Several months ago, I began the laborious process of updating my site. TheLittleManReviews is a full-blown teenager—nearly old enough to drive—and he’s just now starting to care about his appearance: taking showers, selecting his wardrobe, paying attention to SEO.
Throughout the process, I’ve come across many books I deem “influential” in my life. I’ve already posted 10, and you can find them here:
I’m adding 5 more to each category—again organized chronologically of when they affected me—and I hope you’ll check them out.
Note: this post includes Amazon affiliate links.
1. The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (1961)
Impact: Teaching me that books without pictures produce even better scenes in the mind
I wasn’t much of a reader growing up. Book reports were required, so I read when I had to, but rarely would I ever pick up a book just for the pleasure of reading. This finally happened at age 13 with The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth George Speare‘s Newberry-winning novel set in the times of Jesus. I’m pretty sure we were “up North” at the time at my grandparents’ cabin, and I found a copy with my mother’s own childhood name scrawled on the inside cover. What exploded for me was my imagination, as I watched Daniel in those dusty mountain struggle with hatred for his government, love for his deranged sister, and fear of the unknown. He was a friend and a fighter, and he hoped those this Jesus character could save his nation—or maybe even his sister. It’s a passionate book about love and honor, perfect for a budding boy just beginning to think through all these emotions himself.
2. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper (2003)
Impact: Showing me there’s more to this life than just working for retirement
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper came out while I was in college, and a bunch of us guys read it together as a sort-of Bible study on Fridays. What sticks with me most to this day is the old couple finding their joy, after a life of labor and saving, walking the beach looking for shells—as if this were the meaning of life. Although I love the beach, and beachcombing is a lovely hobby, I committed at age 20 never to waste my life as if a calm retirement were the end-all goal in life. I committed to make my life count for something, and while I hadn’t yet anticipated which paths God would take me down over the next 20+ years, I knew it wouldn’t be cubicle-related or detached entirely from ministry. This book taught me how to think “with eternity’s values in view,” and I’ve since used it in a number of small-group studies with college students.
3. Four Views on Hell by William V. Crockett, John F. Walvoord, Zachary J. Hayes and Clark H. Pinnock (1997)
Impact: Clarifying the reality of doctrinal spectrums—and that sometimes I’m in the middle
I came across the Counterpoints series by Zondervan while in seminary and fell absolutely in love. This series takes a contentious doctrinal issue, then pits scholars against one another in debate-essay form in a way like no other. After each author says his piece in a lengthy chapter, other authors then respond with their own affirmations and disagreements. This allows the reader to hear many sides of the issue and come to his own, thoughtful conclusion. I won’t go too far into the weeds on this book about Hell, but I found that on this particular issue, the Word is more metaphorical than literal (which surprised me)—not to say that Hell is a metaphor, but that the words we use to describe can’t begin to do it justice, and that Hell is actually far worse than tongue can tell! On this issue at least, I’m center-right, which makes me want to search out more books from this series to help clarify where I really am overall.
4. Mountain Rain by Eileen Crossman and M.E. Tewskesbury (2013)
Impact: Exemplifying how to daily mimic “Jesus went up to the mountain to pray”
About 5 years into my overseas career, I began to get back into reading missionary biographies. This one covering the life of James O. Fraser in the SW mountains of China is a stand-out favorite. Like most missionaries from his era, Fraser was a pioneer missionary who gave up everything to live among the people he strove to reach. He trekked many mountainous miles to share the love of Jesus with the lost and suffered countless hardships in the process, but the single theme that fills the pages of this book was his dedication to prayer and his reliance on the Lord. “Every missionary prays,” sure, but none so dedicatedly and effectively as James O. Fraser. He’s a solid example of 1Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
5. Paul on Trial by John W. Mauck (2001)
Impact: Challenging my assumptions about Scripture’s settings—including authors, audience, and purpose
While preparing a study through Acts for our group of churches, I came across this fascinating book by a lawyer that I felt answers so many questions we have about the purpose of Acts. Who is Theophilus? Why did Luke write these 2 books to this guy? Why does Luke include so many sermons but not enough commands? Why does he include so many names and specifics for some seemingly unimportant events, and then skim over real tragedies of historical significance? Mauck believes that Luke behaved like a defense lawyer for the Apostle Paul and wrote both Luke and Acts as a legal document to Theophilus, a man who needed to understand Jesus and Christianity before he could understand Paul and the Jewish reaction to his growing ministry. I’ve never read or heard a better theory than this, and Mauk delivers it with expert care. This book totally changed my thinking about Acts and challenged my assumptions about the Bible as a whole.
Conclusion
These five books helped change my thinking in one way or another, and I’m thankful for the chance to consider them again.
It makes me wonder once more: what Christian books (aside from the Bible) have been the most influential in your life?
©2025 E.T.