign Up](https://www.shortform.com/app/signup) |
| Readable Markdown | 1
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002361MLA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002361MLA/?tag=allencheng-20)
Eckhart Tolle is emerging as one of today's most inspiring teachers. In The
Power of Now, a \#1 national bestseller, the author describes his transition
from despair to self-realization soon after his 29th birthday. Tolle took
another ten years to understand this transformation, during which time he
evolved a philosophy that has parallels in Buddhism, relaxation techniques,
and meditation theory but is also eminently practical. In The Power of Now
he shows readers how to recognize themselves as the creators of their own
pain, and how to have a pain-free... [more]()
Recommended by Roxana Bitoleanu, Darrah Brustein, Valeria Mercado, and 10 others.

Roxana Bitoleanu\[One of the books that had the biggest impact on \] The power of now, as time is a limited resource and we should spend it as wonderfully as possible. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/roxana-bitoleanu-16152.html)

Darrah BrusteinOthers include The Power Of Now which is powerful reminder that all we have is the present and helps give you meaningful ways to live in it, not in the past or the future. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/darrah-brustein-13125.html)

Valeria Mercado@Ye\_Ali The best book [(Source)](https://twitter.com/thevalmercado/status/1192944325715345408)
2
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037B6QSY/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037B6QSY/?tag=allencheng-20)
In this book, the author maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in one's own life. It speaks both to those coming to meditation for the first time and to longtime practitioners, anyone who cares deeply about reclaiming the richness of his or her moments. [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149)Recommended by [Rick Rubin,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149) Henry Medine, and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149)
[Rick Rubin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/rick-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-48149)Itâs a great book if youâve never meditated, and if youâve been meditating for 50 years. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2015/05/15/rick-rubin/)

Henry MedineI promote range and diversity. Thus, I recommend readers to expose themselves to as many different topics as possible. I usually have 2-4 books I refer back to at any given time. They range in topics from management, art, spirituality and philosophy. Trying to get the engineering thing going but don't much of a mind for science. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/henry-medine-5735.html)
3
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6VM/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6VM/?tag=allencheng-20)
In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness--being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness. [more]()
4
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6FI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U9S6FI/?tag=allencheng-20)
Man's Search for Meaning has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 psychiatrist Viktor Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the stories of his many patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theoryâknown as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")âholds... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)
[Tony Robbins](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tony-robbins-recommended-books-reading-list-8127)Another book that Iâve read dozens of times. It taught me that if you change the meaning, you change everything. Meaning equals emotion, and emotion equals life. [(Source)](https://www.tonyrobbins.com/news/tonys-top-6-books-right-now/)

Dustin Moskovitz\[Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.\] [(Source)](https://twitter.com/moskov/status/1194062081143627776?s=20)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)
[Simon Sinek](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)This is essential reading for anyone interested in the topic of purpose. Because Franklâs personal experience was so extreme, the lessons are that much more stark. And, most importantly, his lessons are universally applicable to all our lives. [(Source)](https://ideas.ted.com/what-makes-a-great-leader-a-recommended-reading-list/)
5
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R4NMHJ2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R4NMHJ2/?tag=allencheng-20)
*Nightline* anchor Dan Harris embarks on an unexpected, hilarious, and deeply skeptical odyssey through the strange worlds of spirituality and self-help, and discovers a way to get happier that is truly achievable. After having a nationally televised panic attack on *Good Morning America*, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure, involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/peter-attia-recommended-books-reading-list-46435)
[Peter Attia](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/peter-attia-recommended-books-reading-list-46435)Modulating hormones as necessary - weâve not really talked about that. Fixing anything that needs to be fixed, on top of that pharmacologically, and Iâm a huge proponent of pharmacotherapy under the right setting. The final component is managing your stress. So as a guy whoâs thinking about this, I became really interested after actually reading Dan Harrisâs book. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2014/12/18/peter-attia/)

Chris GowardI remember reading 10% Happier by Dan Harris on one of my many flights to speak at a conference a couple years ago. I had been practicing meditation for a few years, and had tried to get deeper into learning about it, I struggled with the religious aspect many Buddhist authors brought, which seemed to bring more confusion than clarity. The way Dan described his process of skepticism and discovery... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chris-goward-18011.html)

Veronica BelmontMade me totally rethink mindfulness and meditation. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
6
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553351397/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553351397/?tag=allencheng-20)
Thich Nhat Hahn is a Vietnamese Zen master, poet and writer whose humane, benevolent presence and spiritual influence is comparable only to that of the Dalai Lama. His teachings show how to use Zen mindfulness in everyday aspects of life, live in the world peacefully, and weather daily mundane crises as well as larger spiritual trials. [more]()
Recommended by Joel Gascoigne, and 1 others.

Joel GascoigneAround two and a half years ago I found myself on a very organic path from business, success and self-improvement books to those that spanned both personal success and spirituality. Books like The Monk and the Riddle mentioned above address this topic. After reading some of these books, I naturally found myself interested in meditation and Zen Buddhism. One of the most fascinating Zen Buddhists... [(Source)](http://joel.is/50-books-that-transformed-my-business-and-my-life/)
7
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XF1LKW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XF1LKW/?tag=allencheng-20)
**âA masterpiece.â âJon Kabat-Zinn** **Since *Mindfulness in Plain English* was first published in 1994, it has become one of the bestselling â and most influential â books in the field of mindfulness. Itâs easy to see why.** Author Bhante Gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us **step by step through the myths, realities, and benefits of meditation and the practice of mindfulness.** The book showcases Bhanteâs trademark clarity and wit, as he explores the tool of meditation, what it does, and how to make it work. [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/vinod-khosla-recommended-books-reading-list-46486)
8
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NJ2T1G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NJ2T1G/?tag=allencheng-20)
From one of the leading thinkers on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, a pioneering set of simple practices to dissolve anxiety, stress, exhaustion, and unhappiness.In "Mindfulness," Oxford professor Mark Williams and award-winning journalist Dr. Danny Penman reveal the secrets to living a happier and less anxious, stressful and exhausting life. Based on the techniques of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, the unique program developed by Williams and his colleagues, the book offers simple and straightforward forms of mindfulness meditation that can be done by anyone--and it can take just... [more]()
Recommended by Tessa Watt, Will MacAskill, and 2 others.

Tessa WattThis is the book that I would recommend as the most practicalâŠIt takes you through an eight-week course and it has audio to go with it. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/mindfulness-tessa-watt/)

Will MacAskillThis book is a friendly and accessible introduction to mindfulness meditation, and includes an 8-week guided meditation course. Will completed this course, and it had a significant impact on his life. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Tools-Titans-Billionaires-World-Class-Performers/dp/1328683788/)
9
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BRS8Z6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BRS8Z6/?tag=allencheng-20)
In *The Four Agreements*, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. The Four Agreements are: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best. [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)
[Jack Dorsey](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)Question: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading\! [(Source)](https://www.producthunt.com/live/jack-dorsey)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/charlamagne-tha-god-recommended-books-reading-list-19476)

Karlie KlossI just think itâs got a lot of great principles and ideas. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2018/04/04/karlie-kloss/)
10
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4BA3UK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4BA3UK/?tag=allencheng-20)
2005 15th anniversary edition reprint Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is perhaps the best-known proponent of using meditation to help patients deal with illness. (The somewhat confusing title is from a line in *Zorba the Greek* in which the title character refers to the ups and downs of family life as "the full catastrophe.") But this book is also a terrific introduction for anyone who has considered meditating but was afraid it would be too difficult or would include religious practices they found foreign.... [more]()
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
11
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU29WA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU29WA/?tag=allencheng-20)
Who are you? When you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. Are you a physical body? A collection of experiences and memories? A partner in a relationship? Each time you consider these aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define. In ***The Untethered Soul*****â**now a *New York Times* bestseller**â**spiritual teacher Michael Singer explores the question of who we are and arrives at the conclusion that our identity is to be found in our consciousness, the fact of our ability to... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/deepak-chopra-recommended-books-reading-list-7682)
[Deepak Chopra](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/deepak-chopra-recommended-books-reading-list-7682)eval(ez\_write\_tag(\[\[250,250\],'theceolibrary\_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot\_5',164,'0','1'\])); In the book The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer takes you step-by-step through the process of Gyana, the yoga of the Intellect, to the Source. Moreover, he does it with elegant simplicity. Read this book carefully, and you will get more than a glimpse of eternity. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1626250766)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ray-kurzweil-recommended-books-reading-list-661)
[Ray Kurzweil](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ray-kurzweil-recommended-books-reading-list-661)East is East and West is West, but Michael A. Singer bridges these two great traditions in a radiant treatise on how to succeed in life from our spiritual quest to our everyday tribulations. Freud said that life was composed of love and work. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singerâs brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless... [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1626250766)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)
[James Altucher](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)Michael moved to an empty patch of forest, set up his trailer, and started to meditate in the early 70s. He surrendered to whatever happened in his life. Well...what ended up happening is that he created a multi-billion dollar company. His book is about the spiritual beauty of surrender. And how that can go hand in hand with financial success. I was so astonished by the book that I contacted him... [(Source)](https://jamesaltucher.com/2017/02/reading-good-guide-makes-good-day/)
12
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOM0/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOM0/?tag=allencheng-20)
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line of Shunryu Suzuki's classic. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that's just the beginning. In the thirty years since its original publication, *Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind...* [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)often used the methods found in this book to center himself during difficult moments in his career. He was such an avid practitioner that he considered going to Japan to continue his practice, but was advised against it. [(Source)](http://www.lifehack.org/290532/10-eye-opening-books-steve-jobs-would-have-recommended)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191)
[Kevin Rose](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/kevin-rose-recommended-books-reading-list-45191)Isnât a religious book, but more on self-realization, study on yourself, breathing exercises, relaxation and understanding human nature. Really cool book, very short read and you will really enjoy reading. [(Source)](http://favobooks.com/enterpreneurs/64-kevin-rose.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)
[David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)Zen Mind, Beginnerâs Mind is an introduction to Buddhism and meditation. There are a lot of echoes between Stoicism and Buddhism, and I thought Iâd dive deeper into this on recommendation from Eric Dodson (great YouTube channel for existentialist and stoic explainers and introductions). So far Iâm finding that thereâs longer between the nuggets of wisdom that slot into my brain than with the... [(Source)](https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-books-i-read-in-2018/)
13
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PC0S5K/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PC0S5K/?tag=allencheng-20)
Building on the astonishing success of **The Power of Now**, Eckhart Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: He implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity. Tolle tells us there is good news, however. There is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/aubrey-marcus-recommended-books-reading-list-37695)Recommended by [Aubrey Marcus,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/aubrey-marcus-recommended-books-reading-list-37695) Abid Zaidi, Patricia Reed, and 4 others.

Abid ZaidiDay 1 : \#30Days of posting cover of books I love (1 book a day for 30 days). No expectations, no reviews, just the covers \#MyFavouriteBooks Not invited by @rekha\_bhardwaj ji or @virtual\_opinion but still posting: đ https://t.co/rDKfaLADsm [(Source)](https://twitter.com/AbidZaidi1/status/1153902268669812737)

Patricia Reed"The Power of Now", by Eckhart Tolle, as well as "A New Earth". Understanding the ego, and being able to separate it from self, is a powerful thing. It has changed my outlook on people and situations, and made me able to see my inner critic for what it is, and choose how I want to engage or respond to situations. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/patricia-reed-8494.html)

Catherine MolloyI am an experiential learner I need to see it, feel it, etc. so the book must move me to do something, feel something. With A New Earth I even read snippets to my students as I have experienced a lot of these concepts and write and train in similar concepts. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/catherine-molloy-7398.html)
14
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZL1KAW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZL1KAW/?tag=allencheng-20)
This program was previously published as Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day. Quiet the mind, feel less stressed and less tired, and achieve a new level of calm and fulfillment in just ten minutes a day. Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, the Voice of Headspace, and the UK's foremost mindfulness expert, is on a mission: to get people to take 10 minutes out of their day to sit in the here and now. Like his readers and students, Andy began his own meditation practice as a normal, busy person with everyday concerns,... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)
[Bill Gates](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)Iâm sure 25-year-old me would scoff at this one, but Melinda and I have gotten really into meditation lately. The book starts with Puddicombeâs personal journey from a university student to a Buddhist monk and then becomes an entertaining explainer on how to meditate. If youâre thinking about trying mindfulness, this is the perfect introduction. [(Source)](https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/Best-Books-2018)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/haralabos-voulgaris-recommended-books-reading-list-45000)
[Haralabos Voulgaris](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/haralabos-voulgaris-recommended-books-reading-list-45000)@Property531 Best way to start is to simply do - Try one of the following app courses @wakingup @Headspace @10percent They are all good choices. If you want to read a book https://t.co/yEwmKHTUUL is decent as well. [(Source)](https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/1178076708982816768)

Alexandra StroeI am trying to bring some daily habits into my life, such as meditation, that would help me stay balanced and present in everyday moments. One of the books that helped me understand more about the practice of meditation is The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe. After reading this book, I understood that meditation does not have to be some sacred, difficult practice... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/alexandra-stroe-and-iulia-ghita-17441.html)
15
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MMUA8S/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MMUA8S/?tag=allencheng-20)
*Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062457738* In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people. For decades, weâve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F\*\*k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Letâs be honest, shit is f\*\*ked and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesnât sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it isâa dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)Recommended by [Ryan Holiday,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272) Jason Kander, Jason Hook, and 24 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)
[Ryan Holiday](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)I loved Mark Mansonâs The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck. Thereâs a reason this book is blowing up. Itâs that good. [(Source)](https://ryanholiday.net/the-very-best-books-i-read-in-2016/)

Jason KanderTomorrow morning is the season finale of @dianakanderâs podcast \#ProfessionalAF. Itâs a conversation with yours truly about mental health and âThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F\*\*\*,â a book I read last year at the suggestion of my therapist at the VA. Subscribe now! Enjoy tomorrow\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/JasonKander/status/1226677581900140546)

Jason HookMy new favorite book! ... super relatable! đ„Ž I highly recommend it. \#selfimprovement \#fivefingerdeathpunch https://t.co/BrybqTuayH [(Source)](https://twitter.com/jasonhook_5fdp/status/1163261659739127809)
16
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH2C/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH2C/?tag=allencheng-20)
There is a fundamental opportunity for happiness right within our reach, yet we usually miss itâironically while we are caught up in attempts to escape pain and suffering. Drawn from traditional Buddhist wisdom, Pema Chödrön's radical and compassionate advice for what to do when things fall apart in our lives goes against the grain of our usual habits and expectations. There is only one approach to suffering that is of lasting benefit, Pema teaches, and that approach involves moving *toward* painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, relaxing into the essential groundlessness of... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)
[Seth Godin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)Almost the flip side. I'm so much better at \[protracted difficult periods\] because of Pema and because of meditation and because of knowing how to sit with it and not insist that the tension go away. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Tools-Titans-Billionaires-World-Class-Performers/dp/1328683788/)
17
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007L659U2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007L659U2/?tag=allencheng-20)
What if you could profoundly change your life just by becoming more mindful of your breathing? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, you can. What if paying attention on purpose (and nonjudgmentally) could improve your health? Again, according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn--it can. On *Mindfulness for Beginners,* this internationally known scientist, bestselling author, and teacher who brought mindfulness meditation into the mainstream of medicine and society gives you immediate access to a practice that can potentially add years to your life, and will certainly enhance the quality of your... [more]()
Recommended by Ev Williams, and 1 others.
18
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2NHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2NHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
*For many of us, feelings of deficiency are right around the corner. It doesnât take much--just hearing of someone elseâs accomplishments, being criticized, getting into an argument, making a mistake at work--to make us feel that we are not okay. Beginning to understand how our lives have become ensnared in this trance of unworthiness is our first step toward reconnecting with who we really are and what it means to live fully.* \--*from* **Radical AcceptanceRadical Acceptance**âBelieving that something is wrong with us is a deep and tenacious... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530)
[Timothy Ferriss](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/timothy-ferriss-recommended-books-reading-list-530)This book was recommended to me by a PhD neuroscientist and is what finally helped me tame anger, one of my most destructive (and persistent) emotions. Itâs easy to aim for 'successful' and be miserable. This book is the antidote. [(Source)](https://blog.scribd.com/home/2017/8/17/books-every-entrepreneur-should-read-according-to-tim-ferriss)
19
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00555X8OA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00555X8OA/?tag=allencheng-20)
Major *New York Times* bestseller
Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012
Selected by the *New York Times Book Review* as one of the best books of 2011
A *Globe and Mail* Best Books of the Year 2011 Title
One of *The Economist*'s 2011 Books of the Year
One of *The Wall Street Journal*'s Best Nonfiction Books of the Year 2011
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient In the international bestseller, *Thinking, Fast and Slow*, Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and winner of the Nobel... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/barack-obama-recommended-books-reading-list-7425)
[Barack Obama](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/barack-obama-recommended-books-reading-list-7425)A few months ago, Mr. Obama read âThinking, Fast and Slow,â by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions â quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. [(Source)](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/us/politics/obama-seeking-re-election-asks-for-patience.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marc-andreessen-recommended-books-reading-list-7914)
[Marc Andreessen](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marc-andreessen-recommended-books-reading-list-7914)Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/gilles-bernhard-14626.html)
20
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GEEB9YC/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GEEB9YC/?tag=allencheng-20)
For the millions of Americans who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harrisâs new book is a guide to meditation as a rational spiritual practice informed by neuroscience and psychology. From multiple New York Times bestselling author, neuroscientist, and ânew atheistâ Sam Harris, Waking Up is for the 30 percent of Americans who follow no religion, but who suspect that Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history could not have all been epileptics, schizophrenics, or frauds. Throughout the book, Harris argues that there are important truths to be... [more]()
Recommended by Susan Cain, Chris Goward, Fabrice Grinda, and 4 others.

Susan CainSuch a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2019/01/24/susan-cain/)

Chris GowardI also highly recommend Sam Harris' Waking Up, which is a more well-rounded unpacking of non-religious mindfulness practice. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chris-goward-18011.html)

Fabrice GrindaVery well thought through analysis of spirituality without religion. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/fabrice-grinda-6337.html)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
21
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FCKPHG/?tag=allencheng-20)
**Now updated with new research â the book that has changed millions of lives.** After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a *fixed mindset* â those who believe that abilities are fixed â are less likely to flourish than those with a *growth...* [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)
[Bill Gates](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/bill-gates-recommended-books-reading-list-28906)One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because itâs solutions-oriented. In the bookâs final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that âjust learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives. [(Source)](https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/294467#13)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/satya-nadella-recommended-books-reading-list-4466)
[Satya Nadella](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/satya-nadella-recommended-books-reading-list-4466)Written by a Stanford psychology professor, this book offers advice on retaining an appreciation for the things you donât yet know and first resonated with Nadella as a father. As Microsoftâs new CEO, he aspired to steer the company toward âa culture that allowed us to constantly refresh and renew,â and incorporated Dweckâs perspective into his blueprint for change. âNow three years into it, I... [(Source)](https://www.fastcompany.com/40457479/the-7-books-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-says-you-need-to-lead-smarter)
22
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYYXT9G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYYXT9G/?tag=allencheng-20)
The mind contains the seeds of its own awakening--seeds that we can cultivate to bring forth the fruits of a life lived consciously. With *Mindfulness*, Joseph Goldstein shares the wisdom of his four decades of teaching and practice in a book that will serve as a lifelong companion for anyone committed to mindful living and the realization of inner freedom.Goldstein's source teaching is the *Satipatthana Sutta*, the Buddha's legendary discourse on the four foundations of mindfulness that became the basis for the many types of Vipassana (or insight meditation) found today.... [more]()
23
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SHDM8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SHDM8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
**A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition.**
Written more than two thousand years ago, the *Tao Teh Ching*, or -The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue, - is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Traditionally attributed to the legendary -Old Master, - Lao Tzu, the *Tao Teh Ching* teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu's words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)
[Jack Dorsey](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-dorsey-recommended-books-reading-list-45073)Q: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading\! [(Source)](https://www.producthunt.com/live/jack-dorsey)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-ma-recommended-books-reading-list-28694)
[Jack Ma](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-ma-recommended-books-reading-list-28694)According to a Yibada interview with Chen Wei, who wrote Maâs 2014 authorized biography, the Alibaba founder and executive chairman always carries the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoist philosophy, religion and ethics composed by Lao Tzu in the sixth century B.C. [(Source)](https://www.inc.com/ilan-mochari/books-zhang-ruimin.html)

Tim O'ReillyThe Way of Life According to Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching), translated by Witter Bynner. My personal religious philosophy, stressing the rightness of what is, if only we can accept it. Most people who know me have heard me quote from this book. "Seeing as how nothing is outside the vast, wide-meshed net of heaven, who is there to say just how it is cast?" [(Source)](http://archive.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/articles/favebooks_0705.html)
24
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026772N8/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026772N8/?tag=allencheng-20)
This lyrical, evocative, thought-provoking journal of a man's quest for truth - and for himself - has touched and changed an entire generation, and is ready to reach out to a new one. At its heart, the story is all too simple: a man and his son take a motorcycle trip across America. But this is not a simple trip at all, for around every corner, through mountain and desert, wind and rain, and searing heat and biting cold, their pilgrimage leads them to new vistas of self-discovery and renewal. *Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance* is an elemental work that has helped to... [more]()
Recommended by Brad Feld, Ev Williams, Drew Houston, and 10 others.

Brad FeldI think every entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur should read the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It was written in the 1970s by a guy named Robert Pirsig. It was his first book, it's kind of a hippie philosophy treatised journey. The word that sort of came out of it was Chautauqua, he's like having a conversation with his son as they do a motorcycle trip across the country, and... [(Source)](https://growtheverywhere.com/growth-everywhere-interview/brad-feld-foundry-group/)

Drew Houston\[There are\] engineers who \[dismiss\] all these things that canât be fit into an algorithm, or that donât have some kind of mathematical rigor underpinning them, \[this book\] is about that question. [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2018/08/27/drew-houston/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tyler-cowen-recommended-books-reading-list-839)
[Tyler Cowen](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/tyler-cowen-recommended-books-reading-list-839)Honorable mentions: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and The Joy of Sex, all given to me by my mother. I believe they helped inculcate some of the 1960s-70s ethos of individual freedom into my thinking. [(Source)](http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2017/11/books-hidden-influence.html)
25
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UK6NO0/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UK6NO0/?tag=allencheng-20)
Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and an increasingly popular speaker and statesman. What's more, he'll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is towards happiness." How to get there has always been the question. He's tried to answer it before, but he's never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand. Through... [more]()
26
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070XF474/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070XF474/?tag=allencheng-20)
With *Search Inside Yourself*, Chade-Meng Tan, one of Googleâs earliest engineers and personal growth pioneer, offers a proven method for enhancing mindfulness and emotional intelligence in life and work. Mengâs job is to teach Googleâs best and brightest how to apply mindfulness techniques in the office and beyond; now, readers everywhere can get insider access to one of the most sought after classes in the country, a course in health, happiness and creativity that is improving the livelihood and productivity of those responsible for one of the most successful businesses in... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/eric-schmidt-recommended-books-reading-list-2394)Recommended by [Eric Schmidt,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/eric-schmidt-recommended-books-reading-list-2394) Tony Hsieh, Chip Conley, and 6 others.

Chip Conley\[Chip Conley recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".\] [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2019/06/20/chip-conley/)

Henry MedineThis book is written by an early core member/lead engineer from Google. Chade does a fantastic job proving the reader reasons why soft skills like emotional intelligence, acceptance, and empathy matter in a work environment. The book is great for any business person who wants to establish a strong company culture that promotes longevity, employee empowerment and self confidence. Chade reveals how... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/henry-medine-5735.html)
27
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T9FZRS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T9FZRS/?tag=allencheng-20)
*The Mindful Way through Depression* draws on the collective wisdom of four internationally renowned cognitive therapy and mindfulness experts, including bestselling author Jon Kabat-Zinn, to help you break the mental habits that can lead to despair. This authoritative, easy-to-use self-help program is based on methods clinically proven to reduce the recurrence of chronic unhappiness. Informative chapters reveal the hidden psychological mechanisms that cause depression and demonstrate powerful ways to strengthen your resilience in the face of life's misfortunes. Kabat-Zinn lends his... [more]()
28
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S37RN7Z/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S37RN7Z/?tag=allencheng-20)
"Thought-provoking and charming."-- "Library Journal" Not all Great Masters of Wisdom are venerable graybeards. One is as familiar to us as that beloved teddy bear Winnie the Pooh. From the "how" of Pooh to the Tao of Pooh is a simple, effortless, joyous step...a delicious journey to Pooh Corner illuminated by the timeless teachings of the Taoist immortals. [more]()
Recommended by Audrey Russo, and 1 others.

Audrey RussoQuestion: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path? Answer: Anything by Peter Senge. The Hard Thing About Hard Things â Ben Horowitz Once you are Lucky, Twice you are good â Sara Lacey Revolutionary Wealth â Alvin Toffler Black Swan â Taleb Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change, by Ellen Pao. Creative Class â Richard Florida Creativity Inc. by Ed... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/audrey-russo-9532.html)
29
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R9HK8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R9HK8O/?tag=allencheng-20)
Describes one man's transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga & gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of human nature. Illustrated.
The book is divided into four sections:
Journey: The Transformation: Dr Richard Alpert, PhD into Baba Ram Dass
From Bindu to Ojas: The Core Book
Cookbook for a Sacred Life: A Manual for Conscious Being
Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger): Books [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)Recommended by [Steve Jobs,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453) Jack Kornfield, Travis Brewer, and 3 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)In late 1972, Jobs had just started at Reed College, an elite liberal arts school in Portland, Oregon. He started doing lots of LSD and reading lots of books about spirituality. [(Source)](http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-reading-list-favorite-books-2015-10/#be-here-now-by-ram-dass-4)

Jack KornfieldChanged countless lives. [(Source)](https://jackkornfield.com/loving-ram-dass/)

Travis Brewer\[Travis Brewer said this is one of his most-recommended books.\] [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
30
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/?tag=allencheng-20)
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles? Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)
[David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)On a lighter note, I finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. Itâs a short book, but it still manages to repeat itself a lot. And yet the core patterns it covers are as effective as they are simple. Iâve been on a decluttering kick at home and feel so much better because of it. It was also the kickstarter for the conversation... [(Source)](https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-books-i-read-in-2017-9992b9bd0d4)

Benjamin SpallThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo \[...\] I started reading on vacation. I interviewed Marie for my own book and while the translation is somewhat quirky in places, her book is worth the hype. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/benjamin-spall-14743.html)

Annie Loves Covfefe@Benny29143790 @Thereal\_ssteele Oh how I love Kondo cleaning. Her first book is fantastic too!\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/4annegs/status/1217158846029946880)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
31
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006883/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006883/?tag=allencheng-20)
The third title in Parallaxâs *Mindfulness Essentials Series* of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, *How to Love* introduces beginners and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. This time Nhat Hanh brings his signature clarity, compassion, and humor to the thorny question of how to love and distills one of our strongest emotions down to four essentials: you can only love another when you feel true love for yourself; love is understanding; understanding brings compassion; and deep listening and loving speech are key ways of showing our... [more]()
32
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOG6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8USOG6/?tag=allencheng-20)
In this book Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, author, and meditation master, distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. âMindfulness is not an evasion or an escape,â he explains. âIt means being here, present, and totally alive. It is true freedomâand without this freedom, there is no happiness.â Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, this book offers a range of simple, effective practices for cultivating mindfulness, including awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening,... [more]()
33
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1C2K/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L1C2K/?tag=allencheng-20)
*********âą***** **A *New York Times* Science Bestseller *****âą*******âPacked with science and human stories, the book is an intense read. . . . The struggle and resilience of \[van der Kolkâs\] patients is very moving.â â*New Scientist***A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing** Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one... [more]()
Recommended by Matthew Green, and 1 others.

Matthew GreenReading The Body Keeps the Score was a eureka moment for me. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/psychological-trauma-matthew-green/)
34
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4WNL2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4WNL2/?tag=allencheng-20)
**The book that started the Quiet Revolution**
At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introvertsâRosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniakâthat we owe many of the great contributions to society. In *Quiet,* Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)Recommended by [Simon Sinek,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054) Danielle Morrill, Ken Norton, and 13 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)
[Simon Sinek](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/simon-sinek-recommended-books-reading-list-1054)eval(ez\_write\_tag(\[\[250,250\],'theceolibrary\_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot\_5',164,'0','1'\])); Leaders neednât be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. Itâs not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we neednât try to be extroverts if we want to lead.... [(Source)](https://ideas.ted.com/what-makes-a-great-leader-a-recommended-reading-list/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)
[James Altucher](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/james-altucher-recommended-books-reading-list-7954)Probably half the world is introverts. Maybe more. Itâs not an easy life to live. I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, âuh-oh. I just shut down. I canât talk anymore and thereâs a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.â Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Letâs try to lock eyes at the party. âQuietâ shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers... [(Source)](https://jamesaltucher.com/2015/09/books-brain-expand/)

Danielle MorrillAnyway, maybe youâre like me and figuring this out for yourself. Itâs a good book for introverts and for those who love them [(Source)](https://twitter.com/DanielleMorrill/status/1218530309752442881)
35
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572246952/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572246952/?tag=allencheng-20)
Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and other great teachers were born with brains built essentially like anyone else's. Then they used their minds to change their brains in ways that changed history. With the new breakthroughs in neuroscience, combined with the insights from thousands of years of contemplative practice, you, too, can shape your own brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom. *Buddha's Brain* joins the forces of modern science with ancient teachings to show readers how to have greater emotional balance in turbulent times, as well as healthier... [more]()
36
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X47ZVXM/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X47ZVXM/?tag=allencheng-20)
**One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.** Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)
[Ryan Holiday](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)I've been a fan of Cal for a long time. His book So Good They Can't Ignore You is one of my favorites, but it's his new book that's probably had the biggest and most immediate impact on me. For those of you who enjoyed Tyler Cowen's Average is Over, you already know how important the ability to focus, be creative, and think at a high level is going to be in the future. This is a book that... [(Source)](https://ryanholiday.net/)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)
[Seth Godin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/seth-godin-recommended-books-reading-list-336)Cal Newport is a clear voice in a sea of noise, bringing science and passion in equal measure. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-pink-recommended-books-reading-list-46565)
[Daniel Pink](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-pink-recommended-books-reading-list-46565)As automation and outsourcing reshape the workplace, what new skill do we need? The ability to do deep work. Cal Newport's exciting new book is an introduction and guide to the kind of intense concentration in a distraction-free environment that results in fast, powerful learning and performance. Think of it as calisthenics for your mind-and start your exercise program today. [(Source)](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/298646)
37
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE414Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE414Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
*Start Where You Are* is an indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. With insight and humor, Pema Chödrön presents down-to-earth guidance on how we can "start where we are"âembracing rather than denying the painful aspects of our lives. Pema Chödrön frames her teachings on compassion around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, or slogans, such as: "Always apply only a joyful state of mind," "Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness," and "Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment." Working... [more]()
38
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U6SFUSS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U6SFUSS/?tag=allencheng-20)
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. What starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. [more]()

Daniel EkIt was fascinating to talk to \[the author\] about how this book came to be such a hitâhe never backed down, and he allowed people to read it for free in order to then boost salesâmuch like how Spotifyâs freemium model was perceived in the early days. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brene-brown-recommended-books-reading-list-190)
[Brené Brown](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/brene-brown-recommended-books-reading-list-190)There's a great quote in \[this book\]: When you're on the right path the universe conspires to help you\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/BreneBrown/status/392084144127094784?s=20)

Eric RipertSpeaks of everyone having an ultimate goal in life, but most of us are too afraid to pursue it. The encouragement to fulfill your dreams is very inspirational\! [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)
39
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH7W/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH7W/?tag=allencheng-20)
We always have a choice, Pema Chodron teaches: We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder. Here Pema provides the tools to deal with the problems and difficulties that life throws our way. This wisdom is always available to us, she teaches, but we usually block it with habitual patterns rooted in fear. Beyond that fear lies a state of openheartedness and tenderness. This book teaches us how to awaken our basic goodness and connect with others, to accept ourselves and others complete with... [more]()
40
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZNG63/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPZNG63/?tag=allencheng-20)
From one of Americaâs greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness. Robert Wright famously explained in *The Moral Animal* how evolution shaped the human brain. The mind is designed to often delude us, he argued, about ourselves and about the world. And it is designed to make happiness hard to sustain. But if we know our minds are rigged for anxiety, depression, anger, and greed, what do we do? Wright locates the answer in Buddhism, which figured out... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/nigel-warburton-recommended-books-reading-list-7766)
[Nigel Warburton](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/nigel-warburton-recommended-books-reading-list-7766)Wright has a degree of evangelism about him, but heâs not saying this is the only way to achieve a better life. He says itâs a way of eliminating suffering from many peopleâs lives, and it worked for him. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/best-philosophy-books-2017/)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
41
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGXKWK1/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WGXKWK1/?tag=allencheng-20)
**A *New York Times* best sellerânow revised and updated with new exercises and guided meditations.** **âAn inviting gateway to the interior territory of profound well-being and wisdom.ââJon Kabat-Zinn, author of *Wherever You Go, There You Are*** From Sharon Salzberg, a pioneer in the field of meditation and world-renowned teacher acclaimed for her down-to-earth style, ***Real Happiness*** is a complete guide to starting and maintaining a meditation practice. Beginning with the simplest breathing and sitting techniques, and based on three... [more]()
42
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XX9RFGQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XX9RFGQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Our fear of intimacyâboth with others and with ourselvesâcreates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path. In this inspiring book, Sharon Salzberg, one of America's leading spiritual teachers, shows us how the Buddhist path of lovingkindness ( *metta* in Pali), can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each of us. This practice of lovingkindness is... [more]()
43
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The *Meditations* of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it... [more]()

Arianna HuffingtonI find \[this book\] so inspirational and instructive, it lives on my nightstand. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/title/dp/B071KJ7PTB)

Marvin LiaoMy list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/marvin-liao-6846.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)
[Ryan Holiday](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/ryan-holiday-recommended-books-reading-list-272)To me, this is not only one of greatest books ever written but perhaps the only book of its kind. Just imagine: the private thoughts of the most powerful man in the world, admonishing himself on how to be better, more just, more immune to temptation, wiser. It is the definitive text on self-discipline, personal ethics, humility, self-actualization and strength. If you read it and arenât... [(Source)](https://ryanholiday.net/reading-list/)
44
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN1DBO/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN1DBO/?tag=allencheng-20)
From leading psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff comes a step-by-step guide explaining how to be more self-compassionate and achieve your dreams in life The relentless pursuit of high self-esteem has become a virtual religionâand a tyrannical one at that. Our ultracompetitive culture tells us we need to be constantly *above average* to feel good about ourselves, but there is always someone more attractive, successful, or intelligent than we are. And even when we *do* manage to grab hold of high self-esteem for a brief moment, we can't seem to keep it. Our sense of... [more]()
Recommended by Genevieve Von Lob, and 1 others.

Genevieve Von LobI learnt to treat myself more gently after reading this. I also learnt the power of really beginning to feel my own feelings. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/mindful-parenting/)
45
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INMZKAQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01INMZKAQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
A revolutionary, science-based approach to meditation from a neuroscientist turned meditation master, *The Mind Illuminated* is an accessible, step-by-step toolkit for anyone looking to startâor improveâtheir daily meditation practice. The book that bestselling meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg raves âbrings the path of meditation to life,â *The Mind Illuminated* is the first how-to meditation guide from a neuroscientist who is also an acclaimed meditation master. This innovative book offers a 10-stage program that is both deeply grounded in ancient spiritual teachings... [more]()
46
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055DYAXK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055DYAXK/?tag=allencheng-20)
**Come to your senses with the definitive guide to living a meaningful life from a world expert in the connection between mindfulness and physical and spiritual wellbeing.** *"\[The\] journey toward health and sanity is nothing less than an invitation to wake up to the fullness of our lives as if they actually mattered . . ."* --Jon Kabat-Zinn, from the Introduction Jon Kabat-Zinn changed the way we thought about awareness in everyday life with his now-classic introduction to mindfulness, *Wherever You Go, There You Are*. Now, with *Coming to...* [more]()
47
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS03LL6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS03LL6/?tag=allencheng-20)
New York Times best-selling author and professor Brené Brown offers a powerful and inspiring book that explores how to cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to embrace your imperfections and to recognize that you are enough. Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can't keep all of these balls in the... [more]()
48
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CZCW34Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CZCW34Q/?tag=allencheng-20)
**Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.**
The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet. From the beginning the... [more]()
Recommended by Chelsea Frank, Bogdan Lucaciu, and 2 others.

Chelsea FrankI read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chelsea-frank-11019.html)

Bogdan LucaciuI recently read âThe Book of Joyâ. Itâs a series of dialogues between Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu (beautifully narrated in the audio version). They share their view on living a happy life in the face of adversity. The book brought profound clarity on topics like compassion, gratitude, generosity, and it deeply resonated with my worldview. If thereâs one book you end up reading from my list, I... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/bogdan-lucaciu-8530.html)
49
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011G3HD6I/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011G3HD6I/?tag=allencheng-20)
**âIf there is a candidate for âLiving Buddhaâ on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh.â**
**â Richard Baker-roshi**
In *The Heart of the Buddhaâs Teaching*, now with added material and new insights, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddhaâs teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in... [more]()
50
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWSC06/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWSC06/?tag=allencheng-20)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
51
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097CYI4G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097CYI4G/?tag=allencheng-20)
Since its publication in 1987, "Being Peace" has become a classic of contemporary religious literature. In his simple and readable style, Thich Nhat Hanh shows how our state of mind and body can make the world a peaceful place. We learn to transform the very situations that pressure and antagonize us into opportunities for practicing mindfulness. [more]()
52
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPVU6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPVU6/?tag=allencheng-20)
You have within you unlimited capacities for love, for joy, for communion with life, and for unshakable freedomâand here is how to awaken them. In **The Wise Heart**, one of the leading spiritual teachers of our time offers the most accessible and illuminating guide to Buddhismâs transformational psychology ever published in the West. Trained as a monk in Thailand, Burma, and India, Jack Kornfield experienced at first hand the life-changing power of Buddhist teachings: the emphasis on the nobility and sacredness of the human spirit, the fine-grained analysis of emotion and... [more]()
53
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXIF2W/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SXIF2W/?tag=allencheng-20)
A guide to reconciling Buddhist spirituality with the American way of life addresses the challenges of spiritual living in the modern world and offers guidance for bringing a sense of the sacred to everyday experience. [more]()
54
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPZD9JW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPZD9JW/?tag=allencheng-20)
When the world feels chaotic, find peace within through an accessible mindfulness practice from the bestselling picture-book dream team that brought us *I Am Yoga.* Express emotions through direct speech. Find empathy through imagination. Connect with the earth. Wonder at the beauty of the natural world. Breathe, taste, smell, touch, and be present. Perfect for the classroom or for bedtime, Susan Verdeâs gentle, concrete narration and Peter H. Reynoldsâs expressive watercolor illustrations bring the tenets of mindfulness to a kid-friendly level. Featuring an authorâs note... [more]()
55
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611805953/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611805953/?tag=allencheng-20)
These are essential teachings for developing compassion and clarity amid the anxieties and hardships of real life. Collecting some of the most powerful passages from Pema Chödrönâs many beloved books, this compact handbook for spiritual practice is rich with inspiration and insight. Here she explores life-changing concepts, themes, and practices from the Buddhist tradition, showing how anyone (not just Buddhists) can draw from them to become more courageous, aware, and kindhearted. It includes the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, letting go of the fixations that weigh us down, working... [more]()
56
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442965088/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442965088/?tag=allencheng-20)
This manual-style book instantly dives into Eckhart Tolle's principles of "living in the moment," which could be a jarring experience for readers who haven't read his preceding book, *The Power of Now*. For the initiated, though, this makes an excellent companion guide--rich in exercises and meditations to help readers get out of their minds so they can live more peacefully in their bodies. Sometimes it's hard to fathom what on earth Tolle is talking about: "To regain awareness of Being and to abide in that state of 'feeling-realization' is enlightenment." Be patient. All concepts will... [more]()
57
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OI0G6G/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OI0G6G/?tag=allencheng-20)
For millennia, Buddhists have enjoyed the limitless benefits of meditation. But how does it work? And why? The principles behind this ancient practice have long eluded some of the best minds in modern science. Until now. In this groundbreaking work, world-renowned Buddhist teacher **Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche** invites us to join him in unlocking the secrets behind the practice of meditation. Working with neuroscientists at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Yongey Mingyur provides clear insights into modern research indicating that systematic training in... [more]()
58
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P7HRS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P7HRS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
**Researcher and thought leader Dr. BrenĂ© Brown offers a powerful new vision that encourages us to dare greatly: to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives.** âIt is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at... [more]()
Recommended by Chase Jarvis, Chelsea Frank, AnneMarie Schindler, and 3 others.

Chase Jarvis\[Chase Jarvis recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".\] [(Source)](https://tim.blog/2014/05/26/the-tim-ferriss-show-episode-8-chase-jarvis-master-photographer/)

Chelsea FrankI read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chelsea-frank-11019.html)

AnneMarie SchindlerI suggest these \[books\] because they really open up 'how' you think about life and in turn work, success/challenges/setbacks, and in general, yourself. I believe that the more you can understand yourself and broaden your approach to work, the easier it will be to find work that energizes you. Finally, I'm a team player at heart, and love working with others to achieve a huge goal so a portion of... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/annemarie-schindler-7391.html)
59
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94FE6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W94FE6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/austin-kleon-recommended-books-reading-list-1359)
[Austin Kleon](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/austin-kleon-recommended-books-reading-list-1359)While re-reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyiâs wonderful book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, I came across this passage on working crossword puzzles. I think he could just as well be talking about making blackout poems: "There is much to be said in favor of this popular pastime, which in its best form resembles the ancient riddle contests. It is inexpensive and portable, its challenges... [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Steal-Like-Artist-Things-Creative/dp/0761169253)

Tom ChatfieldThe notion of flow is the idea that there is a state that is characterised by complete immersion in an activity, by a constant response to stimuli, and a perfect match between your ability and the challenge in front of you. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/computer-games-tom-chatfield/)
60
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076GPJXWZ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076GPJXWZ/?tag=allencheng-20)
**Could psychedelic drugs change our worldview? One of America's most admired writers takes us on a mind-altering journey to the frontiers of human consciousness**
When LSD was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. It promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. But in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. In recent years,... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-goleman-recommended-books-reading-list-178)
[Daniel Goleman](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/daniel-goleman-recommended-books-reading-list-178)Michael Pollan masterfully guides us through the highs, lows, and highs again of psychedelic drugs. How to Change Your mind chronicles how itâs been a longer and stranger trip than most any of us knew. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225/ref=sr_1_2)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/yuval-noah-harari-recommended-books-reading-list-531)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)
[David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/david-heinemeier-hansson-recommended-books-reading-list-461)How we get locked into viewing the world, ourselves, and each other in a certain way, and then finding it difficult to relate to alternative perspectives or seeing other angles. Studying philosophy, psychology, and sociology is a way to break those rigid frames we all build over time. But thatâs still all happening at a pretty high level of perception. Mind altering drugs, and especially... [(Source)](https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-books-i-read-in-2018/)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
61
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEIMCVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEIMCVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
The Zen master and one of the world's most beloved teachers returns with a concise, practical guide to understanding and developing our most powerful inner resourceâsilenceâto help us find happiness, purpose, and peace. Many people embark on a seemingly futile search for happiness, running as if there is somewhere else to get to, when the world they live in is full of wonder. To be alive is a miracle. Beauty calls to us every day, yet we rarely are in the position to listen. To hear the call of beauty and respond to it, we need silence. Silence shows us how to find and... [more]()
62
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FKVXOS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009FKVXOS/?tag=allencheng-20)
How do you cope when facing life-threatening illness, family conflict, faltering relationships, old trauma, obsessive thinking, overwhelming emotion, or inevitable loss? If youâre like most people, chances are you react with fear and confusion, falling back on timeworn strategies: anger, self-judgment, and addictive behaviors. Though these old, conditioned attempts to control our life may offer fleeting relief, ultimately they leave us feeling isolated and mired in pain. There *is* another way. Beneath the turbulence of our thoughts and emotions exists a profound stillness,... [more]()
63
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y58KF6P/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y58KF6P/?tag=allencheng-20)
**THE *NEW YORK TIMES* BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF *10% HAPPIER*** **Too busy to meditate? Can't turn off your brain? Curious about mindfulness but more comfortable in the gym? This book is for you.** **You'll also get access to guided audio meditations on the 10% Happier app, to jumpstart your practice from day one.** ABC News anchor Dan Harris used to think that meditation was for people who collect crystals, play Ultimate Frisbee, and use the word "namaste" without irony. After he had a panic attack on live television, he went on a... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/gretchen-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-7530)
[Gretchen Rubin](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/gretchen-rubin-recommended-books-reading-list-7530)If youâre intrigued by meditation but donât know how to beginâor youâve benefited from meditation in the past but need help to get started againâDan Harris has written the book for you. Well researched, practical, and crammed with expert advice, itâs also an irreverent, hilarious page-turner. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Fidgety-Skeptics-Happier-How-ebook/dp/B06Y58KF6P)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/joseph-goldstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11752)
[Joseph Goldstein](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/joseph-goldstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11752)A gold mine of wise guidance for fidgety skeptics and experienced meditators alike . . .With Danâs humorous, self-revelatory style and incisive questioning and Jeffâs down-to-earth, transforming wisdom, this book addresses the common obstacles people face as they begin and deepen their meditation practice. . . . Highly recommended. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Fidgety-Skeptics-Happier-How-ebook/dp/B06Y58KF6P)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/mark-epstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11761)
[Mark Epstein](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/mark-epstein-recommended-books-reading-list-11761)If your mind has a mind of its own, this is the book for you! With humor, generosity, and devastating candor, Dan Harris makes meditation make sense. This is news we can all use. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Fidgety-Skeptics-Happier-How-ebook/dp/B06Y58KF6P)
64
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XHNONS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XHNONS/?tag=allencheng-20)
From a pioneer in the field of mental health comes a groundbreaking book on the healing power of "mindsight," the potent skill that is the basis for both emotional and social intelligence. **Mindsight** allows you to make positive changes in your brain-and in your life. \- Is there a memory that torments you, or an irrational fear you can' t shake?
\- Do you sometimes become unreasonably angry or upset and find it hard to calm down?
\- Do you ever wonder why you can't stop behaving the way you do, no matter how hard you try?
\- Are you and your child (or parent,... [more]()
Recommended by Kara Nortman, and 1 others.

Kara Nortman@patrick\_oshag @JohnCGreer @zackkanter Mindsight by @DrDanSiegel - Great book on board and executive team management w/o intending to be Meant to be a summary of broad range of research on brain science + best ways to impact your brain (for better outcomes) in the moment https://t.co/sMH9rfO0Ba [(Source)](https://twitter.com/karanortman/status/1170731228321828864)
65
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IQY3L1M/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IQY3L1M/?tag=allencheng-20)
*How to Sit* is the first in a new series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces beginners to and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized with bold black-and-white illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, *How to Sit* provides explicit, simple directions on the mechanics of posture and breathing, along with instructions for how best to achieve the awakened, relaxed state of clarity to cultivate concentration and compassion. Following the instructions, Thich Nhat Hanh shares a series of secular guided meditations that... [more]()
66
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M5E2DW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M5E2DW/?tag=allencheng-20)
The Secretâs 10th Anniversary Edition includes a new foreword by Rhonda Byrne, and 10 of the most life-changing insights sheâs had over the last 10 years of practicing and living The Secret every day. The 10 insights alone will accelerate your understanding and mastery of the law of attraction. [more]()
Recommended by Ntwana Kasi., Woman In Purpose, and 2 others.

Ntwana Kasi.@Sibongubuhle\_N Don't you have pdf of it i love this book [(Source)](https://twitter.com/TBanSA/status/1202162704498212865)

Woman In Purpose@Anele\_Nks Best book ever\! [(Source)](https://twitter.com/Yvette_Aloe/status/1155908432614043648)
67
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YPA202/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016YPA202/?tag=allencheng-20)
Living in the moment - living in the breath is the foundation of mindfulness. In this book Dr. Ray explores mindfulness as the source of inspiration and inner peace. He shows the ways to transform our fear, expectation, anger, regret, cravings, frustration, and fatigue into positive energy of love and compassion. Ray explains how to apply mindfulness to everything we encounter so we can transcend unconscious habits of misunderstanding that have imprisoned us for so long. The book is a treasury of wisdom. Dr. Ray presents us with information that can help us live long, healthy and happy lives.... [more]()
68
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCGYXS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCGYXS4/?tag=allencheng-20)
"Is it the world that's busy, or is it my mind?" The world moves fast, but that doesn't mean we have to. In this best-selling mindfulness guide - it has sold more than three million copies in Korea, where it was a number-one best-seller for 41 weeks and received multiple best book of the year awards - Haemin Sunim (which means "spontaneous wisdom"), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life. By offering guideposts to well-being and... [more]()
Recommended by Arianna Huffington, and 1 others.

Arianna HuffingtonNot only a useful and practical book, itâs a beautiful one as well. Everyone who wants to thrive more in their life should have it on their nightstand. [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Things-Only-When-Slow-Down-ebook/dp/B01HCGYXS4/)
69
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014OITP0E/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014OITP0E/?tag=allencheng-20)
*How to Relax* is part of *The Mindfulness Essentials* series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing beginners and reminding seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Relax shows how critical it is to regularly interrupt the hub-bub and routine of our lives to stop, relax mindfully, and recharge. Thich Nhat Hanh says that when we relax, we âbecome calm water, and we will reflect reality as it is. If weâre not calm, the image we reflect will be... [more]()
70
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BATKO2E/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BATKO2E/?tag=allencheng-20)
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, bestselling author of *Peace is Every Step* and one of the most respected and celebrated religious leaders in the world, delivers a powerful path to happiness through mastering life's most important skill. How do we say what we mean in a way that the other person can really hear? How can we listen with compassion and understanding? Communication fuels the ties that bind, whether in relationships, business, or everyday interactions. Most of us, however, have never been taught the fundamental skills of communicationâor how to... [more]()
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
71
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGNYPW4/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGNYPW4/?tag=allencheng-20)
Philosopher-poet and cancer survivor, Mark Nepo opens a new season of freedom and joy--an escape from deadening, asleep-at-the wheel sameness--that is both profound and clarifying. His spiritual daybook is a summons to reclaim aliveness, liberate the self, take each day one at a time, and to savor the beauty offered by life's unfolding. Reading his poetic prose is like being given second sight, exposing the reader to life's multiple dimensions, each one drawn with awe and affection. The Book of Awakening is the result of his journey of the soul and will inspire others to embark on their own.... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jamie-lee-curtis-recommended-books-reading-list-34419)
[Jamie Lee Curtis](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jamie-lee-curtis-recommended-books-reading-list-34419)The most important book I have ever read, the best gift I have ever given. A daily touchstone to center, balance, inspire \& comfort. I was honored @marknepo asked me to write the forward for this 20th anniversary edition. It is available now for pre-order. Publication date 1/1/20 https://t.co/6PIQFBI1Wz [(Source)](https://twitter.com/jamieleecurtis/status/1196509105873178629)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marian-keyes-recommended-books-reading-list-24178)
[Marian Keyes](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/marian-keyes-recommended-books-reading-list-24178)Oh! So GREAT! If you're able, PLEASE read her powerful book. https://t.co/3itlgrS7Mz [(Source)](https://twitter.com/MarianKeyes/status/1196551231549911040)
72
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFHX2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFHX2/?tag=allencheng-20)
Eating is a chance to return to the present moment. *How to Eat* is the second in Parallaxâs series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. These friendly, pocket-sized books contain several delightful illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, and are appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition and all levels of familiarity with mindfulness practice. *How to Eat* clearly and succinctly explains how you can incorporate eating as a form of meditation. The book provides practical advice on how to become truly nourished through the mindful... [more]()
73
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HBY9RK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HBY9RK/?tag=allencheng-20)
âWritten in words so intimate, calm, kind, and immediate, this extraordinary book feels like a message from our very own heartâŠ.Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most important voices of our time, and we have never needed to listen to him more than now.â
âSogyal Rinpoche Fear is destructive, a pervasive problem we all face. Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, peace activist, and one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the worldâa gifted teacher who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.âThich Nhat Hanh has written a powerful and... [more]()
74
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IATC4S/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IATC4S/?tag=allencheng-20)
It was under the bodhi tree in India twenty-five centuries ago that Buddha achieved the insight that three states of mind were the source of all our unhappiness: wrong knowing, obsessive desire, and anger. All are difficult, but in one instant of angerâone of the most powerful emotionsâlives can be ruined, and health and spiritual development can be destroyed. With exquisite simplicity, Buddhist monk and Vietnam refugee Thich Nhat Hanh gives tools and advice for transforming relationships, focusing energy, and rejuvenating those parts of ourselves that have been laid waste by anger. His... [more]()
75
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS6H3E6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GS6H3E6/?tag=allencheng-20)
**Simple mindfulness practices to help your child (ages 5-12) deal with anxiety, improve concentration, and handle difficult emotions. Includes a 60-minute audio CD of guided exercises read by Myla Kabat-Zinn.** Mindfulnessâthe quality of attention that combines full awareness with acceptance of each moment, just as it isâis gaining broad acceptance among mental health professionals as an adjunct to treatment. This little book is a very appealing introduction to mindfulness meditation for children and their parents. In a simple and accessible way, it describes what... [more]()
76
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3VWS/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3VWS/?tag=allencheng-20)
**The \#1 *New York Times* Bestseller *You Are A Badass* is the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don't want to get busted doing it.** In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, \#1 *New York Times* Bestselling Author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word. If you're ready to make some serious changes around here, *You Are a Badass* will help you: Identify and change the... [more]()
Recommended by Stacey Minton, Chelsea Frank, Jessica Lauria, and 3 others.

Stacey MintonThat book helped me realize I wasnât alone in not necessarily having direction or all of the answers, but as long as I put one foot in front of the other, I would get to where I wanted to be. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/)

Chelsea FrankI read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/chelsea-frank-11019.html)

Jessica LauriaI bought this book because I was curious about the title. I loved it and bought it for my entire team. The universe matches the energy you put out. Itâs so true. If you put out positivity, you get it back. Itâs a great reminder that you are in charge of your destiny. Another point in this book that I love - if someone has a problem with you, itâs their issue. Not yours. We put some much weight on... [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/jessica-lauria-karen-pfaff-manganillo-6209.html)
77
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH5Y/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBXJH5Y/?tag=allencheng-20)
Itâs true, as they say, that we can only love others when we first love ourselves and we can only experience real joy when we stop running from pain. The key to understanding these truisms lies in remaining open to life in all circumstances, and here Pema Chödrön shows us how. Because when we embrace the happiness and suffering, intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of life, we can begin to discover a wellspring of courageous love within our hearts. 4 CDs, 4 œ hours. Unabridged. [more]()
78
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P7GGSC/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P7GGSC/?tag=allencheng-20)
From the author of the internationally-acclaimed best-selling text *The Developing Mind*, and esteemed leader and educator in the field of mental health, comes the first book ever to integrate neuroscience research with the ancient art of mindfulness. The result is a groundbreaking approach to not simply mental health, but life in general, which shows readers how personal awareness and attunement can actually stimulate emotional circuits in the brain, leading to a host of physiological benefits, including greater well-being, resilience, emotional balance, and improved cardiac and... [more]()
Recommended by Tessa Watt, and 1 others.

Tessa WattThis is a book that focuses on the neuroscience of mindfulness. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/mindfulness-tessa-watt/)
79
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQM20NK/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQM20NK/?tag=allencheng-20)
In this modern spiritual classic, the Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa highlights a common pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls *spiritual materialism*. The universal human tendency, he shows, is to see spirituality as a process of self-improvementâthe impulse to develop and refine the ego when the ego is, by nature, essentially empty. âThe problem,â Trungpa says, âis that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality.â His incisive, compassionate teachings serve to wake us up from this trick we all play on ourselves, and... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)During his freshman year at Reed College, Jobs befriended Daniel Kottke, who went on to work at Apple, and together they devoured books such as Shunryu Suzukiâs âZen Mind, Beginnerâs Mind,â Chogyam Trungpaâs âCutting Through Spiritual Materialismâ and Paramahansa Yoganandaâs âAutobiography of a Yogi,â a book Jobs read and re-read many times during his life. [(Source)](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/the-steve-jobs-reading-list-the-books_n_1024021.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/andy-puddicombe-recommended-books-reading-list-2567)
[Andy Puddicombe](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/andy-puddicombe-recommended-books-reading-list-2567)He was calling out probably the biggest trap in the journey of self-discovery, that of spiritual materialism ⊠If we meditate in order to let go of labels, to let go of identity, the last thing we want to do is take on another label: of being âspiritual.â Weâre looking to let go of that kind of judgment. [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/meditation-andy-puddicombe/)
80
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LC9HU/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3LC9HU/?tag=allencheng-20)
In this little treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, offers timeless insight into the nature of real love. With simplicity, warmth, and directness, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedomâexplaining how to experience them in our day-to-day lives. He also emphasizes that in order to love in a real way, we must first learn how to be fully present in our lives, and he offers simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition that anyone can use to establish the conditions of love. Thich Nhat... [more]()
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
81
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062508342/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062508342/?tag=allencheng-20)
A newly revised and updated edition of the internationally bestselling spiritual classic, *The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying*, written by Sogyal Rinpoche, is the ultimate introduction to Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. An enlightening, inspiring, and comforting manual for life and death that the *New York Times* calls, âThe Tibetan equivalent of \[Danteâs\] *The Divine Comedy*,â this is the essential work that moved Huston Smith, author of *The Worldâs Religions*, to proclaim, âI have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive,... [more]()
82
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J3526Y6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J3526Y6/?tag=allencheng-20)
**A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike** In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to *believe in* but something to *do*âand as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/edward-norton-recommended-books-reading-list-19764)
83
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006859/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937006859/?tag=allencheng-20)
The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it. In *No Mud, No Lotus*, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practices and inspiration for transforming suffering and finding true joy. Thich Nhat Hanh acknowledges that because suffering can feel so bad, we try to run away from it or cover it up by consuming. We find something to eat or turn on the television. But unless weâre able to face our suffering, we canât be present and available to life, and happiness will continue to elude us. Nhat Hanh shares how the practices of stopping, mindful breathing, and deep... [more]()
84
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3BUE70/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3BUE70/?tag=allencheng-20)
**Two *New York Times*\-bestselling authors unveil new research showing what meditation can really do for the brain.** In the last twenty years, meditation and mindfulness have gone from being kind of cool to becoming an omnipresent Band-Aid for fixing everything from your weight to your relationship to your achievement level. Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it. [more]()
85
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JW44IAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JW44IAI/?tag=allencheng-20)
Autobiography of a Yogi is one of the best-selling spiritual biographies of all time. The book is not merely read it is treasured and cherished by millions of spiritual seekers throughout the world. [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)Recommended by [Steve Jobs,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453) Marc Benioff, Dominic Steil, and 5 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)
[Steve Jobs](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/steve-jobs-recommended-books-reading-list-5453)One book in particular stayed with Jobs his entire life, and Isaacson noted that it was the only book Jobs had downloaded on his iPad 2: âAutobiography of a Yogi,â âthe guide to meditation and spirituality that he had first read as a teenager,â Isaacson writes, âthen re-read in India and had read once a year ever since.â [(Source)](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/the-steve-jobs-reading-list-the-books_n_1024021.html)

Marc BenioffIf you haven't read it, and if you want to understand Steve Jobs, it's a goood idea to dip into \[this book\]. [(Source)](https://youtu.be/4rO_Vs4M29k?t=211)

Dominic Steil\[One of the books that had the biggest impact on .\] [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/dominic-steil-15732.html)
86
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBJPWY1/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GBJPWY1/?tag=allencheng-20)
Itâs easy to disconnect when life moves fast. Practicing Mindfulness offers effective exercises and meditations to live every moment of your daily routine, in the moment. From finding your breath to feeling grounded, these practice-based exercises make integrating mindfulness into your routine easy. With over 75 essential meditationsâthat take between 5-20 minutes from start to finishâPracticing Mindfulness is an approachable way to apply mindfulness in your day-to-day life. Reduce stress, improve mental health, and stay present no matter what the day holds when you... [more]()
87
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4X76M/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J4X76M/?tag=allencheng-20)
In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts explains the principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers. With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity, he delves into the origins and history of Zen to explain what it means for the world today with incredible clarity. Watts saw Zen as âone of the most precious gifts of Asia to the world,â and in *The Way of Zen* he gives this gift to readers everywhere. [more]()
88
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00395ZYS6/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00395ZYS6/?tag=allencheng-20)
Common sense tells us that to lose weight, we must eat less and exercise more. But somehow we get stalled. We start on a weight-loss program with good intentions but cannot stay on track. Neither the countless fad diets, nor the annual spending of \$50 billion on weight loss helps us feel better or lose weight. Too many of us are in a cycle of shame and guilt. We spend countless hours worrying about what we ate or if we exercised enough, blaming ourselves for actions that we can't undo. We are stuck in the past and unable to live in the present--that moment in which we do have the... [more]()
89
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VYNVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VYNVG/?tag=allencheng-20)
Best-seller Pema Chödrön draws on the Buddhist concept of shenpa to help us see how certain habits of mind tend to âhookâ us and get us stuck in states of anger, blame, self-hatred, and addiction. The good news is that once we start to recognize these patterns, they instantly begin to lose their hold on us and we can begin to change our lives for the better. âThis path entails uncovering three basic human qualities,â explains Pema. âThey are natural intelligence, natural warmth, and natural openness. Everyone, everywhere, all over the globe, has these qualities and can call on them... [more]()
90
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YNPBH0/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YNPBH0/?tag=allencheng-20)
In this fascinating book, Alan Watts explores man's quest for psychological security, examining our efforts to find spiritual and intellectual certainty in the realms of religion and philosophy. The Wisdom of Insecurity underlines the importance of our search for stability in an age where human life seems particularly vulnerable and uncertain. Watts argues our insecurity is the consequence of trying to be secure and that, ironically, salvation and sanity lie in the recognition that we have no way of saving ourselves. [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/oliver-burkeman-recommended-books-reading-list-5491)
[Oliver Burkeman](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/oliver-burkeman-recommended-books-reading-list-5491)This is a very thin book but a mind-blowing one. In many ways it was part of my motivation to write my book. Alan Watts was a philosophical populariser. He called himself a âspiritual entertainerâ, and went around the world giving lectures and writing popular books about Eastern philosophies such as Zen Buddhism and Taoism. This book is about non-dualism â the theory that in some sense,... [(Source)](https://fivebooks.com/best-books/negative-thinking-oliver-burkeman/)

Antonio EramThis book was recommended by Antonio when asked for titles he would recommend to young people interested in his career path. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/antonio-eram-7568.html)
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance.
91
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTXVZ8/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTXVZ8/?tag=allencheng-20)
Encouraging readers to be intelligent and skillful in their practice, this new collection by Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the essential steps by which we can all obtain real and lasting happiness. Each day, we perform the tasks of everyday life without thought or awareness â walking, sitting, working, eating, driving, and much more. But Hanh points out that if we remain truly aware of our actions, no matter the task weâre performing, we can stay engaged in our lives and better our outlook through mindfulness. This key practice is the foundation for this accessible, easy-to-understand volume, and... [more]()
92
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNJIJB2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNJIJB2/?tag=allencheng-20)
**A beautifully packaged, gifty daily devotional of Stoic wisdom, from the author of *The Obstacle is the Way*.**
Modern readers praise Stoic philosophy for its unique blend of practicality and wisdom. But it's admittedly hard for the average reader to decipher the Dover Thrift edition of Marcus Aurelius' work. The antiquated, needlessly formal language of most modern translations is stripped down in this book, revealing powerful aphorisms that cut straight to the heart of our day-to-day challenges. Presented in a page-per-day format, this daily resource... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991)Recommended by Brad Feld, [Jack Canfield,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991) Louis Grenier, and 3 others.

Brad FeldThis book was a delight. I started reading it earlier this year, caught up quickly (I started in July), and then mostly read a page each day when I was in the bathroom in the morning. I let it unfold slowly, reading the daily quote and Ryan Holidayâs (and Stephen Hanselmanâs) thoughts on the quote, and then rereading the quote. [(Source)](https://feld.com/archives/2017/12/book-daily-stoic-366-meditations-wisdom-perseverance-art-living.html)
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991)
[Jack Canfield](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/jack-canfield-recommended-books-reading-list-3991)A richly rewarding spring of practical wisdom to help you focus on what's in your control, eliminate false and limiting beliefs, and take more effective action. Make The Daily Stoic your guide and you will grow in clarity, efectiveness, and serenity each day\! [(Source)](https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Stoic-Meditations-Wisdom-Perseverance/dp/0735211736)

Louis GrenierAbout tranquility and stoicism and focusing on change, you need to read âThe Daily Stoicâ which is 365 essays, small essays about stoicism and why you should focus on things that donât change. [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/everyone-hates-marketers-how-louis-grenier-built-a-podcast-out-of-love-for-true-marketing-11099.html)
93
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HD61H2/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HD61H2/?tag=allencheng-20)
âAmong Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.â âNew York Times âThich Nhat Hanh is a holy manâŠ. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.â âMartin Luther King, Jr., nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. In this much-anticipated follow-up to his bestselling classic, *Peace Is Every Step*, Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâoffers an insightful guide to living a fuller life. In this... [more]()
94
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER6FZVQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER6FZVQ/?tag=allencheng-20)
In troubled times, there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanhâone of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world todayâreveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer lifeâs deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire. Thich Nhat Hanh presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships and our... [more]()
95
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4FSTUI/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4FSTUI/?tag=allencheng-20)
Langer offers the reader the essence of her 15 years of research in social psychology. She demonstrates the grave and pervasive consequences of mindlessness and the startling benefits of mindfulness. [more]()
Recommended by Dave Elitch, and 1 others.

96
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBBKMHA/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBBKMHA/?tag=allencheng-20)
Growing up in the high desert of California, Jim Doty was poor, with an alcoholic father and a mother chronically depressed and paralyzed by a stroke. Today he is the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University, of which the Dalai Lama is a founding benefactor. But back then his life was at a dead end until at twelve he wandered into a magic shop looking for a plastic thumb. Instead he met Ruth, a woman who taught him a series of exercises to ease his own suffering and manifest his greatest desires. Her final mandate was that he... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743)Recommended by [Robin Sharma,](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743) Roxana Bitoleanu, and 2 others.
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743)
[Robin Sharma](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/robin-sharma-recommended-books-reading-list-45743)I think youâll gain great valueâand reading joyâfrom this book. Have an excellent Saturday. Love, Robin https://t.co/8e5D4Y2LLp [(Source)](https://twitter.com/RobinSharma/status/1020621379161403394)

Roxana Bitoleanu\[One of the books recommends to young people interested in her career path.\] [(Source)](https://www.theceolibrary.com/roxana-bitoleanu-16152.html)
97
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0AM01U/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0AM01U/?tag=allencheng-20)
For decades, Western psychology has promised fulfillment through building and strengthening the ego. We are taught that the ideal is a strong, individuated self, constructed and reinforced over a lifetime. But Buddhist psychiatrist Mark Epstein has found a different way. Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart shows us that happiness doesn't come from any kind of acquisitiveness, be it material or psychological. Happiness comes from letting go. Weaving together the accumulated wisdom of his two worlds--Buddhism and Western psychotherapy--Epstein shows how "the happiness that we seek depends on... [more]()
98
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N928XGF/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N928XGF/?tag=allencheng-20)
You are a person worthy of love. You donât have to do anything to deserve all the love in the world. Real Love is a creative tool kit of mindfulness exercises and meditation techniques that help you to truly engage with your present experience and create deeper love relationships with yourself, your partner, friends and family, and with life itself. Sharon Salzberg, a leading expert in Lovingkindness\[GR1\] meditation, encourages us to strip away layers of negative habits and obstacles, helping us to experience authentic love based on direct experience, rather than... [more]()
99
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEUSXW/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEUSXW/?tag=allencheng-20)
**In this groundbreaking book, Matthieu Ricard makes a passionate case for happiness as a goal that deserves as least as much energy as any other in our lives.** Wealth? Fitness? Career success? How can we possibly place these above true and lasting well-being? Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, Western philosophy, Buddhist beliefs, scientific research, and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward-looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast-moving modern world. With its revelatory lessons and exercises, *Happiness*... [more]()
[](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742)
[Richard Branson](https://www.shortform.com/best-books/person/richard-branson-recommended-books-reading-list-3742)Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this \#ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. [(Source)](https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/my-top-65-books-read-lifetime)

Joel GascoigneThe author of this book has sometimes been called the "happiest man in the world". He is a French Biochemist turned Buddhist monk and has been in a unique position to merge science with mindfulness and meditation. The underlying theme of the book is that happiness is indeed within our control, and is much more a skill than something that simply happens to us. One of the biggest revelations for me... [(Source)](http://joel.is/50-books-that-transformed-my-business-and-my-life/)
100
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEHE66/?tag=allencheng-20)
[](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEHE66/?tag=allencheng-20)
A Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects as compassion and holiness, and offers inspiration to believers in both religions. [more]()
#### **Don't have time to read the top Mindfulness books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.**
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the **most important points in the book**
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: **apply the book's ideas to your own life** with our educators' guidance. |
| Shard | 61 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 8203469329925982861 |
| Unparsed URL | com,shortform!www,/best-books/genre/best-mindfulness-books-of-all-time s443 |