Diverse Reads: A Mixed Bag

It’s been quite some time since I last wrote a book review for you all. The reasons for that are a mixture of ministry life, family life and I’ve been doing a lot more of my own writing (my second book is due to be published in May 2026). However, just because I’ve not been reviewing, fear not, I have still been reading. So let me highlight some of the books that I’ve read recently that I’ve found good and helpful. It’s quite a mixed bag, but I’m sure that at least one book will stand out for you.

Good, Bad, No Dad? by John Woods

I can’t think of anyone who would disagree with the assessment that there is a gap in society of fathers and father figures. Fatherlessness is a real crisis in society and also a really problem in the church that we need to address. John Woods speaks from personal experience in this book , and includes the stories of others from a whole host of backgrounds, about the wounds and difficulties that arise from fatherlessness. John takes the reader to Scripture to help us see what a father should be like and what the Bible has to say about the role and importance of fathers. This would be a great book for pastors and church leaders to read so that they can better understand the situations that some people in their congregation face every day. I would also say it would be good for you to read if you have, or have had, the experience of a good father so that you can empathise more with those who don’t. I know many people who struggle because of an absent father, an abusive father, or a father who doesn’t care as he should for them (either physically, emotionally, or spiritually). I believe that this book could be eye-opening for many people. Top tip – don’t skip John Steven’s forward, it’s great!

Sharing the Gospel with a Catholic Friend by Richard Baxter

I’ve been looking forward to this book for a while and I am so glad it’s on the market. Many Christians think they know what the Catholic Church and Catholic faith is all about, but in reality many of us are deficient in our understanding of it. Baxter speaks from his own experience of being raised Catholic and helps you consider the wide variety of people in the Catholic Church. Too often I’ve heard Christians speak as if every Catholic is the same as the next, which simply isn’t true. Baxter helps you in this book to look beyond the debates and the arguments, but to focus on the individual person that you’re trying to speak to about Jesus. This book is incredibly helpful and full of practical tips on how to share the gospel with a Catholic friend. If you know a Catholic (there are 1.4 billion in the world, so I imagine you do), I recommend you get this book!

Philippians by Peter Barnes

Here is another helpful addition to the EP study commentary. Peter Barnes unpacks the glorious letter of Philippians to help the reader dive into the wonders of this little book that has encouraged many Christians over the years. This commentary, as with the whole series, is written for pastors, theologians and serious students of the Bible. I found that this book is a little more academic than other commentaries in the series, but by no means is it overly academic. I still think that this series, and this book on Philippians, would make a great companion to your quiet times and other devotional material if you’re studying Philippians. One of the strengths of this book is that Barnes does a good job of highlighting points of contention and other materials that would help you explore the topic more. Preachers, this would be a good book to have on your shelf.

Stuck? Recapturing your joy in Christ by Nate Akin

Whether Christians like to admit it or not, we will all go through times where our faith feels stuck. There will be moment sin our lives where we can become a bit ‘used to’ or ‘numb’ to just how marvellously wonderful the gospel is. It’s easy to know the gospel, to understand what Jesus did and yet not feel like or want to respond joyfully in return. This short book will help! Nate Akin unpacks some of the things that can cause our hearts and joy to stagnate and he draws the readers attention to Acts 2 and the things that the church made a priority. This is one of those books that I will come back to once a year I think, to have my eyes lifted again to Jesus and to see how amazing the gospel is. Here’s one of my favourite quotes;

“The Maker of heaven and earth has set his affections on you and demonstrated it in the most glorious and visible way possible. Even though you were a rebel, he loved you with a saving love and sent his Son to die on a cross for you.”

Honour by Adam Ramsey

Our world has forgotten about the importance and benefit of genuinely honouring people. I would argue that many churches and Christians have also forgotten the necessity and privilege that it is to honour each other and what that can practically look like. In steps Adam Ramsey with a belter of a book (for my non-UK reader that means it’s really really good!). This book will help you see what it doesn’t, and what it does not mean, to honour people and the church. It will take you to the Bible and to Christ and encourage you to see that one of the ways that we honour each other is by living for and like Jesus in front of one another. Do you want to be a church that honours God more? Do you long to be a Christian that has an honourable witness for Jesus? Are you a church leader who wants to lead the Lord’s people with honour? Do you want to know how to honour your church leaders more? If you said yes to any of those, pick up this book.

Witness by Jonathan Dodson

Evangelism. The dreaded word for some Christians, the often spoken but not practiced by some churches and the cause of guilt and fear for many. But it doesn’t have to be! In this great little book Dodson helps the reader think practically about evangelism and how actually it’s very simple. You talk about what you’re excited about. If you’re excited about Jesus, then you will talk about Jesus. Some of the things that I like about this book are the fact that there is a chapter on prayer – i.e. we needs God’s help and strength as we share Christ with people. Also, there’s a chapter on biblical evangelism. Too often we resort to our own thinking of how to best reach people instead of taking our cues from the Bible and trusting that God knows best. I highly recommend this practical little book to you.

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*** I received a copy of these books from the publishers in exchange for honest reviews. This does not change the way I rate the books. My views are my own. ***