The 10 best mindfulness books, according to 3 psychologists
By Julia Métraux Jun 16, 2021
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It can be difficult to try and stay in the moment, acknowledge our negative emotions without letting them control us, and try to relax. This is why mindfulness can be a very important practice to implement in your life, and research has found that it's associated with both higher levels of happiness and a greater purpose in life.
With the plethora of self-help books out there, it can be tough to know where to start, especially if you're looking for mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article exercises that are rooted in science-based practices. That's why I reached out to psychotherapist Jennifer Coren, Wake Forest University's Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling David A. Johnson, and clinical psychologist Allison Gilson to get their recommendations on books that can teach people about mindfulness, based on what they found helps for their clients.
Whether you're looking for effective ways to de-stress or want to just learn more about the science behind mindfulness, these books can be a calming read. If anything, they can help you carve out space for yourself and focus on one thing at a time – which are major mindfulness skills themselves.
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The 10 best mindfulness books, according to experts:
'Wherever You Go, There You Are' by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Amazon
Whether you're new to
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article or need a refresher, this book is an excellent primer of how you can apply mindfulness to your life to help you feel more present as you go through your day. "Kabat-Zinn is well known in the modern-day mindfulness world, as he is viewed as the mindfulness guru and founder of what we know to be mindfulness today," Coren says. "His book explores the core value of concentration, and that can help any beginner along their journey."
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'The Miracle of Mindfulness' by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh
Amazon
While washing your dishes may be a mundane task for many, Hanh guides the reader through how small moments like these are perfect times to be more aware of what's going on around you. "This text is a great introduction to
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article," Johnson says. "Grounded in Buddhist teachings, Hanh explains mindfulness using everyday examples paired with pragmatic recommendations."
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$15.00 $13.80 FROM BOOKSHOP
'Practicing Mindfulness' by Matthew Sockolov
Practicing Mindfulness Book cover
Amazon
One great thing about
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article is that there is not just one way to practice it, and you may find which one works best for you in these 75 exercises. "A collection of 75 simple and brief exercises for practicing
meditation
What is meditation? How the popular wellness practice can benefit you
The use of meditation increased by more than three times in the US from 2012 to 2017. Here's what you should know about this practice.
Read more
Image related to article, this book will give you a variety of practical ways to practice mindfulness and find the strategies that work for you," Gilson says. "Full of brief, 5- to 15-minute exercises, this book will help you build a sustainable mindfulness practice and tackle some of the common challenges, such as a wandering mind, that beginners often experience."
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$16.99 $15.63 FROM BOOKSHOP
'Self-Compassion' by Kristin Neff
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
Bookshop
If you tend to be tough on yourself, this book offers action plans for how to deal with issues that may arise in our day-to-day lives, with a focus on being kinder to ourselves. "We all know we're harder on ourselves than we are on others, saying things we'd never say about other people," Gilson says. "In this book, you'll learn to notice and modify your self-critical thoughts, leaving you with more compassion for yourself and better able to treat yourself the way you treat your friends."
$16.99 $15.63 FROM BOOKSHOP
$13.19 FROM AMAZON
'Unf*ck Your Brain' by Faith G. Harper
Unf*ck Your Brain: Getting Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers by Faith G. Harper
Amazon
Starting something new can be difficult when we're in a bad mental state, but
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article may be what we need to address our anxious, depressive, and angry responses to triggers in our lives. "Dr. Faith dives into how to retrain your brain to respond in ways that are not problematic to your daily life," Coren says. "She helps her readers in understanding mindfulness techniques and the effective way to apply them to their lives."
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'The Mindful Way Workbook' by John Teasdale, Mark Williams, and Zindel V. Segal
The Mindful Way Workbook
Amazon
If you're ready to embrace
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article but need a plan to get you started, this eight-week plan may be the extra kick that you need to get started. "It will teach you to observe the relationship between your thoughts and your emotions, and make shifts in your thinking to make you less vulnerable to emotional stress," Gilson said. "Broken up into an eight-week plan, the book introduces the basics of mindfulness, and walks you through practicing and reflecting on mindfulness exercises such as slow breathing and mindful self-compassion."
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'How to be an Adult in Relationships' by David Richo
How to be an Adult in Relationships by David Richo
Amazon
Mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article practices can also be used to help improve our relationships with others, as outlined in this book by Richo. "Drawing on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, this book explores five hallmarks of mindful loving and how they play an important role in our life, transitional times, and relationships," Coren says.
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'Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence—The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice' by Daniel J. Siegel
Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence—The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice by Daniel J. Siegel
Bookshop
For the skeptics who are interested in how this practice actually works, neuroscientist Siegal writes about the science underlying
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article meditation's effects in "Aware." "[Siegal] explains how building focused attention and awareness can literally change how the neurons in our brain interact," Gilson says. "Slightly dense, this is a good book for the interested learner who is willing to take a bit more time to digest the sometimes technical but still useful information contained within."
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'Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness' by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Full Catastrophe Living
Amazon
"Full Catastrophe Living' is a great resource for anyone interested in applying
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article to their daily lives," Johnson says. By engaging in mindfulness, people's mental health may improve, and physical issues like chronic pain may as well. "It provides clear instructions on multiple mindfulness and
meditation
What is meditation? How the popular wellness practice can benefit you
The use of meditation increased by more than three times in the US from 2012 to 2017. Here's what you should know about this practice.
Read more
Image related to article practices while also addressing how mindfulness can address physical and emotional pain, as well as everyday stressors such as time, work, and relationships," he added.
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'Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body' by Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson
Altered Traits
Amazon
If you want to learn more about the history of
mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditation
Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.
Read more
Image related to article (as well as learn why some assumptions about it are false), this book is for you. "Altered traits is an accessible review of the science of mindfulness and the story of western scientists studying mindfulness," Johnson says. "Readers gain an understanding of not only how concepts grounded in Eastern spiritual practices became the focus of neuroscience, psychology, counseling, and medicine, but also an informed and realistic perspective of the benefits and limitations of mindfulness."
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Julia Metraux
Julia Métraux
Freelance Writer
Julia Métraux is a health and culture writer whose work has appeared in Narratively, The Tempest, BUST, and Poynter. You can follow her on Twitter at @metraux_julia and read more of her work at https://juliasmetraux.journoportfolio.com/. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@insider.com.
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The 10 best mindfulness books, according to 3 psychologists
By Julia Métraux
Jun 16, 2021
When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Mindfulness is a wellness practice that can boost feelings of happiness, resilience, and purpose.
We spoke to 3 psychologists for their best mindfulness book recommendations.
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It can be difficult to try and stay in the moment, acknowledge our negative emotions without letting them control us, and try to relax. This is why mindfulness can be a very important practice to implement in your life, and research has found that it's associated with both higher levels of happiness and a greater purpose in life.
With the plethora of self-help books out there, it can be tough to know where to start, especially if you're looking for mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
Whether you're looking for effective ways to de-stress or want to just learn more about the science behind mindfulness, these books can be a calming read. If anything, they can help you carve out space for yourself and focus on one thing at a time – which are major mindfulness skills themselves.
The 10 best mindfulness books, according to experts:
'Wherever You Go, There You Are' by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Whether you're new to mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
$9.71 FROM AMAZON
$17.00 $15.64 FROM BOOKSHOP
'The Miracle of Mindfulness' by Thich Nhat Hanh
While washing your dishes may be a mundane task for many, Hanh guides the reader through how small moments like these are perfect times to be more aware of what's going on around you. "This text is a great introduction to mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
$10.99 FROM AMAZON
$15.00 $13.80 FROM BOOKSHOP
'Practicing Mindfulness' by Matthew Sockolov
One great thing about mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
What is meditation? How the popular wellness practice can benefit youThe use of meditation increased by more than three times in the US from 2012 to 2017. Here's what you should know about this practice.Read more
$12.79 FROM AMAZON
$16.99 $15.63 FROM BOOKSHOP
'Self-Compassion' by Kristin Neff
If you tend to be tough on yourself, this book offers action plans for how to deal with issues that may arise in our day-to-day lives, with a focus on being kinder to ourselves. "We all know we're harder on ourselves than we are on others, saying things we'd never say about other people," Gilson says. "In this book, you'll learn to notice and modify your self-critical thoughts, leaving you with more compassion for yourself and better able to treat yourself the way you treat your friends."
$16.99 $15.63 FROM BOOKSHOP
$13.19 FROM AMAZON
'Unf*ck Your Brain' by Faith G. Harper
Starting something new can be difficult when we're in a bad mental state, but mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
$14.95 $13.75 FROM BOOKSHOP
$13.46 FROM AMAZON
'The Mindful Way Workbook' by John Teasdale, Mark Williams, and Zindel V. Segal
If you're ready to embrace mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
$24.95 $22.95 FROM BOOKSHOP
$17.95 FROM AMAZON
'How to be an Adult in Relationships' by David Richo
Mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
$17.95 $16.51 FROM BOOKSHOP
$15.95 FROM AMAZON
'Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence—The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice' by Daniel J. Siegel
For the skeptics who are interested in how this practice actually works, neuroscientist Siegal writes about the science underlying mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
$16.95 $15.59 FROM BOOKSHOP
$4.99 FROM AMAZON
'Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness' by Jon Kabat-Zinn
"Full Catastrophe Living' is a great resource for anyone interested in applying mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
What is meditation? How the popular wellness practice can benefit youThe use of meditation increased by more than three times in the US from 2012 to 2017. Here's what you should know about this practice.Read more
$13.99 FROM AMAZON
'Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body' by Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson
If you want to learn more about the history of mindfulness
Learn about mindfulness and its benefits — and how to practice it with or without meditationMindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. It has many health benefits — here's how to practice it with or without meditation.Read more
$19.47 FROM AMAZON
$17.00 $15.64 FROM BOOKSHOP
Julia Métraux
Freelance Writer
Julia Métraux is a health and culture writer whose work has appeared in Narratively, The Tempest, BUST, and Poynter. You can follow her on Twitter at @metraux_julia and read more of her work at https://juliasmetraux.journoportfolio.com/. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Read more
Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@insider.com.More: Insider Picks Insider Re
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