Top 10 Books of 2025

First off, a disclaimer.

Not everything on this list was published in 2025. These are some books—both Christian and non-Christian—that I particularly enjoyed this past year. I don’t endorse everything in them, but I found them insightful, inspiring, and challenging. Trying to rank them was a bit challenging, so I’ve listed them below in no particular order. I hope one or two make it on your reading list for 2026.

The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix

This was my funnest read in 2025. I was particularly moved by the sense of “northernness” that Lewis and Tolkien shared. They both possessed a deep longing for another country, a homeland for their wandering souls.

My Next Breath: A Memoir by Jeremy Renner

My Next Breath is Jeremy Renner’s gripping account of his tragic snowplow accident that occurred on January 1, 2023. His narration for the audiobook had me hooked from the first chapter. Note: includes mature language

Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Matt Smethurst

This deservingly made numerous best book lists for 2025. Much has been said and written about Keller’s writing, but what makes Tim Keller on the Christian Life unique are the insights from Keller’s sermons. In the book, Matt Smethurst accomplishes something Keller so often did for others: synthesize and distill precious truths.

Gradually Then Suddenly: How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy by Mark Batterson

I’ve started to appreciate Batterson more and more the last few years. The book’s title comes from a line in Ernest Hemmingway’s The Sun Also Rises. “How do you go bankrupt? Two ways. Gradually then suddenly.”

Through scripture and stories, Batterson calls us to embrace a long obedience in the same direction, all the while trusting that the “suddenlies” will happen in God’s time.

Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton - With Annotations and Guided Reading by Trevin Wax

My book club tackled Orthodoxy this year. It’s been on my list for a long time, and I’m happy to report that it was worth the effort. It’s not a light read, but Trevin Wax’s chapter summaries and notes make it easier to digest. Chesterton had a significant impact on the life and thought of C.S. Lewis, and in some ways, I felt like I was reading a precursor to Mere Christianity.

Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming the Seven Greatest Challenges That No One Expects and Everyone Experiences by Carey Nieuwhof

This is another one I’ve been meaning to read for a while. Nieuwhof unpacks seven challenges every leader faces: cynicism, compromise, disconnection, irrelevance, pride, burnout, and emptiness. If any of those strike a nerve Didn’t See it Coming needs to be in your Amazon cart.

A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation by Matthew C. Bingham

I’m currently working on a thesis exploring The Great Commandment, biblical spirituality, and the modern spiritual formation movement. I was already planning to read A Heart Aflame for God, but when I saw my supervisor Dr. Don Whitney endorsed the book, I moved it to the top of my stack.

This book will help you think more clearly about spiritual formation from a reformed approach. It’s timely considering the rising interest in spiritual formation, particularly among Gen Z. Whether you are a fan or a critic of thinkers like John Mark Comer, Bingham will give you plenty to consider.

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke

Anna Lembke is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis. She has spent much of her career exploring scientific discoveries that help explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure actually leads to pain. For those struggling with addiction of any kind, Lembke provides valuable scientific insights. In addition, she helps readers see the broader context of addiction in America.

Lembke writes from a secular worldview, but the book includes helpful information for Christian leaders and thinkers. Note: includes mature language

Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth by Samuel Chand

Leadership Pain was helpful for me to read alongside Dopamine Nation. Samuel Chand lays out a Christian perspective for a few of the issues Lemke raises. The book is also filled with personal stories from key Christian leaders. This is a great read if you are looking to grow in your leadership in 2026.

Fighting Shadows: Overcoming 7 Lies That Keep Men From Becoming Fully Alive by Jefferson Bethke and Jon Tyson

It’s been a few years since I’ve read a book on biblical manhood. I appreciated Bethke and Tyson’s insight regarding the state of manhood in America. Deeper still, their pastoral wisdom on topics like shame, despair, lust, and loneliness were helpful to unearth some lies that I—and all men—can fall prey to.