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.
Well-crafted books that help readers become more Christlike
“As 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,” says Renato Fleischner, Director of Operations at Mundo Cristão in Brazil. “After more than thirty years in the book business, I still find myself asking why some titles catch fire and others don’t. The trigger varies, but without it even an excellent book can go unnoticed.”
Books that draw our attention to God in a busy world—in any season
“A book that really caught my attention was gifted to me by Bernice Lee, former MAI-Asie Board Chair,” says author Emily Lim-Leh of Singapore. “Attentive to God 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’s presence.”
“I 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,” admits Emily. “It ministered to me so much that I bought twenty copies to gift to friends! I hope that it will be read by many.”
Poh Fang Chia, founder of publishing house Current Script in Singapore, recommends Watchfulness: Rediscovering A Lost Spiritual Discipline by Brian Hedges. “While less familiar than prayer or fasting, watchfulness is a vital discipline Jesus commanded for a healthy spiritual life,” says Poh Fang, referring to Matthew 26:41. “In an age of constant distraction, this discipline is more relevant and necessary than ever. It is an essential practice for Christians in every season.”
“For 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 by Aimée Walker offers both pastoral encouragement and biblical wisdom,” says Anya McKee of Torn Curtain Publishing in New Zealand. “It delves deeply into David’s story, drawing on the psalmist’s reference to three trees—and how in every season of life he could testify, ‘But I flourish.’ 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.”
“The book we think more people ought to read is Anclado en el Evangelio (“Gospel Primer”) by Milton Vincent,” says Bruce Burkholder, General Director of Editorial EBI in the USA. “It is a great and substantive summary of the gospel, providing thirty readings on why we must preach the gospel to ourselves daily.”
Fiction and non-fiction books for kids that convey the gospel
“A book I believe deserves a much wider readership is The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoung,” says Sandra El Hajj Baz, publishing and communications manager at Dar Manhal al Hayat in Lebanon.
“This book helps children grasp the Bible not as disconnected stories, but as one unified, unfolding story of God’s 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.”
“Fiction is often not perceived as a serious means of communicating the gospel, despite so much of Jesus’s teaching having been done through parables,” admits former publisher with Scripture Union France, Steven Dixon. “I’d recommend novels by a gifted French author, Valérie Bricaud. These books feature beautiful storytelling, good packaging and excellent reviews.”
Publishing Director of SPCK in the UK, Deborah Lock, hopes more will read God’s Promises for Everyone by Shell Perris. “This is a beautifully-illustrated gift book with reassuring and encouraging words about 50 promises of God from the Bible,” says Deborah. “Each 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’s faithfulness and presence with us. This book is one that can be treasured by both children and adults for years to come.”
Profound books that address deep and difficult topics
“We live in an era that is dominated by the three Ps: polarization, populism and post-truth,” says Tim Thornborough of The Good Book Company in the UK. He recommends reading Stop Taking Sides by Adam Mabry. “It’s 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—for no purpose other than to elevate self-righteousness and pride.”
“One New Humanity by Kristin Caynor and Werner Mischke offers a powerful vision of the gospel and addresses division, shame, and violence in today’s world,” says Madi Cannon, Publishing and Marketing Coordinator at William Carey Publishing. “The authors emphasize Ephesians 2:13–17, 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.”
“One book I would highlight is Loving God with All Your Mind by Elizabeth George,” says Sergey Smolenskiy of Walk Through The Bible Ministries in Ukraine. When Sergey first showed his wife the manuscript she told him, “This is powerful—we must publish this first when we resume.” The translation was completed just before the full-scale war in Ukraine began, and the book released that summer.
“It addresses deep and difficult topics—how to live with God through trials, how to trust Him in uncertainty,” says Sergey. “In the context of war, this message became especially relevant. This book had a profound impact on women in Ukraine.”
“A book we at Figulus believe deserves a much wider readership is Rachel’s Tears,” says Mateja Lončar Habijan of Croatia. “It deals with deeply important and enduring issues, and offers a powerful and thought-provoking message.”
Awareness-raising books that encourage discernment and prayer
“In contexts of deep poverty, a book which ought to be made available to Christians is one on the spread of the ‘theology of prosperity’ or ‘the prosperity gospel,” says author Pascal Ratovona of Madagascar. “To 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’s leaders get richer and richer.”
“A book that I think more people ought to read is Credo: Ang Hiwaga at Yaman ng Pananampalatayang Kristiyano by Derick Parfan,” says Philippine editor Jodi Parfan. “It addresses misconceptions and wrong teachings about Christianity, making it an excellent resource for group study and apologetics.”
The Family Prayer, a compilation from a series of sermons on the Lord’s prayer, “needs to be read by all Christians,” says publisher Sir Buma Kor of CLEF Ministries in Cameroon.
“God’s Homecoming by N.T. Wright deserves a wide readership,” says Mark Carpenter of Mundo Cristão in Brazil. “Wright makes the compelling biblical case that the Christian hope is not escape from this world, but rather God’s 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—since caring for the world stops being optional and becomes an act of anticipating our eternal future with God.”