15 AMAZING books to help you develop Mindfulness in your everyday life.
Mindfulness
Sure, but where to start? Consciousness, as a lifestyle is increasing in popularity throughout our culture. Here at just us… BEING!™, our intention is to create a cache of resources and make them available on the topic so that our readers can find peace and hope, especially at a time when there exists so much uncertainty in the world. However, admittingly, it can be difficult to know where to start.
This article provides a wide-ranging collection of books relating to mindfulness. Whether you’re looking to mindfulness as a way to help yourself, your family and friends, children, or your clients and business associates… you’ll come to discover that find something here for you.
We’ve also recently uploaded an article called What is it all About? which explains overarchingly how just us… BEING!™ fits into the whole thing.
So go ahead and dive in. We hope this helps you in your quest. If you’ve read or plan to read one of these books soon, be sure to let us know what your thoughts are by adding a review below.
Before you start reading this article, I recommend you preregister for our upcoming January Mindfulness Retreat in Barbados in partnership with Barbados Connect; we will be announcing the location very soon so be sure to connect with us.
Take a look Back
- The power of Now Eckhart Tolle
The book draws from a variety of “spiritual traditions”, and has been described by one reviewer as “Buddhism mixed with mysticism and a few references to Jesus Christ, a sort of New Age re-working of Zen.” It uses these traditions to describe a “belief system based on living in the present moment”. Its core message is that people’s emotional problems are rooted in their identification with their minds. The author writes that an individual should be aware of their “present moment” instead of losing themselves in worry and anxiety about the past or future.[2]
2. The Art of Living Thich Nhat Hahn
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.
3. “Real-World Mindfulness for Beginners: Navigate Daily Life One Practice at a Time” by Brenda Salgado (2016)
Brenda Salgado’s book for newcomers aims to introduce mindfulness by relating it to daily life. She introduces several mindfulness practices beginners can immediately dive into, no matter how new they are to mindfulness. Some of these exercises are so short they can fit into any schedule.
The book also comes recommended by Sharon Salzberg, an accomplished mindfulness leader. (She’ll show up again later in this article.)
4. “Mindfulness for Beginners: A Simple Concise & Complete Guide to Mindfulness Meditation” by Jeffrey Holloway (2017)
Jeffrey Holloway’s book is an introduction to mindfulness meditation both in theory and in practice. This book will help readers learn the science of mindfulness as well as different ways to incorporate meditation into their lives. Holloway began learning about mindfulness as a way to combat his anxiety, so people struggling with anxiety might find this book particularly helpful.
5. “Mindfulness for Beginners: Practical Guide to Mindfulness Meditation & Productive Life: Tips for the 21st Century Human” by Martin Lippmann (2017)
Only 49 pages long, Martin Lippmann’s book is one of the shortest books on this list, so it might be a good option for people itching to get going, fast. The book focuses on teaching everything you need to know to start a mindfulness meditation practice, as well as tips on how to maximize the effectiveness of your meditation sessions.
This book is a good option for someone who is already sold on mindfulness and is looking for a quick way to get started.
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6. “Mindfulness for Beginners: How to Live in the Moment, Stress and Worry Free in a Constant State of Peace and Happiness” by Yesenia Chavan (2014)
Yesenia Chavan’s introduction to mindfulness is not the shortest book on this list but is still a breezy read. It spends a bit more time convincing the reader that mindfulness is beneficial, then it suggests ways to start your own mindfulness practice, from meditation sessions to mindful breathing exercises.
Chavan’s book is aimed at people who want to dive headfirst into mindfulness and completely change their lives. This is because Chavan herself used mindfulness to attain a healthier weight and a happier lifestyle.
7. “Mindfulness: Ultimate Beginners Guide to Embrace Peace, Happiness, and Zen by Eliminating Stress and Anxiety” by Kemal Ravakar (2017)
Kemal Ravakar’s book shows beginners that there are countless times throughout the day to practice mindfulness and that anyone can start applying mindfulness to their lives.
This makes it a good solution for people who want to learn the basics of mindfulness in a way that fits their schedule, whether they can afford to dedicate a lot of time to mindfulness or just a little bit. A great book for people looking to learn from a Zen master rather than someone with a more Western background.
8. “The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World” by Haemin Sunim (2017)
Haemin Sunim’s book is an international bestseller that aims to help people adopt mindfulness in their lives in order to be happier. The author was born in South Korea but was educated in the United States, giving him a multicultural perspective that many people find valuable.
In his book, Sunim stresses the importance of fostering healthy relationships with others and the necessity of having a strong relationship with oneself. This book can help you deepen your existing mindfulness practice, but might also convince someone without an existing practice to establish one.
9. “Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking” by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport (2016)
S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport’s bestselling book is focused on the benefits of mindfulness, such as improved relationships, reduced anxiety, and decreased mental clutter. The authors explain how to achieve these benefits through mindfulness meditation and other exercises.
The book is designed to be actionable, so anyone can pick it up and start benefiting from mindfulness right away. That fact, combined with its fairly short length, makes this a great choice for people looking for quick results.
10. “Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration” by Meera Lee Patel (2015)
Meera Lee Patel’s bestseller is the most interactive book on this list, as it’s formatted like a journal. It includes writing prompts and creative exercises that help readers discover mindfulness in their own ways.
This book is an excellent option for independent learners who prefer interactive experiences to more traditional books. It is also the clear choice for the aesthetically minded, as it is presented in a more visually pleasing way than the traditional books on this list.
11. “The Little Book of Mindfulness”
The Little Book of Mindfulness: 10 Minutes a Day to Less Stress, More Peace by Patrizia Collard (2014) aims to be an easy-to-follow path to mindful awareness for anyone who has ten minutes a day to commit to it.
Collard is a psychotherapist with plenty of experience in psychology and mindfulness, so you can have faith that the book’s teachings are rooted in science. This book is a great way to learn and apply mindfulness in bite-sized chunks, and with just under 100 pages, it’s a quick read.
12. “The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation” by Thich Nhat Hanh (1999)
Thich Nhat Hanh’s introduction to mindfulness meditation takes a casual approach by pointing out the opportunities for practicing mindfulness in the things you already do.
Rather than suggesting you set aside hours per week for mindfulness meditation, Nhat Hanh suggests practicing mindfulness while doing everyday things like washing the dishes. Nhat Hahn is a Zen master who is well-respected in the mindfulness community and beyond—Martin Luther King Jr. even nominated Nhat Hanh for a Nobel Peace Prize.
For readers who prefer to learn from proven authorities, you cannot do much better than a book by Nhat Hanh.
13. “Five Minute Meditation: Mindfulness, Stress Relief, and Focus for Absolute Beginners” by Lisa Shea (2015)
This mindfulness meditation handbook aims to help “absolute beginners” begin a meditation practice, starting with just five minutes a day. It is a very short read, and the Kindle edition is completely free, so readers have nothing to lose.
If you are already sold on mindfulness meditation but don’t know where to start, this is a good, low-commitment option. You might need to eventually supplement this book with something else on this list, but it’s still a great start.
14. “Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program” by Sharon Salzberg (2010)
On the opposite side of the spectrum is Real Happiness, a full mindfulness meditation program from Sharon Salzberg, a leading figure in the world of mindfulness and mindfulness meditation.
This book is written for newcomers to mindfulness meditation, and it provides four weeks of guidance. For people who want to get into mindfulness meditation but need a rigid schedule laid out for them, this is a great option.
15. “Mindfulness: A Mindful Eternity in Meditation: Mindfulness Meditation Guide for All and All Moments” by Dhumavarna Patkar (2016)
This book is another how-to guide on mindfulness meditation, though it relates mindfulness to Buddhism more than the other books on this list. It discusses the history of mindfulness as it relates to Buddhism before instructing the reader on how to practice mindfulness meditation.
This is a good option for anyone who wants to learn mindfulness meditation with a focus on how it pertains to Buddhism, though its mindfulness teachings are solid on their own.
BENEFITS OF READING ON MINDFULNESS!
Meditation and mindfulness will boost your ability to focus and be aware of the present moment. As Eckhart Tolle says- the here and now- and will enable you to find your flow and increase your productivity.
Pick out your favorite quotes and meditate on them throughout each day so that you can develop the groundwork necessary for success and begin to cultivate a productive and a healthy mind.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.
Jon Kabat-Zinn
