Good Reading
A Place to Start
Martine Batchelor, Principles of Zen (Thorson's, 1999)
An excellent introduction to Zen practice you can slip into your back pocket, covering everything from sitting postures to fundamental philosophy, written by a longtime and sophisticated practitioner
Kazuaki Tanahashi and David Schneider, eds. Essential Zen (HarperSanFrancisco, 1994)
Because Zen relies so much on direct experience, its teachings are most often transmitted through koans and stories rather than theoretical works; this is a fine introduction to the poetry and humor of those teachings
Donald S. Lopez, Jr., The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History and Teachings (HarperSanFrancisco, 2001)
An engaging and clear-eyed exploration weaving together history, legend, and doctrine, written by a distinguished scholar with firsthand experience of his subject; it gives the reader the feeling of what it's like to be inside these traditions, as well as what it's like to consider them thoughtfully from outside
An excellent introduction to Zen practice you can slip into your back pocket, covering everything from sitting postures to fundamental philosophy, written by a longtime and sophisticated practitioner
Kazuaki Tanahashi and David Schneider, eds. Essential Zen (HarperSanFrancisco, 1994)
Because Zen relies so much on direct experience, its teachings are most often transmitted through koans and stories rather than theoretical works; this is a fine introduction to the poetry and humor of those teachings
Donald S. Lopez, Jr., The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History and Teachings (HarperSanFrancisco, 2001)
An engaging and clear-eyed exploration weaving together history, legend, and doctrine, written by a distinguished scholar with firsthand experience of his subject; it gives the reader the feeling of what it's like to be inside these traditions, as well as what it's like to consider them thoughtfully from outside
Looking Deeper ~ Contemporary
John Tarrant, Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans to Save Your Life (Shambhala, 2008)
John Tarrant, The Light Inside the Dark: Zen, Soul and the Spiritual Life (HarperCollins, 1998)
Stephen Batchelor, Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening (Riverhead Books, 1997)
Chogyam Trungpa, The Teacup and the Skullcup: On Zen and Tantra (Vajradhatu Publications, 2007)
Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (Weatherhill, 1972)
Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart (Shambhala, 1997)
Mark Epstein, Thoughts without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective (Basic Books/HarperCollins, 1995)
John Tarrant, The Light Inside the Dark: Zen, Soul and the Spiritual Life (HarperCollins, 1998)
Stephen Batchelor, Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening (Riverhead Books, 1997)
Chogyam Trungpa, The Teacup and the Skullcup: On Zen and Tantra (Vajradhatu Publications, 2007)
Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (Weatherhill, 1972)
Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart (Shambhala, 1997)
Mark Epstein, Thoughts without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective (Basic Books/HarperCollins, 1995)
Looking Deeper ~ Traditional
Peter Hershock, Chan Buddhism (University of Hawai'i Press, 2005)
A brilliant introduction to the origins of the koan tradition in China over a thousand years ago; essential to understanding what we're doing now
Stephen Addiss, Zen Sourcebook: Traditional Documents from China, Korea, and Japan (Hackett Publishing, 2008)
A great survey, with beautiful and clear translations and a fine introduction to the tradition by Paula Arai
Andy Ferguson, Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and their Teachings (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
A feast of stories about the old teachers and their doings
Grace Schireson, Zen Women (Wisdom Publications, 2009)
A breakthrough survey of Zen women from China, Korea, and Japan, from earliest times to the 20th century
A brilliant introduction to the origins of the koan tradition in China over a thousand years ago; essential to understanding what we're doing now
Stephen Addiss, Zen Sourcebook: Traditional Documents from China, Korea, and Japan (Hackett Publishing, 2008)
A great survey, with beautiful and clear translations and a fine introduction to the tradition by Paula Arai
Andy Ferguson, Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and their Teachings (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
A feast of stories about the old teachers and their doings
Grace Schireson, Zen Women (Wisdom Publications, 2009)
A breakthrough survey of Zen women from China, Korea, and Japan, from earliest times to the 20th century