Hi all,

I find The Mind Illuminated by John Yates very useful, I especially appreciate detailed technical advice on how to actually "meditate", how to work with psychological aspects, and also the cross referencening to psychology and neuroscience.

Could you please link me to books similar in content and style? Books decicated to (broad understanding of) technique - step by step manuals of what to do during the formal practice, psychological aspects of both formal and informal practice, links to science...

Much appreciated...

Sure...
Daniel has a free version of his book: 

https://www.mctb.org/

Here's a few other options, but there are so many. Remember that reading is conceptual. The real skill is the experiences you get from meditating. Habits and experiences from the practice are the only real territory you have to be concerned about.

The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young

https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9781591794608/

Seeing that Frees by Rob Burbea

https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780992848910/

Focused and Fearless / Wisdom Wide and Deep by Shaila Catherine

https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780861715602/

https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780861716234/

The Jhanas by Leigh Brasington

https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9781611802696/


Good luck!

Second that, with one exception (my personal opinion): Shamata + Vipassana meditation is a complete system based on Buddha's teachings and passed down from 2500 years ago from meditation masters to students with the tradition of studying key suttas (sort of like step by step manuals) and actual meditation practice under the guidance of a competent master, adding "science", psychology and neuroscience would basically ruin a complete, tried and tested valid system and render it useless, it is like saying "I just bought a nice TV and instead of using it as it is, I would like to open it up and add some parts from my nice digital camera, and also add some very expensive organic maple syrups".  so I would not agree on the inclusion of Shinzen Young's book.

Other than that, these are the "go to" books that most serious Shamata + Vipassana meditation students would/should study, they are fundamentals, from there you can pick up other intermediate and advanced books, but these are great books to start with.

I agree. The title is more to do with Shinzen's personality. His emphasis on paying attention to "gones" is helpful in the 3 characteristics practice, but yes, concentration is probably more important at the beginning and all the way through the practice.