Conscious living: books for grown-ups
From the Bookbear grown-ups' shelf: 36 books on conscious living, chosen for curious, conscious parents.
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Being Mortal
by Atul Gawande
AdultsIndian author
A surgeon on medicine, ageing and what matters most at the end of life.
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Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy
by Sadhguru
AdultsIndian author
The Isha Foundation founder's guide to wellbeing through yoga, awareness and taking charge of your inner life.
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Autobiography of a Yogi
by Paramahansa Yogananda
AdultsIndian author
The spiritual classic that introduced millions to meditation and Kriya Yoga.
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The Story of My Experiments with Truth
by M.K. Gandhi
AdultsIndian author
Gandhi's autobiography: his experiments with truth, non-violence, diet and simple living.
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Think Like a Monk
by Jay Shetty
AdultsIndian author
A former monk distils Vedic wisdom into everyday habits for purpose, calm and better relationships.
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The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
by Robin Sharma
AdultsIndian author
A fable about a lawyer who finds balance and purpose after a journey to the Himalayas.
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Your Body Is Your Brain
by Amanda Blake
Adults
How the body shapes the way we think, feel and relate, and how tuning into our physical sensations can help us live with more purpose, calm and connection.
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Irresistible
by Adam Alter
Adults
Why apps, games and devices are so hard to put down, and how we can take back control of our attention.
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Nonviolent Communication
by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Adults
A simple language of compassion — observations, feelings, needs and requests — widely used by families to resolve conflict.
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The Power of Now
by Eckhart Tolle
Adults
A spiritual guide to living in the present moment and freeing yourself from compulsive thinking.
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Wherever You Go, There You Are
Adults✈️ Import only (pricey)
Short, simple chapters on bringing mindfulness meditation into everyday life.
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Peace Is Every Step
Adults
The Zen teacher's gentle practices for finding mindfulness in washing dishes, driving and everyday moments.
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The Miracle of Mindfulness
Adults
A classic introduction to meditation and mindful living, written as a letter to a friend.
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Radical Acceptance
by Tara Brach
Adults
A psychologist and meditation teacher on freeing yourself from the trance of unworthiness through compassion.
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Self-Compassion
by Kristin Neff
Adults
The researcher who pioneered the field on why being kind to yourself works better than self-criticism.
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The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brené Brown
Adults
Letting go of who you think you're supposed to be and embracing who you are — ten guideposts for wholehearted living.
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Daring Greatly
by Brené Brown
Adults
How vulnerability and courage transform the way we live, love, parent and lead.
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Atlas of the Heart
by Brené Brown
Adults✈️ Import only (pricey)
A map of 87 emotions and experiences, and the language to understand them in ourselves and others.
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The Untethered Soul
by Michael A. Singer
Adults
A journey beyond the voice in your head toward inner freedom and peace.
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Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl
Adults
A psychiatrist's account of surviving Nazi concentration camps and his conclusion that meaning makes life bearable.
Heads-up: Holocaust & genocide
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Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
Adults
The Japanese idea of a reason to get up each morning, drawn from the long-lived people of Okinawa.
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The Book of Joy
by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams
Adults
Two spiritual leaders on finding lasting happiness in a changing world, from a week of conversations.
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The Art of Happiness
by Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler
Adults
The Dalai Lama's conversations with a psychiatrist on overcoming anxiety, anger and discouragement.
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When Things Fall Apart
by Pema Chödrön
Adults
A Buddhist nun's wisdom for difficult times: leaning into pain and uncertainty with courage and kindness.
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Buddha's Brain
by Rick Hanson with Richard Mendius
Adults✈️ Import only (pricey)
The neuroscience of happiness, love and wisdom, with practices to rewire habits of mind.
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Essentialism
by Greg McKeown
Adults
The disciplined pursuit of less: doing only what matters and saying no to the rest.
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Digital Minimalism
by Cal Newport
Adults
A philosophy for using technology on purpose, and a 30-day digital declutter to reclaim attention.
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Four Thousand Weeks
by Oliver Burkeman
Adults
Time management for mortals: accepting limits and making peace with the fact that you'll never get everything done.
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Stolen Focus
by Johann Hari
Adults
Why we can't pay attention — and how to get our focus back, for ourselves and our children.
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Goodbye, Things
by Fumio Sasaki
Adults
A Japanese minimalist on how getting rid of most of his belongings made him happier.
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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
by Marie Kondo
Adults
The KonMari method: keep only what sparks joy, and transform your home and mind.
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Braiding Sweetgrass
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Adults
A Potawatomi botanist weaves Indigenous wisdom and plant science into a call for gratitude and reciprocity with the Earth.
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The Myth of Normal
by Gabor Maté with Daniel Maté
Adults
How trauma, stress and a toxic culture shape our health, and what healing looks like for individuals and families.
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The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
Adults
How trauma reshapes the body and brain, and the therapies that help people recover.
Heads-up: Abuse, Violence
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The Book of Awakening
by Mark Nepo
Adults
A year of daily reflections on living fully and being present, written by a cancer survivor and poet.
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Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
by Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski
Adults✈️ Import only (pricey)
Twin sisters — a health educator and a musician — explain why women experience burnout differently and how to complete the stress cycle.
