Recommended Reading
A Suggested Bibliography of Readings
on the Mindfulness & the Buddhist Path
Dear friends,
It is a difficult task to recommend specific books. We are living in a blessed time in history. There are so many sources out there, not just in books, but in video and other media as well. Everyone might find their own way in this regard. Nevertheless, here are some suggestions that many have found to be useful.
Note: This list has several sources. The first is the Plum Village list of key books by Thich Nhat Hanh. You can follow this link to see recommendations on books at various levels and topics, including lists of books on special topics: sections on selected topics: Engages Ethics, Relationships, Ecology, Buddhism and Christianity, Poetry, and For Children. The site:
https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/key-books/
The second source is from several years of sangha experience with other books that members have found to be of value in their study and practice. These readings reflect a diversity of Buddhist voices and is constantly expanding.
In the list below, the readings by Thich Nhat Hanh from the Plum Village recommendations are on the left. Readings from other traditions and teachers are to the right.
–Paul Norton
Foundational, accessible
(Where to start)
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace in Every Step, Peace is Every Breath, Being Peace, Touching Peace
Thich Nhat Hanh, You are Here
Brother Phap Hai, Nothing To It
Pema Chödrön, The Wisdom of No Escape
Jack Kornfiled, A Path With Heart
Meditation
Thich Nhat Hanh, Making Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice
Thich Nhat Hanh, Blooming of the Lotus: Guided Meditation for Achieving the Miracle of Mindfulness
Thich Nhat Hanh, Breath, You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing
Deepening
Including lojong practice
Pema Chödrön, Start Where You Are
Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart
Norman Fischer, Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Compassion
Norman Fischer, The World Could be Otherwise
Self-Compassion, Relationships, Strong Emotions
Thich Nhat Hanh, Fear
Thich Nhat Hanh, Anger, Wisdom for Cooling the Flames
Thich Nhat Hanh, Reconciliation
Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddha Mind, Buddha Body
Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance
Christopher Germer, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions
Sharon Salzberg, Loving-Kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness
Surya Lama Das, Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be
Deepening
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching (Introduction to basic teachings)
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Art of Living
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Path of Emancipation
Emerging From the Original Teachings of the Buddha
Thich Nhat Hanh, Awakening the Heart: Essential Buddhist Sutras and Commentaries
Glenn Wallis, Basic Teachings of the Buddha
Steven Bachelor, After Buddhism
Zen roots
Theory of knowledge and transformation
Thich Nhat Hanh, Understanding Your Mind (also called Transformation at the Base)
Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Keys, A Guide to Zen Practice
Thich Nhat Hanh, Meditations on Time
Beth Jacobs, The Original Buddhist Psychology (Abhidharma)
Interbeing
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Other Shore
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Sun My Heart: Reflections on Mindfulness, Concentration and Insight
Buddha’s Life & Teaching
Thich Nhat Hanh, Old Path, White Clouds
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of Buddha’s Teachings
Karen Armstrong, Buddha
Dhammapada (Eknath Easwaran, translator, or many others)
Bhikkhu Bodhi, editor, In the Buddha’s Words: Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon
Special Topics
Thich Nhat Hanh, No Death, No Fear
Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ
Neuroscience & The Dharma
Rick Hanson, Buddha’s Brain
Rick Hanson, Neurodharma
Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson, Altered Traits