"Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light."
- Vera Nazarian
I’d like to share three books which would be great reads over the Christmas period. Each of these books has played an important role in my own mindfulness journey, and if you choose to buy them as a treat for yourself I hope you’ll find them just as inspiring.
They would also make wonderful gifts, but a word of caution: be careful of giving unsolicited advice (even in book form!) and be as sure as you can that it’ll be well-received. (It’s also worth noting that “Why Meditate” may be an easier book to gift that “Soul Without Shame”!)
1. Why Meditate by Matthieu Riccard
This is a wonderful little book by Matthieu Riccard, who was one of the interpreters for the Dalai Lamas. It’s very easy to read, deep and insightful, with funny, sweet examples. A free audio version is also available.
2. Soul without Shame by Byron Brown
This is my top read to help liberate you from that pesky little judgmental voice. It feels like it’s speaking directly to your soul. If you only read one book during 2018 – this is the one I would recommend.
3. The Attention Revolution by B. Alan Wallace
This is a great book on Shamatha meditation and how attention can change your life. B. Alan Wallace is one of the world’s leading Shamatha meditation teachers.You may not need to read all the chapters of this book, as it gets progressively more advanced. Just read as much as you need. Shamatha is a building block of meditation, teaching us that how and where we place our attention can affect how we experience the world.
If you decide to give any of these top picks a read - or if you’ve already read them - I’d love to hear what you think!
