Feb 11, 2010
What a Writer Learned from Ten Life-Changing Books
Most Christian writers want to publish books that help people encounter God and live as committed disciples in their everyday lives. That is my definition for success in my own writing career—at least something like that.
I thought it would help to examine the Christian books that have made the most noticeable impact on my own life as a follower of Jesus in order to figure out what they have in common and what they have to teach me. While there are some books that I have enjoyed reading and recommend often, I’m looking specifically at the life-changing books that I have read.
In the following days I’ll share some specific reflections on the significance of each book in my life. Whether they changed my life at a particular point or continue to echo in their relevance since my last read-through, I’m listing the books that changed how I think and the choices I make:
Ten Books That Changed My Life…
A Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Houses That Change the World by Wolfgang Simpson
The Younger Evangelicals by Robert Webber
Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon
Jesus for President by Shane Claiborn and Chris Haw
Sex, Economy, Freedom, and Community by Wendell Berry
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborn
What this tells me…
The theology books that I love to read aren’t quite as influential as I thought. I still learn from them and I hope to write accessible books on theology, but when it comes to life-changing books, the books that apply theology to discipleship and spiritual growth have had the strongest impact on my life.
Committed Disciples
Many of these books are written by authors who are deeply committed to Christ and live in some fairly radical ways. Bonhoeffer, Claiborn, and Simpson have each been outspoken about their beliefs and have each made their own sacrifices for the sake of Christ.
Rooted and Flourishing
The rest of the authors include Lewis, Webber, Foster, Hart, Hauerwas, and Willimon who are notable for thinking deeply on the faith, digging into the best of the Christian tradition, and applying it anew for today. They are excellent examples for Christians today who have made any of the following mistakes: forgetting their history, becoming captive to culture, or becoming disconnected from culture.
On Christian Books and Authors
If I want to write the kinds of books that resemble the most life-changing books I’ve read, there are a number of lessons that Christian writers such as myself can learn from this list:
- Cultivate a thriving inner-life with God and the Holy Spirit.
- Embrace a life of costly discipleship.
- Dig deep into the best of the Christian tradition.
- Commit to reflecting on scripture.
- Ask hard questions about Christianity and culture.
What are your favorite books?
What do they teach you about yourself?
What do they teach you about what makes a life-changing books?
It’s a nice list, Ed. I’m curious: what “secular” books would you say have contributed to life-change?
Good question. They don’t come to mind as easily!
Obviously Bird by Bird by Lamott. That gave me a lot of confidence to write. Same with King’s On Writing.
I read a lot of history, so I appreciate the perspective gained in books such as Island at the Center of the World and Fly Boys. I read a lot of novels in college, but my memory is a bit foggy there…
Any books you’d care to share?