A Word from Bob: Last week I posted a special edition of the Friday 5 to Live By, highlighting blog post about Top Lists of 2019 Top Books. Additional similar lists have been posted this week, so now we have 12 Top Book Lists of 2019. Think of it as my “list of lists,” or “my collation of collations.” You’ll find plenty of Christmas gift ideas for the book lover in your life!
Kevin DeYoung: Top 10 Books of 2019
Kevin explains his list:
“’Best’ doesn’t mean I agreed with everything in them; it means I found these books—all published in 2019—a strong combination of thoughtful, useful, interesting, helpful, insightful, and challenging.”
Enjoy Pastor Kevin’s list here: Top 10 Books of 2019.
TGC Editorial Staff: Books We Enjoyed in 2019
TGC leadership asked their team to select a few books they enjoyed reading over the past year and would commend to others. Find their recommendations here: Books We Enjoyed in 2019.
Tim Challies: The Collected Best Christian Books of 2019
Like me, Tim Challies likes to collate the collations. As Tim states:
“For the past couple of weeks my RSS feeder has been humming with list after list of the best books of 2019 (or, if not the best, the favorite books of 2019). It seems that just about every avid reader I follow is eager to share his or her picks for the year that was. I love these lists and decided I’d compile them to look for patterns and repeats. Here, then, are the collected best Christian books of 2019. Each one of these is from a blog or web site I read regularly.”
Enjoy Tim’s collation here: The Collected Best Christian Books of 2019.
Brad Merchant: My Favorite Reads of 2019
Pastor Brad starts with a great quote from Spurgeon on reading.
“Give yourself unto reading. The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves that he has no brains of his own. You need to read.”
Read Brad’s list here: My Favorite Reads of 2019.
Christianity Today’s 2020 Book Awards
CT describes this list as “our picks for the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.” Read their top picks in several categories in Christianity Today’s 2020 Book Awards.
Jared Wilson: My Top 10 Books of 2019
Jared Wilson notes that he’s collating “the best books I read this year. Keep in mind that not all of these were published in 2019—they were just the best books I read in 2019. Read Jared’s list at My Top 10 Books of 2019.
Bob Kellemen: 19 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2019
I know…awkward…highlighting my own blog post. I try to do that once a year at most. It seems appropriate this time as I’m highlighting my 19 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2019. Here’s my summary:
“I’ve selected these selected on the basis of their biblical depth, relevance to Christian living, practicality for one-another ministry, faithfulness to the sufficiency of Scripture, application to progressive sanctification, and by accepting nominations from biblical counseling leaders.”
Trevin Wax: My 10 Favorite Reads of 2019
Trevin describes his list like this:
“Every December, I post a list of the books I most enjoyed reading over the course of the calendar year. My hope is that my 2019 list of “favorite reads” will provide a few titles that may make their way onto your Christmas wish list or provide some good gift ideas. Here are my picks for 2019.”
Enjoy Trevin’s list at My 10 Favorite Reads of 2019.
TGC: The Gospel Coalition 2019 Book Awards
TGC notes:
“In TGC’s book awards, our judges use four criteria. We want books that: a.) offer gospel-centered argument and application; b.) include faithful and foundational use of Scripture both OT and NT, c.) foster spiritual discernment of contemporary trials and trends; and d.) encourage efforts to unite and renew the church.”
Read TGC’s list at The Gospel Coalition 2019 Book Awards.
Erik Raymond: Top Ten Books I Enjoyed This Year
Erik explains:
“This year I’m publishing a list of ten books I enjoyed this year. This does not mean the book was published in 2019, but it does mean I enjoyed reading it this year.”
Read Erik’s list at Top Ten Books I Enjoyed This Year.
Russell Moore: My Favorite Books of 2019
Dr. Moore notes:
“Compiling this list is one of those things I look forward to doing, each year. Whether any of you benefit from this list or not, I don’t know, but I have to do it, no matter what, because it helps me to trace back what I needed to learn, or to be reminded of, in a given year. As always, these are in no particular order other than where I found them on the shelf as I was writing this. As is my habit, there are twelve (twelve days of Christmas, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles, just makes sense to me).”
Enjoy Dr. Moore’s 12 days of Christmas reading at My Favorite Books of 2019.
James Williams: My 9 Favorite Reads of 2019
James Williams, at Growing in Grace offers his 9 Favorite Reads of 2019.
Join the Conversation
What book from any of these lists is now on your “to buy” list?
What book either published in 2019 or that you read in 2019 is your top or favorite book of the year?
