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Instead of listing my favorite books, let me tell you about some of the authors that I consider especially good. If they are listed here, it is because I have read more than one book by this author and I consider him (or her) especially good.

One of my favorite authors is Randy Alcorn. I know he was inspired, to a large degree, by C.S. Lewis, but my personal opinion is that this man is better than C.S. Lewis. Maybe I just don't know C.S. Lewis's writings well enough to have an informed opinion, but Randy Alcorn offers a fresh, Biblical perspective on many issues in the lives of Christians. Of course, one of his favorite topics is abortion, because he feels very passionately about it. I have appreciated his novels and more informative books that addressed abortion because I can sense his compassion and he inspires me to reach out to people who are affected by abortion and many of its surrounding problems. Alcorn knows Scripture, seems to me (from what he writes) to have an intimate relationship with the Lord, and studies the facts regarding the issues he addresses in writing, so I feel like he is a trustworthy source of information on whatever subjects he chooses to tackle. All of his books have left me with a greater sense of the spiritual warfare going on around us and a desire to take a more active role in that battle.

Another author I have greatly appreciated is Lee Strobel. In a lot of ways, Strobel is very much like Alcorn--at least in two of the characteristics that I admire: He knows his Bible and he does his research. Strobel does have critics who say that he only presents one side of the story, but part of that is because, as we all know, one who presents evidence usually does so with a particular conclusion in mind. Strobel approached Christianity with the bias of an atheist, however, and found Christ in his search, so I find his writing even more compelling than I might otherwise. Strobel is an excellent writer and used to be courtroom journalist who investigated some fairly high-profile cases. Unlike Alcorn, Strobel's writing has nothing to do with abortion or spiritual warfare. He addresses the why of our beliefs, the foundation upon which our faith rests. College students who do not feel prepared to counter the arguments they hear in the classroom should read Strobel's books.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is another author whose writings I have enjoyed. He was a very thoughtful man and read a great deal of philosophy, which helped him to develop his intellect. He was also well-educated in the Scriptures. He did spend his last days in prison and was executed just days before everyone was freed. At the time, he was also engaged to a much younger lady. I laugh when I think of Bonhoeffer because he was a smoker--like most intellectual (and other) men of his day. If we saw a theologian doing that now, in our enlightened age, we probably would doubt his salvation! But those cigarettes may have been key to Bonhoeffer's deep thoughts. His words are challenging to Christians who want to remain small-minded because he encourages us to look deeper into the Christian life and what it actually means to live as disciples of Christ. Bonhoeffer lived what he wrote--he was willing to bear the cost of being a disciple of Christ.

Most people will say that one of their favorite authors is Elisabeth Elliott, but I am going to have to say that--for me--she is a bit too long-winded. That should be slightly ironic since I tend to be long-winded as well, but I still prefer for other people to be more concise. I do appreciate Elliott's insights and testimony, however, so I cannot deny that she has had a positive impact in my life. The writer I tend to admire more, though, is Catherine Marshall. While her novels are excellent, the book of hers that I have enjoyed the most is Meeting God at Every Turn. In it, she recounts her life and the different ways God demonstrated His faithfulness to her. If you want to know the personal struggles and victories of a godly woman, you definitely need to read this book.

Now, I have read other Christian authors...and I am just now beginning to read the works of John Piper. So far, though, I have yet to complete Desiring God. I have finished all of the chapters and am now exploring his appendices. I like what I have seen so far. Piper's ideas strike me as being very Scriptural. I understand the critics of his message, but I agree with his mindset, which I think most people would if they simply understood it experientially. In some ways, I see Desiring God as the Gospel tract that I wish all unsaved-people-who-think-they're-saved could read, because Piper addresses the issues that these people face. These people seek meaning in life and seem to miss the very essence of it because they already consider themselves Christians and do not realize that they are missing the point of their existence.

At the moment, those are the only inspirational book authors who come to mind. I do actually enjoy fiction, too, as well as some more serious philosophical writing. However, I read very little of any of that at this point. I have enjoyed British literature the most, as far as novels go, although I also have some favorite authors who are from other places. My favorite authors (that I can think of at the moment) are Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Louisa May Alcott.

To be honest with you, the bulk of my reading is not books, though. I read various articles that are particularly relevant to my life. I also keep up with online friends, many of whom are excellent writers who willingly share their ponderings on a regular basis. At this point, I won't offer any recommendations unless you contact me for that information. If you are interested in any of the authors I have mentioned, you can find information about them and books by them just by doing a simple Google search.

Oh, one last thing...

I keep up with a number of interesting subjects by reading books that are not necessarily Christian. Interestingly, most of these books are about science, especially in the field of medicine and specifically related to reproductive health. I have not read many books by the same author, however. I will venture to guess that John R. Lee is going to become a favorite of mine.