12 Books on Meditation, Mindfulness and Spirituality that Blew My Mind!
“Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.” ― Francis Bacon
The practice of mindfulness and meditation made me desperate…
Desperate to discover more about this inner world of peace, love and joy I was tapping into.
I spent years reading through every book on meditation and spirituality that I could get my hands on.
I was on a mission to find answers to my innermost questions.
Are these the Best Books on Meditation?
Some of these books are fantastic guides to meditation. Others are more philosophical and what I’d call spiritual rather than religious.
If you want to learn more about meditation, I’d recommend not just reading ‘how-to’ books on meditation. It’s also helpful to read around the subject, and some of the great authors in this list will give you fantastic insights.
These meditation and spiritual insights will help to motivate your meditation practice. The insights will also help you to make sense of the deeper experiences you can get in meditation.
Having said all this, trust your own intuition too. Go with the books that are calling to you. That’s a kind of spiritual approach to the whole process!
Best Books on Meditation and Spirituality
So, dear friends, here’s a list of my absolutely favourites.
Do let me know of your thoughts, and any others you’ve loved in the comments section below.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
This book has sold millions of copies, I think mainly after appearing on the Oprah Show. Eckhart made a major breakthrough in his life when he realised he was not his thoughts, saving him from suicide. He’s gone on to be one of the most popular spiritual teachers in modern times.
I found this book helpful in my early explorations of spirituality. Ultimately the ideas are very simple: in the present moment there can be great joy, peace and freedom, and it’s our attention getting caught in the past and the future that causes much of our trouble. At that early stage of the journey I was a bit surprised the book didn’t offer any clear practices apart from being present. Looking back now, I think that simplicity is part of its beauty. Highly recommended whatever stage you’re at.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
This is a beautiful, poetic book, and an absolute joy to read. It makes the Buddha seem almost human, and creatively weaves a story of his path to enlightenment.
I was surprised by how beautifully poetic and soothing this book was. It’s like stepping back in time and learning from the Buddha himself — not through advice, but through the sheer power of storytelling.
Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh is a very popular Buddhist teacher, probably second only to the Dalai Lama. He was also nominated for the Noble Peace Prize by Martin Luther King. This is a lovely book to introduce you to his writings and teaching. Ideal for those keen to deepen their mindfulness.
I had the chance to be in his presence at Plum Village, his retreat centre in France. I loved his calming presence and his teachings. He wrote a great many books, and of the few I’ve read, this one was the clearest for me.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
This book will grow your gratitude no end. It’s a book written by Jean-Dominique Bauby as he lies in bed, almost completely paralysed. He wrote the whole book by someone going through the alphabet and he winked each time they got to the correct letter. Amazing achievement and a deeply moving piece of work.
Honestly — wow. This is probably the most incredible book on the whole list. I won’t say much more because I don’t want to spoil it for you. It’s powerful, and it reminds you of just how fortunate you are.
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach
A short, popular book sharing the story of a seagull that just isn’t satisfied with life as it is and discovered a deep, far more satisfying way of living by refusing to follow those around him, and instead following his intuition and overcoming his fear. The book is a lovely metaphor for each of our journeys from a life in the ordinary, physical world, and life to something more that just the everyday grind. A journey from doing more to being more.
Such a lovely short read. It makes me feel as free as a bird just thinking about it — another one that uses storytelling so effectively.
Into the Magic Shop by Dr James R. Doty
I had the honour of meeting the author, James Doty, in person — and he became a friend. He gave me a copy and urged me to read it. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.
It’s the true story of a poor boy in California’s high desert who, aged twelve, wandered into a magic shop and met a woman called Ruth, who taught him a set of exercises that changed the course of his life. He went on to become a neurosurgeon and now directs Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education — CCARE, whose founding benefactor is the Dalai Lama.
His journey is immensely inspiring. So magical it doesn’t sound true — but it is.
Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Krishnamurti
In my early quest to deepen my appreciation for life, I came across the work of Krishnamurti. For a couple of years, I was totally hooked, and read through lots of his books! In recent years, I haven’t read so much, as I found it almost too intense, but I do still enjoy reading his quotes from time to time.
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
I feel this one is a little like Siddhartha, but even more poetic — deeply wise, and you could almost say sacred. I have several copies, and nearly everyone on the spiritual journey seems to have read it. An absolute timeless classic.
This book is so well written, I’d say it’s almost divine! The book is in public domain in most countries, and you can download it here. Here’s a juicy extract:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond by Ajahn Brahm
I’m a big fan of Ajahn Brahm, especially in the last few years. This book on meditation has become a classic text on Buddhist Meditation and studies by many monks as well as lay people. If you want to know what happens as your meditation deepens, I’d recommend this guide.
In one phase of my journey I felt called to meditate for long periods and to go on retreat — and with that came some unusual experiences. All of them are clearly explained in this book. I later went on retreat with Ajahn Brahm himself. He’s a wonderful teacher, and I’d say my favourite in the Buddhist tradition, because he mixes down-to-earth wisdom with humour so well. Two of my own deepest values, those.
Be As You Are by Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi is considered one of the greatest mystics in India in the last few hundred years. This is the best distillation of his teaching from what I’ve read. If you’re keen to reflect on the nature of who you are, this is a great place to go.
When I was questioning my own sense of identity, Ramana Maharshi’s teachings were very helpful to me. This book does a great job of making them accessible, and it groups the teachings really well.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
This is another hugely popular book. It’s based on the true story of Victor and how he both survived a concentration camp and ended up developing a new form of therapy based on his observations of who survived. His famous quote is:
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
A brilliant quotation for any mindfulness student too!
I found this book really moving. I could never imagine that someone in the midst of so much pain could shift their attention and lift their spirit in that way. It showed me that resilience is possible in the darkest of places — an empowering read.
I Am That by Nisargadatta Maharaj
Niargadatta is considered a great sage in India. He was a simple cigarette seller when, through meditation practice and reflection, found himself getting enlightened! People travelled from all over the world to ask him questions. This book is a wonderful collection of questions and answers.
This was a delightful book to discover. I’d put Nisargadatta alongside Ramana as one of the great sages of non-duality — people spend a lifetime just studying this one book. After some years with it, I went on to discover his student, Ramesh Balsekar.
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