How to Meditate

Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation by Sharon Salzberg
This 28-day introduction covers all the basics of meditation, including the science, as well as practical tips on how to sustain a rewarding practice. Comes with audio recordings from one of the West’s most well-respected teachers.

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
This sassy book is for those in your life who aren’t convinced they should be meditating, yet have an open mind. Lessons are interspersed with amusing stories from a cross-country “meditation road trip” led by an ABC Nightline anchor.

Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Written by the founder of the science-backed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program.

Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana
Clear, lucid prose makes the mechanics of mindfulness meditation come to life. 

On the Science of Meditation

Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson
This book explores what we currently know through science about the benefits of meditation and how it changes the brain. It’s extremely well researched - and humble and clear-eyed about what we don’t yet fully understand.

On Mindfulness & Meditation

The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology by Jack Kornfield
An excellent introduction to Buddhist psychology for anyone interested in the contemplative tradition that mindfulness hails from.

Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach
A clinical therapist and meditation teacher, Tara Brach explains how meditation can free us from chronic shame, insecurity, and the nagging sense that we’re not good enough.

Mindful of Race by Ruth King
“Racism is a heart disease - and it’s curable!” writes Ruth King. In this book she explains how to use mindfulness meditation to heal the roots of racial distress - in ourselves and in our world.

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön
This classic is a balm for the wounded spirit. By leaning into and connecting with pain - rather than following our natural urge to run for the hills - we grow stronger and more resilient.

Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
An authoritative guide on how to actively cultivate more kindness, compassion, joy, and balance through meditation. Written from a Buddhist perspective, with wisdom stories from various traditions.

Relational Mindfulness by Deborah Eden Tull
A guide for taking the lessons of mindfulness off the meditation cushion, and applying them in the messiness of relationships, work, and how we engage with the earth.