Building conscious awareness will help you a lot with your emotional healing, improving relationships, getting rid of negative feelings, and becoming a fully functioning person.
But, developing mindful awareness is not easy. You will need to learn the right techniques and ways to incorporate them into your daily life.
To learn these techniques, there’s no better way than some of the best books on mindfulness in your arsenal.
In this blog, you will find the top 11 mindfulness books. You will get to know their ratings, summary, where to buy, and how exactly they will help you with the emotional healing stages.
1. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
By: Eckhart Tolle
Goodreads: 4.36 (31,972 votes) | Amazon: 4.9 (4,057 votes)
Year of Publish: 1997 | Total pages: 229
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle emphasizes the transformative power of the present moment in achieving spiritual enlightenment. This mindfulness book urges its readers to transcend past regrets and future anxieties.
Tolle explains that true peace and fulfillment arise from fully experiencing the ‘Now,’ rather than being lost in mental distractions. He has offered practical advice for overcoming the ego and mental patterns that keep individuals from living authentically.
On an overall level, Power of Now is a good mindful book that encourages a human shift from a mind-driven existence to a state of deep inner stillness and awareness.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Deepens understanding of living in the present.
● Teaches us to break our Ego.
● Offers practices for overcoming mental distractions.
● Encourages spiritual and emotional growth.
Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ThriftBooks
2. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
By: Jon Kabat-Zinn
Goodreads: 4.15 (30,582 votes) | Amazon: 4.7 (1,234 votes)
Year of Publish: 1994 | Total pages: 304
If you are searching for some of the good books on mindfulness, then “Wherever You Go, There You Are” might be your answer. Kabat-Zinn is a pioneer in the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) technique. In his book, he offers a practical guide to incorporating mindfulness into our daily routines.
He has provided actionable steps such as mindful breathing, body scans, and mindful observation to help us break free from our automatic pilot mode. Through concrete examples and simple exercises, Kabat-Zinn illustrates how mindful awareness can be applied to everyday activities – from eating to even group mindfulness activities.
The ultimate aim of this conscious discipline book is to help readers reduce stress, enhance emotional resilience, and live a more deliberate and fulfilling life.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Introduces specific mindfulness meditation techniques.
● Provides practical advice for incorporating mindfulness into daily life.
● Helps readers cultivate greater self-awareness.
● Encourages a deeper connection with the deepest you.
Buy: eBay, Walmart, ThriftBooks
3. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
By: Thich Nhat Hanh
Goodreads: 4.21 (17,305 votes) | Amazon: 4.8 (2,345 votes)
Year of Publish: 1975 | Total pages: 140
Thich Nhat Hanh is a renowned Vietnamese Zen master. He has published one of the best mindfulness books, which is both an introduction and a practical guide to meditation.
The Miracle of Mindfulness begins by outlining the principles of mindfulness. It further goes on to guide readers on how to incorporate mindfulness into everyday activities such as eating, walking, and even washing dishes. Hanh claims that by focusing on these ordinary tasks with full awareness, individuals can transform routine actions into opportunities for meditation.
Further, this book also addresses the importance of maintaining a mindful attitude towards emotions and thoughts. Maintaining such mindful awareness can help us to have greater emotional balance, depth, and understand how to feel feelings fully.
Overall, the accessible language and practical exercises make it one of the best books on mindfulness.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Offers a gentle introduction to mindfulness and meditation.
● Teaches practical techniques for a mindful way of life.
● Provides insights into the benefits of mindfulness for overall well-being.
● Encourages readers to live in the present at every moment.
Buy: Barnes & Noble, Penguin Random House, Walmart
4. Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha
By: Tara Brach
Goodreads: 4.37 (12,782 votes) | Amazon: 4.8 (1,234 votes)
Year of Publish: 2003 | Total pages: 352
Tara Brach is a clinical psychologist and meditation teacher. In Radical Acceptance, she has combined Buddhist teachings with contemporary psychological wisdom to address the struggles of self-judgment, shame, and unworthiness. It comes among the practical mindful books to learn present-moment awareness.
Brach claims that radical acceptance is an unconditional acceptance of ourselves, our emotions, and our circumstances. To help us understand this concept and its applications, she has used personal anecdotes, case studies, and practical exercises.
Further, she has also integrated mindfulness techniques, guided meditations, and reflective questions to help us in building awareness.
All in all “Radical Acceptance” is among the conscious discipline books that can help us break free from the cycle of self-rejection and eliminate any causes of feeling sad without reason.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Teaches the importance of self-compassion.
● Provides tools for overcoming feelings of unworthiness.
● Encourages a deep acceptance of oneself and others.
● Helps cultivate a mindful and compassionate approach to life.
Buy: Amazon, eBay, Penguin Random House
5. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works
By: Dan Harris
Goodreads: 4.04 (33,982 votes) | Amazon: 4.6 (2,345 votes)
Year of Publish: 2014 | Total pages: 256
10% Happier is one of the award winning books on mindfulness by Dan Harris. It chronicles the author’s journey from a skeptical news anchor to discovering the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
Harris’s motivation to meditate started after he experienced a panic attack on live television. It led him to research and go deeper into mindfulness practice.
Throughout the book, Harris combines his personal narrative with insights from scientific research and interviews with meditation experts. He describes how meditation helped him to deal with anxiety and stress more effectively, without compromising his drive and ambition.
In his book, he has also addressed the common misconceptions about meditation. He has challenged the idea that meditation requires a complete lifestyle overhaul. Instead, it can be easily integrated into one’s daily activities.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Offers a relatable and humorous take on mindfulness.
● Provides practical advice for reducing stress.
● Helps integrate mindfulness into a busy lifestyle.
● Provides a fresh perspective for skeptic readers.
Buy: Barnes & Noble, Half Price Books, Porchlight
6. Mindfulness in Plain English
By: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Goodreads: 4.34 (15,672 votes) | Amazon: 4.8 (1,456 votes)
Year of Publish: 1991 | Total pages: 224
Mindfulness in Plain English is written by a Sri Lankan monk who has extensive experience in teaching present-moment awareness. This mindful meditation book offers clear and practical insights into the techniques of conscious living.
The text begins with the fundamentals of mindfulness – explaining its roots in Buddhist tradition and its relevance to contemporary life. Gunaratana emphasizes that mindfulness is not just a practice but a way of life that leads to greater clarity, peace, and balance.
The author has provided detailed instructions on sitting meditation, body scan, and mindful breathing. He has also addressed common challenges that meditators face and the ways to overcome them.
If you’re searching for good meditation mindfulness books that blend theoretical knowledge and practical guidance, then this one is meant for you. It can even be counted among the best self-healing books.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Talks about the traditional Buddhist teachings.
● Provides practical instructions for developing a meditation practice.
● Helps meditators to overcome their meditation challenges.
● Encourages a deeper connection to the present moment.
Buy: Simon & Schuster, Target, Amazon
7. The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness
By: Andy Puddicombe
Goodreads: 4.11 (7,890 votes) | Amazon: 4.5 (987 votes)
Year of Publish: 2012 | Total pages: 224
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness is a practical mindfulness journal book for understanding and practicing meditation. Puddicombe begins by defining meditation as the practice of training the mind to observe thoughts and feelings without getting entangled in them. He claims that this practice does not require a special environment or posture – just mindful awareness.
Central to this guide is the technique of focusing on your own breath. Puddicombe instructs readers to pay attention to the natural rhythm of their breathing as a means to anchor their attention.
This attention then must extend beyond meditation into everyday activities. As per this book, we need to imbibe mindful practices in all of our routine actions, like eating, walking, and even in conversation with others.
Overall, Puddicombe’s approach is practical and relatable. This book on mindfulness can help us with tools to integrate awareness seamlessly into our daily activities.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Introduces mindfulness and meditation in an accessible way.
● Provides practical tips for incorporating mindfulness into our daily lives.
● Encourages a balanced and mindful approach to living.
● It will help us as readers reduce stress and improve our overall well-being.
Buy: eBay, ThriftBooks, Walmart
8. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness
By: Jon Kabat-Zinn
Goodreads: 4.29 (10,456 votes) | Amazon: 4.7 (1,123 votes)
Year of Publish: 1990 | Total pages: 720
Full Catastrophe Living is a comprehensive guide to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – a program developed by Kabat-Zinn himself. It’s one of those mindful books for adults that combines scientific research, practical exercises, and philosophy to help us manage our pains.
The core concept of this book is that by becoming more aware of our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, we can respond to stress and pain with less reactivity. Kabat-Zinn provides detailed instructions for exercises such as body scanning, mindful breathing, and gentle yoga. These practices are designed to help us develop a deeper awareness of our physical and emotional states, so as to become better-functioning people.
Full Catastrophe Living has also integrated numerous case studies and testimonials from people who have benefited from the MBSR program. If you want a book on mindfulness with both theoretical insights and practical tools to manage life’s challenges, then this one is meant for you. It can even help you in your journey of ancestral healing and womb healing.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Provides comprehensive guidance on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR).
● Teaches techniques for managing stress, pain, and illness.
● Encourages a mindful approach to health and well-being.
● Helps readers cultivate emotional resilience and deep peace.
Buy: Penguin Random House, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
9. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
By: Michael A. Singer
Goodreads: 4.24 (32,672 votes) | Amazon: 4.8 (3,456 votes)
Year of Publish: 2007 | Total pages: 200
The Untethered Soul offers an exploration of self-awareness and personal liberation in living a life free from suffering. This book delves into the nature of consciousness and provides practical guidance on transcending the limitations of mind and ego.
Singer begins by introducing the concept of the “inner voice”. He explains that many individuals mistakenly identify with this inner dialogue, which leads to emotional turbulence and a sense of being controlled by external circumstances. It is this that makes it among very insightful books on mindfulness.
This is one of the best meditation and mindfulness books as it addresses several aspects of one’s self-realization journey. Singer explores concepts such as surrendering to the flow of life, letting go of past grievances, and embracing the present moment with openness. He argues that true freedom comes from transcending the ego and experiencing life as an interconnected whole.
If you want a mindfulness journal book that can help you break free from the constraints of your habitual thought patterns, then you should go with this one.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Explores the nature of consciousness and self.
● Provides insights into overcoming mental barriers.
● Encourages awareness of the observer so as to separate one’s identity from thoughts and emotions.
● Helps readers achieve spiritual growth and emotional balance.
Buy: World of Books, Etsy, Target
10. Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program
By: Sharon Salzberg
Goodreads: 4.20 (4,890 votes) | Amazon: 4.7 (789 votes)
Year of Publish: 2010 | Total pages: 224
Sharon Salzberg is a renowned meditation teacher who has her focus on mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation. Her mindful body book offers a structured 28-day program for us to develop a sustainable meditation practice.
Real Happiness starts with simple meditation techniques, such as focusing on our breath and observing our thoughts. As chapters progress, they offer more advanced practices that will help us to go further deeper into our being.
Throughout the book, Salzberg has addressed common challenges that meditators face – like restlessness, boredom, and self-doubt. We can use her strategies to deal with these challenges during meditation.
She has also included reflections on how meditation can influence various aspects of life, such as relationships, stress management, and personal growth. By the end of the 28 days, readers are encouraged to integrate meditation into their daily lives and start its practice at every moment.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Offers a well-structured 28-day mindfulness meditation program.
● Provides practical tips and exercises for developing a meditation practice.
● Encourages a deeper connection to the present moment.
● Helps readers cultivate deep inner peace and well-being.
Buy: Porchlight, AbeBooks, Chegg
11. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
By: Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Carlton Abrams
Goodreads: 4.34 (25,672 votes) | Amazon: 4.8 (2,345 votes)
Year of Publish: 2016 | Total pages: 368
The Book of Joy is a synthesis of wisdom from two spiritual leaders – His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu – who have shared their insights on finding lasting happiness in life. It comes among the top mindfulness books.
Central to this book is the idea that joy is not just a fleeting emotion. Rather it is a deeper and more enduring state of being that must be nurtured through every moment.
The first part, “The Nature of True Joy,” discusses the difference between joy and happiness. It argues that joy is a more profound and stable sense of well-being. In the second section, “The Obstacles to Joy,” the book offers solutions to common barriers to joy – fear, anger, and negativity.
The third part, “The Eight Pillars of Joy,” delves into specific qualities that support the development of joy. While “The Joy of Living” presents practical advice on how to apply all principles in everyday situations.
Overall, “The Book of Joy” blends personal anecdotes, philosophical reflections, and actionable steps for readers to cultivate a deeper sense of joy.
How it will help in building your mindful awareness:
● Explores the nature of joy and how to cultivate it.
● Provides insights from two spiritual leaders.
● Encourages a mindful approach to life.
● Helps readers develop emotional resilience and inner peace.
Buy: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Penguin Random House
All in All
You can make good use of techniques in these good books on mindfulness.
Just make sure that you remain aware of your own self. And that you don’t follow anything blindly.