Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you liked The Power of Now, read Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth and Stillness Speaks, then try Wherever You Go, There You Are, The Untethered Soul and 10% Happier. All explore presence, attention and a calmer relationship with your own mind.
Eckhart Tolle's bestseller teaches that suffering often comes from dwelling on the past or future and that peace is found by attending to the present moment. The books below offer related ideas, from mindfulness to psychology and practical habits. All are nonfiction, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| A New Earth | Eckhart Tolle | Adult | more Tolle |
| Stillness Speaks | Eckhart Tolle | Adult | short readings |
| The Untethered Soul | Michael A. Singer | Adult | inner voice |
| Wherever You Go, There You Are | Jon Kabat-Zinn | Adult | daily mindfulness |
| 10% Happier | Dan Harris | Adult | skeptical beginners |
| Waking Up | Sam Harris | Adult | science-minded readers |
| Full Catastrophe Living | Jon Kabat-Zinn | Adult | full program |
| The Mindful Way Through Depression | Mark Williams and others | Adult | mental health |
| The Happiness Trap | Russ Harris | Adult | acceptance skills |
| Radical Acceptance | Tara Brach | Adult | self-compassion |
| Man's Search for Meaning | Viktor E. Frankl | Adult | meaning in suffering |
| Flow | Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | Adult | focus and joy |
| Meditations | Marcus Aurelius | Adult | ancient practice |
| The Gifts of Imperfection | Brené Brown | Adult | self-acceptance |
| Atomic Habits | James Clear | Adult | small daily steps |
1. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Tolle's follow-up explores ego and awakening on a wider scale. Longer and more detailed than The Power of Now.
Best for: more Tolle.
2. Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle
Short passages on silence, presence and awareness. Easy to dip into.
Best for: short readings.
3. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
Explores the inner voice and how to let go of it. Clear, gentle and widely read.
Best for: inner voice.
4. Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
The founder of mindfulness-based stress reduction explains everyday practice. Short chapters and simple advice.
Best for: daily mindfulness.
5. 10% Happier by Dan Harris
A news anchor who had a panic attack on air discovers meditation. Funny, honest and very accessible.
Best for: skeptical beginners.
6. Waking Up by Sam Harris
A neuroscientist argues that meditation can reveal the mind without religion. Philosophical and clear.
Best for: science-minded readers.
7. Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
A complete guide to the eight-week mindfulness course for stress. Thorough and practical.
Best for: full program.
8. The Mindful Way Through Depression by Mark Williams and others
Four experts show how mindfulness can help prevent relapse into depression. Evidence-based and calm.
Best for: mental health.
9. The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
Introduces acceptance and commitment therapy in simple language. Practical and warm.
Best for: acceptance skills.
10. Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
A psychologist describes how self-compassion can heal shame. Gentle and personal.
Best for: self-compassion.
11. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
A psychiatrist describes life in concentration camps and the search for purpose. Short and powerful.
Best for: meaning in suffering.
12. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The classic study of deep absorption and happiness. Dense but rewarding.
Best for: focus and joy.
13. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
The private notes of a Roman emperor on how to live. Short, calm and timeless.
Best for: ancient practice.
14. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Guides readers to let go of perfectionism and embrace worthiness. Warm and practical.
Best for: self-acceptance.
15. Atomic Habits by James Clear
A practical system for building small habits that compound. Clear and highly actionable.
Best for: small daily steps.
How to Choose
For more Tolle, begin with Stillness Speaks or A New Earth. For secular mindfulness, Wherever You Go, There You Are and 10% Happier. For therapy-based skills, The Happiness Trap. For meaning, Man's Search for Meaning. Pick one practice, such as noticing your breath for a minute, and try it daily as you read. Spiritual and mindfulness books do their best work when read in small pieces. Choose a paragraph, close the book and spend a minute with the idea. Libraries and local meditation groups can also be helpful for people who want to practice with others.
Related: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like The 48 Laws of Power You’ll Love: Strategy, Influence and Human Nature
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Power of Now about?
It teaches that peace comes from living in the present moment and stepping back from the stream of thoughts.
Is it a religious book?
It draws on spiritual traditions, but Tolle presents it as a practical teaching open to any reader.
Is the book easy to read?
It is written as questions and answers, which many readers find simple, though some find it repetitive.
How long is it?
About 230 pages in most editions.
What if I cannot quiet my mind?
Tolle says you do not need to stop thoughts, only to notice them. Short, regular practice helps.
Who is Eckhart Tolle?
A German-born author who lives in Canada and writes about presence and awareness.
Did The Power of Now sell well?
Yes. It has sold millions of copies and has been translated into dozens of languages.
How is mindfulness different from Tolle's presence?
Mindfulness is a method developed from Buddhist practice and used in medicine, while Tolle describes a state of awareness.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes. Tolle narrates it himself, in a calm voice.
What should I do after reading?
Try noticing your breathing and your surroundings for a few moments each day, as Tolle suggests.