I really value learning, and I know of few better ways to learn than to read books. It is the distillation of wisdom that another person’s life has been in pursuit of finding—and they get to share their secrets with me (at a fraction of what it would cost were I to hire them directly, no less).

There are lots of authors I admire, and there are some great books out there that were written by one-timers. I certainly don’t have the corner on book recommendations, and there are many others who have much bigger and better lists than I do.

Still, I can let you in on the books and reading that have most impacted me. As a result, this is less of a list that includes all of the books I’ve enjoyed, and more of a list of books that have significantly influenced my life and thinking.

I’ll say that again. This list only includes the books that have most impacted me.

Since I don’t read fiction books that much (like, it’s less than 5% of my total reading, honestly), and I’d imagine most people don’t want to read more academic theological books, I’m going to keep this list to what I know best—Christian and business-oriented non-fiction, keeping them in alphabetical order.

But if you’re looking for my absolute favorites, I’ll cap it off with my all-timers.

Christian books

• All is Grace by Brennan Manning

• The Character of God’s Workman by Watchman Nee

• The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ by T. Austin-Sparks

• The Crucified Life by A.W. Tozer

• The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray

• Encounters with Silence by Karl Rahner

• Everything by Mary Demuth

• Finding Organic Church by Frank Viola

• From Eternity to Here by Frank Viola

• Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning

• Her Gates Will Never Be Shut by Bradley Jersak

• How God Became King by N.T. Wright

• How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns

• Insurgence by Frank Viola

• Jesus Speaks by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

• The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

• The Life That Wins by Watchman Nee

• Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

• Love Does by Bob Goff

• Love Not the World by Watchman Nee

• The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman

• The Message of the New Testament by F.F. Bruce

• The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

• Pensées by Blaise Pascal

• The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

• Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton

• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

• Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

• Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley

• Reimagining Church by Frank Viola

• The Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee

• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

• Satisfy Your Soul by Bruce Demarest

• Sit, Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee

• The Stewardship of the Mystery by T. Austin-Sparks

• The Strength to Love by Martin Luther King Jr.

• Victory in Christ by Charles G. Trumbull

• What Shall This Man Do? by Watchman Nee

As a bonus, I’d strongly recommend checking out Frank Viola’s list of the best 100 Christian books ever written. I used that as a huge guide for me in finding books and authors I had never heard of at the time, but have since played a significant role in my personal and spiritual development.

Non-Christian books

• The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown

• Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

• Good to Great by Jim Collins

• Lost and Founder by Fish Rankin

• Measure What Matters by John Doerr

• Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

• Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

• Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

• The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

• When by Daniel H. Pink