Books

My Top 5 Fiction Books for the Soul

The Way of a Pilgrim Anonymous

The protagonist discovers the Jesus Prayer on his quest across 19th-century Russia to learn to pray continually. He shows us a way of praying that saturates our lives without taking time away from our routine activities.

* * *

Hannah Coulter Wendell Berry

This book celebrates the “old ways” of living, in which God, family, community, and “place” are central. You leave it more likely to find contentment in the ordinary and to honor the relationships you’ve been given.

* * *

The Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan

You cannot help but see yourself in the struggles and victories of Christian, the main character. Bunyan understood the lure of false gospels such as legalism, and provided a helpful mirror in which to see our own struggles.

* * *

In This House of Brede Rumer Godden

This is a masterfully written story of a 40-something woman with a successful government career who enters an English Benedictine monastery. It sounds a call to holiness that reminds us that we all have tools for spiritual growth at our disposal.

* * *

The Chosen Chaim Potok

This is a compelling story of friendship between two deeply devout Jewish young men—one “liberal” and one “conservative”—that helps us see what it means to have spiritual integrity and yet compassionately and respectfully engage with friends of differing faiths.

James Wilhoit is professor of Christian Education at Wheaton College.

Copyright © 2009 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Previous Top 5 lists have featured managing your money, devotionals, how character shapes belief, food, Atheism, China, Presidents, World Christianity, Ancient-Future Faith, the Civil Rights Era, Social Justice, Church History, Popular Culture, the Civil War, Apologetics, Atheism, and Sex.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Sci-Fi's Brave New World

News

California's Temper Tantrum

Reverence for the Mystery

Review

Novel Teachers

Searching for Radical Faith

Praying 'Thy Kingdom Come ...'

Q&A: Louie Giglio

News

Yechiel Eckstein: Evangelicals’ Favorite Rabbi

Editorial

Who Do You Think You Are?

Review

Making Movies to Change the World

CDs on The List

Review

Live: Hope at the Hideout

Bibliophiles We

Meager Harvest

Books Uncommon and Offbeat

News

Political Exile

Memo to Worship Bands

Review

Learning from Secular Nations

News

Quotation Marks

News

Smuggling Debate

2009 Christianity Today Book Awards

News

Gas-Powered Gospels

News

Get 'Lost'

News

Atheists' Outreach

News

News Briefs: February 01, 2009

News

Passages

News

Go Figure

Bush's Faith-Based Legacy

News

Fault Line of Faith

News

Prosperity Gospel on Skid Row

News

Readers Write

News

Stocks Squeeze Seminaries

View issue

Our Latest

Why Charlie Kirk Landed with Young Men Like Me

He didn’t hedge or soften his positions to broaden appeal; he underlined them.

News

Oldest Missionary Hospital in Kenya Forced to Close Its Gates

How a new state-funded health insurance program’s piling debts put Christian hospitals—and patients—at risk.

News

A Christian Pleads for Her Brother’s Life on Singapore’s Death Row

Convicted on drug trafficking charges, Malaysian Pannir Selvam Pranthaman was baptized in prison.

What Has Publishing to Do with the Church?

Christian publishing, done well, gives pastors a partner in the long work of spiritual formation.

Public Theology Project

When Violence Is the Vibe

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, if we bite and devour each other, we will be consumed by each other.

The Russell Moore Show

Books about Digital Resistance with Ashley Hales: Wendell Berry, Jan Karon, Jon Haidt, David Zahl, and More

Another quarterly conversation on books with Christianity Today’s Print Editor, Ashley Hales, on the subject of resisting the digital era

How Indian Christian Families are Tackling Gen Z Loneliness

Couples involved in student ministries are welcoming young people into their homes and lives.

Review

An Unpersuasive Plea for Christians to Swing Left

Phil Christman’s apology for progressive politics ignores points of natural affinity with conservatives.

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