I asked another of the most well-read people I know what were the top ten books I should read. My personal goal is to read these books before I turned 45 (a long time ago! and I actually have already read 3 of them – guess which ones)
Also, look at my other friend (yes, I actually have two!) David Blattenberger’s list of books that I should read!
10.FORREST’S CRITTER COMPANY BY ANDREW LYTLE.
Buy it at Amazon.Com
A dramaticized biography of one of the true heroes of American History, Nathan Bedford Forrest. He teaches us to be true Men by knowing our strengths AND our weaknesses and living with them both.
- CALVIN’S INSTITUTES. JOHN CALVIN.
Buy it at Amazon.Com
Not light reading. Not for reading at one sitting. But a good discription of the BASICS of Christian doctrine. When first published (an instand best seller in the 1600’s) it was read by everyone who was anyone. Now it seems above us. So buckle down and pull yourself up and read some meat.
- THE FOUR LOVE LANGUAGES BY GARY CHAPMAN
Buy it at Amazon.Com
A helpful self-help book (sort of oxymoronic, eh?) that helps pull us out of our selfish tendancies in relationships. A must for real Men.
- WHAT IF- EDITED BY ROBERT COWLEY
Buy it at Amazon.Com
The best introduction to Alternative History available. For a Sovereignty-of-God-guy, alternative history is a must. It shows what COULD have been if events in history took a different tack. Therefore, it shows you why God did things the way He did. Not that He needs our understanding to justify His actions…..Also available on CD and another version with military historians is available.
- THE ILLIAD BY HOMER
Buy it at Amazon.Com
Not Homer Simpson, but the Big Homer from Long Ago. As the second fiction work on my list, it too is classical in form and content. Exciting, not glitzy. Find a good translation.
- WORKING THE ANGLES- EUGENE PETERSON
Buy it at Amazon.Com
A description of what a Biblical Pastoral Ministry should look like. It is a call to integrity instead of popularity. A nudge to do what is right instead of what is practical or expected or increase-related.
- IN HIS FACE BY MICHAEL HORTON
Buy it at Amazon.Com
A wonderful answer to today’s tendency to worship the right God for the wrong reasons and in the wrong way. Counters the Hybellian seeker sensitive approach with skill, taste and compassion.
- THE LORD OF THE RINGS BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN
Buy it at Amazon.Com
Okay… it’s fiction… but it is the best example of modern classical literature I know of. Well written, wonderfully thematic… and the fact that the movie industry has cottoned on to it doesn’t quite make me move it from my list… but it is down from #2. I classify it as THE must read fiction book for all.
- IN THE GRIP OF HIS GRACE BY MAX LUCADO
Buy it at Amazon.Com
I know, a Max Lucado book on an intellectual’s booklist is strange. But this man shames me with his understanding of grace. He preaches it because he knows it, I think. Read it twice.
- THE HOLY BIBLE– THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION…
Buy it at Amazon.Com
Why anyone would not choose the ideal, a study Bible such as the New Geneva Study Bible or the recently published Reformation Study Bible (edited by some guy named Sproul.) is beyond me.
REVISED: JANUARY 29, 2009.