As a novice, I found this book very helpful. It provides very concrete guidance in meditation. And it also provides useful information on other aspects of Buddhism presented in a very easy to read and understandable manner. I highly recommend this book for meditation novices.
This book is a very good and comprehensive book about the techniques and reasons behind buddhist meditation. Technical details about advanced meditation and the relation that meditation has to other aspects of Buddhism may be advanced for early practicioners, but there is plenty of good advice for beginners as well. I would imagine that this book is ideal for Buddhists of any type that are looking for specific instructions on how to meditate.
