No Mud, No Lotus, by Thich Nhat Hanh

No Mud, No Lotus  is pretty much a simple manual for transforming suffering into mindfulness and perhaps joy by ancient (but not mysterious) practices: stopping, mindful breathing, and deep concentration.

The devil is in the details, and I urge readers to stop after this book.  Tibetan Buddhism is very, very busy with details which are (probably) unnecessary to enjoy a peaceful, enlightened life, or at least slow down and appreciate the life you have now.

Still, this particular book seems to me to strike a balance I can appreciate.  I do recommend it.