Mindfulness books I strongly recommend to beginners:
“Mindfulness in Plain English” by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. One of the most read and recommended book on mindfulness, for the way it explains what this practice is in a simple and accessible way.
“Radical Acceptance” by Tara Brach. One of the most beloved mindfulness teachers of the West. A must read for anyone who suffers from a harsh inner critic.
"Radical Compassion" by Tara Brach. A very illuminating read for understanding compassion and how to tap into it in moments of difficulty.
“The Wise Heart” by Jack Kornfield. A comprehensive guide to mindfulness, written by one of the greatest teachers of the West, in his beautiful, flowing language full of touching stories.
“Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness” by Sharon Salzberg. A must-read for anyone trying to understand the heart qualities we cultivate in mindfulness: lovingkindness, compassion, equanimity, joy and generosity.
"The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh. One of the most wonderful descriptions of mindfulness ever written. An inspiration and motivation to cultivate awareness and presence in our lives.
“Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse. A great literature piece on the life story of the Buddha; helps with understanding what mindfulness looks like when applied to the life of a person.
“The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World” by His Holiness Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams. A wonderful and easy-to-read book on joy, a conversation between 2 of the most influential spiritual leaders of the world.
"The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace" by Jack Kornfield. Jack is one of the most beloved mindfulness teachers of the West. She is the teacher of Jen and Zeynep. In this poetic and short book, he speaks to our hearts with beautiful quotes and stories on forgiveness, lovingkindness and serenity.
"Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself" by Kristin Neff. Kristin Neff is one of the pioneers of research on self-compassion, as well as a mindfulness teacher. In this book, she sheds light on our harsh inner critics, and how to care for ourselves, in a simple, soft and extremely powerful way.
Mindfulness books I strongly recommend to more experienced practitioners:
“Awakening Together” by Larry Yang. A must-read for anyone who is looking to make mindfulness a multi-cultural, inclusive community practice.
“How To Be Sick” by Toni Bernhard. If you are looking to be inspired to take on or sustain a mindfulness practice, or one of your loved one’s is suffering from sickness, read Toni's amazing story of how she used her practice to find joy in a life full of chronic health problems with no cure.
“Say What You Mean" by Oren Jay Sofer. Sofer is considered to be one of the greatest teachers of mindful speech and communication. This is a great book that combines the NonViolent Communication framework with applied mindfulness.
Wellness books I strongly recommend:
"Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. A survivor of 4 concentration camps, renowned psychotherapist, the creator of Logo Therapy, Viktor Frankl explains to readers in this short and cherished book that the secret to a happy life is finding meaning in even the most hopeless circumstances.
“Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall B. Rosenberg. One of the books that changed my life forever, in giving me a simple and easy-to-use communication framework.
“The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel Van der Kolk. Almost all of us have had traumatic experiences, and 1 in 5 of us will at some point develop a traumatic stress. A must-read to understand deeper our bodies, connections and communities.
Poetry by Mary Oliver, David Whyte, Rupi Kaur - I recommend you read poetry as it makes us pause and opens the heart. You can find your own favorites :)