Waking Up
A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
by Sam Harris
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More Recommenders
“@JV_Greetings @SamHarrisOrg I really liked Sam's book. | @rneppalli @BrianGrazer Loved "Waking Up." Also check the Raptitude blog. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There?s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can?t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, ?Waking Up,? which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there?s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There’s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can’t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, “Waking Up,” which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there’s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | Such a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging.”
Source →“@JV_Greetings @SamHarrisOrg I really liked Sam's book. | @rneppalli @BrianGrazer Loved "Waking Up." Also check the Raptitude blog. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There?s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can?t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, ?Waking Up,? which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there?s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There’s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can’t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, “Waking Up,” which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there’s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | Such a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging.”
Source →“@JV_Greetings @SamHarrisOrg I really liked Sam's book. | @rneppalli @BrianGrazer Loved "Waking Up." Also check the Raptitude blog. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There?s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can?t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, ?Waking Up,? which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there?s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There’s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can’t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, “Waking Up,” which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there’s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | Such a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging.”
Source →“@JV_Greetings @SamHarrisOrg I really liked Sam's book. | @rneppalli @BrianGrazer Loved "Waking Up." Also check the Raptitude blog. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There?s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can?t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, ?Waking Up,? which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there?s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There’s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can’t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, “Waking Up,” which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there’s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | Such a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging.”
Source →“@JV_Greetings @SamHarrisOrg I really liked Sam's book. | @rneppalli @BrianGrazer Loved "Waking Up." Also check the Raptitude blog. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There?s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can?t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, ?Waking Up,? which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there?s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There’s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can’t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, “Waking Up,” which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there’s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | Such a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging.”
Source →Recommended by 7 notable people, including Naval Ravikant and Nat Eliason
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Reading Profile
Should I read this?
Waking Up mixes plainspoken meditation guidance, first-person reports, and philosophical reflection framed in secular terms and informed by psychology and neuroscience. Its most useful move is offering nonreligious reasons to try meditation and clear, accessible explanations for beginners. The main limitation is an argumentative, sometimes dogmatic tone on consciousness and selfhood that can feel abstract or dismissive of religious nuance. Not a hands-on training manual—better as a provocative primer and a set of talking points than as a comprehensive how-to.
Read this if...
- •a skeptical professional (e.g., software engineer) curious about meditation but wary of religious language — helps justify starting a practice without adopting faith commitments.
- •a philosophy student preparing a paper on consciousness who needs readable first‑person material and clear secular arguments to pair with academic sources.
- •a workplace wellness organizer looking for secular phrasing to introduce mindfulness to colleagues — supplies concise language and approachable rationales to share.
Skip this if...
- •you'll likely put it down when chapters turn into extended metaphysical argument and the author's certainty hardens — that’s where readers often lose patience.
- •annoying if you prefer practical, step-by-step instruction or guided exercises — the book offers pointers but no hands-on training program.
- •frustrating if you want balanced, scholarly critique of contemplative traditions — the tone can feel one-sided and dismissive of religious perspectives.
For the millions of Americans who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harris?s latest New York Times bestseller is a guide to meditation as a rational practice informed by neuroscience and psychology.From Sam Harris, neuroscientist and author of numerous New York Times bestselling books, Waking Up is for the twenty percent of Americans who foll...
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:hard
Audience Fit
- a skeptical professional (e.g., software engineer) curious about meditation but wary of religious language — helps justify starting a practice without adopting faith commitments.
- a philosophy student preparing a paper on consciousness who needs readable first‑person material and clear secular arguments to pair with academic sources.
- a workplace wellness organizer looking for secular phrasing to introduce mindfulness to colleagues — supplies concise language and approachable rationales to share.
- you'll likely put it down when chapters turn into extended metaphysical argument and the author's certainty hardens — that’s where readers often lose patience.
- annoying if you prefer practical, step-by-step instruction or guided exercises — the book offers pointers but no hands-on training program.
- frustrating if you want balanced, scholarly critique of contemplative traditions — the tone can feel one-sided and dismissive of religious perspectives.
Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.
View available editions on AmazonKey themes
Why recommended
Recommended by 10 sources and appears in Mindfulness, Meditation, and Books Recommended by Naval Ravikant.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Scott Barry Kaufman
“@JV_Greetings @SamHarrisOrg I really liked Sam's book. | @rneppalli @BrianGrazer Loved "Waking Up." Also check the Raptitude blog. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There?s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can?t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, ?Waking Up,? which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there?s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | I suspect many of you want recommendations on books about meditation and spiritual experience. There’s no book out there that is free of the superstition and religiosity you tend to get with books aboutBuddhism or Advaita Vedanta, the Hindu teachings of nonduality. I can’t really recommend those books without caveat. I wrote the book that I think needed to exist, “Waking Up,” which was my last book. I am reluctant to include my own book in a list of books everyone should read, however. But there was a reason why I wrote that book, because there’s really no book I could point rational people, students of science, critics of religious mumbo jumbo, with a clear conscience. | Such a fantastic book. And it was really, for me, completely lifechanging.”
View sources (4) ▾80%
Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Recommended by 8 sources.
“Soft-spoken, heavily illustrated fable built from short dialogues and watercolor sketches. Each spread pairs a spare line of text with a loose drawing, so the pleasure is visual and aphoristic rather than narrative; readers collect felt-true sentences more than plot. Most useful when you want quick consolations, a prompt for conversation with a child, or a pause during a rough day. Limiting if you want sustained argument, concrete advice, or tightly plotted storytelling: the repetition of gentleness can feel sentimental or thin after a while.”
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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.