My Top 10 Books for 2025
Like I do every year, I am sharing my Top Ten book recommendations from the past year, along with ten additional honorable mentions that were simply too good to leave off the list. Reading continues to be one of my greatest sources of growth, encouragement, and reflection, and 2025 offered no shortage of books that shaped my thinking and faith in meaningful ways.
A few titles on this year’s list are rereads, including Seasons of Sorrow, Desiring God, A Grace Disguised, and Gospel Patrons. Returning to these books proved just as fruitful as the first time around, reminding me that truly formative works often reveal new depth when revisited in different seasons of life.
Many of the twenty books featured here are shorter and can be read fairly quickly, yet they remain incredibly helpful and substantive. Two great examples are The Art of Disagreeing by Gavin Ortlund and The Clay Pot Conspiracy by Dave Harvey. Though brief, both carry a profound message.
If you would like a basic synopsis or overview of any of these books, simply click on the book cover image, and it will take you directly to the book on Amazon.
Enjoy, and happy reading!
10
2084 and the AI Revolution: How Artificial Intelligence Informs our Future
John Lennox
9
What is Wrong with the World: The Surprising, Hopeful Answer to the Question We Cannot Avoid
Timothy Keller
8
Lest We Drift: Five Departure Dangers from the One True Gospel
Jared Wilson
7
Blaise Pascal: The Man who Made the Modern World
Graham Tomlin
6
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
Arthur C. Brooks
5
Everyday Revolutionary: How to Transcend the Culture War and Transform the World
J.D. Greear
4
Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When the Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems Lost
Ray Ortlund
3
The Clay Pot Conspiracy: God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders
Dave Harvey
2
The Art of Disagreeing: How to Stay Calm and Stay Friends in Hard Conversations
Gavin Ortlund
1
Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel
Matt Smethurst
And here are my Top 10 Honorable Mentions, in no particular order:
From the Rising of the Sun: A Journey of Worship Around the World, Tim Challies & Tim Keesee
Not Old, Not Young, Not Done: Following Jesus in Your 50s and 60s, Christopher Ash
A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul, David Mathis
Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire, Dan Martell
Gospel Patrons: People Whose Generosity Changed the World, John Rinehart
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, John Piper
And finally, here are four books that were helpful as we dealt with the death of our son, Jonny, this past year:
A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss, Jerry Sittser
Lament for a Son, Nicholas Wolterstorff
Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God, Tim Challies
When the Hurt Won’t Heal: Living with Chronic Illness, Craig Svensson