Posted by: Chris | Tuesday, 17 April 2007

What Books Should I Read?

Hopefully, the previous two posts, here and here gave some good reasons why to read Christian books. Secondly, we turn to the question of what books to read. I don’t know how many Christian books are published each year around the world but there must be scores and scores, probably multiples of that! Likewise, there are many more that have already been written. What with there being so many books it can be hard to choose what to read. Reading a book can be a significant investment of time and brainpower, so it is important to make wise choices in what to read.

…Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecclesiastes 12:12 (ESV)

Thus, as I have mentioned before, we need to be biblically discerning, to make sure that whatever we read, it agrees with what the Bible teaches. Let’s try to be like the Bereans in the book of the Acts 17:11. Luke, who wrote the book, describes the Bereans as ‘more noble’, as they searched the Scriptures to make sure what the Apostle Paul said was true!

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Acts 17:11 (ESV)

Sometimes it can be hard to be discerning about which are the best books to read, and the best ones to avoid. Beware, just because a book is a so-called “Christian book”, it doesn’t mean it is worth reading. The Puritan Richard Baxter (1615-1691) gave this excellent Advice On Reading, I really recommend you read that.

There are good books and bad books. Nevertheless, thankfully, there are loads of good Christian books around. I’ve put a selection of recommended books I’ve read that I hope might be helpful here. However, since there are so many good books, I haven’t read the majority of them, there are loads of books that are missing from my list.

So, to begin to plug that significant gap, I’ll commend to you a few “recommended reading lists” from people wiser than I, who, (I hope it would be fair to say), are also committed to the historic Protestant, Evangelical and Reformed, or in other words biblical, Christian faith, (click here to read a brief outline). Thus, I do hope the books recommended here are solidly biblical and that they will help us to understand and apply what the Bible, teaches. I hope these books to point us back to God’s Word, the Scriptures, since they alone…

are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:15-16 (ESV)

Before I present this list, I thought I better give a few disclaimers. Firstly, I certainly wouldn’t recommended every book on these lists, or every review, or every book from these publishers and book sellers. So please to be discerning. Secondly, there are many areas here where I dont have a lot of wisdom, e.g. commentaries, I do hope the sources I’ve recommended are good.

Finally, if you are daunted by all these lists, there are alot of them, and you don’t know where to start, I think the place to be would be the one of the General Recommended Reading Lists. Getting more specific than that, so many of these lists recommend reading J.I. Packer, Knowing God. That would be a great place to start. So anyways lots of list editing later (phew!), here it is in alphabetical order.

Tolle Legge! Take up and read!

General Recommended Reading Lists:

Specialised Recommended Reading

Individuals’ Recommended Reading Lists

UPDATE 20/09/07, 21/09/07, 25/09/07, 29/12/07, 16/01/08 and 18/07/08

Good Book Reviews

I considered calling this post “What Books Should I Read (and Where Could I Buy Them)?” but I thought that was a little too long. However, rather than split these into two posts here is where you can buy some of these books online.

Publishers/Sellers

Posted in Books

« Back to work
Out! »

Responses

Hi there,

Thanks so much for posting your thoughts on books and the importance of reading Christian material. I am wondering though, being a Christian history teacher, what is your recommendation for homeschoolers? Many Christian homeschooling curriculum recommend reading a lot of classics that are not Christian. Some of them appear to have thought-provoking material such as Brave New World (in my recollection as it was required reading in high school). And then there are classics like the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am reminded quite often of my pastor’s comment: “Nothing is neutral, it is either pulling us away from God or towards Him.” Anyway, with Ecclesiastes 12:12 on my mind, what should my kids be reading? Thought you might have some additional thoughts for me since my little ones aren’t quite ready for C.S. Lewis (though we’re getting closer to the Chronicles of Narnia ;)

Thanks again for your article, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter if time allows. God bless!

Warmly,
Elizabeth

By: Elizabeth on Thursday, 13 September 2007
at 3:23 pm

Dear Elizabeth,

Thanks very much for your comment on my blog. Glad you found the post helpful. As for recommendations of children’s books - very good question! The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is a good book, but in the meantime here are a couple of cautious suggestions of places you might like to look:

1. Monergism Books Children’s Section

From what I’ve seen lots of good books are listed at this online bookshop, so this maybe a place to start. As for specifics, I think I’ve heard Tim Keller recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible, and at a children’s summer camp I help on we’ve had some of the Ten Boys/Girls Who… range by Irene Howatt at our bookstall - they are simple Christian biographies.

2. Christian Focus Publications Children’s Section

I had a quick look and Christian Focus, who publish quite a few of the books in the Monergism Books Children’s Section sell more books for children. Although, I haven’t read any of them.

Sorry I’m no expert and can’t give you a more discerned selection of titles for young children, I haven’t really read any! As you know it’s really important to be biblically discerning (Acts 17:11) about these things isn’t it - especially with young children! Hopefully those links might give some places at least to start.

In Him,

Chris

By: Chris on Thursday, 13 September 2007
at 6:39 pm

[...] Update #1: Chris Watson Lee over in the UK did a fine series on reading, including a post with many recommended reading lists. [...]

By: What - Me Read? | Worship Matters on Friday, 16 November 2007
at 11:26 pm

Leave a response






Your response:

Categories