Best Teen & Young Adult Buddhism Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: Apr 24, 2023

* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

For those interested in exploring Buddhism, there are plenty of books available geared towards teenagers and young adults. These books offer an introduction to Buddhist philosophy and practices, including mindfulness and meditation. Some popular titles include "Buddhism for Teens" by Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu, "Buddha in Your Backpack" by Franz Metcalf, and "Buddhism for Young People" by Ven. Dr. K Sri Dhammananda. These books offer a practical and relatable guide to Buddhism for younger readers, and can help them develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Buddhism for Teens: 50 Mindfulness Activities, Meditations, and Stories to Cultivate Calm and Awareness Cover #TOP 1
Buddhism for Teens: 50 Mindfulness Activities, Meditations, and Stories to Cultivate Calm and Awareness
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens Cover #TOP 2
Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens
ftb score rating icon 9.7
The Lucid Dreaming Mind: How To Control Your Dreams, Break Through The Walls Of Sleep And Get Into Complete Mind-Body Awareness Cover #TOP 3
The Lucid Dreaming Mind: How To Control Your Dreams, Break Through The Walls Of Sleep And Get Into Complete Mind-Body Awareness
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Teen & Young Adult Buddhism Books

#TOP 1

Buddhism for Teens: 50 Mindfulness Activities, Meditations, and Stories to Cultivate Calm and Awareness

Candradasa
Feb 22, 2022
Buddhism for Teens: 50 Mindfulness Activities, Meditations, and Stories to Cultivate Calm and Awareness Cover
Buddhism for Teens: 50 Mindfulness Activities, Meditations, and Stories to Cultivate Calm and Awareness

Buddhism for Teens is an excellent guide for teenagers who want to practice mindfulness and meditation. The book presents Buddhist teachings in a simple and engaging way, allowing young readers to understand the concepts of joy, balance, and compassion. What sets this guide apart is its practical approach, with immersive stories and activities that help readers build their emotional strength and connection to the world around them. Overall, Buddhism for Teens is a valuable resource for young adults who want to cultivate calm and awareness in their lives.

Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens

Winston, Diana
TarcherPerigee
Aug 5, 2003
Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens Cover
Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens

Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens is a well-written and basic primer for Gen-Ys who are asking Big Questions. It offers an alternative to the pressure of competing and consuming with the 2,500-year-old practice of Buddhism. The author, Diana Winston, introduces concepts such as meditation, enlightenment, and karma, providing advice on how to deal with difficult emotions and finding peace in life. Winston's personal anecdotes make the book relatable for teenagers, and the lucid manual can also benefit adults. This book is a great addition to the Body, Mind & Spirit Books for Teens & Young Adults category, and it's published by Tarcherperigee.

The Lucid Dreaming Mind: How To Control Your Dreams, Break Through The Walls Of Sleep And Get Into Complete Mind-Body Awareness

Gomes, Melissa
Independently published
Sep 11, 2022
The Lucid Dreaming Mind: How To Control Your Dreams, Break Through The Walls Of Sleep And Get Into Complete Mind-Body Awareness Cover
The Lucid Dreaming Mind: How To Control Your Dreams, Break Through The Walls Of Sleep And Get Into Complete Mind-Body Awareness

The Lucid Dreaming Mind is a comprehensive guide to achieving full lucidity within your dreams. It offers step-by-step instructions on inducing and maintaining lucidity, controlling your dreams, and using dream incubation. The book also covers the different types of dreams, the stages of sleep, and the role of dreams in our lives. The author provides expert tips and guidance on how to increase your chances of having lucid dreams. With an exclusive workbook for self-reflection and powerful affirmations for manifesting, this book is a valuable tool for anyone looking to explore the depths of their subconscious mind. Overall, a must-read for anyone interested in lucid dreaming and self-discovery.

Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens

Franz Metcalf
Monk Song Yonk
Ulysses Press
Nov 8, 2002
Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens Cover
Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens

Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens is a guide written by Franz Metcalf for young people who want to learn more about Buddhism or for those who want to understand what’s going on inside themselves and in the world around them. The book presents thoughtful and spiritual insights on school, dating, hanging out, jobs, and other issues of special interest to teens. Metcalf straddles an interesting line with great success, offering practical advice on what is healthy and what reduces the amount of suffering in the world. This book is a unique and inspirational guide for personal transformation and self-help.

#TOP 5

Nightly Self Reflection Journal: A 90 Day Journal for Growth, Healing, and Mind Expansion

Hyatt, Brooke
Feb 20, 2022
Nightly Self Reflection Journal: A 90 Day Journal for Growth, Healing, and Mind Expansion Cover
Nightly Self Reflection Journal: A 90 Day Journal for Growth, Healing, and Mind Expansion

The Nightly Self Reflection Journal is a 90-day guide to developing the habit of daily self-reflection, growth, and mental expansion. The journal offers 90 days of reflection prompts and 180 pages, making it an effective tool for both beginners and experts in the field of self-reflection. The journal is designed to help readers release mental blocks, trigger insights, and support personal or professional growth. With its large, thoughtfully designed pages, this high-quality journal is perfect for deep contemplation and analysis. Overall, this journal is an excellent tool for anyone looking to improve their life and thinking.

Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents

Conover, Sarah
Wahl, Valerie
Skinner House Books
Jun 1, 2010
Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents Cover
Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents

"Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents" is a collection of traditional Buddhist tales compiled by Sarah Conover. The book features stories that teach implicit understanding of ourselves and others. The narratives are often humorous and open the profound and gentle teachings of the ancient masters to people of all ages, religions, races, and ideological persuasions. Although some of the stories are less-known Jataka tales that resemble fables, their level of language and parable-like meanings call for skillful readers. The book is an attractive and accessible nugget of Buddhist thought that is worth reading.

#TOP 7

Religions of the World - Buddhism

Netzley, Patricia D.
Lucent Books
Jan 23, 2002
Religions of the World - Buddhism Cover
Religions of the World - Buddhism

This book provides a comprehensive historical and biographical account of the development of Buddhism as a world religion, along with an insight into the modern-day practices followed by Buddhists. The author does an excellent job of conveying the origin, spread, and prominent divisions of Buddhism, including Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana, Tibetan, and Zen. The book also covers the ways in which Buddhism grew in new environments with the influx of new thoughts. The notes, index, and list for further reading are extensive, and the black-and-white photographs complement the text. Overall, this book offers a lucid and informative account of Buddhism that makes it stand out from similar titles on the subject.

#TOP 8

The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey

Fujita, Rima
Lama, His Holiness the Dalai
Fujita, Rima
Wisdom Publications
Jun 8, 2021
The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey Cover
The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey

The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey, is a beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of one of the most revered spiritual figures of our time. His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares intimate details of his life, from his youth to his life in exile, all the way to the present day. The book is accompanied by stunning illustrations from world-renowned artist Rima Fujita. The combination of simple yet powerful text and vibrant artwork makes this book a captivating read for all ages. Overall, this book is a touching and inspiring tribute to the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Amazing Astral Projection: How To Astral Travel, Have Complete Lucid Control Over Your Celestial Body And Powerful Journeys Through Dreaming And Astroprojection

Gomes, Melissa
Sep 11, 2022
Amazing Astral Projection: How To Astral Travel, Have Complete Lucid Control Over Your Celestial Body And Powerful Journeys Through Dreaming And Astroprojection Cover
Amazing Astral Projection: How To Astral Travel, Have Complete Lucid Control Over Your Celestial Body And Powerful Journeys Through Dreaming And Astroprojection

The book "Amazing Astral Projection" is a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in astral travel and exploring the universe beyond the physical world. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for and execute an astral projection, as well as expert tips on getting the most out of your journey. The book covers different astral projection techniques, dynamics, benefits, and dangers of astral projection, and how to deal with potential side effects. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for those seeking to expand their consciousness and explore the wonders of the astral realm.

The Thriving Empath: A Survival Guide For Empaths To Becoming A Super Attractor, Discovering Inner Gifted Psychic Abilities, Set Boundaries With A Narcissist, And Reduce Anxiety

Gomes, Melissa
Sep 11, 2022
The Thriving Empath: A Survival Guide For Empaths To Becoming A Super Attractor, Discovering Inner Gifted Psychic Abilities, Set Boundaries With A Narcissist, And Reduce Anxiety Cover
The Thriving Empath: A Survival Guide For Empaths To Becoming A Super Attractor, Discovering Inner Gifted Psychic Abilities, Set Boundaries With A Narcissist, And Reduce Anxiety

The Thriving Empath is an essential guide for empaths who want to navigate their way through life successfully. The book offers step-by-step instructions on how to take care of oneself without absorbing other people's emotions and energies. It covers topics such as discovering inner psychic abilities, setting boundaries with a narcissist, reducing anxiety, and understanding energy and frequencies. With an exclusive workbook for self-reflection and powerful affirmations for manifesting, this book empowers readers to realize their full potential. Overall, The Thriving Empath is a unique and invaluable guide for anyone looking to live as an empath.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the main Buddhist book?

The Tripitaka is the holy book of Buddhism. It has three volumes (initially called baskets): Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka.... See full answer below.

2. What are the three important books about Buddhism called?

The Tripiṭaka is composed of three main categories of texts that collectively constitute the Buddhist canon: the Sutra Piṭaka, the Vinaya Piṭaka, and the Abhidhamma Piṭaka.

3. What are the 4 main beliefs of Buddhism?

The Four Noble Truths They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.

Editor's Notes

During our teen & young adult buddhism book research, we found 78 teen & young adult buddhism book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 6,696 customer reviews through our big data system to write the teen & young adult buddhism books list. We found that most customers choose teen & young adult buddhism books with an average price of $13.27.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.