Books for Beginners

Here is a list of books that are especially accessible for beginners. Most of these books are available through San Francisco Zen Center's Online Store or can be ordered through the Zen Center Bookstore.


Shunryu SuzukiZen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

Robert AitkenTaking the Path of Zen

Samuel Bercholz and Sherab Chodzin Kohn, Entering the Stream

Gil FronsdalThe Issue at Hand

Joseph GoldsteinThe Path of Insight Meditation

Ayya KhemaBeing Nobody, Going Nowhere

Jack KornfieldA Path with Heart

Daido LooriThe Still Point

Kathleen McDonaldHow to Meditate

Taizan MaezumiAppreciate Your Life

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
Tell Me Something About Buddhism
The Way of Tenderness

Walpola RahulaWhat the Buddha Taught

Hammalawa SaddhatissaBuddhist Ethics

Jean SmithBreath Sweeps Mind

Larry Yang, Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community

Dainin Katagiri
Returning to Silence
You Have to Say Something

Thich Nhat Hanh
Being Peace
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
The Long Road Turns to Joy
Miracle of Mindfulness

Pema Chodron
Start Where You Are
When Things Fall Apart
The Wisdom of No Escape

Chogyam Trungpa
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
Meditation in Action
The Myth of Freedom