Person
Every book Pema Chödrön recommended on podcasts
Pema Chödrön appears as a guest on The Ezra Klein Show, where discussions focus on Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and navigating the complexities of the modern world. During her appearance, Chödrön offers several closing book recommendations that have shaped her spiritual journey and teachings. She recommends Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, describing it as an excellent and timely book for readers trying to understand current events. She also recommends Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, noting that it was one of the very first books she ever read when exploring Buddhism. Additionally, she recommends Matthieu Ricard's Enlightened Vagabond as the final title on her curated list. Beyond these formal recommendations, Chödrön references specific teachings within the broader literary canon of her tradition, bringing up Chögyam Trungpa's book The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation to discuss insights from its specific chapter on boredom. Through these selections and reflections, Chödrön highlights foundational texts designed to guide practitioners through mindfulness, meditation, and spiritual resilience.
Books recommended by Pema Chödrön
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Enlightened Vagabond
Enlightened Vagabond by Matthieu Ricard is a spiritual biography detailing the extraordinary life and teachings of a renowned Tibetan master.
Recommended“And I recommend this book, um called Enlightened Vagabond by Matthieu Ricard.”
Where to get it
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The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Shambhala : the sacred path of the warrior ; Great eastern sun : the wisdom of shambhala ; Selected writings
Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior is a prominent spiritual guide by Chögyam Trungpa that outlines a secular approach to warriorhood, courage, and gentleness in everyday life.
Recommended“I recommend uh Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, which is an excellent book to be reading right now in terms of what's happening in the world.”
Where to get it
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Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki is a classic modern introduction to Zen Buddhism that collects foundational lectures on meditation, attitude, and everyday mindfulness.
Recommended“And I recommend uh Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, which is uh one of the very first books I ever read in Buddhism.”
Where to get it
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The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation
Discussed“One of the things Trungpa Rinpoche says in Myth of Freedom is he has a whole chapter called Boredom.”
Where to get it
Books Pema Chödrön wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| This Is Why I Find Pema Chödrön So Essential | The Ezra Klein Show | The Ezra Klein Show | 2026-05-15 | 4 |