This list is awesome for two reasons: They’re all small books (the longest book on this list is 142 pages) and three of these are on my all-time favorites list (there are only about 12 total).
1. “What Is A Healthy Church?” by Mark Dever // Mark Dever and 9 Marks have been a positive influence on my senior pastor, so I checked them out. This little book is a solid resource for pastors who need to re-evaluate their direction. You should get this (and his others) now!
2. “The Dip” by Seth Godin // Seth Godin is brilliant, without a doubt. But this book brought an idea to me that I have carried since I read the book the first time. The whole point of the book is to help you press through the tough times in your life (or work, marriage, art, etc). He talks about the success that comes from seeing through those tough times (the dip). I would recommend this to anyone. Really, really good read.
3. “Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon // I picked this one up from a recommendation from a friend. I loved the way he took the pressure off of artists. He opens with the premise that all artists receive inspiration from different sources; that we steal because we like what we see/experience. This one is compiled creatively, as you might imagine, so it makes it a fun, quick read.
4. “How Successful People Think” by John Maxwell // What else needs to be said? It’s John Maxwell teaching about success. We would be stupid not to pick this book up. He does it again with this book, as he does with all his books! Inside are great insights from those who have gone before us.
5. “The Barbarian Way” by Erwin McManus // I read this book early in my pastoral life and it truly inspired me to embrace a more gritty, passionate faith for God. Erwin McManus is a fantastic author and this book is my favorite in his catalog!
6. “Choosing To Cheat” by Andy Stanley // This book is absolutely, without a doubt, required reading for every pastor. Even moreso, every husband and father need to read this as well. The basic premise of this book is simple: Someone’s going to get cheated between your job and your family. Don’t you dare cheat your family. In this book, Andy addresses this issue. I repeat; required reading!
7. “Eat That Frog” by Brian Tracy // Bryan Tracy was referred to me by one of our youth workers who works in the corporate world. Brian is a no-nonsense, straight forward author, who speaks to a ton of practical, leadership issues. This book is all about maximizing your day so that you can get more done. These proven tricks have helped me a ton!