Note: this list is an extract from the booklet “Bahá'í Books – A Short Introduction” to be found here on Amazon Kindle.
Please also note: this list is just an attempt to provide information to those who need it. It is not official, not 100% up-to-date, not complete. Has been updated and will be again.
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Those investigating the Bahá'í Faith often want to know what books to start with. This document is intended to introduce the reader to some of the more introductory books available about the Bahá'í Faith in English and where to find them. This includes introductory books, a selection of the Writings of the Faith, historical books and some others. It does not cover the full range of other literature but sources for further information are provided below. It is, of course, just the writer’s opinion of what is appropriate.
Particular attention was paid to books that can be downloaded free. A substantial collection of literature is available for free download from the international Bahá'í Reference Library (see below) and from Bahá'í eBooks. Please see the websites of the main publishers for a more complete range of books.
If there is a sizable Bahá'í community near you then they may have printed books for purchase or loan. Check your local directory or the internet.
The Bahá'í Reference Library - This is part of the main website at bahai.org and is the authoritative online source of Bahá’í writings. The website is here. New translations and other content are added periodically.
The books below are tagged as follows:
(E) indicates ebook
(F) indicates free download (such as from Bahá'í Ebooks)
(P) indicates printed book
Introductory books
Bahá’í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion. William S. Hatcher and J. Douglas Martin. Bahá'í Publishing (US). A through and well-researched introduction. 253 pages. (FP)
Bahá’ís, The. Popular magazine-format introduction to the Bahá’í Faith. Available from Bahá'í Publishing (US) here. (FP)
Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. J. E. Esslemont. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (UK). An excellent and readable general introduction. Has been popular for many years. 233 pages. (FP)*
God Speaks Again: An Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith. Kenneth E. Bowers. Bahá'í Publishing (US). In placing the life of Bahá’u’lláh at the center of the story, he reveals an authentically inspiring figure and the inseparable connection between a new religion and an extraordinary human being touched by His Creator. 296 pages. (EP)
Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith. A good general introduction. 183 pages. Downloadable here. (F)*
New Garden, The. Hushmand Fathea’zam. Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India. A popular, inexpensive, readable, multi-religion introduction. (P)
Prescription for Living. Rúhíyyih Rabbání. Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India. Handling life from a Bahá'í perspective. (FP)
Release the Sun. William Sears. Bahá'í Publishing (US). While Christians anticipated the return of Jesus Christ, a wave of expectation swept through Islam that the "Lord of the Age" would soon appear. A very readable account of exciting events. 323 pages. (EP)
1844: Convergence in Prophecy for Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Eileen Maddocks. Introduces the Faith using prophecies from three religions. Available on Amazon. (EP)
Note: for a series of short, inexpensive introductory books on Kindle by the author, see here. (Warning self-promotion!)
Sacred and Authoritative Writings
Bahá'í Prayers. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US and UK). A compilation of prayers from Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in English. There are many versions of this compilation of some 200 prayers but the prayers are all from the same sources. The selection varies between publishers. (FP)
Book of Certitude: The Kitab-i-Iqan. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). One of Bahá’u’lláh’s most important works which explains prophecies and religion in depth. 237 pages. Can be read online here. (FP)
Call of the Divine Beloved, The. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í World Centre. Elucidates aspects of the mystic journey of the soul towards its divine Beloved. Includes the Seven Valleys. (FP)
Divine Art of Living, The. Compiled by Mabel Hyde Paine. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Selected quotations from the Bahá'í Writings. 187 pages. (FP)
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). An important selection of passages from Writings of Bahá’u’lláh by Shoghi Effendi. 346 pages. Can be read online here. (FP)*
Hidden Words, The. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Profound, gem-like mystical verses revealed by Bahá’u’lláh on the banks of the Tigris. 140 pages. (FP)*
Paris Talks. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (UK). A collection of talks by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911. 184 pages. (FP)
Some Answered Questions. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). An important compilation of answers to specific questions. 350 pages. Can be read online here. (FP)
Summons of the Lord of Hosts, The. Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Includes Tablets addressed to the kings and rulers of the day. 272 pages. (FP)
Historical
Choosen Highway, The. Lady Blomfield. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). Historical accounts from the early days of the Faith. 260 pages. (FP)
From Copper to Gold. Dorothy Freeman Gilstrap. Bahá'í Publishing Trust (US). The story of Dorothy Baker's life - an extraordinary example of spiritual transformation and growth. 569 pages. (FP)
Dawn-Breakers: Nabil's Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá'í Revelation. Shoghi Effendi. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Online at the Bahá'í Reference Library. 685 pages. (FP)
Portals to Freedom. Howard Colby Ives. Bahá'í Publishing (US). Unitarian minister struggling with questions of faith and spirituality. His search ultimately led him to a discovery of the Bahá'í Faith. 253 pages. (FP)
Comparative Religion
Bahá’u’lláh: The One Promised in All Scriptures. Hugh Hushidar. Global Perspectives. Introduces the reader to the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, but also presents convincing evidence to support Their claims and missions. The author draws deeply from various books of the Old and New Testament… 230 pages. (EP)
Brilliant Proof, The. Mirzá Abu’l Fadl Gulpáygán. Kalimat Press. An English translation of a booklet by a distinguished scholar in 1911 which defends the Faith against a poorly informed critic. Draws upon both Christian and Islamic prophecies. Free download here. (FP)
Buddhism and the Bahá'í Faith - An Introduction and Comparison. Moojan Momen. George Ronald (Publisher). An introduction to the Bahá’í Faith for those of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. 128 pages. (P)
Christ and Bahá’u’lláh. George Townshend. George Ronald (Publisher). A scholarly approach by a noted scholar who was formerly a Canon in the Anglican Church. 96 pages. (FP)
Face of God Among Us, The. John S. Hatcher. Bahá'í Publishing (US). A fresh perspective on religious history that explores the prophets of the past and offers new insight into the relationship between God and humankind. 333 pages. (EP)
Founders of Faith - The Parallel Lives of God's Messengers. Harold Rosen. Bahá'í Publishing (US). 418 pages. (EP)
Hinduism & the Bahá'í Faith. Moojan Momen. George Ronald (Publisher). By presenting it from the perspective of the Hindu tradition, Dr Momen provides people from this background with information about the Bahá'í Faith in a way which is meaningful to them. Available to read online here. 100 pages. (FP)
Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Moojan Momen. George Ronald (Publisher). An easy-to-read view of the Bahá'í Faith from a Muslim perspective, based on Islamic prophecies and Sunni traditions. 288 pages. (P)
Islam at the Crossroads. Lameh Fananapazir. George Ronald (Publisher). The crisis in Islam today and the solution offered by the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. 688 pages. (EP)
Letter to the World's Religious Leaders April 2002. The Universal House of Justice. An invitation to the world’s religious communities to reexamine the issues lying at the heart of interfaith activity. Available here. (FP)
Reincarnation Mystery Revealed. Dr. H.M. Muhje. Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India. Dr. Munje examines in this book the origins of the doctrine of reincarnation in Hindu belief. Comparing these traditions with the Bahá'í sacred writings and the original Sanskrit texts of the Hindu sacred writings. 100 pages. (EP)
Promises Fulfilled: Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith. Nabil I. Hanna. Bahá'í Publishing (US). This book examines the promises made in both the Bible and the Koran concerning the coming of the Promised One, and sheds light on the principal objections that prevent Christians and Muslims from accepting the Bahá'í Faith. 357 pages. (EP)
Release the Sun. William Sears. Bahá'í Publishing (US). While Christians anticipated the return of Jesus Christ, a wave of expectation swept through Islam that the "Lord of the Age" would soon appear. 323 pages. (EP)
Thief in the Night. William Sears. George Ronald (Publisher). A thorough approach to Bible prophesies by a talented journalist. 320 pages. (FP)*
Wine of Astonishment, The. William Sears. George Ronald (Publisher). This book gives a clear and straightforward explanation of many puzzling and controversial Christian doctrines. 162 pages. (EP)
1844: Convergence in Prophecy for Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Eileen Maddocks. Available on Amazon. Did the spirit of Christ return in 1844 in the Middle East? 224 pages. (EP)
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