Buddha by Karen Armstrong 
Many know the Buddha only from seeing countless serene, iconic images. But what of the man himself and the world he lived in? What did he actually do in his roughly eighty years on earth that spawned one of the greatest religions in world history? Armstrong tackles these questions and more by examining the life and times of the Buddha in this engrossing philosophical biography.

Cutting through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa
In this modern spiritual classic, the Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa highlights the commonest pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls spiritual materialism.​

The Places that Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chodron
Pema Chodron writes about Buddhist philosophy and practice in ways that are clear, accessible, and familiar. She mixes compassion and humour, classic Buddhist stories, and examples from her life to illustrate the points and connect you to the teachings. 

 Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh's life work has been to apply his Zen Buddhist practice to peace work, and he is the founder of the Engaged Buddhism movement. Nominated by Martin Luther King Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967,  his writing focuses on making peace within yourself, with others, and in the world, through simple teachings and beautiful storytelling. 

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Is there such thing as a Western Taoist? Benjamin Hoff says there is, and this Taoist's favorite food is honey. Through brilliant and witty dialogue with the beloved Pooh-bear and his companions, the author of this smash bestseller explains with ease and aplomb that rather than being a distant and mysterious concept, Taoism is as near and practical to us as our morning breakfast bowl.

The Buddha Walks into a Bar by Lordo Rinzler
​ There's a new thirst for spirituality among young people today-but they're less inclined to adjust their lives around traditional religious forms than they are to look for transformation within their existing lifestyles. And they have a natural affinity for Buddhism. This is a book for them-by one of them.

The World's Religions by Huston Smith
This is where I found Buddhism, laid out alongside all the other major religions in a very non-judgmental manner. The more I read it the more I kept going back to the Buddhism chapter because it seemed so level-headed and not based on faith. It was instrumental in helping me cut the cord of the religious indoctrination of my childhood.