Books I have loved
Bill Gates said "with a library card in your hands you have access to a world of opportunities"! And it's true! So with so many resources available to us, what should we read? I have listed, and will continue to list, in this section, books that I have found helpful, or entertaining. The first category is Christian books, because I believe no matter what else you're doing, there is nothing more important than building a relationship with God.
Below the Christian books I list some of the marketing and advertising books that have helped me. And then below them are the novels, biographies, and all other books for enjoyment.
Please let me know of books you have read that you feel I need to read as well!
Christian Books
I once had a dear friend who was struggling with the idea that God is real and wants to have a relationship with His creations. The book that helped that friend the most was "The Reason For God" by Tim Keller. Tim is a prolific writer of many wonderful books. Here's a few more that enhanced my understanding of God.
Jesus The King
Keller powerfully explains how the King of Kings humbled Himself to be a servant to His creations.
Encounters With Jesus
Prayer.
I also use Tim's book The Songs of Jesus for my daily devotions.
If you or a friend is struggling with the reality of Jesus I also highly recommend Lee Strobel's "The Case For Christ". Strobel has done an entire series on The Case For... and all are well done. He was an investigative reporter who was tired of his friends Christianity claims, so Strobel launched an investigation to prove how the stories of Jesus were just stories and ended up converting himself.
Another great one for understanding Christianity is Reasons For Belief by Norman Geisler
Blue Like Jazz from Donald Miller is a fantastically funny and insightful book. It attempts to break through religion and find an authentic relationship with God.
In a similar vein Crazy Love by Francis Chan cuts through the BS of religion and helps give a glimpse of how much you are really loved by God! I can also recommend his followup book Forgotten God.
For guys who just feel like Christianity is too wimpy please read John Eldredge "Wild At Heart"
I also enjoyed his book Waking The Dead
We did a mens group around the book The Barbarian Way that really opened our eyes about how the church has kind of emasculated us. That you have to be a mans man to follow Jesus and we all need to step up!
I had the privilege of attending Charles Stanley's church in Atlanta for about 6 months. He wrote a book during that time that I think mature Christians should read. Landmines In The Path of A Believer
Every Christian should take the challenge issued in Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren
Serious deep thinking Christian issues is all you get in Doctrine Mark Driscoll & GerryBeshears. It will push you and make you a better Christian.
A book that just made me love Jesus more; The Applause Of Heaven Max Lucado
This is top notch fiction! John's Story The Last Eyewitness Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins
I love CS Lewis! I was trying to think of a way to describe his writing to someone who has never read him and believe the English theologian and philosopher Austin Farrer summed it up best. “There lived in his writings a Christian universe that could be both thought and felt, in which he was at home and in which he made his reader at home.”
Mere Christianity
These were compiled from several speeches that Lewis gave on the radio to England during WWII. Together they explain what all Christians must agree on and why.
The Great Divorce
A fictional account of an annual bus trip from hell to heaven and the shocking explanation why the riders choose to return to hell.
Screwtape Letters
Fictional correspondence between Satan and his nephew a demon, which shows how so many people are fooled by the devil.
Out of The Silent Planet
What if other planets are populated by creatures who have never fallen into sin? Lewis takes a spaceship there and we can all see for ourselves.
Perelandra
We're space travelling to another planet. But this time it's to prevent them from falling.
That Hideous Strength
Lewis keeps us on Earth this time but we see the government coming under the control of Satan. Looks oddly like what some campaign promises currently look like!
The Problem Of Pain
This is non fiction. Why does God if He is good, and loving and all powerful allow us to feel pain?
I also enjoyed listening to this 12 lecture series on the writings of CS Lewis from Professor Louis Markos Life and Writings of C. S. Lewis It's available at most libraries.
Secret Formulas Of The Wizard Of Ads
Small Is The New Big Seth Godin
33 Ruthless Rules on Local Advertising
Ogilvy On Advertising
There's Money Where Your Mouth Is
Contagious: Why Things Catch On.
Novels/Biographies
I love James Bond for escapism! Not only have I seen every Bond movie multiple times, I have read all of Ian Fleming's original novels. There are massive differences between the books and movies! And yes the books are better. Here's a few of my favorite Bond books.
Diamonds Are Forever
From Russia With Love
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
I also love Arthur Conan Doyle and his adventures of Sherlock Homes. Here's a couple of amazing works. The Sign of the Four
A Study In Scarlet
I am often drawn to biographies. I believe for 2 reasons. The person must have lived an amazing life if someone else wanted to write about it, and there are usually great lessons to learn from those people.
I think the first serious biography that I ever read was Danny Sugerman's biography of Jim Morrison. It was co written by Jerry Hopkins, but Sugerman was the one who actually spent the time with Morrison. Sadly I based a lot of my youth on the wrong lessons of Jim Morrison. Idolizing him and David Lee Roth and the love of parties and escapism. Thankfully I survived those years and can now see those were lessons should have been interpreted as warnings. But that book sure was fun to read over and over again for a 14 year old boy!
As I made it into my 20's I remember the first serious biography I ever read was Theodore Roosevelt: A Life by Nathan Miller. It rarely gets great reviews but I have fond memories of it, probably because I knew I was grown up if I could read this entire book!
A far more fun book to read which has lots of Teddy Roosevelt info is The Bully Pulpit. But Doris Kearns Goodwin's covers not only Teddy but William Howard Taft and their relationship
