I think for me (like probably many of you), C. S. Lewis comes to mind, particularly Mere Christianity and Till We Have Faces. Often, I’ve found that a work of fiction can pierce my heart and communicate truth more effectively than nonfiction (maybe that’s just me because I was an English major ). I also love anything by Madeleine L’Engle, especially Walking on Water.
That said, I also found The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey to be transformative, as well as Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest.
Some other honorable mentions are More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell and Prayer in the Night (a more modern Christian book) by Tish Harrison Warren.
I also appreciate Christian classics that are also classic literature like Paradise Lost or Augustine’s Confessions. Really, there are so many to choose from and I know I’m forgetting some!
I’d love to hear what Christian books have had a significant impact on YOUR life (because maybe I’ll add them to my reading list too!).
So many on this list too if you need to jog your memory on which ones you’ve read or are looking for more to add to your reading list!
I love seeing this list! My reading tends toward classical, patristic, and scholastic theology, particularly works that defend orthodoxy and clarify the faith against heresies. Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae and Summa Contra Gentiles are indispensable for articulating the faith. St. Augustine’s writings, especially Confessions, On the Trinity, and anti-Pelagian works, remain a touchstone for understanding grace, human nature, and salvation. St. John of Damascus’ De Fide Orthodoxa is central for articulating and defending Orthodox doctrine against heretical distortions.
From the Orthodox tradition, I highly value Vladimir Lossky’s The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, John Zizioulas’ Being and Communion, Kallistos Ware’s writings on the Trinity and spiritual life like The Orthodox Way, and the Philokalia, which profoundly nurtures the practice of prayer, asceticism, and the journey toward union with God. These texts explore experiential and relational knowledge of God, safeguarding against heretical distortions while deepening contemplative understanding.
). I also love anything by Madeleine L’Engle, especially Walking on Water.