Books - ZenRiots

Radical Acceptance: Awakening the Love That Heals Fear and Shame

In “Radical Acceptance: Awakening the Love that Heals Fear and Shame,” meditation teacher and psychologist Tara Brach, Ph.D., offers a powerful and compassionate path to emotional freedom. The book’s core message is that our deepest suffering is not caused by our imperfections, but by our constant resistance to them. Brach introduces the concept of Radical…

Cloud-Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown: A Mountain Journal

In “Cloud-Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown: A Mountain Journal,” philosopher and writer Alan Watts offers a deeply personal and contemplative look at his life and teachings. The book is not a formal treatise but a series of journal entries written during a retreat in a remote mountain cabin. Watts uses this secluded setting to explore the core…

Buddha Mind, Buddha Body

In “Buddha Mind, Buddha Body,” Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh offers a simple yet profound guide to living with greater awareness and peace by integrating the mind and the body. The book’s core teaching is that our mind and body are not separate entities, but are deeply interconnected. When we are not in tune with…

Beyond Religion

In “Beyond Religion,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents a powerful argument for a universal, secular ethics—a moral framework grounded not in religious dogma, but in the shared human values of compassion, kindness, and interdependence. The book’s core message is that while religion can be a source of great good, it is not a prerequisite…

The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography

“The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography” by Tetsu Saiwai is a unique and captivating visual narrative that tells the life story of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As a manga, or Japanese graphic novel, the book presents his remarkable journey from a young boy discovered in a remote Tibetan village to his life as…

Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate

In “Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate,” punk rocker-turned-Zen master Brad Warner offers a witty, honest, and irreverent look at the realities of spiritual life. The book is a memoir that chronicles Warner’s journey through a series of life’s messes—death, divorce, and a spiritual pilgrimage—in search of authentic spiritual truth. Warner’s core message is…

You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment

In “You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment,” Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh offers a gentle and profoundly practical guide to the practice of mindfulness. The book’s core teaching is that the present moment is the only moment we truly have, and that by learning to be fully present, we can find…

Thoughts Without a Thinker

In “Thoughts Without a Thinker,” psychiatrist and author Mark Epstein, M.D., offers a groundbreaking exploration of the convergence of Western psychotherapy and Buddhist philosophy. The book’s title points to its central and most radical concept: the Buddhist teaching of “anatman” or “no-self.” Epstein argues that our deeply ingrained belief in a permanent, solid “self” is…

Pay Attention, for Goodness’ Sake

In “Pay Attention, for Goodness’ Sake,” renowned Buddhist teacher and psychologist Sylvia Boorstein offers a warm and accessible guide to living a life of kindness, both toward oneself and others. The book’s title encapsulates its core message: that the simple act of paying attention—with a gentle and compassionate heart—is the foundation of spiritual practice and…

Mindful Therapy: A Guide for Therapists and Helping Professionals

In “Mindful Therapy: A Guide for Therapists and Helping Professionals,” Thomas Bien, Ph.D., presents a comprehensive and compassionate framework for integrating mindfulness into the practice of psychotherapy. While the book is written for professionals, its core principles offer profound insights for anyone on a path of healing. Bien, the author of “Mindful Recovery,” draws on…