10 Great Mindfulness Books That Will Help You Relax and De-stress

It would be an understatement to say that we live in stressful times. Even if your calm has allowed you to carry on, there will be times when you need to relax. You probably know someone who needs it most.

Reading has been scientifically shown to be one of best ways to relax and de-stress your brain. A 2009 University of Sussex study found that reading a book for just six minutes per day can reduce stress levels by as much as 68 percent. This is more than listening to music or sipping a cup of soothing tea. This phenomenon is possible because books can transport you to a completely different reality without stress and possibly into something that’s even more fascinating.

Here’s a list that includes relaxing mindfulness books and stunning photography collections to help you unwind.

• The Best of Me by David Sedaris

$15, AMAZON.COM

This collection includes some of the best essays by David Sedaris, a legendary humorist. It contains small doses of hilarious and odd stories that help to illuminate the wild and strange aspects of our lives.

• Amanda Gorman, Call Us What We Have

$15, AMAZON.COM

This collection features Amanda Gorman’s inspiring inaugural poem. It draws from the present moment and offers hope and solace in difficult times.

• There and Back: Photographs taken from the Edge by Jimmy Chin

$45, AMAZON.COM

You will be amazed by the stunning images and stories of Jimmy Chin, Oscar-winning director for Free Solo and National Geographic adventure photographer. He takes you from Tibet all the way to Antarctica. This is the ideal way to travel to places you never thought possible and to meet people you have never met–without leaving your couch.

• Good bye, things by Fumio Ssaki

$14, AMAZON.COM

This second book, by Fumio Sakaki, explores how you can adopt a minimalist lifestyle.

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

$14, AMAZON.COM

Imagine if your life could be rewritten. This is the story’s premise. Nora is taken to the library at edge of the universe to explore new roads and see if her life would be better if she had made different decisions. This book is a great read to help you get started on a new year.

• The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness In A Changing World, Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

$22, AMAZON.COM

What happens when Nobel Peace Prize winners spend a week discussing joy and happiness, even in difficult times? This life-changing book, which combines the wisdom of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, reveals how to find joy even in the most difficult situations.

•  The Husband by Chandler Baker

$16, AMAZON.COM

This charming take on the Stepford Wives story is a delightful read. It features a mysterious death, and too-good-to-be- true husbands living in an idyllic subdivision.

• Little Panic by Amanda Stern

$12, AMAZON.COM

Stern’s memoir is part memoir and part historical account of a long gone era in New York History. Her bold work is told with humor and insight. It charts a bohemian West Village childhood that was marred by anxiety, and sets it against Etan Patz’s famous abduction case. Stern’s 400-page book explains in detail her dual childhood emotions of wonder and fear, and how she managed to overcome them as an adult to succeed. If you suffer from anxiety, it might be a comforting read.

• Just sit, by Sukey & Elizabeth Novogratz

$14, AMAZON.COM

Meditation can be beneficial for everything, from anxiety relief to body image improvement. So why not make a conscious effort to sit down and meditate? This is the idea behind the self-help book for skeptics, written by Sukey Novograd and Elizabeth Novograd. They are co-founders on The Well Daily. This meditation guidebook is easy to use and richly illustrated. It will help you create a practice, calm down your inner critic, block out external stressors, and more.

• How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

$16, AMAZON.COM

Imagine if your brain could be rewired to help you escape stress and worries. The provocative bestseller by Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma), offers a fascinating (literal!) journey through the worlds of psychedelics and spirituality. Pollan dives deep into the world psychedelics and explores the incredible healing power of these compounds. He also offers an engaging journey through American history.