Top 10 Books For Dads

May 27, 2014  David Murray   5 comments

As I’m often asked for book recommendations on various subjects, I decided to put together an online list of my top ten books in various categories. Basically, if I was only allowed 10 books in my library on that subject, these are the ten I would choose. Previous posts include:

With “Father’s Day” just round the corner, I’m listing the Top 10 Books for Dads. After this list you’ll find a poll where you can cast three votes for your favorite books in this category. Click on “View Results” to see what books are most popular.

You can also add any book not on the list by writing the title in “Other” or in the Comments  I’ll add these to the end of the post under “Reader Suggestions.”

1. The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard Phillips.

This is by far my favorite book on biblical manhood (don’t be put off by the cover)> It’s not exhaustive but covers all the bases like marriage, parenting, work, church, friendship, etc. Especially good for young men setting out on life.

2. The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Tim Keller.

We have to have one book dedicated to marriage on the list, and what better choice than Keller’s marriage transforming book. Nothing has influenced my own marriage in recent years more than this book.

3. The Shepherd Leader at Home by Timothy Witmer

Witmer applies the leadership principles of his popular book on church leadership, Shepherd Leader, to the home front.

4. Parenting by God’s Promises by Joel Beeke.

This book achieves that rare biblical balance of combining the huge responsibility God lays upon parents together with the huge encouragement God gives to faithful parents about their children.

5. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Tim Keller.

An excellent foundation to a lifetime of work that makes me wish I was a teenager again. A perfect companion volume would by God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Veith. A new book on work, productivity, and getting things done is What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done by Matt Perman.

6. Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung.

Most Dads are. So if you want to slow Dad down a bit, this book should do the trick.

7. Conviction to Lead, The: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters by Al Mohler

The values, principles, convictions and practices of a proven Christian leader.

8. What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him by Byron Yawn

This is not just a book for men who had no fathers or poor fathers. It’s a book for all men, and especially for fathers who want to raise their sons to be men of God. Easy to read with lots of biblical teaching and common sense advice. I haven’t read it, but I noticed there’s a companion volume What Every Woman Wishes Her Father Had Told Her.

Honorable Mentions

What’s the Difference? Manhood and Womanhood Defined According to the Bible by John Piper

Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole by Eric Mason

Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love and Lead Their Families by Douglas Wilson

What He Must Be: …If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham

Now you decide, what are your favorites? You can cast three votes and write a book in “Other” if it’s not on the list and I’ll add it to Reader Suggestions below.

Reader Suggestions

What would you add to the list and why?

Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard

Future Men by Douglas Wilson.

Anchor Man: How a Father Can Anchor His Family in Christ for the Next 100 Years by Steve Farrar.

Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family by Steve Farrar.