Often I am asked, “What are the most influential books in your life?” While the Bible is obviously the most influential book in my life, I offer twenty-five more that should be required reading for every Christ-follower. Some titles do not include reviews, since I read these before my blogging days.
# 1 THE DOCTRINE OF GOD – John Frame
The most influential book in my life, outside of Scripture
# 2 TOTAL TRUTH – Nancy Pearcey
One of the most important books of the 21st century.
# 3 THE PLEASURES OF GOD – John Piper
This book taught me above all that God is delighted to be God.
# 4 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD – A.W. Pink
An absolutely foundational book that deserves to be read and re-read.
# 5 DESIRING GOD – John Piper
My introduction to Christian hedonism.
# 6 – FOUNDATIONS OF GRACE – Steven Lawson
A book that shows how the doctrines of grace show up in every book of Sacred Scripture.
# 7 A DISSERTATION CONCERNING THE END FOR WHICH GOD CREATED THE WORLD – Jonathan Edwards
# 8 INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION – John Calvin
One of the most important Christian books of the last 500 years.
# 9 THE HOLINESS OF GOD – R.C. Sproul
A classic that will likely be in print for years to come. A great place to begin the journey into God.
# 10 RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS – Jonathan Edwards
As important now as it was in the 18th century.
# 11 FREEDOM OF THE WILL – Jonathan Edwards
No author has surpassed Edwards’s arguments. Any discussion of free will should turn to this book.
# 12 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS – John MacArthur
One of the first serious books I read as a Bible College student. MacArthur gets the gospel right.
# 13 THE GOD WHO IS THERE – Francis Schaeffer
Important lessons in evangelism and apologetics. This is the book that got me interested in the discipline of apologetics.
# 14 JONATHAN EDWARDS – George Marsden
My favorite biography on Jonathan Edwards.
# 15 WILLING TO BELIEVE – R.C. Sproul
A great overview of the historical debate concerning free will.
# 16 PILGRIM’S PROGRESS – John Bunyan
The number 2 selling book of all time. Spurgeon read Pilgrim’s Progress at least 100 times.
# 17 HE IS THERE AND HE IS NO SILENT – Francis Schaeffer
# 18 CHOSEN BY GOD – R.C. Sproul
This book helped me work through the issue of predestination and election over 20 years ago.
# 19 REDEMPTION ACCOMPLISHED AND APPLIED – John Murray
Terrific treatment on soteriology.
# 20 THE FORGOTTEN SPURGEON – Iain Murray
Iain Murray has a special gift that introduces readers to Spurgeon.
# 21 SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
My favorite systematic theology.
# 22 HISTORICAL THEOLOGY – Gregg Allison
My favorite historical theology.
# 23 PILLARS OF GRACE – Steven Lawson
# 24 THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST – John Owen
Important work on the atonement.
# 25 GEORGE WHITEFIELD – Arnold Dallimore
A tremendous biography that educates, inspires, and convicts.
Veritas et Lux 
Thanks a lot – this is a great list. Some of them new to me, and great to hear this list from a reliable source.
(There are no books on politics or topics outside theology in here, though. One might say, those are secondary, but actually they are also part of God’s creation. One could add, e.g. “Lex Rex” by Rutherford, or “Politica” by Althusius, or newer books like “Understanding the Times” by Noebel, or also philosophical books like “Warranted Christian Belief” by Alvin Plantinga or “Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview” by Moreland and Craig. And more “devotional” books by Puritans, or “Foxe’s book of Martyrs” or Teellinck “The Path of True Godliness” etc. Or classics like “City of God”, books by Luther, etc.
(But as you mentioned, it is your personal list, meaning which books influenced you personally, and not saying that these are the only good books…)
Well put! It is difficult to narrow the scope to 25 books!
Thanks for this very helpful list of great books!
You bet. Enjoy!
Reblogged this on Veritas et Lux.