I was in my early 20s when I began building my library. The words of Erasmus described me well:
When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.
When I started buying books, it was hit-and-miss.
My habit was to purchase discounted books, volumes that sounded good by their descriptions, and then of course the “you gotta get this book!” referrals from my friends.
Today, many of those books don’t appear in my library any longer. After thumbing through the pages, I realized that I had no use for them.
Looking back, I wish I had some prudent guidance on what books were worth buying . . . it would have saved me both time and a lot of money.
Since I began writing and speaking, people have asked me,
What books do you recommend I read other than your own?
Well, I’ve finally gotten around to answering that question in a public way.
1) Listen to this audio for why you should build a library.
2) Go here to read the 100 books I believe you should have in your library.
These are the exceptional books . . . the game-changers.
All told: I wish I had this list when I started to build my library. But I’m happy to offer it to others who are interested.
The New Roman Road
Thanks Frank. Need to get some of Watchman Nee’s books. I have read FF Bruce and C.S. Lewis. Was surprised not to see Dallas Willard on there at all. His books, Hearing God and The Spirit of the Disciplines are very good and solid. If you have never picked them up before you may find them great additions to your collection.
Darryl: I’m familiar with Willard’s work, I just feel that the ones on the list are better. Peter Lord’s book on “Hearing God” is perhaps the best on the subject ever written.
Since you have occasionally quoted from it, I thought you may like to know that “Secret of His Purpose” by John W. Kennedy is back in print:
If there’s a better place to post the information, feel free to direct me. I’d just like people to be aware, if they are interested. Thanks!
Thanks Diane. The publisher needs to put it on Amazon.com.
Thanks for the list Frank! I’m blessed to have you as a leader in my life. Leadership has been on my mind lately, and I realized I have no one in my life right now other then the authors of the books I read who are pushing me to grow, know, and be known by Christ more. You are a blessing. From Eternity to Here is a beautiful book! Thank you Frank Viola!
Thanks Nick. There’s only one real Leader, Jesus Christ. We’re all just followers, leading one another to Him.
Great list. Of your 64, I’m only missing 16. 🙂 And of those, most are the awesome IVP commentaries, which I hope to get from them in trade some day.
So it’s fun to note that you “only” have about 2,000 books. I recall looking at them as a lad, nearly a decade ago, agape with wonderment at the size and scope of your library. Now the relative *quality* of our respective libraries is still entirely debatable, we now have nearly 5,000 books. Perhaps a “best of” list of my own is in order, and a subsequent purging!
Hi Mike. I intentionally keep my library to around 2,000 mostly because of space, but also to reduce clutter. I regularly purge it and thus have given away scores of books to friends who have bookstores. I only keep the books I think are really good and/or will make use of in the future. I spent Thanksgiving week with Len Sweet in his home, and he does the same (regularly purging). But he throws his “not-going-to-keep books” away!
Thank you for Pagan Christianity. I think, its significance in these days, cannot be overstated. My question goes to how you appear to be positively associating yourself with the ’emergent church’ by way of including Brian McLaren in your ‘Must-Have-Books’ list. It seems that the ’emergent’ position is that Jesus is the awesome and excellent hero , who had the way-humanitarian heart, dude. But that He had to bleed, and that His(God’s) blood was the only blood that could help our dire human circumstance, seems to be The-Lost-Point. I love a radical heart. I love asking hard questions of the “established” church. Believe me ..I understand the heart of a zealot. That’s not the question..Who does McLaren say that Jesus is? And what are The Scriptures?
Hi Rebekah: 1. there are over 60 books on that list. Only *one* of them is by a so-called “emerging church” person. So I find it incredible/amazing that I’m “associating myself” with emerging Christians in your mind. 2. “Generous Orthodoxy” is a great book for any Christian. So it’s on the list and will stay there. In fact, I’d recommend that you read it for yourself. 3. read the second point under “What this list is not” at http://ptmin.org/library 4. read my book JESUS MANIFESTO and you’ll see where I stand on emerging theology. Finally, what has Brian said when you asked him your questions directly?
There’s a point in that last question for everyone who reads your comment and mine. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS go to the author yourself if you have questions about him/her or or his/her beliefs instead of making public queries about them to other people. He’s very accessible just as I am. 🙂
The links in this page – http://www.ptmin.org/library – aren’t working for me.
When you say “links” what do you mean?
There’s a list of categories at the top in blue, but they aren’t links. Everything below that is the list of books. Do you see all the books listed?
This is a great resource, Frank. It will save a lot of time selecting my next books. I have several of these and ordered three more from your list. I always appreciate the book reviews and recommendations on the blog.
Thanks Frank. Awesome list. I already own about a third of the books on your list, including all of yours.
Thanks for this list, Frank. I was surprised to see a few I already have. We just moved house and I managed to fill seven boxes with books that I didn’t want to take with me. I tried to be as brutally honest as I could. I found a second-hand bookstore in Parry Sound, Ontario that was willing to give us some credit at their store for 6 of these boxes, so next time I’m passing through there I’ll take your list with me and see if I can use some of the credit on them.
I should add, however, that my wife is not as happy as I am at your list of recommendations, but Christmas is coming!
Great list Frank! I was happy to see I already had several of them in my library 🙂
Thanks for the list Frank, will have to check out some of the ones I don’t have!
This great! Very helpful.
Yeah, the quote is me as well lol. I asked for a raise recently (and got it). One of the reasons I wanted a raise is so I can buy more books. When I treat myself by spending money, it’s usually in the form of book or two.
Funny thing, when I was in the world I hated books, but now that I’m following Christ, I can’t get enough! Guess my mind was transformed lol.
Thanks for the recommendation, Frank. Already bought one from your site. 🙂 Most likely will be buying more in the future (after my raise kicks in haha)
@Michael O: I’d like to see the music one, too.
This is a great list–I’m going to have to start in on so many of these books soon…after I get through your series, Frank!
Incidentally, anyone interested in the Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible, Christianbook.com has an exclusive leather-bound version of it for only $5 more than the hardback. Quite a deal!
Frank, do you use an ebook reader like the Kindle? So many of these books would be nice in an easy to carry form factor like that, and you could slip it right in your Bible cover.
Chris: I don’t use electronic reading programs. But all the pages on Amazon that folks will click to from the book list page will have the kindle and audio versions available also on the same page.
Frank,
I forgot to include this above. What secular books have influenced you greatly, if any? I have a surprising number of them. Example: “Shop Class As Soulcraft”, an inquiry into the value of work, Matthew B. Crawford, Penguin. I recently read this book. I was startled by the relevance of this book to deconstructing another systemic problem dominating our culture. The education system.
Given that the present dilema in christianity is systemic. I am acutely sensitive (due to Pagan Christianity) of the influence of various world systems on the family of God.
The above mentioned book provided keen insight into the systemic influences the education system produces and alternative paradigm shift in worldview for correct thinking regarding work or career.
Good question, Michael. Give me some time to look through my library and I’ll add those in a comment.
Frank,
Great topic. I really appreciate this posting. I have many of these especially the Watchman Nee’s, Sparks, Banks, Zens, Bonhoffer, McLaren, CS Lewis, FF Bruce, Thompson Chain Ref, Narrated. Having read your books it is interesting to see your list of vital reading. It would be of interest to see your list of commentaries, I have relied heavily on Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart’s recommendations for commentary.
Off Topic a little. I loved the topic you did about your favorite music. I missed it. Could we do another? Perhaps you could do one on each of the cultural art forms. It is fascinating to see what others are moved by in our culture.
Thanks for posting this Frank, I’m 24 and your quote by Erasmus is definitely me. I think amazon prime is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.
Thanks Kyle. Hope you’ll avail yourself of many of the books on the page. They are essential in my view.