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One of the greatest things I did for myself when the pandemic hit was give myself the gift of Jim Kwik’s Reading course. It’s really sparked my love of reading again, something that has been lying dormant for sometime (translation: after I finished grad school the second time I didn’t think I’d ever want to pick up another book again! But that was ^cough^ years ago and I’m finally over it, thanks to Jim!). While I’ve been reading on various topics ever since, it occurred to me that this is the time of year people often ask me for suggestions of books on the topic of yoga. Below you’ll find a few recent reads and some old favorites to inspire your summer reading.

Lovingkindness by Sharon Salzberg. I’ve been familiar with Lovingkindness meditation for some time, I even did a 40 day practice earlier this year, but I had never read much in-depth about it. I’m so glad I finally decided to pick this one up and read it cover to cover. Sharon’s expertise in the subject really shines through, despite the fact that this is one of her first books and was originally published 25 years ago! I feel like I have a whole new insight into this type of practice, a greater understanding of the benefits and obstacles to working with it and a real roadmap of how to go about it and what I might experience as I practice now. I definitely wish I had read this sooner! If you’re interested in Buddhist psychology, meditation or lovingkindness in any way, don’t hesitate to pick this one up.
The Yamas & Niyamas; Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele. This one is an old favorite and I can’t recommend it enough. The Yamas and Niyamas are the first steps on the yogic path in a traditional approach, but in our modern exploration we often skip these and go right into the Asana or physical practice. Never fear! Deborah Adele’s book is here to help you shore up that foundation that you may have missed with explanations that make this ancient wisdom that is still so relevant to our modern lives accessible and understandable to the modern yogi. If you’ve been thinking, “I really want to know more about yoga but I’m not sure where to begin.” begin here. You won’t be sorry. And you’ll be coming back to this book over and over again for years!
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. What can I say that isn’t said in the title? If you’re struggling with the circumstances of the moment we’re all living in right now you might give this one a try. Your thinking about many things will be challenged. But the love that underlies that challenge can be deeply felt if you’re open to it. This wisdom comes from one that knows suffering and is able to bear witness to it in such a way that I felt like I was being guided through Very Hard Things with a very soft touch. This book is a great gift if you can allow it into your consciousness. If right now is not that time, just put it on the shelf for later.
Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson. (I realize I’m pretty Buddhism heavy here but they did grow up in the same neighborhood with the yogis so go with me on this!) This book is all about the intersection of neuroscience and Buddhism. The author, having studied for sometime with Jack Kornfield, pulls the two subjects together in a very practical way. The first chapter can be a bit tough to get through, but if you hang in there, it’s totally worth it. I find myself drawing on this book over and over again for myself and my classes. The summaries at the end of each chapter of the key points really help solidify what you’ve read which is a nice feature. (I recently heard Mr. Hanson has a new book out which is definitely on my future reading list!)
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T.K.V. Desikachar. While I wouldn’t necessarily list this amongst my favorite books on yoga, I will recommend it because it does provide a foundational understanding of the practice from a source that is highly trusted. Desikachar was the son of Krishnamacharya, who is widely considered to be the “grandfather” of the physical practice of yoga as we understand it today. You’ll find some interesting historical context in here as well as a foundational discussion on yoga philosophy. The Yoga Sutras are included with commentary, but if you’re new to all this I’d definitely recommend starting with Deborah Adele’s book first. To the modern reader there are elements that will come across as dated (this one was first published over 20 years ago as well), but if you read it with context in mind including time and place, you may find yourself filling in the gaps of some of your knowledge depending on how yoga first appeared in your life.

BONUS: Meditations of John Muir compiled by Chris Highland. This is a bit of a tangent but you might find it valuable. If you love the outdoors like I do you’ve probably read some of John Muir’s writings. This compilation comes from a spiritual perspective and intersperses Muir’s words with quotes from some of the leaders of the world’s great spiritual traditions. It’s a great one to sample from while sitting by the campfire this summer.

I hope this gives you some inspiration for your time reading in a hammock at a state park campground, at the beach or in your backyard this summer. If you’ve got a title you’d like to share with me or you want to see what else I’m reading lately, feel free to look me up on Goodreads.

Happy Reading!