{"id":24691,"date":"2026-06-17T08:00:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maiglobal.org\/?p=24691"},"modified":"2026-06-10T16:19:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T21:19:47","slug":"not-as-bestselling-christian-books-that-you-really-should-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maiglobal.org\/ar\/not-as-bestselling-christian-books-that-you-really-should-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Not-As-Bestselling Christian Books (that you really should read)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What are the books Christian publishers wish more readers would read? 16 Christian publishers and authors from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America share their thoughts.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well-crafted books that help readers become more Christlike<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cAs a Christian publisher, my honest answer is this: any well-crafted title that genuinely helps the reader become more Christlike is a book that people ought to read,\u201d says Renato Fleischner, Director of Operations at Mundo Crist\u00e3o<\/a> in Brazil. \u201cAfter more than thirty years in the book business, I still find myself asking why some titles catch fire and others don\u2019t. The trigger varies, but without it even an excellent book can go unnoticed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Books that draw our attention to God in a busy world\u2014in any season<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cA book that really caught my attention was gifted to me by Bernice Lee, former MAI-Asia<\/a> Board Chair,\u201d says author Emily Lim-Leh of Singapore. \u201cAttentive to God<\/em><\/a> is written by Tony Horsfall, a pastor and church planter in Malaysia. The book draws from the lives of five Bible characters who learnt to be attentive to God\u2019s presence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI read this at a time when I was finding it hard to be attentive to God, which is a common problem for many of us in this noisy, distracting, fast-paced world,\u201d admits Emily. \u201cIt ministered to me so much that I bought twenty copies to gift to friends! I hope that it will be read by many.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poh Fang Chia, founder of publishing house Current Script<\/a> in Singapore, recommends Watchfulness: Rediscovering A Lost Spiritual Discipline<\/em><\/a>\u00a0by Brian Hedges. \u201cWhile less familiar than prayer or fasting, watchfulness is a vital discipline Jesus commanded for a healthy spiritual life,\u201d says Poh Fang, referring to Matthew 26:41. \u201cIn an age of constant distraction, this discipline is more relevant and necessary than ever. It is an essential practice for Christians in every season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Christians who feel held back by their day-to-day responsibilities or lack of resources for what God has placed on their hearts, But I Flourish<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by Aim\u00e9e Walker offers both pastoral encouragement and biblical wisdom,\u201d says Anya McKee of Torn Curtain Publishing in New Zealand. \u201cIt delves deeply into David\u2019s story, drawing on the psalmist\u2019s reference to three trees\u2014and how in every season of life he could testify, \u2018But I flourish.\u2019 It deserves to be read widely by all who want to deepen their knowledge of the Bible while learning to thrive and be fruitful, whatever the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe book we think more people ought to read is\u00a0Anclado en el Evangelio\u00a0<\/a><\/em>(\u201cGospel Primer\u201d) by Milton Vincent,\u201d says Bruce Burkholder, General Director of Editorial EBI in the USA. \u201cIt is a great and substantive summary of the gospel, providing thirty readings on why we must preach the gospel to ourselves daily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fiction and non-fiction books for kids that convey the gospel<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cA book I believe deserves a much wider readership is\u00a0The Biggest Story Bible Storybook <\/em><\/a>by Kevin DeYoung,\u201d says Sandra\u00a0El\u00a0Hajj Baz, publishing and communications manager at Dar Manhal al Hayat<\/a> in Lebanon. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>This book helps children grasp the Bible not as disconnected stories, but as one unified, unfolding story of God\u2019s redemption. This kind of big-picture understanding is foundational yet often missing. It shapes how children understand God, themselves, and the world around them. In a culture that often leans toward quick consumption and instant gratification, resources like this may require more intentionality from parents and caregivers. But precisely for that reason, I believe it is a book that can have a profound and lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFiction is often not perceived as a serious means of communicating the gospel, despite so much of Jesus\u2019s teaching having been done through parables,\u201d admits former publisher with Scripture Union France, Steven Dixon. \u201cI\u2019d recommend novels by a gifted French author, Val\u00e9rie Bricaud<\/a>. These books feature beautiful storytelling, good packaging and excellent reviews.\u201d<\/p>\n

Publishing Director of SPCK<\/a> in the UK, Deborah Lock, hopes more will read God\u2019s Promises for Everyone<\/em><\/a> by Shell Perris. \u201cThis is a beautifully-illustrated gift book with reassuring and encouraging words about 50 promises of God from the Bible,\u201d says Deborah. \u201cEach page takes a biblical promise and brings it to life in a short line of lyrical prose that captures its essence, as a gentle reminder of God\u2019s faithfulness and presence with us. This book is one that can be treasured by both children and adults for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Profound books that address deep and difficult topics<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cWe live in an era that is dominated by the three Ps: polarization, populism and post-truth,\u201d says Tim Thornborough of The Good Book Company<\/a> in the UK. He recommends reading Stop Taking Sides <\/em><\/a>by Adam Mabry. \u201cIt\u2019s packed with helpful insights and written by a pastor who has seen how issues that are what the Bible would call matters of opinion have been weaponized\u2014for no purpose other than to elevate self-righteousness and pride.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne New Humanity<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>by Kristin Caynor and Werner Mischke offers a powerful vision of the gospel and addresses division, shame, and violence in today\u2019s world,\u201d says Madi Cannon, Publishing and Marketing Coordinator at William Carey Publishing. \u201cThe authors emphasize Ephesians 2:13\u201317, demonstrating that the gospel offers a way out of the cycles of violence that have entrapped both the church and the world, and opens up a path of true freedom, purpose, and glory in Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne book I would highlight is\u00a0Loving God with All Your Mind<\/em><\/a>\u00a0by Elizabeth George,\u201d says Sergey Smolenskiy of Walk Through The Bible Ministries in Ukraine<\/a>. When Sergey first showed his wife the manuscript she told him, \u201cThis is powerful\u2014we must publish this first when we resume.\u201d The translation was completed just before the full-scale war in Ukraine began, and the book released that summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt addresses deep and difficult topics\u2014how to live with God through trials, how to trust Him in uncertainty,\u201d says Sergey. \u201cIn the context of war, this message became especially relevant. This book had a profound impact on women in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA book we at Figulus<\/a> believe deserves a much wider readership is\u00a0Rachel\u2019s Tears<\/em><\/a>,\u201d says Mateja Lon\u010dar Habijan of Croatia. \u201cIt deals with deeply important and enduring issues, and offers a powerful and thought-provoking message.\u201d<\/p>\n

Awareness-raising books that encourage discernment and prayer<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cIn contexts of deep poverty, a book which ought to be made available to Christians is one on the spread of the \u2018theology of prosperity\u2019 or \u2018the prosperity gospel,\u201d says author Pascal Ratovona of Madagascar. \u201cTo get out of poverty, so many are being drawn to groups who promise wealth and health, and end up being greatly disappointed as the group\u2019s leaders get richer and richer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA book that I think more people ought to read is\u00a0Credo: Ang Hiwaga at Yaman ng Pananampalatayang Kristiyano<\/em><\/a> by Derick Parfan,\u201d says Philippine editor Jodi Parfan. \u201cIt addresses misconceptions and wrong teachings about Christianity, making it an excellent resource for group study and apologetics.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Family Prayer<\/em><\/a>, a compilation from a series of sermons on the Lord\u2019s prayer, \u201cneeds to be read by all Christians,\u201d says publisher Sir Buma Kor of CLEF Ministries in Cameroon.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod’s Homecoming<\/em><\/a>\u00a0by N.T. Wright deserves a wide readership,\u201d says Mark Carpenter of Mundo Crist\u00e3o in Brazil. \u201cWright makes the compelling biblical case that the Christian hope is not escape from this world, but rather God\u2019s renewal and restoration of creation. If readers truly internalized that premise, it would transform how they think about everything from environmentalism to work to justice\u2014since caring for the world stops being optional and becomes an act of anticipating our eternal future with God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related stories and resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n