The 5 Best Christian Books for Men

Editor’s Choice

22526X: Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man"s Soul, Expanded Edition
  • Targets real men, those who long to be real men, and especially the women who love them
  • Wild, adventurous, and true
  • Updated and expanded edition

Best Overall

64329: The Barbarian Way
  • Short and easy to read
  • Thought-provoking and challenging
  • Very relatable and personal

Budget-Friendly

424621: How God Makes Men: 10 Epic Stories. 10 Proven Principles. One Huge Promise for Your Life.
  • Ten epic stories of the Bible’s most talked-about men
  • Ten proven principles—based on their failures and successes—that show how God works in a man’s life, and how you can cooperate with Him in yours
  • First-hand encounter with the huge promise that you can become the man God created you to be

If you are in a hurry and just want to find out the best Christian books for men, I’d recommend The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus as the best one.

According to a study, 32 out of 100 men don’t read books at all, whether in audio or eBook format. One factor that causes men to read less is modern-day technology. Why read a book when there’s an available movie version of it?

The study also shows that women read an average of 14 books a year, compared with nine books for men. Most men who read are more interested in reading books for professional purposes. Only a little attention is being given to reading Christian books. Working men are more likely to read books that relate to their vocation. While college men are most likely to read books that relate to their studies.

While these cultural forces are leading men to not read spiritual books, men should learn to go the other way. Christian books are one of the best tools men can use to better themselves. In this morally decaying world, these books could help in raising leaders.

If you’re a man who’s looking for the best books to read, then you are in the right place. Whether you are a college man, a husband, or a father, these books will help you walk on God’s path.

Here are the Best Christian Books for Men we’ll be reviewing:


Benefits of Reading Christian Books for Men

As a man, reading Christian books is essential. It improves mental and spiritual health and helps create healthy habits. And it also helps in relieving stress and tension. But aside from these, there are also other important reasons why every man should read these kinds of books. Here we will discuss them one by one, according to a man’s role in life.

According to Role in the Family

Reading Christian books is not only for kids but also for men. Whether you’re a husband, a father, or a single man, reading Christian books helps you gain principles in life. These principles will help bring an understanding of what your role in the family is, and how you should live that role in your life.

Husbands

According to American Psychological Association, half of all marriages end in divorce. Two of the common causes of this are adultery and spiritual immaturity. Divorce and a failed marriage can happen to newlywed couples or even ones married for a long time. Not making Christ the center of marriage opens room for the devil to ruin it. And if not given attention, this might lead to a completely failed marriage.

If you’re a husband and your marriage is on the verge of failing, reading Christian books is a good source of help. It aids in identifying the problem and dealing with it, and in the long run, helps you save your marriage. If you’re a Christian man who cheated on your spouse, reading Christian books can give you radical changes and can help you restore your relationship with your wife and children. 

If you have a happy and healthy marriage, reading Christian books will help you strengthen it even more. It will remind you to put Christ at the center of your relationship by loving and respecting your family.

Fathers

It says in Proverbs 17:6 that parents are the pride of their children. Children always look up to their parents, especially the fathers, as someone capable of doing anything and everything. They believe that their fathers are always strong, smart, and determined. Since fathers are the leaders, they should know the correct way of leading the family.

Don’t get me wrong though. God doesn’t consider mothers as inferior or less responsible than fathers. But it is the fathers who should carry the greater responsibility for leadership.

If you’re a father, reading Christian books can help you learn about Christian Leadership. It is a kind of leadership that focuses and takes root in God’s Word. Applying Christian Leadership at home will help you raise God-fearing children, maintain happiness at home, and have a God-centered family.

Single Men

Being single is usually defined as someone who has never been married. Some choose to stay single until they become financially stable while others choose to stay single due to a lack of confidence or lack of interest in relationships.

If you are a single man and are praying for a lifetime partner, reading Christian books can help you find the girl for you. It will prepare you to have a meaningful relationship with the girl that God has in store for you. Proverbs 18:22 says, “he who finds a wife finds a good thing.” Reading Christian books can help you assess if you have already found the good one for you.

If you’re a single man who’s planning to marry, reading Christian books can prepare you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Marriage should not only be a decision, but it is a calling. Reading Christian books will remind you that God has a big work to do in both your heart and the heart of your future spouse. Reading Christian books will remind and guide you through the correct process of preparing before He calls you both together.

According to Faith in Christ

Christian books are not only for Christians. There are a lot of Christian books that every man should read, regardless of their faith in Christ. Reading Christian books is not only beneficial to men who know Christ or to those who have a relationship with Him. It is also for those who don’t know Him yet.

Christian Men

A lot of Christian men neglect to read Christian books because they are too confident. They think that they already have a strong faith in Christ or that going to church is already enough. And that they no longer need to read books other than the Bible. But it is when you put your guard down that the devil can easily catch you.

If you’re a Christian man, reading Christian books will help you strengthen your walk with Him. If you read the Bible, that’s good. Because the Bible is always the ultimate source of wisdom. But Christian books add extra input to your knowledge about Christ. Having your personal daily devotional will help you grow spiritually and understand God’s word even more.

Remember that the devil is always looking for opportunities to deceive you that is why it is important to read Christian books. Because it helps you make wise decisions. It helps you live a life pleasing to God.

Non-Christian Men

You don’t have to be spiritual or religious to find important values in reading Christian books. If you’re a non-Christian man and not sure if you should read Christian books, let me help you decide. Because there are a lot of life lessons that you can get from reading Christian books. Here are a few aspects:

  • Love and Relationships. It is important to know what real love is. For a kid, it can be as simple as giving them candies. But for men, love should be more than a feeling of happiness. Christian books are a good source of relationship and love advice.
  • Money and Daily Life. Sometimes when people have no resources, they tend to worry. But reading Christian books can change the way you think about money. In Matthew 6:25-27, God reminds everyone to not worry about life, about what they will eat or drink, but to just stay faithful to Him and trust Him.
  • The Golden Rule. It is the principle of treating others the way you want to be treated by them. Christian books serve as a guide on how to live out the golden rule. If you give respect, people will treat you with respect. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate this.

According to Life’s Work

Reading Christian books is for all men, regardless of age, or regardless of vocation. But let’s be honest, it is not as easy as it seems since most of the time is spent working or studying. Getting enough time to read instead of sleep is a real challenge. But as a man, you should not neglect reading Christian books.

Working Men

Work is important. God designed all people to work. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, God says that those who are unwilling to work should not eat. All the skills, talents, and abilities we have that allow us to work are from God. But it is easy to be caught up with the busyness of work that we tend to forget about Him.

If you’re a working man, reading Christian books provides meaningful insights about living your faith at work. No matter what your profession or occupation is, God cares about your work. Christian books will remind you to have a good relationship with your workmates. And if you’re a Christian working man, it can help you lead them to Christ.

Reading Christian books will help you to practice integrity at work, work honestly and serve respectfully. With the money you’re earning, it’s so easy to spend it on things you don’t need. But reading Christian books will help correct your money-spending habits.

College Men

There’s more to college life than classes, meeting friends, and earning a degree. It’s more than prepared to get a job. College is the time when students develop into the adults they will be for the rest of their lives. It is a time when students form their character and explore questions about life.

If you’re a college man, it is important for you to read Christian books so you can get an answer to these questions:

  • Why am I in college?
  • What kind of career do I want to have?
  • With whom should I surround myself?
  • What do I want to become? And a lot of other questions.

Reading Christian books can help you decide on the path you want to take.

Regardless of your role in the family, in the church, or in life, reading Christian books is good for you. Below are the five best Christian books every man should read and why:

The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus

64329: The Barbarian Way

This book’s goal is simple: to encourage people not to limit their lives to living comfortably. In this book, Pastor Erwin McManus challenges Christians, to live a life with passion and sacrifice by getting back to the roots of Christianity. McManus reminds men to walk with the Lord and be on fire for Him.

As a man, you should be bold in your decisions in life. This book will significantly change you and the way you live. It will remind you that there’s more to life than just earning a degree, working, or having a family. It will also challenge you to let go of the domesticated faith that you have been used to and do greater things for God. The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within, is a book about living a life that is authentic, bold, and decisive for Christ. 

Pros:

  • Short and easy to read
  • Thought-provoking and challenging
  • Very relatable and personal

Cons:

  • Targets more on Christian men

Wild at Heart Expanded Edition by John Eldredge

22526X: Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man"s Soul, Expanded Edition

Growing up, most kids want to be a hero, a warrior, or an adventurer. They want to grow up as great men. But what does it mean to be a great man? In this book, author John Eldredge calls on men to discover what it means to live a great life. It aims to recover the true concept of masculinity. It talks about the true nature of men, and how to discover what men are truly made of.

As a man, reading this book will help you discover how God designed your life to be: passionate, alive, and free. This book will challenge you to pursue the purpose God has given you. If you feel like the world has judged you because of your nature as a man (adventurous, thrill-seeker), this book will help you stand up. It will help you be the man God wants you to be.

As a father with teenage sons, this book will help you understand them and be their guide.

Pros:

  • Targets real men, those who long to be real men, and especially the women who love them
  • Wild, adventurous, and true
  • Updated and Expanded edition
  • A new take on how men should see themselves

Cons:

  • Some Bible verses were taken out of context
  • More an observation of the author’s personal experience 

The Resolution for Men by Stephen Kendrick

685033: The Resolution for Men, LeatherTouch

If you are familiar with the movie Courageous, this book is inspired by it. The movie was made to challenge fathers to influence their children spiritually. It reminds men to show strong leadership. The Resolution for Men follows this challenge and reminds men to take full responsibility for their families.

This book provides a biblical and spiritual approach to building strong men. If you’re a father, you will learn how reconciling with your past and re-engaging in the present can help you in leading your family. You will learn how to be the man God wants you to be.

Certain topics like treating your wife, teaching your children about Christ, and integrity at home are all discussed in this book.

Pros:

  • Insightful about marriage and family
  • Can be used in men’s classes for topics about leadership
  • An inspiring book born out of “Courageous”
  • Challenge men of all ages to become as bold and intentional
  • A well-written and challenging book

Cons:

How God Makes Men by Patrick Morley 

424621: How God Makes Men: 10 Epic Stories. 10 Proven Principles. One Huge Promise for Your Life.

In this book, author Patrick Morley talks about what kind of man God wants every man should be. It mentioned stories about various men in the Bible like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Peter, and Paul. Morley asked men to compare their lives to these stories.

As a man, you can draw principles from the men in the Bible. You can use them as an example of how to live your life. This book provides specific calls for action. It also serves as a reminder that God doesn’t need perfect men. He needs willing and surrendered men.

Reading this book will show you how you can impact your family, the church, and the community.

Pros:

  • Ten epic stories of the Bible’s most talked-about men
  • Ten proven principles—based on their failures and successes—that show how God works in a man’s life, and how you can cooperate with Him in yours
  • First-hand encounter with the huge promise that you can become the man God created you to be
  • It’s a skeleton key to unlock God’s master plan for your life
  • With lessons on how to prevail in tough times and release God’s power in every area of your life

Cons:

  • While the principles were good, it was not captivatingly written

Becoming a King by Morgan Snyder

231852: Becoming a King: The Path to Restoring the Heart of a Man

As a young man, it is easy to get lost along the way. The pressure of building a family, getting a job, and starting a business can easily consume you. Becoming a King serves as a road map to bring you back on track. Author Morgan Snyder draws some principles from his life experiences and offers them as a guide for men.

It is a call for men to set aside their selfish ambitions to become a man with integrity and character. This book won’t promise you a perfect life as a man, but it will give you several questions to ponder. These questions will serve as your reflection.

This book is an invitation for you to become the man God can entrust His kingdom with.

Pros:

  • Challenging and thought-provoking
  • Can be used as material for young men’s group study
  • It is an invitation into a radical reconstruction of much of what we’ve come to believe about God, ourselves, and the meaning of life
  • An honest conversation about what power and responsibility look like for men in our world today
  • Candid story sharing

Cons:

  • Certain principles apply to young men only

Conclusion

God created and designed men to be leaders. Men should be able to lead at home, at work, or at school. While it is difficult to be what God wants every man to be, it is nowhere impossible. God doesn’t want men to just sit comfortably and wait for greater things to happen. God wants men to do the greater things.

For the best Christian books for men, I highly recommend The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within by Pastor Erwin McManus. It is a good challenge for all men to boldly profess their faith, and be unashamed of their beliefs. Also, it is a powerful book that speaks to every man regardless of role, vocation, or status. It helps deepen every man’s faith. It challenges men to do greater things for God.

EDITOR
Alex Shute
Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow.
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