A wise person once observed, “We lose ourselves in books. We find ourselves there too.” Some people live to read. I think I read to live. Embarking on a journey through an engaging book is a soul-nurturing, mind-stretching adventure.

My appreciation for reading was slow to develop. But when it emerged, it surged. As a teenager, I perceived reading to be a nuisance and somewhat of a necessary evil to attain decent grades in school. However, at some point early in my college experience, I learned to value the gift of reading, not just for assignments or entertainment, but for personal growth and development.

As a pastor, I needed to read widely to stay current and to speak with fresh relevance on a variety of topics. Now that I am retired, I need books like I need food, to satisfy my cognitive hunger and to probe intellectual curiosity. Books stimulate my thinking, exercise my memory muscles, and challenge my presuppositions. They keep me hono

Once again this year, my reading list will include a variety of genres including fiction, spirituality, theology, history, and biography. Typically, I keep from three to five books going at the same time, a practice that was recommended by Opal Lovett, one of the most influential faculty members at Jacksonville State from my college years. This approach invites a panel of authors to be conversation partners in my internal dialogue.

I also intentionally read books I don’t agree with. Rather than making me combative, the practice of reading opposing viewpoints challenges me to test my assumptions and it familiarizes me with a variety of perspectives. This discipline equips me to converse and debate intelligibly, and not just emotively.

Here are 25 books I plan to read in 2025:

Fiction & Thrillers:

1. Strangers in Time– David Baldacci
2. Think Twice- Harlan Coben
3. The Waiting– Michael Connelly
4. The President’s Shadow- James Patterson
5. The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus- Emma Knight

Spirituality & Theology:

6. God Has a Name: What You Believe About God Will Shape Who You Become– John Mark Comer
7. The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage– Richard Rohr
8. The Word of a Humble God: The Origins, Inspiration, and Interpretation of Scripture- Karen Keen
9. De-sizing the Church: How Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What’s Next- Karl Vaters
10.  The Widening of God’s Mercy- Christopher Hays and Richard Hays

Personal Growth & Leadership:

11. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are– Brené Browne
12. Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough- John Ortberg
13. Culture Is the Way: How Leaders at Every Level Build an Organization for Speed, Impact, and Excellence- Matt Mayberry
14. Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry- Ruth Haley Barton
15. Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith- Adam Hamilton

Memoirs & Essays:

16. Hope: The Autobiography- Pope Francis
17. Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage– Anne Lamott
18. Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America- Heather Cox Richardson
19. I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet– Shauna Niequist
20. The Most They Ever Had- Rick Bragg

Church & Ministry:

21. The American Religious Landscape: Facts, Trends, and the Future- Ryan P. Burge
22. Reappearing Church: The Hope for Renewal in the Rise of our Post-Christian Culture- Mark Sayers
23. Creating Healthy Church Systems- Brad Ransom
24. The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation– Kevin DeYoung
25. How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going– Susan Beaumont

Life would not be as rich without a treasure trove of books. Regarding the importance of reading, I identify with Anne Lamott who said, “For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”

I hope the books you choose to read in 2025 enrich your life and enlarge your world!

(Barry Howard is a retired pastor who now serves as a columnist and leadership coach with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife live on Cove Creek in northeast Alabama.)