Book Recommendations 2024

Because of my work and interests, I read—a lot. So, I’m often asked for book recommendations, which I am happy to give. Below are lists of 3-5 books I have recommended in the past, organized by general category or question they attempt to answer. I’m not sure there are any books on this list with which I 100% agree. But, all are very much worth owning. They are all in author-alphabetical order, but there are asterisks (***) for my personal favorites.

So, if you're looking for a solid Christmas gift for all the bookworms in your life, here you go!

Disclaimer: Just so you know, all the links are Amazon Associates links. This means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. It doesn't cost you anything extra, and it helps support the work I do here. Win-win! I genuinely appreciate your support—thanks for being awesome!

What is Christian apologetics? How is it done?

These books are about Christian apologetics. They are written for Christians looking to get better at articulating and defending the faith.

• Reimagining Apologetics: The Beauty of Faith in a Secular Age by Justin Bailey

• Telling a Better Story: How to Talk about God in a Skeptical Age by Joshua Chatraw

• On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig

• Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World by Paul Gould

• ***Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus by Dallas Willard

Why should anyone be a Christian?

These books are doing Christian apologetics. They are written for people seeking to make sense of the Christian faith—both emotionally and intellectually.

• Our Deepest Desires: How the Christian Story Fulfills Human Aspirations by Gregory Ganssle

• A Good and True Story: Eleven Clues to Understanding Our Universe and Your Place in It by Paul Gould

• ***The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller

• Making Sense of God: Finding God in the Modern World by Timothy Keller

• Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism by Gavin Ortlund

Why should anyone study philosophy?

• Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot

• What Is Philosophy For? by Mary Midgley

• Doing Philosophy: From Common Curiosity to Logical Reasoning by Timothy Williamson

Why should Christians study philosophy?

• Loving Wisdom: A Guide to Philosophy and Christian Faith by Paul Copan

• Christian Philosophy as a Way of Life: An Invitation to Wonder by Ross Inman

• Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life by Jonathan T. Pennington

Introduction to Philosophy (from a Christian perspective)

• ***Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions by Garrett DeWeese and J.P. Moreland

• Philosophy: A Christian Introduction by James Dew and Paul Gould

• Questions in Christian Philosophy (3 book series)

  • How Do We Know? by James Dew and Mark Foreman

  • How Do We Reason? by Forrest E. Baird

  • What Is Reality? by Ross Inman

Introduction to Philosophy (from a not-so-Christian perspective)

• Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by Simon Blackburn

• Knowledge, Reality, and Value: A Mostly Common Sense Guide to Philosophy by David Huemer

• ***Philosophy: Principles and Problems by Roger Scruton

The role of the mind in the life of the Christian (my favorite category)

• ***Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul by J.P. Moreland

• Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark Noll

• Knowledge for the Love of God: Why Your Heart Needs Your Mind by Timothy Pickavance

• Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper

Spiritual Formation: How can we become the kind of people God wants us to be?

• With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani

• The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus by Rich Villodas

• Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard

Discipleship: How can we help others become the kind of people God wants them to be?

• Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Breen

• The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’ Essential Teachings on Discipleship by Dallas Willard

• The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard

Daily/weekly devotional-style books

• New Moring Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp

• Hearing God Through the Year: A 365-Day Devotional by Dallas Willard

• Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice by Jan Johnson

Miscellaneous Recommendations

• Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment without Burnout by Cal Newport

• The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr

• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt