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Don't Hate, Meditate!
Megan Monahan
As a young adult struggling with her father’s alcoholism, Megan Monahan’s painful, unresolved emotions overwhelmed her. That’s when she discovered the power of meditation and an open heart. In this guide to meditation for everyday soul-searchers, Monahan, now a meditation instructor and Lululemon ambassador, shares simple yet effective ways for people to “meditate their way through the bad shit and into the good shit.”
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Silence
Erling Kagge
In this joyful meditation on silence, Erling Kagge, Norwegian explorer and the first person to reach the South Pole alone, explores the silence around us, the silence within us, and the silence we must create. Kagge shows us why silence is integral to our sanity and happiness—and how it can open doors to wonder and gratitude.
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The Art of Noticing
Rob Walker
To help his students at New York’s School of Visual Arts become better observers of the world, Rob Walker tells them to “practice paying attention.” Through a series of simple exercises, Walker maps out ways to become a clearer thinker, a better listener, and a more creative workplace colleague, and how to rediscover your sense of passion and notice what really matters.
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Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics
Dan Harris and Jeff Warren
ABC News anchor Dan Harris used to be skeptical of meditation. But after he had a panic attack on live television, he went on a journey that ultimately led him to become one of meditation’s most vocal public proponents. Here, Harris and Jeff Warren, a meditation instructor, embark on a cross-country quest to tackle the myths, misconceptions, and self-deceptions that keep people from meditating. It is filled with easy-to-implement meditation instructions.
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Instant Calm
Karen Salmansohn
For many years, Karen Salmansohn had issues with stress and anxiety that interfered with her life and ability to connect with loved ones. Here, the health and happiness guru shares the technique that saved her: a type of meditation that taps into the five senses. This colorful book of quick meditations and mindfulness tips can help reduce stress and improve focus, clarity, productivity, and sleep.
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How to Breathe
Ashley Neese
Breathwork expert Ashley Neese gives practical guidance for channeling the power of your breath to tackle common challenges with mindfulness and serenity. The book outlines the research-supported benefits of the practice and explains how the breath relates to emotions and resilience. With transporting photography and modern design, How to Breathe shows how small exercises can have a huge impact on daily health and happiness.
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Building a Life Worth Living
Marsha M. Linehan
In this remarkable memoir, renowned psychologist Marsha Linehan describes how, when she was 18 years old, she began an abrupt downward spiral from popular teenager to suicidal young woman. As she healed, she vowed that she would find a way to help others and build a life worth living. She went on to develop the lifesaving behavioral therapy DBT, using her own struggle to develop life skills for others.
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Aware
Dr. Daniel Siegel, M.D.
An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation’s effectiveness, Aware teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle “Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows.” New York Times bestselling author Daniel Siegel reveals a practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention that can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life.
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Looking at Mindfulness
Christophe Andre
Psychiatrist and leading meditation practitioner Christoph Andre shows readers how to achieve mindfulness while looking at the world’s greatest works of art. He presents classic paintings as a visual first step to understanding the benefits of living in the moment, teaching what it means to consider our surroundings, our daily interactions and obligations, and their effect on our inner well-being and mental clarity.
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Running with Mindfulness
William Pullen
A brisk run can give you a powerful, uplifting feeling. Some call it a runner’s high, others attribute it to endorphins. In this interactive workbook, psychotherapist William Pullen teaches readers how to channel that exhilarating energy of running and use it to make positive change in their lives.
It’s challenging to be mindful in a hectic world, with all the pings and distractions of devices and the rest of modern life. But imagine taking a moment to focus on your breath, the sights and sounds around you, and letting your thoughts pass like clouds in the sky.
More people are finding mindfulness practices and seeking out ways to de-stress, and for good reason: some research suggests that meditation is good for your health and may reduce blood pressure, anxiety and depression, and insomnia. These 10 mindfulness books can take your thoughts off the hamster wheel in your brain and offer a life full of more gratitude.
Featured Image: @tcboncore/Twenty20