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Best Meditation Books

Updated April 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

Learn to endure challenges and accept adverse events without becoming upset or growing anxious with this collection of wisdom from the Stoics.

Pros

A compendium of maxims from ancient self-help gurus including Marcus Aurelius, Zeno, and Seneca, this volume helps you to improve and declutter your headspace. By reading a page a day you can start to retrain your thinking and minimize worrying. Our expert endorses this book as a solid introduction to the meditation.

Cons

The book might not satisfy experienced Stoics.

Best Bang for the Buck
Andy Puddicombe The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day
Andy Puddicombe
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day
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Expert Recommended
Bottom Line

A user-friendly introduction to the basic concepts of mindfulness written by a former Buddhist monk.

Pros

A meditation book with simple and easy-to-follow instructions. The book shows you how to achieve the benefits of meditation, such as better mood regulation and improved sleep, in just 10 minutes of meditation each day. Our expert found this guide helpful and concise.

Cons

Some readers dislike the meandering style of the author.

Matthew Sockolov Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday
Matthew Sockolov
Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday
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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

Our expert recommends this book for help with specific meditation challenges like anxiety and focus.

Pros

This volume introduces the basic concepts of mindfulness in plain English. Each of the 75 meditations has clear steps to follow. Start off with short, five-minute meditations and build your skill as you progress through the chapters.

Cons

Some readers reported that the book contains a lot of repetition.

Thich Nhat Hanh You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment
Thich Nhat Hanh
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment
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Bottom Line

Learn to tame the mind and make the most of your life with this book of advice from a Zen monk recognized as a modern master of mindfulness meditation.

Pros

Explains how to benefit from training the mind to slow down. Discusses methods like simple breathing techniques, walking meditations, and deep listening. Our expert appreciates that the book presents fundamental Buddhist practices and ideas in simple language.

Cons

Some readers feel the book is too basic.

Benjamin W. Decker  Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
Benjamin W. Decker 
Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

If the idea of mindfulness is new to you, this book offers a solid introduction to the concept as well as specific steps you can take to see results quickly.

Pros

Learn about tools to quiet the mind drawn from the Vipassana and Zen schools of Buddhism. This book offers clear advice that you can use right away. Each of the 10 exercises includes a writing prompt that reinforces what you have learned. Our expert shares that the book delivers information logically.

Cons

A few buyers wished that the text was printed in a larger font.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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