Resources for Further Reading
*Denotes books that are good as an introduction to Buddhist practice and teachings.
**Denotes books that are good for more experienced students.
Vipassana, Mindfulness, Insight Meditation
Analayo, Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization**
Ajahn Amaro, Small Boat, Great Mountain (link to free copy in .pdf) – (Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, 2003)**
Guy Armstrong, Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators
James Baraz, Awakening Joy: 10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness
Sylvia Boorstein, It’s Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness
Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha)**
Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha *
Tara Brach, Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of RAIN *
Tara Brach, True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart *
Thomas Byrom, The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha (Sacred Teachings)
Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation (Shambhala Classics)*
Joseph Goldstein, Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
Joseph Goldstein, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism
Joseph Goldstein, The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation (Shambhala Dragon Editions)
Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English, Updated and Expanded Edition*
Henepola Gunaratana, Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha’s Path
Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
Jon Kabat-Zinn, [By Jon Kabat-Zinn ] Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition) (Paperback)【2018】by Jon Kabat-Zinn (Author) (Paperback)
Dacher Keltner, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
Mirka Knaster, Living This Life Fully: Stories and Teachings of Munindra
Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life*
Jack Kornfield, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are
Jack Kornfield, A Lamp in the Darkness: Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times
Jack Kornfield, The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace
Jack Kornfield, with Gil Fronsdal, Teachings of the Buddha
Jack Kornfield, The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology
Jack Kornfield and Paul Breiter, A Still Forest Pool: The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah (Quest Book)
Wes Nisker, Buddha’s Nature: A Practical Guide to Enlightenment Through Evolution
Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada
Larry Rosenberg, Breath by Breath: The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation*
Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness*
Ajahn Sumedho, The Sound of Silence: The Selected Teachings of Ajahn Sumedho**
Nyanaponika Thera, The Heart of Buddhist Meditation: Satipatthna: A Handbook of Mental Training Based on the Buddha’s Way of Mindfulness**
Zen
Charlotte Joko Beck, Nothing Special: Living Zen
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness*
Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace
Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Ryokan & John Stevens, One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryokan
Tibetan Buddhism
Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)
Pema Chodron, The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times (Shambhala Library)
Lama Surya Das, Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World
Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Fearless Simplicity: The Dzogchen Way of Living Freely in a Complex World**
Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Open Heart, Open Mind: Awakening the Power of Essence Love
Tsultrum Allione, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict
Tulku Urgyen Rimpoche, As It Is, Vol. 2**
Choyam Trungpa, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
Choyam Trungpa, Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior
Grieving, Death and Dying
Pema Chodron, How We Live Is How We Die
Amy Wright Glenn, Holding Space: On Loving, Dying, and Letting Go
Stan Goldberg, Leaning into Sharp Points: Practical Guidance and Nurturing Support for Caregivers
Joan Halifax, Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death
Thich Nhat Hanh, No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life
Edie Hartshorne, Light in Blue Shadows
Kelly Koshin, Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Robert Lesoine & Marilynne Chophel, Unfinished Conversation: Healing from Suicide and Loss
Stephen Levine, Healing into Life and Death (and other books by Stephen Levine)
Stephen Levine & Ondrea Levine, Who Dies?: An Investigation of Conscious Living and Conscious Dying
Judith L. Lief, Making Friends with Death: A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality
Phillip Moffitt, Dancing With Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering
Frank Ostaseki, The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully
Larry Rosenberg, Living in the Light of Death: On the Art of Being Truly Alive
Kathleen Dowling Singh, The Grace in Dying : How We Are Transformed Spiritually as We Die
Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief
Racism, Equity, Inclusivity
Hilda Gutierrez Baldoquin, Dharma, Color, and Culture: New Voices in Western Buddhism
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me
Robin DiAngelo, White Fragility
Gary R. Howard, We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know: White Teachers, Multiracial Schools (Multicultural Education Series)
Debby Irving, Waking Up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
Charles R. Johnson, Taming the Ox: Buddhist Stories and Reflections on Politics, Race, Culture, and Spiritual Practice
Kate Johnson, Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World
Valerie Kaur, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love
Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, The Way of Tenderness: Awakening through Race, Sexuality, and Gender
Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies
California Newsreel, “Race: the Power of an Illusion” (film series)
Pax Christi Anti-Racist Team, Building Accountable Relationships with Communities of Color (online resource)
Lama Rod Owens, Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, “Not Somewhere Else, But Here” (essay)
Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Barbara Trepagnier, Silent Racism: How Well-Meaning White People Perpetuate the Racial Divide
Elizabeth Wilkerson, Caste (Oprah’s Book Club): The Origins of Our Discontents
Larry Yang, Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community
Books by Buddhists of Color
Charles R. Johnson, Taming the Ox: Buddhist Stories and Reflections on Politics, Race, Culture, and Spiritual Practice
Kate Johnson, Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World
Valerie Kaur, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love
Ruth King, Mindful of Race – A Stimulus for Social Healing & Leadership
Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, Sanctuary: A Meditation on Home, Homelessness, and Belonging
Lama Rod Owens, The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors
Menakem, Resmaa, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies
Sebene Selassie, You Belong: A Call for Connection
Spring Washam, A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment
Rev. angel Kyodo williams and Lama Rod Owens with Jasmine Syedullah, Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation
Jan Willis, Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist, and Buddhist ― One Woman’s Spiritual Journey
Larry Yang, Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community
Spiritual Activism/Engaged Buddhism – Serving the World
Gregory Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion
Ram Dass & Paul Gorman, How Can I Help?: Stories and Reflections on Service
Fred Eppsteiner, The Path of Compassion: Writings on Socially Engaged Buddhism
Joanna Macy, World as Lover, World as Self: Courage for Global Justice and Ecological Renewal
Lama Rod Owens, The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors
Donald Rothberg, The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World
Kittisaro & Thanissara, Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism
Moving Towards a Plant-Based Diet: Compassion for All
T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell, The China Study: Revised and Expanded Edition: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health
Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals
Melanie Joy, Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters
Melanie Joy, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism
Norm Phelps, The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights
Lani Muelrath, The Mindful Vegan: A 30-Day Plan for Finding Health, Balance, Peace, and Happiness
Matthieu Ricard, A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion
Will Tuttle, The World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony
Mindfulness for Children and Teens
James Baraz, Awakening Joy for Kids
Lee-Anne Gray, Self-Compassion for Teens: 129 Activities & Practices to Cultivate Kindness
Susan Kaiser Greenland, The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate
Thich Nhat Hanh, A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles
Thich Nhat Hanh, Mindful Movements: Ten Exercises for Well-Being
Thich Nhat Hanh, Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children
Mitchell Hoffsteader and Betsy Thomson, Meditation, My Friend: Meditation for Kids and Beginners of all Ages
Dan Siegel, Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain
Shauna Shapiro and Chris White, Mindful Discipline: A Loving Approach to Setting Limits and Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child
Christopher Willard and Wendy O’Leary, Breathing Makes It Better: A Book for Sad Days, Mad Days, Glad Days, and All the Feelings In-Between
Diana Winston, Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens
Mindfulness of the Body
Anne Cushman, Moving into Meditation: A 12-Week Mindfulness Program for Yoga Practitioners
Jon Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe Living (Revised Edition)
Working with Pain and Illness
Toni Bernhard, How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers
Vidyamala Burch, Living Well with Pain and Illness: The Mindful Way to Free Yourself from Suffering
Darlene Cohen, Turning Suffering Inside Out
Stephen Levine, Healing into Life and Death (and other books by Stephen Levine)
Trauma and Strong Fear
Judith Blackstone, Trauma and the Unbound Body: The Healing Power of Fundamental Consciousness
Follette, Briere, Rozelle, Hopper and Rome, Mindfulness-Oriented Interventions for Trauma: Integrating Contemplative Practices
Jim Gordon, The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma
Peter Levine, In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness
David Treleaven, Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for Safe and Transformative Healing
Rachel Goldsmith Turow, Mindfulness Skills for Trauma and PTSD: Practices for Recovery and Resilience
Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Secular Mindfulness/Neuroscience
Linda Graham, Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being
Dacher Keltner, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
Rick Hanson and Richard Mendius, Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom
Jean Kristeller, The Joy of Half a Cookie: Using Mindfulness to Lose Weight and End the Struggle with Food
Congressman Tim Ryan, A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit
Brenda Salgado (edited by), Real World Mindfulness for Beginners: Navigate Daily Life One Practice at a Time
Dan Siegel, Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation
Mindful Communication/Relationships
John Amodeo, Dancing with Fire: A Mindful Way to Loving Relationships
Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D., Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
Oren Jay Sofer, Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication
Sherrie Vavrichek, The Guide to Compassionate Assertiveness: How to Express Your Needs and Deal with Conflict While Keeping a Kind Heart
John Wellwood, Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships: Healing the Wound of the Heart
Compassion and RAIN
Marc Ian Barasch, Field Notes on the Compassionate Life: A Search for the Soul of Kindness
Tara Brach, Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of RAIN *
• Download your free Radical Compassion Study Guide.
Chris Germer, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions
Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind
Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself
General Spiritual
Adyashanti, Emptiness Dancing**
Adyashanti, Falling into Grace
Rezvan Ameli, 25 Lessons in Mindfulness: Now Time for Healthy Living
Conniray Andreas, Coming to Wholeness: How to Awaken and Live with Ease (The Wholeness Work)
Stephen Batchelor, Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening
Toni Bernhard, How to Wake Up: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Navigating Joy and Sorrow
Richard Brown and Patricia Gerbarg, The Healing Power of the Breath: Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions
Mark Epstein, Going to Pieces without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness
Daniel Gottleib, Letters to Sam: A Grandfather’s Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life
Barry Heermann, Noble Purpose: Igniting Extraordinary Passion for Life and Work
Stephen Josephs, Dragons At Work
Jonathan Kaplan, Urban Mindfulness: Cultivating Peace, Presence, and Purpose in the Middle of It All
Loch Kelly, Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness
Stephen Levine, A Gradual Awakening
Nisargadatta Maharaj, I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta
Dan Morhaim, The Better End: Surviving (and Dying) on Your Own Terms in Today’s Modern Medical World
Mary O’Malley, What’s in the Way Is the Way
Lewis Richmond, Aging as a Spiritual Practice
Lorin Roche, Ph.D., The Radiance Sutras: 112 Gateways to the Yoga of Wonder and Delight (English and Sanskrit Edition)
Ronald D. Siegel and Christopher Germer (editors), Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy: Deepening Mindfulness in Clinical Practice
Susan Stone, The Kosambi Intrigue; A Tale in the Time of Buddha – NOTE: This is fiction.
George Taylor, A Path for Couples.
Eckhart Tolle, New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose
Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Will Tuttle, Buddhism and Veganism: Essays Connecting Spiritual Awakening and Animal Liberation
Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth
Roger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind
Joe Weston, Mastering Respectful Confrontation: A Guide to Personal Freedom and Empowered, Collaborative Engagement
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