Eckhart Tolle

"The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it."

Eckhart Tolle Spiritual Teacher and Author was born in Germany and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. At the age of twenty-nine a profound inner transformation radically changed the course of his life. The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey. Later, he began to work in London with individuals and small groups as a counselor and spiritual teacher. Since 1995 he has lived in Vancouver, Canada.

Eckhart Tolle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and the highly acclaimed follow-up A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of our time.

Eckhart’s profound yet simple teachings have already helped countless people throughout the world find inner peace and greater fulfillment in their lives. At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. An essential aspect of this awakening consists in transcending our ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violent conflict endemic on our planet.

Eckhart is a sought-after public speaker and teaches and travels extensively throughout the world. Many of his talks, intensives and retreats are published on CD and DVD. Most of the teachings are given in English, but occasionally Eckhart also gives talks in German and Spanish. In addition to The Power of Now and A New Earth, Eckhart has written a book designed for meditative reading entitled Stillness Speaks. A book consisting of selections from The Power of Now is also available, entitled Practicing the Power of Now.

What genre and topics does Eckhart Tolle write about?

Tolle writes spiritual non-fiction and personal development focused on presence, inner peace, transformation of consciousness, and transcending the ego.

What are his most well-known books and where should I start?

His best-known books are The Power of Now and A New Earth. A common starting point is The Power of Now for the fundamentals of presence; follow-ups or complementary reads include Practicing the Power of Now and Stillness Speaks for practical exercises and meditative passages.

Do his books form a series or need to be read in order?

They are largely standalone works. You do not need to read them in a strict order, though starting with The Power of Now provides the foundational teachings.

Has he received notable recognition for his work?

Yes. The Power of Now was a New York Times number one bestseller and has been translated into many languages; A New Earth received wide acclaim and was selected for Oprah's Book Club.

In what formats and languages are his teachings available?

His teachings are available in hardcover and paperback books, selected editions for meditative reading, and recorded talks on CD and DVD. Most teachings are given in English, with some talks in German and Spanish, and translations of his books exist in numerous languages.