IST 605: Mindfulness for College Students

Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho, Tutu, D., & Abrams, D. C. (2016). The book of joy. Hutchinson.

In The Book of Joy, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso unpack how one can live a joy-filled life. The structure of the book is in the form of a dialogue, with an editor Douglas Abrams, as moderator. While two religious leaders, the series of conversations are mostly secular. Further, although the book is not explicitly focused on mindfulness as a theoretical construct, the two offer a significant number of practical meditations. This book makes for a good entry point into mindfulness, particularly for individuals apprenhensive by the term.

Forsyth, J. P., & Eifert, G. H. (2018). Anxiety happens: 52 ways to find peace of mind. New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

This workbook, co-authored by UAlbany's own Dr. John Forsyth, is an invaluable resource for students. While the title may suggest it's a book for individuals suffering from anxiety, it is applicable to any and all interested in mindfulness. As a workbook, it features hands-on activities and prompts designed to increase mindfulness and reduce stress. The short chapters address a problem, then offer a simple solution, such as mindful walking to reduce feelings of autopilot. This is a practical resource perfect for students.

Harris, R. (2008). The happiness trap: How to stop struggling and start living. Trumpeter.

In The Happiness Trap, Russ Harris offers insights into using awareness and mindfulness to address negative feelings. This book falls into psychological self-help category, more aimed at working adults than students, which may not appeal to all readers. Nevertheless, the content has notable value, particularly in Harris' definition of expansion--or the mind's ability to contain multiple emotions at the same time. When paired with Anxiety Happens, The Happiness Trap offers readers a robust toolkit for practicing mindfulness.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness (Revised and updated edition.). Bantam Books.

The landmark study on mindfulness, written by one of the foremost experts, Jon Kabat-Zinn. This comprehensive work includes practical exercises for mindfulness, as well as scientific studies on its efficacy, philosophical excursions on its importance, and more. Kabat-Zinn's magnum opus leaves no stone unturned. This book is designed for the more advanced practitioner. Students with a deep interest in mindfulness, however, will not leave disappointed after borrowing it.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2016). Mindfulness for beginners: Reclaiming the present moment—And your life. Sounds True.

This short volume by Kabat-Zinn represents a far more accessible entry into mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). This introduction is for the brand-new practitioner, targeting readers who have no background or experience with mindfulness at all. Concepts are defined and elaborated upon in everyday language. No prerequisite knowledge is needed. There are a few exercises included within, but primarily this book is to explain mindfulness to newcomers. Moderate to advanced practitioners will likely find this a touch rudimentary, but if you are someone who is coming to mindfulness without any frame of reference, this is a most-useful primer.

Montgomery, S. E. (2023). Mindfulness and Wide-Awakeness in Higher Education. (1st ed.). Information Age Publishing, Incorporated.

This recent study aims to contextualize mindfulness in higher education within the context of social change. Montgomery relies on 34 students who participated in a year-long mindfulness course, heavily quoting them throughout the text. This book focuses primarily on the concept of wide-awakeness in a social justice sense, rather than on practical skills. This book is still quite valuable, but more so to administrators.

Nhất Hạnh, Chödzin, S., & McLeod, M. (2010). You are here: Discovering the magic of the present moment (First paperback edition.). Shambhala.

Thich Nhat Hanh, alongside Jon Kabat-Zinn, is the most luminary author on mindfulness. In this short book, Nhat Hanh offers an introduction to mindfulness, with the premise that peace and happiness is possible and accessible to all people, in all places, at all times. The conversational style reads as if the esteemed monk is speaking directly to the reader. He combines information with exercises. Some of the content contains a heavy Buddhist perspective, which may or may not appeal to readers. Newcomers to mindfulness, however, should be at least familiar with the Nhat Hanh's contributions to the field. 

Page, K. (2019). College mindfulness training: Reducing student life stress and improving academic performance. Routledge.

This text effectively serves as a training manual for mindfulness among college students. Page offers practical, hands-on examples for students interested in practicing mindfulness, as well as for faculty seeking to incorporate mindfulness into their classes. An ambitious project that at times oscillates between its two audiences, creating a sense of reader's whiplash, this text is useful for both. Consider its chapters on mindfulness in daily life and individual mindful practices as strong examples for students. The background chapter on attention span in the digital age and institutional programs are beneficial to higher education professionals. Readers will best benefit from this book if they approach it with a clear understanding of what they wish to get out of it.

Stahl, Bob., & Goldstein, Elisha. (2010). A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook. New Harbinger Publications.

A comprehensive workbook, Stahl and Goldstein (2010) essentially offer a do-it-yourself mindfulness retreat in a book. The language may read flowery and somewhat touchy-feely, but the exercises are highly effective and practical. While students may gravitate towards Anxiety Happens, this represents another valuable contribution in the field. Readers will be able to add to their mindfulness toolbox with these engaging activities.