Books like Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

01

The Way of Zen

Alan Watts · Religion & Spirituality

The Way of Zen was Alan Watts' most widely read and carefully argued work, published in 1957 at a time when Zen was largely unknown to English-speaking audiences.

Both dig into zen.

02

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching

Thich Nhat Hanh · Religion & Spirituality

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is Thich Nhat Hanh's comprehensive introduction to core Buddhist teachings, written with the warmth and accessibility that characterize all of his work.

A kindred religion & spirituality read.

03

Peace Is Every Step

Thich Nhat Hanh · Religion & Spirituality

Peace Is Every Step is Thich Nhat Hanh's most accessible work — a short, warmly written invitation to bring mindfulness practice into the texture of daily life.

Both dig into present moment.

04

Tao Te Ching

Laozi · Philosophy

The Tao Te Ching is one of the most translated texts in world literature and the foundational scripture of Taoism.

A kindred religion & spirituality read.

05

The Miracle of Mindfulness

Thich Nhat Hanh · Religion & Spirituality

The Miracle of Mindfulness is Thich Nhat Hanh's introduction to mindfulness practice, originally written in Vietnamese as a letter to a fellow monk.

Shares meditation and present moment with Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.

06

Mindfulness for Beginners

Jon Kabat-Zinn · Health

Mindfulness for Beginners is Jon Kabat-Zinn's entry-level introduction to mindfulness meditation.

Shares meditation and present moment with Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.

07

Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom

Joseph Goldstein · Religion & Spirituality

Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom is Joseph Goldstein's distillation of vipassana — the Theravada Buddhist practice of direct investigation into the nature of mind and experience.

Both dig into meditation.

08

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

trans. Sri Swami Satchidananda · Religion & Spirituality

The Yoga Sutras is a foundational text of classical Indian philosophy, compiled by the sage Patanjali — likely around 400 CE, though some scholars place the compilation earlier or later.

Both dig into meditation.

09

Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion

Sam Harris · Religion & Spirituality

Waking Up is Sam Harris' argument that the insights of contemplative traditions — particularly Buddhism's claim that the sense of self is an illusion — can be separated from religious metaphysics and investigated directly through meditation and introspection.

Both dig into meditation.

10

10% Happier

Dan Harris · Memoir

10% Happier is Dan Harris's account of discovering meditation after a panic attack live on Good Morning America in 2004 forced him to confront an anxiety problem he'd been managing with cocaine and a punishing work schedule.

Both dig into meditation.

11

Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body

Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson · Science

Altered Traits is a careful assessment of what neuroscience actually knows about meditation, written by two researchers who have spent their careers at the intersection of contemplative practice and empirical science.

Both dig into meditation.

12

Full Catastrophe Living

Jon Kabat-Zinn · Health

Full Catastrophe Living is Jon Kabat-Zinn's foundational text on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), the eight-week clinical program he developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979.

Both dig into meditation.