I remember sitting in Mark Dever's office and asking him what books have been most helpful to him personally, books that he would read more than once. He pointed to a little swiveling bookshelf with five (if I remember correctly) well worn books that he reads every year (I think).
What big 5 books do you think are worth regularly rereading?
Try to avoid devotional books, unless there is one that really knocked your socks off and you reread all the time. There will be a separate list for devotional books at some point. These books will likely be in the personal walk, Christian life, holiness kinds of categories. Don't list books of the Bible. If someone lists some of your big 5 books, please go ahead and list them again. This isn't about mentioning the books no one else has, but listing your big 5. After all, if one book is mentioned again and again that will add weight to that book. Go!
The most important for me is:
The Life of God in the Soul of Man, Scougal
After that, maybe:
Words to Winners of Souls, Bonar
The Bruised Reed, Sibbes
Holiness, Ryle
Institutes of the Christian Religion (yes, seriously)
Posted by: Joe Thorn | 06/12/2008 at 01:34 PM
Beautiful topic! (Are you going to the "Big 5 Books ... to read to your kids"? Hope so!)
First into my head:
1. John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
2. C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
3. Iain Murray, Revival and Revivalism
4. Henri Nouwen, The Genessee Diary
5. John Owen, Works, vol. 6 ... No! Vol. 2 ... No ... err ... 16 vols. :)
Posted by: David Reimer | 06/12/2008 at 01:36 PM
Yeah David. vol #3 and #6 and #10 were huge for me.
Posted by: Joe Thorn | 06/12/2008 at 01:45 PM
1. Spiritual Leadership - J. Oswald Saunders
2. Power Through Prayer - E. M. Bounds
3. Let the Nations Be Glad - John Piper
4. Knowing God - J. I. Packer
5. Either The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges or Holiness by J.C. Ryle
Plus the other ones that other people list that make me slap my forehead and wonder why I didn't think of it.
Posted by: Tim Etherington | 06/12/2008 at 02:05 PM
Maybe on a lighter note, but still great:
1. Redeeming Love: Francine Rivers
2. Feminine Appeal: Carolyn Mahaney
3. Cross-Centered Life: CJ Mahaney
4. 50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die: Piper
5. Bible Doctrines: Wayne Grudem
Posted by: kim | 06/12/2008 at 02:13 PM
Not looking at my bookshelf, and just going from the top of my head...
1. Pleasures of God (Piper)
2. Mere Christianity (Lewis)
3. Mortification of Sin (Owen, vol. 6)
4. The Pursuit of Holiness (Bridges)
5. Pilgrim's Progress (Bunyan)
Steve, I'm curious, what was on Dever's shelf?
Posted by: Aaron | 06/12/2008 at 02:26 PM
Don't Waste Your Life (Piper)
Orthodoxy (Chesterton)
Pilgrim's Progress (Bunyan)
Mere Christianity (Lewis)
The Cross-Centered Life (Mahaney)
Posted by: Bryan Fordham | 06/12/2008 at 02:34 PM
1. Brothers, We are Not Professionals - Piper
2. Christian Beliefs - Grudem
3. Humility - Mahaney
And 2 new ones that I have read twice so far...
4. The Great Exchange - Bridges & Bevington
5. Confessions of an Ordinary Pastor - Carson
Posted by: Joel Burdeaux | 06/12/2008 at 02:49 PM
Great stuff as usual guys. My list...
Love Walked Among Us - Miller
Future Grace - Piper
Life of God in the Soul of Man - Scougal
The Enemy Within - Lundgaard
Humility - Mahaney
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 06/12/2008 at 03:00 PM
Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
The Cross Centered-Life - C.J. Mahaney
A Journey Worth Taking - Charles Drew (a new book worth rereading many times)
The Goldsworthy Triology (or According to Plan) - Graeme Goldsworthy
and finally - as a refresher - Systematic Theology (alternating each year between Wayne Grudem, Robert Reymond & Louis Berkhof).
Posted by: Terry J | 06/12/2008 at 03:13 PM
Richard Baxter: The Reformed Pastor. Most influential book on my life, other than the Bible.
Posted by: Derek | 06/12/2008 at 03:40 PM
Cross Centered Life by Mahaney
Knowing Jesus through the OT by Wright
Evangelism and Sovereignty of God by Packer
Valley of Vision
Systematic Theology by Grudem
Posted by: Curtis | 06/12/2008 at 03:50 PM
Finally one I can do! But I'm afraid my list of fiction and poetry is a little odd compared to other lists.
1) The Writing Life by Annie Dillard.
2) The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
3) Chronicles of Narnia
4) Stunk and White
5) One of Jane Austen's books.
For what it's worth.
Posted by: Mark Goodyear | 06/12/2008 at 04:00 PM
These are the five books that I have actually read and reread the most, in no particular order:
-D. Martyn Lloyd Jones (2 volumes), by Iain Murray
-Calvin: A Life, by Emmanuel Stickleberger (out of print, but you can find it out there--the best biography of Calvin I have read)
-Knowing God, by J.I. Packer
-Dynamics of Spiritual Life, by Richard Lovelace (he sometimes makes me want to pull my hair out, but usually not)
-That Hideous Strength, by C.S. Lewis (very seriously)
Posted by: Stephen Baker | 06/12/2008 at 04:03 PM
1) Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God by Mahaney - this one every year challenges me to love my lady more!
2) Brothers we are not professionals by Piper
3) Valley of Vision
4) Concise Theology by Packer
5) Create in Me a Youth Ministry by Ridge Burns (since not all of us can be big time pastors like most of you guys).
5b) A Reason for God by Keller is going to become one I read yearly too but i have only read it once now.
Posted by: Joel Reynolds | 06/12/2008 at 04:42 PM
In no particular order
1) Pilgrim's Progress (Bunyan)
2) Knowing God (J.I. Packer
3) Holiness (Henry Blackaby)
4) Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Don Whitney)
5) Purity Principle (Randy Alcorn)
Posted by: Terry Delaney | 06/12/2008 at 05:16 PM
Mahany's "Cross Centered Life," which is on many lists here, and these:
"Scribbling in the Sand," Michael Card
"The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald
"Unceasing Worship," Harold Best
"Chronicles, vol. 1" Bob Dylan
Posted by: Bobby Gilles | 06/12/2008 at 10:23 PM
Love the series, but as we consider heading overseas in the next year or two, I am trying to think of books to get rid of rather than purchase!
I'm looking for the "five books you would take with you onto a remote island inhabited only by a lost people group" list.
Posted by: Nick P. | 06/12/2008 at 10:50 PM
50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die - Piper
The Cross-Centered Life - Mahaney
The Cross of Christ - Stott
The Jesus Storybook Bible - Lloyd-Jones
What Jesus Demands from the World - Piper
Posted by: JB | 06/12/2008 at 10:51 PM
You the Leader Phil Pringle
Transforming Your Church Mark Conner
You Need More Money Brian Houston
The Church is Bigger than you Think Patrick Johnstone
Desiring God John Piper
Posted by: John Finkelde | 06/12/2008 at 10:58 PM
The Life of God in the Soul of Man, Henry Scougal (thanks for the reminder, Joe!)
Humility, Andrew Murray
Desiring God, John Piper
The Root of the Righteous, A.W. Tozer
The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer
Posted by: Jeff Patterson | 06/12/2008 at 11:01 PM
1) Future Grace, John Piper
2) God's Greater Glory, Bruce Ware
3) Created in God's Image, Anthony Hoekema
4) Redemption Accomplished and Applied, John Murray
5) Desiring God, John Piper
Posted by: Brian Goard | 06/12/2008 at 11:31 PM
1) The Drama of Scripture (Bartholomew & Goheen) or According to Plan (Goldsworthy)
2) Pilgrim's Progress (Bunyan)
3) Future Grace (Piper)
Posted by: Brian | 06/13/2008 at 12:27 AM
4) Bible Doctrine (Grudem)
5) Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Whitney)
Posted by: Brian | 06/13/2008 at 12:32 AM
Mere Christianity - Lewis
Cost of Discipleship - Bonhoeffer
The Holiness of God - Sproul
The Great Omission - Willard
Celebration of Discipline - Foster
Honorable mention:
A Call To Die - Nasser
Posted by: Paul | 06/13/2008 at 06:11 AM
The Annie Dillard Reader - Annie Dillard
Son of Laughter - Frederick Buechner
Godric - Frederick Buechner
The Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (What?!)
Posted by: Ron | 06/13/2008 at 07:43 AM
I've only been at reading serious books for a few years now so, I think of this as my list of books I'd take on a remote island.
1. Knowing God - J.I. Packer
2. A Passion For Faithfulness - J.I. Packer
3. From Embers to a Flame - Harry Reeder III
4. The Millenium - Lorraine Boettner
5. An Eschatology of Victory - Marcellus Kik
Posted by: anthony | 06/13/2008 at 10:53 AM
Sorry, I only have two that I personally, actually reread on a regular basis, but they are worth posting even if I don't have three more to mention:
1) Four Loves by Lewis
2) Life Together by Bonhoeffer
Posted by: claytonius | 06/13/2008 at 11:22 AM
Piper's quote is so great, "I love reading more than eating."
Mortification of Sin - John Owen
Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan
A Hunger for God - John Piper
What's the Difference - Piper & Wayne Grudem
Shepherding a Child's Heart - Tedd Tripp
Posted by: Matt H | 06/13/2008 at 01:10 PM
As with many others, these are off the top of my head and not looking at bookshelf...
1. Schaeffer - "The Church Before the Watching World"
2. Piper Book of Choice (mine is "Brothers, We are Not Professionals")
3. DA Carson - "How Long, O Lord?"
4. CS Lewis - "The Great Divorce"
5. Jonathan Edwards - "The History of Redemption"
Posted by: Ken in Virginia | 06/13/2008 at 02:09 PM
Richard Baxter -- The Reformed Pastor
Howard Hendricks -- Teaching to Change Lives
Jim Elliot -- Shadow of the Almighty
J. I. Packer -- Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.
William H. Danforth -- I Dare You!
Posted by: Todd B. | 06/13/2008 at 03:39 PM
In no particular order:
J.R.R. Tolkien-- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
F. Dostoevsky-- The Brothers Karamazov
John Piper-- God is the Gospel
J.I. Packer-- Knowing God
Herold Best-- Unceasing Worship
Posted by: RonK | 06/13/2008 at 05:08 PM
Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper
Let the Nations Be Glad! - John Piper
The Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy - Schaeffer :)
Reformed Pastor - Richard Baxter
The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God's Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin - Piper
I love John Piper what can I say
Posted by: Keith Walters | 06/13/2008 at 10:52 PM
My first three are all series, and they've been mentioned already. The last two I actually haven't read multiple times yet, but I'm sure I will. All of these blew my mind in one way or another.
The Chronicles of Narnia (especially The Last Battle) - C.S. Lewis
Francis Schaeffer Trilogy (especially The God Who Is There) - Francis Schaeffer
The Space Trilogy (especially That Hideous Strength) - C.S. Lewis
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader - Various
Organic Church - Neil Cole
Posted by: Aaron Pelly | 06/14/2008 at 02:49 AM
1. Desiring God - John Piper
Hands down the most exhilirating, probing, God-centered volume that humbles and focuses me on what's most important...
2. Chosen By God - R.C. Sproul
Everytime I read this, I worship the Sovereign Lord more and more. It's the reason I'm reformed and never looked back :)
3. The Spirit of Disciplines - Dallas Willard
Helps me keep my santification on track and my holiness in view...
4. Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
My annual apologetic for me...
5. Letters from a Skeptic - Gregory Boyd
Yes, he's an open theist. Yes, I sincerely am troubled by that. But this is the best book on the "why's" of the faith. If we are honest, we all struggle with doubting our faith. This book helps me rest as it reasons out the faith...
Posted by: brad andrews | 06/14/2008 at 09:22 AM
1. The Bruised Reed - Richard Sibbes
2. The Mortification of Sin - John Owen
3. Either Preaching and Preachers by Lloyd-Jones, Ian's Murray's 2 volume biography of Lloyd-Jones, or The Forgotten Spurgeon also by Murray
4. The End For Which God Created the World - Jonathan Edwards or The Pleasures of God by John Piper
5. Something by C.S. Lewis (Personal Favorites include Surprised by Joy, The Great Divorce, and Reflections on the Psalms)
Posted by: Danny Strong | 06/14/2008 at 09:57 AM
off the top of my head, thinking of the books I've re-read...
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Indwelling Sin, Temptation & the Mortification of Sin by John Owen
The Healing Path by Dan Allender
When Sinners Say "I Do" by Harvey
Future Grace or Desiring God by John Piper
Posted by: cavman | 06/14/2008 at 09:16 PM
oh... forgot Pilgrim's Progress! What a dunce!
Posted by: cavman | 06/14/2008 at 09:16 PM
Some major rule bending here [but it's for a good cause :) ]
1. All my C. S. Lewis one's (Mere christianity, Screwtape letters, Reflections,Four loves, Weight of glory, World's last night, Present concerns, Great divorce).
2. All Jane Austen's novels.
3. George Herbert, 'The temple'.
4. Flannery O'connor, 'Complete short stories'.
5.G. K. Chesterton, 'Father Brown'
*Also 'The Jesus storybook bible'.
Posted by: limpdance | 06/15/2008 at 12:45 PM
1. The Contemplative Pastor by Eugene Peterson
2. Too busy not to pray by Bill Hybels
3. A Resilient Life by Gordon MacDonald
4. A river runs through it by Norman Mclean
5. A faith to proclaim by James S. Stewart
Posted by: David Cooke | 06/16/2008 at 08:18 AM
no order: Ryle's Holiness, Chappell's Each for the Other, Postman's Technopoly, Tolkien's Hobbit/LOTR (counting it as one), Schaeffer's Church at the end of the 20th Century/Church Before the Watching World.
Posted by: Joel | 06/18/2008 at 07:44 AM
Wuthering Heights-- Emily Bronte
Evelina-- Frances Burney
The Cost of Discipleship-- Bonhoeffer
Flannery O'Connor's short stories
collected Wilfred Owen poems
Posted by: Lisa | 06/19/2008 at 11:45 PM
Mere Christianity - Lewis
The Holiness of God - Sproul
Something by Francis Shaeffer
Brothers We are Not Professionals - Piper
The Bruised Reed - Sibbes
Posted by: Jim U. | 07/01/2008 at 08:07 AM