4.43 avg rating — 1,127 ratings

"I don't think this is a true beginner's book: Aitken, Suzuki, and Thich Nhat Hanh that are at the top of this list are those. This may be one of the best books I've read on developing a deeper understanding of meditation and the path once you've had a taste of Zen practice and have incorporated daily sitting into your life."

4.16 avg rating — 6,406 ratings

"Great introduction from an iconoclast. Joko Beck doesn't sugar coat the path, and her approach is one of the more psychologically sophisticated I've come across in extensive reading of Zen & Buddhist literature. I'd put this on my must read list for anyone seriously interested in Zen or Buddhism in general."

4.36 avg rating — 547 ratings

"Eventually, every beginner in Zen has to get to Dogen's approach to practice through the daily acts of living one's life, and this is arguably the best entryway into that. Still, definitely not a first or second book, and for someone who has already established a regular sitting practice."

4.04 avg rating — 1,135 ratings

"Very good introduction from one of the most respected masters in the West. Aitken also has the insight of someone who stayed on the lay path of practice."

4.41 avg rating — 210 ratings

4.03 avg rating — 10,264 ratings

4.40 avg rating — 335 ratings

"Zen without the toys approach. Homeless Kodo really tried to shake up some of the listlessness in Japanese Soto Zen by dispensinfischerg with a lot of the ritual and concentrating on lots and lots of zazen. The lineage I practice in (Katagiri roshi's) has adopted the more ritual filled approach as being a similar skillful means for a Western audience (Shohaku Okumura has an excellent discussion of these two seemingly contrasting styles being closer in heart because of the different audience in his intro to Uchiyama Roshi's Opening the Hand of Thought). But, it is helpful to see how any part of practice can become an obstacle to practice, especially if we keep in mind that Kodo Roshi would not necessarily recommend the same approach with Americans and their lack of centuries of Buddhist/Zen tradition."

4.22 avg rating — 8,905 ratings

"Again, not a Zen book, but this is a helpful book on some of the ways we distort practice, particularly in the West. Wouldn't have added it to the list, but since it was on, and is good, no problem voting for it and getting a chance to add this disclaimer for someone who reads the comments."

4.44 avg rating — 102 ratings

4.44 avg rating — 1,073 ratings

"Not a first book, or even a second, but still good for someone early on the path I think."

4.04 avg rating — 26 ratings

"I great little very short book with clear instructions. His building concentration power is definitely more in line with the Rinzai tradition, and not as stressed in the Soto tradition. Only there do I find a bit of fault in that it doesn't present both - he was trained in both traditions, so he knew this. Still, and excellent quick read to get someone started."

4.24 avg rating — 11,753 ratings

"Not really Zen, but it was on the list & it is a good book. I'd not put it on this list, but since it is on here, I figured I vote for it so I can add this comment."

4.21 avg rating — 50,171 ratings

"Of course, this is one of the first books I'd recommend to a beginning Zen student. Classic & accessible without dumbing it down. And, Suzuki's warnings that this isn't about sudden breakthroughs to a state free from suffering, but a lifetime practice really help those with such hopes see know that this isn't the way it works right up front."

4.07 avg rating — 248 ratings

"One of Joko Beck's heirs who is also a psychotherapist, with excellent insights that have grown out of that combined expertise. Not that Zen should be reduced to psychotherapy, but he brings some insights to both that I think enrich both."

4.26 avg rating — 606 ratings

"Excellent discussion on a foundational sutra."

4.43 avg rating — 681 ratings

4.47 avg rating — 702 ratings

"Lojong is a Tibetan practice, but Fischer both makes a good case for incorporating it to cover some weaker areas in the Zen tool kit, and has one of the best books on Lojong I've read. His discussion on the first lojong statement: begin with the preliminaries, is truly gold in that he hits us with some hard truths that we don't really face and that I've found really help open up my practice profoundly."

4.28 avg rating — 279 ratings

"Combines a discussion of truly growing up with Zen in a very interesting and informative way."

4.25 avg rating — 15,111 ratings

"Good short book, with lots of familiar discussion for those who have read TNH. But I think this is a really useful book for beginners who are struggling with a lot of suffering and finding that they are not getting the quick relief they hoped."

4.35 avg rating — 17 ratings

"Like Still Point, a good, very brief introduction to an aspect of Zen practice: ritual/liturgy. Covers some of the same ground as a chapter in his Eight Gates, but also is different enough to be worth a read on its own."