A not-so-complementing trope associated with bloggers and self-proclaimed influencers goes like this: “A lot of people have been asking me about ‘such and such.’”

The question typically serves as the prelude to a humblebrag. A lot of people have been asking whether I consider myself more of a pastor or a male model. This sort of baloney makes readers wonder whether a single person has ever asked said influencer such a question.

There is one question, however, I want to bring up that I’ve been legitimately asked. I wouldn’t say a lot of people have asked, though. In fact, only one person has asked the question. It’s the same person who asked me the exact same question last year, a question that I believe came to me on at a “blog comment” from my fellow-Pennsylvania-pastor-friend Josh. Until now, I pretty much ignored Josh’s question, which I can explain why after I tell you what the question is. (But first: Sorry for doing that, Josh!)        

In the first blog post of each year, I share the list of books I read the previous year, always including in the post a few quirky tidbits about my year of reading. Because the list is typically so long, and because, to paraphrase Twitter, “a book read doesn’t equal an endorsement,” it’s hard for those who skim my annual blog post to have any helpful takeaway other than Benjamin is probably as quirky and eclectic of a reader as the lists seem to indicate. And that’s not much of a takeaway.

This is why, I think, Josh has asked me each of the last two years to create a much reduced list of books that only includes the books I suggest people read and perhaps why I make each suggestion.

I didn’t ignore the question because I thought it was a dumb question. I just never answered because of the work involved.

But this week I’m going to give it a try. Below are the twelve books that I would encourage readers to read, a list pared down from the list of all the books I’ve read over the last four or five years, a list that includes several hundred books.

Before sharing the list, I’ll mention that I didn’t include the Bible on the list below. But I will say that the Bible is the only book I read every year and certainly the only book I try to open nearly every day. I think I’m on my twentieth time through the book cover to cover. Therefore, for me to not put the Bible on the list is not at all meant to be a disrespect to the Bible but rather a way to respect the Bible by saying it is beyond belonging to a list of “book suggestions.”

I’m sure I’m missing a few books worthy of reading. If you think so, let me know in the comments below what those books are and why, in your opinion, they are must-reads.

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12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke
This book is a few years old, so it’s probably “15 ways” now.

The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home by Russell Moore
Our hearts and homes are far more broken than we might expect, and yet the grace of God is also far more lavish than we might expect.

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
We don’t know how to lament well, and that is neither to our credit nor joy.

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund
While Pharaoh says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you more burdens,” Jesus says, “I will give you rest . . . . for I am gentle and lowly in heart.”

Gospel-Driven Church: Uniting Church Growth Dreams with the Metrics of Grace by Jared C. Wilson
Look, I’m contractually obligated to pick at least one Jared Wilson book because I love his books so much—so I’m picking this one because it’s new-ish and it also includes a helpful story-like-fable that wraps all the gospely-warmth and wisdom into a compelling and instructive whole. (As an aside, my favorite Wilson books are still Gospel Deeps and The Pastor’s Justification, although his newest book, Love Me Anyway, is great too.)

The Imperfect Pastor: Discovering Joy in Our Limitations through a Daily Apprenticeship with Jesus by Zack Eswine
It’s the only ministry book I re-read every other year or so, which I do because I’m prone to wander, prone to leave the kind of pastoral ministry that God loves, and this book calls me back again and again.

Struck: One Christian’s Reflections on Encountering Death by Russ Ramsey
What an honest story of pain and loss and grappling with God and coming out the other side in hope and joy.

The Art of Rest by Adam Mabry
We ain’t very good at rest, and this book explains why that’s a problem and what we must do about it.

The Song of Solomon: An Invitation to Intimacy by Douglas Sean O’Donnell
So, this is a preaching commentary, but as I’ve studied and taught Song of Solomon several times, I found this whole book so wonderfully done that it should belong on this list because of its great combo of exegetical insights and devotional warmth.

The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity by Michael J. Kruger
We need to see progressive Christianity for what it is, or more accurately, for what it is not—and this very short book will help you do so.

When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse by Chuck DeGroat
The book opens with an extended quote from Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk who lived during the middle of the twentieth century who said that a Christian consumed with himself “is capable of destroying religion and making the name of God odious to men,” to which I say, “Indeed, Merton, indeed.”

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Read this fictional story from WWII for the reminder that books are more than a succession of words placed one after the other on pages placed one after another; instead, books are spectacles to see reality that cannot be seen were it not so beautifully described.

Honorable Mentions:

1. Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson

2. The Writer’s Diet: A Guide to Fit Prose by Helen Sword

3. Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

4. On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser

A Few More (Sort of) Honorable Mentions:

1. Shepherd & Sheep: Essays on Loving & Leading in a Local Church by Benjamin Vrbicek

2. Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World by Benjamin Vrbicek

3. Don’t Just Send a Resume: How to Find the Right Job in a Local Church by Benjamin Vrbicek

4. Once for all Delivered: A Reformed, Amillennial Ordination Paper for the Evangelical Free Church of America by Benjamin Vrbicek

5. Struggle Against Porn: 29 Diagnostic Tests for Your Head and Heart by Benjamin Vrbicek

Can you blame me for trying?!

* Photo by Radu Marcusu on Unsplash