Things I Actually Use and Love

This is not a curated list of “the best books on spirituality.” It’s something more personal than that.

These are the books, tools, and practices that have genuinely shaped how I think, how I sit with myself, and how I understand what it means to be conscious in a strange and beautiful world. Some I return to every year. Some I’ve given to friends. All of them left a mark.

I’ve organized them by theme — not because the themes are separate (they never really are), but because it makes it easier to find what you’re looking for at a particular moment in your journey.

A note on transparency: some links below are affiliate links, which means if you purchase through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only include things I would recommend to a close friend. That’s the whole filter.

📖 Books

On Meditation & Mindfulness

The Miracle of Mindfulness — Thich Nhat Hanh
The most gentle and human introduction to meditation I’ve ever read. Not a technique manual — a way of seeing. Read it slowly.

Wherever You Go, There You Are — Jon Kabat-Zinn
If you’ve ever felt like you’re always rushing toward the next thing, this book is the interruption you didn’t know you needed.

Waking Up — Sam Harris
For the skeptical mind that wants to explore meditation without any spiritual framework. Rigorous, honest, and surprisingly moving.

The Mind Illuminated — Culadasa (John Yates)
If you’re serious about building a real meditation practice, this is the most comprehensive map I’ve found. Not for beginners — but worth growing into.

On Shadow Work & Inner Psychology

Owning Your Own Shadow — Robert A. Johnson
Short, precise, and quietly devastating. Johnson explains the shadow better in 100 pages than most books do in 400.

A Little Book on the Human Shadow — Robert Bly
Poetic and profound. Bly approaches the shadow through metaphor and story rather than theory — which, for some people, is exactly what unlocks it.

The Shadow Effect — Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Debbie Ford
Three perspectives on the same essential question. A good entry point if you’re new to the concept and want a variety of approaches.

Meeting the Shadow — Edited by Connie Zweig & Jeremiah Abrams
An anthology — different voices, different angles, all circling the same territory. I keep coming back to certain essays in this one.

On Stoicism & Ancient Wisdom

Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
A Roman emperor’s private journal, never meant to be published. One of the most honest books ever written about trying — and often failing — to be a better human. I re-read a page most mornings.

Letters from a Stoic — Seneca
Written as letters to a friend, which makes the philosophy feel less abstract and more alive. Seneca had a gift for making ancient ideas feel like they were written yesterday.

A Guide to the Good Life — William B. Irvine
The clearest modern introduction to Stoic practice I know. If you want to understand how these ideas apply to actual daily life, start here.

The Obstacle Is the Way — Ryan Holiday
More accessible than the ancient texts, and genuinely useful. A good bridge between Stoic philosophy and practical modern application.

On Consciousness & the Nature of Mind

The Conscious Mind — David Chalmers
The book that formally named the Hard Problem of Consciousness. Dense in places, but worth it. Chalmers asks the question nobody else was willing to ask out loud.

Consciousness Explained — Daniel Dennett
The counterpoint to Chalmers. Dennett argues the mystery isn’t as mysterious as we think. I don’t fully agree — but arguing with this book is one of the most productive things you can do.

Other Minds — Peter Godfrey-Smith
A philosopher dives into the consciousness of octopuses — and ends up illuminating what it means to have a mind at all. Unexpectedly beautiful.

Being No One — Thomas Metzinger
Not an easy read. But if you want to go deep into what the self actually is (and whether it exists at all), this is the most rigorous place to go.

On Science & Spirituality

The Tao of Physics — Fritjof Capra
The book that first made me feel like science and mysticism were circling the same mountain. A classic for a reason.

The Hidden Life of Trees — Peter Wohlleben
Technically about forestry. Actually about interconnection, intelligence, and what it means to be alive. Changed how I walk through the world.

One Mind — Larry Dossey
A physician explores the evidence for a consciousness that extends beyond individual brains. Thought-provoking and carefully researched.

🎧 Apps & Learning Platforms

Books are where I go deep. These are where I go wide — or where I go when I need something more immediate than a 300-page commitment.

Blinkist
Key ideas from thousands of nonfiction books — in about 15 minutes each. I use it to preview books before committing, or revisit ones I’ve already read. Not a replacement for books, but a genuinely useful companion. (Link coming soon.)

MasterClass
For when you want to learn something from the person who has actually lived it. The courses on philosophy, creativity, and writing are worth it on their own. (Link coming soon.)

Mindvalley
A large personal growth platform with courses on meditation, energy, consciousness, and more. The quality varies, but the best of it is genuinely transformative. (Link coming soon.)

BetterHelp
Online therapy — accessible, flexible, and often more affordable than traditional in-person therapy. If you’re doing inner work seriously, having a professional to talk to matters. There’s no substitute. (Link coming soon.)

🌿 Free Practices Worth Your Time

Not everything valuable costs something. These are free resources I return to — no affiliate relationship, just genuine appreciation.

Insight Timer — A free meditation app with thousands of guided sessions. The free tier is genuinely generous. A good place to start before committing to a paid platform.

The Work by Byron Katie — A simple four-question process for examining stressful thoughts. Available free at thework.com. Deceptively simple. Deeply effective.

Tara Brach’s Podcast — Weekly dharma talks and meditations from one of the most grounded teachers I’ve encountered. Free, consistent, and always worth listening to.

On Being with Krista Tippett — Long-form conversations at the intersection of science, spirituality, philosophy, and the art of living. The archives alone are worth months of listening.

This page will grow over time as I discover things worth sharing. If something on this list has resonated with you, or if you have a recommendation of your own, I’d love to hear it — reach out through the Contact page.