If I were to choose the most influential books in my intellectual and spiritual pilgrimage, after the Bible, my list would look like this:

Blaise Pascal, Pensees. Here is the sheer thrill of a mind alive to the relevance of Jesus Christ.

John Calvin, Institutes. His impressive grasp of the large outline of the gospel's meaning makes Calvin exciting.

Martin Luther, Lectures on Romans. As fresh and electric today as in the sixteenth century.

Karl Barth. Begin with Dogmatics in Outline. I deeply appreciate his boldness and serious intention to hear and obey the biblical text. He is the theologian's theologian.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Begin with Cost of Discipleship. He called out to me to decide once and for all about what matters most in my life.

C. S. Lewis. Begin with The Chronicles of Narnia. I owe so much to C. S. Lewis, especially the wonderful mixture of the surprise and goodness of God.

G. K. Chesterton. Begin with The Everlasting Man and Orthodoxy. I love his humor and ability to stir up my ...