10 Mindfulness Books to Help You Be More Self-Aware

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It’s a busy world. There are many things to do and sometimes, in the flurry of activity, you lose your connection to the present. Oftentimes you don’t notice that you’re not present to what you’re doing and how you’re feeling.

This is where mindfulness comes in. It’s the practice of purposely paying attention to the present moment. But objectivity is also part of it, meaning you’re able to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Best Mindfulness Books

Mindfulness is an ability within everyone. It can be done through dedicated mediation sessions, or in short resting moments such as slowing down and taking a breath before diving into a task.

But much as it is difficult to realize you’ve lost connection with the present, it can also be hard to start being mindful of yourself. Below are some books that can teach you more about mindfulness, including how to make it a permanent part of your life.

1. Everyday Mindfulness by Melissa Steginus

Melissa Steginus is a productivity and wellness specialist with a focus on teaching people to make their personal and professional lives harmonious and fulfilling. In doing so, she’s created 108 practices that even the busiest of people can use to integrate mindfulness into their daily lives.

This book divides these exercises into six sections of your life: Physical, Emotional, Rational, Spiritual, Occupation, and Network. Also included are explanations for each exercise’s purpose and hundreds of reflection questions to help you better live in the moment.

2. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky

Celebrating its 25th year, this completely revised and updated third edition combines humor and science to explain how prolonged stress can create or worsen a host of physical and mental problems. 

Sapolsky, a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation genius grant, explains that “stress-related disease emerges, predominantly, out of the fact that we so often activate a physiological system that has evolved for responding to acute physical emergencies, but we turn it on for months on end, worrying about mortgages, relationships, and promotions.”

3. The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh believes that each moment of life is a way toward greater peace and self-understanding.

To do so, he recommends practical exercises he has developed over years of personal experience and insight. Whether it’s washing dishes or drinking tea, mindfulness can be integrated for you to live the best life you deserve.

4. The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe

First published in 2016, this book found its way onto Bill Gates’s list of favorite books for 2018. in “Prior to finding Headspace,” he wrote in his GatesNotes blog, “I had read several books about meditation, all of which intimidated me.

They made me think that the investment in terms of time and energy was just too high. Headspace made the barrier to entry low enough for me. It’s just 10 minutes a day of listening to Andy’s soothing British accent and trying to stay with him.”

5. Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

To Kabat-Zinn, meditation is practiced for its own sake. It must not only be an act of “doing” but also of “being.” A person must experience each moment to its fullest, rather than worrying about the past, future, or any other distractions of modern life.

And so he describes a series of simple meditative exercises that mindfulness practitioners of every level can use to reclaim and savor their life’s moments.

6. Declutter Your Mind by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport

The authors identify the sources of what they call “mental clutter”—including stress, obligations, relationships, and surroundings.

With a focus on mindfulness and meditation, they offer “practical, science-backed actions” that can create “an immediate, positive impact on your mindset.” Reviewers tout its clarity and effectiveness.

7. How to Train a Wild Elephant by Jan Chozen Bays

Research has shown that mindfulness can reduce stress, improve health, and elevate one’s quality of life. And so physician and zen master Jan Chozen Bays has developed a series of practices that one can use to cultivate mindfulness in their daily life.

These quick and simple practices help you enjoy calm moments—ones that reconnect you to the present, without worries about the past or the future. To be more effective, each exercise is presented as a challenge, with each containing an explanation about how to do it and why you should.

8. Secret Garden by Johanna Basford

As one of the books that took coloring books into the adult realm, Secret Garden is a reminder of the focus and joy you experienced as a child, coloring books for the sake of coloring them.

This focus and joy is a good indication of “being” instead of just “doing”. From coloring pages, solving mazes, completing patterns, and creating your own artistic vista, this book is a throwback to your childhood and a path back to the mindfulness you’ve left behind.

9. Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

Your harshest critic is often yourself. In the pursuit of a goal, you tend to ignore the warning signs of stress and anxiety. Soon enough, you develop insecurities and indulge in constant self-criticisms.

Kristin Neff says to stop being too hard on yourself. In this book, she outlines how you can recognize and modify self-critical thoughts to have more compassion for yourself and other people.

10. Unf*ck Your Brain by Faith G. Harper

Sometimes our brains can be the biggest detriment to self-peace. Unlearning bad habits, beliefs, and perspectives can be much harder than learning new things. This puts you in a bad mental state, where learning something new and positive becomes difficult to start.

Dr. Faith tells you the science behind your brain and teaches you how to rewire it to respond in ways that won’t be detrimental to your daily life. Inside this book are techniques you can use to deal with trauma, along with how you can effectively apply them for the betterment of yourself.

How Do You Practice Mindfulness?

There is no universal quiz or guide to take in practicing mindfulness. It can be done through the simplest tasks or through exercises dedicated to helping you live in the moment.

While some methods may prove more effective than others, mindfulness always starts with awareness. You must pay attention to the present moment, experiencing it fully through your senses. To do so means letting go of the past, future, and other distractions of this modern world.

But mindfulness also means being an objective observer. Practicing not be reactive or overwhelmed with your thoughts and emotions is an excellent step toward inner peace and growth.

Have you practiced mindfulness? Share your experiences so far in the comments below!

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