Eight of the Best Mindfulness Books

Mindfulness is an increasingly widespread and popular practice. With these books, you can learn about its benefits and some of the simplest exercises to introduce into your daily routine.

Mindfulness, also known as attention to the present moment, is an ancient practice that consists of being attentive to what you do, intentionally, without judging yourself or getting stuck in your thoughts. In this article, we bring you the best mindfulness books by various authors who each address different aspects of the subject.

Mindfulness is often included in meditation programs and even psychological intervention programs. In fact, it has proven benefits in reducing anxiety levels and improving depressive symptoms.

The best mindfulness books

If you want to know in-depth what mindfulness is and how you can implement it in your day-to-day routine to achieve a feeling of mental tranquility, you shouldn’t miss this selection of the eight best mindfulness books.

1. Coming to our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn

Jon Kabat-Zinn is considered to be one of the great proponents of the process of mindfulness. In fact, he’s Professor Emeritus of Medicine and has conducted various studies with Buddhist teachers. This analysis, in turn, led him to integrate part of those teachings with those of Western science.

In this book, he explains the theoretical and practical workings that you need to know if you want to understand what mindfulness is all about.

2. The Miracle of Mindfulness, Thich Nhat Hanh

Another of the best mindfulness books is this one by Thich Nhat Hanh. It’s a practical work that describes how to carry out mindfulness exercises. In addition, through narrations, he explains the relationship of this practice with Buddhist philosophy.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a peace activist and another of the great founders of the mindfulness movement. Indeed, in his career, he’s published dozens of books on extremely diverse subjects.

3. Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life, Jon Kabat-Zinn

Also by Jon Kabat-Zinn, this book tells you about mindfulness as the heart of Buddhist meditation. In it, the author comments on the benefits of this practice and the multiple possibilities there are to be found within.

It’s an ideal book that tells you how to apply his advice in your daily routine and continue learning.

4. After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, Jack Kornfield

Jack Kornfield is a Buddhist monk who learned the basics of meditation and philosophy in Burma, Thailand, and India. In this book, he shares his knowledge about life and death.

It’s a sincere and compelling story that talks about how we should prepare our hearts for awakening.

5. Mindfulness for Beginners, Jessica Joly

A book that doesn’t only talk about mindfulness. In fact, it’s an extremely useful guide to regain control over your environment and direct your energy toward those aspects on which you can act. Jessica Joly talks about the rational mind as a vehicle to see problems with a greater perspective.

6. Mindfulness and Science, Javier García Campayo

This book discusses the scientific basis for mindfulness. Therefore, it’s a book that intertwines science and mindfulness. It allows you to better understand how this ancient practice works.

This book is highly recommended for psychology students, for the curious, and for people who simply want to learn more about these two topics in an entertaining yet rigorous way.

7. Learning to Practice Mindfulness, Vicente Simón

Another of the best mindfulness books is this one by Vicente Simón, doctor, psychiatrist, and professor of psychobiology. In it, the author explains the affective aspects of meditation and provides practical exercises for its development on a day-to-day basis.

He talks about the importance of kindness and compassion, their power to redirect emotional suffering, and how these attitudes can change the brain and improve your health.

8. Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Gunaratana

Bhante Gunaratana’s mindfulness book is one of the most popular and widely read on the subject. In its pages, you’ll find useful information about mindfulness and its relationship to other forms of meditation.

Mindfulness is an extremely useful tool for improving your quality of life. Nevertheless, it doesn’t necessarily work for everyone, as we’re all different. However, it’s certainly a beneficial practice.

In fact, mindfulness can help when it comes to reducing anxiety or improving your relationship with your own thoughts among its other psychological and emotional benefits.

With these selected books, you’ll be able to start along this path of wisdom in which spirituality and meditation are mixed with science itself.