Favorite mindfulness + meditation book recommendations from Chill instructors
We love that our community shares our love of reading! Time and again, the top question we’re asked is what books we recommend for building and enhancing your practice. Of course, you’ll find some of our favorites, like What Now? by Yael Shy and I Want to be Calm by Harriet Griffey, on our shelves. But, with so many new books on the topic, it’s hard to know which ones warrant your time and attention. We hope this best hits list from our team points you in the right direction!
Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo
“These beautiful daily readings have a strong impact on my day. This is my third year reading it through and it’s fascinating to see how something I read a year ago can be perceived so differently now.” — Alma Omeralovic
The Emotional Life of Your Brain by Richard Davidson, Ph.D. with Sharon Begley
“This book changed my entire perception of meditation and greatly impacted the approach we’ve developed at Chill. Our approach is secular, evidence-based, and rooted in science. In fact, this is a book I gifted everyone on the team prior to our opening. We have it stocked on our shelves.” — Laura Sage
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chödrön
“Pema Chödrön expertly shares her guide to living mindfully in a simple and accessible way, which just happens to be our goal at Chill! This is a great read for beginners or anyone looking to break through barriers in their meditation practice. Look for it in our studio!” — Claire Mark
How to Meditate by Lawrence LeShan
“My first book on meditation was one that my father, a long-time meditator, gifted me during an enormously (self-imposed) stressful time in my life. It demystified the practice for me in a way that was practical and made sense. I always recommend it to students new to the practice and those who express curiosity. It was my gateway to exploration and could perhaps serve others in the same way.” — Erica Bray
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
“I am obsessed with all things 10% Happier. Dan Harris has such a skillful way of showcasing the intrigue (and humor) of meditation to a modern audience. This latest book is SO accessible for anyone new or even just "curious" about what the heck this meditation thing is. And, it’s funny!” — Steven Andrew
Meditation Secrets for Women by Camille Maurine and Lorin Roche, Ph.D.
“Unpretentious, brilliant, accessible, and full of approachable ways to share meditation.” — Tracy Blier
The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa (John Yates, Ph.D.)
“It is a masterwork on the path of mindfulness meditation, with clear language and excellent illustrations that make it incredibly easy to understand. This is, by far, the most jargon-free, comprehensive, easy-to-follow text on meditation that I have ever read.” — Bill Epperly
A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield
“This is truly one of my favorite books. Jack Kornfield is clear, compassionate and practical about how to incorporate meditation and other spiritual practices into day-to-day life (including practices that can be implemented immediately). As a teacher and student of meditation, it's important for me that meditation be a tool to make living life better, not a tool that requires me to disconnect from life. This book nails it with time-tested advice that does just that.” — Angie Starz
Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra
“This was the first book I read with focus on Ayurveda, which is now an area I would like to specialize in when I become a registered dietitian. It just makes so much sense! We need to treat both our body and minds to achieve perfect health.” — Jordan Via
Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tang
“This author built Google’s mindfulness program. It became so popular after the book that the company opened a "Search Inside Yourself Institute” where they offer mindfulness practice and training.” — Darrell Jones
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
“An utterly beautiful novel that illustrates the philosophy, tradition, wisdom, identity, knowledge-of-self, and peace that comes from intentionally cultivating and integrating one's meditation practice into life. There's no specific pursuit of an end-goal, no benchmarks, repeated "failures," and endless learning.” — Rogan Motis
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
“I particularly enjoy the language and examples used to explain consciousness and how witnessing consciousness or mindfulness is something we all have the capability to practice.” — Rhonda Duffaut
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat Zinn
“This is a simple introduction to the practice of mindfulness meditation with insight on how to integrate mindfulness into daily life. I always recommend this book to anyone who is beginning their meditation journey!” — Maura Salisbury
If you have a favorite that’s missing from this list or that you’d like us to carry in our studio, we would love to know!