The other day someone asked if I would put together a list of book recommendations. Well... if I must.
I absolutely love to read. It's a significant part of my job. I also consider the task of steering people toward good books and away from bad ones as part of the job of pastors and elders. This is shepherding the flock.
Below are some of my highest recommendations by category. You might read through the list and think, "WHAT?! HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU LEAVE OFF ____________?!?!?" The answer is simple: either I haven't read that book... or I didn't think it was as good as you did. These recommendations are completely subjective and limited to what I have had the chance to read.
Also, know that I do not line up theologically with every author on this list. Believe it or not, you can greatly benefit from the thoughts of Christians who don't attend the same kind of church as you do! I certainly have.
PARENTS: I've included a category on kids books at the bottom because there have been some absolutely great kids books come out recently that have greatly benefitted my family. Check them out!
Finally... if you only have time to read one book, make it the Bible.
God
Knowing God - J.I. Packer
The Pursuit of God - A.W. Tozer
God Most High - Jack Cottrell
Christ
The Cross of Christ - John Stott
The Final Days of Jesus - Andreas Kostenberger & Justin Taylor
Knowing Christ - Mark Jones
The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones
The Holy Spirit
Power From On High - Jack Cottrell
Forgotten God - Francis Chan
The Bible
The Faith Once for All - Jack Cottrell
Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible - Mark Ward
Taking God At His Word - Kevin DeYoung
Reading the Bible Supernaturally - John Piper
A Peculiar Glory - John Piper
Women of the Word - Jen Wilkin
Canon Revisited - Michael Kruger
Prayer
A Call to Prayer - J.C. Ryle
Prayer - Tim Keller
Prayer - Philip Yancey
Praying the Bible - Donald Whitney
Christian Living
Spiritual Disciplines - Donald Whitney
Union with Christ - Rankin Wilbourne
Thoughts for Young Men - J.C. Ryle
Every Good Endeavor - Tim Keller
A Hunger for God - John Piper
Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification - Sinclair Ferguson
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts - Thomas Schreiner
What Are Spiritual Gifts? - Kenneth Berding
Strange Fire - John MacArthur
Spiritual Warfare
The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
Fighting Satan - Joel Beeke
Devotional/Encouragement
The Bruised Reed - Richard Sibbes
Loving the Way Jesus Loves - Phil Ryken
Gentle & Lowly - Dane Ortlund
The Church
What is the Mission of the Church? - Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert
The Deliberate Church - Paul Alexander & Mark Dever
The Compelling Community - Mark Dever & Jamie Dunlop
The Prodigal Church - Jared Wilson
Worship
Corporate Worship - Matt Merker
Does God Care How We Worship? - Ligon Duncan
Evangelism
Evangelism as Exiles - Elliot Clark
Evangelism - J. Mack Stiles
Missions - Andy Johnson
Discipleship
Master Plan of Evangelism - Robert Coleman
The Trellis and the Vine - Colin Marshall
Preaching
Lectures to My Students - Charles Spurgeon
On Preaching - H.B. Charles
Simplicity in Preaching - J.C. Ryle
Expositional Preaching - David Helm
Suffering
How Long, O Lord? - D.A. Carson
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy - Mark Vroegop
Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering - Tim Keller
Spiritual Depression - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Homosexuality
Is God Anti-Gay? - Sam Allberry
Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert - Rosaria Butterfield
Same-Sex Attraction and the Church - Ed Shaw
What Does the Bible Really Say About Homosexuality? - Kevin DeYoung
Marriage
The Meaning of Marriage - Tim Keller
Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel - Ray Ortlund
Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God - C.J. Mahaney
Parenting
Parenting - Paul Tripp
Shepherding a Child’s Heart - Tedd Tripp
The Life We Never Expected - Andrew Wilson (special needs kids)
Apologetics
Can We Trust the Gospels? - Peter Williams
Making Sense of God - Tim Keller
Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
Confronting Christianity - Rebecca McLaughlin
Baptism
Baptism - Jack Cottrell
Politics
How The Nations Rage - Jonathan Leeman
God and Politics - Mark Dever
Women in Ministry
Men and Women in the Church - Kevin DeYoung
Two Views on Women in Ministry - James Beck
Women in the Church - Andreas Kostenberger & Thomas Schreiner
Church History
Union in Truth: An Interpretive History of the Restoration Movement - James North
Church History in Plain Language - Bruce Shelley
Calvinism and Arminianism
The Bible Versus Calvinism - Jack Cottrell
Grace, Faith, & Free Will - Robert Picirilli
The End Times
The Bible and the Future - Anthony Hoekema
From Now to Eternity: Prophecy and the End Times - Jack Cottrell
Leadership
The Conviction to Lead - Albert Mohler
A Tale of Three Kings - Gene Edwards
Culture
The Gathering Storm - Albert Mohler
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self - Carl Trueman
The Intolerance of Tolerance - D.A. Carson
The Case for Life - Scott Klusendorf
Fiction
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Wingfeather Saga - Andrew Peterson
Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
Biography
Here I Stand: the Biography of Martin Luther - Roland Bainton
Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice - David Teems
Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
Spurgeon - Arnold Dallimore
Let the Trumpet Sound (Martin Luther King, JR) - Stephen B. Oates
Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce - Eric Metaxas
A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson - Winn Collier
Productivity
Deep Work - Cal Newport
Do More Better - Tim Challies
What’s Best Next - Matt Perman
Pornography
Finally Free - Heath Lambert
Wired for Intimacy - William Struthers
The Death of Porn - Ray Ortlund
Other Life Issues
What Grieving People Wish You Knew About What Really Helps - Nancy Guthrie
Transgender - Vaughan Roberts
Gender Ideology - Sharon James
Kids Books
The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones
The Friend Who Forgives - Dan Dewitt
Jesus and the Very Big Surprise - Randall Goodgame
God’s Very Good Idea - Trillia Newbell
The Moon is Always Round - Jonathan Gibson
God Made All of Me - Justin & Lindsey Holcomb
The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross - Carl Laferton
A Child’s First Book About Marriage: God’s Way is Always Best - Jani Ortlund
Anything written by these authors will be good…
Jack Cottrell
Timothy Keller
Sam Allberry
C.S. Lewis
Jen Wilkin