This page has a variety of different resources which may help you. They are all items which I have read and had value from, so I’ve also given some indication on the particular strengths each has, from my perspective.

All have links to purchase from Amazon or you can go direct to the publisher.

There are three broad categories of books available which should help you choose which are the most suitable:

Buddhist Principles which gives a complete overview and introduction.
Topic-specific areas including loving-kindness, anger and meditation.
Buddhist-inspired books designed to help with our lives generally but which draw on Buddhist principles.

You can browse the titles by these categories or alternatively click on the links below for individual authors and traditions.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is a Tibetan monk from a tradition known as Kadampa Buddhism who came to the West in 1979 and has set up thousands of centres worldwide. Each centre runs local meditation classes throughout the UK which are an excellent introduction to Buddhist attitudes. The centres are usually open to the public and are also wonderful havens of peace and tranquillity, offering walks in the country, excellent coffee shops and accommodation. Geshe Kelsang has written dozens of books about Buddhism. His books are technical in approach and give the full details on lots of beliefs and practises, but they also offer a complete Buddhist path and perspective. Visit the Geshe Kelsang Gyatso books and materials page or visit Tharpa publications who publish his books.

Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay as he is called, is a Vietnamese monk who came to the west in the 60s at the height of the Vietnam war and has not been allowed back to his country since. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr Martin Luther King which is a pretty high endorsement. Thay’s tradition draws on Zen Buddhism, which involves experiencing Buddhist thought, as opposed to being taught the technicalities of it. His writings are poetic so are excellent for the more visual and artistic amongst us, whereas Geshe Kelsang will give us the technically correct approach. Both approaches can complement each other and provide a very rounded picture. Visit the Thich Nhat Hanh books and materials page or visit his meditation society – Plum Village.

The Insight Meditation Society is an American Buddhist tradition which has developed out of Eastern traditions such as those found in Tibet and Vietnam, but with a modern, Western angle to it. The writers from the Society take traditional Buddhist teachings then put them into language, concepts and experiences that we in the West can easily understand and relate to. There are three main writers who I have experience of; Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg and Tara Brach. You can find details in the Insight Meditation Society books page.

Pema Chodron follows a Tibetan Buddhist tradition but is actually a Canadian single mum who has become a nun. Where Geshe Kelsang and Thich Nhat Hanh were monks from a very young age, Pema lived a full life first before going down the monastic route. As such, her writings are very down to earth. She is not averse to discussing how to meditate whilst sat on the toilet, for example, or how to deal with your screaming children. Visit Pema Chodron books and materials here.