Books I Have Found Helpful

Often I’m asked to provide a list of books I’ve found helpful. I’m glad to do this.

Let’s start with our rules:

1. I try not to learn very much. I’m usually successful in learning very little. In each of the following books and resources, I learned enough to determine it was worth my time to read the book.
2. Please use the wastebasket: I don’t agree with every thought in every resource in this list. I wouldn’t use every word you’ll find in every book. I don’t approve of everything that every author has done or will do. These volumes have helped me. If you don’t find them helpful, don’t use them. Think. Use what is good. Dispose of what’s not helpful.

Books with (5+) indicate that I’ve read that book five or more times.

My Ten Favorite Books (Besides the Bible)

1. (5+) Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue, by Edwin H. Friedman: #ad https://amzn.to/2PgwuJr
2. (5+) University of Hard Knocks: The School that completes Our Education, by Ralph Parlette: #ad https://amzn.to/2LbeElM
3. (5+) You Can Memorize God’s Word, by Marlin S. Hoffman: https://amzn.to/ 2Uf2eNS
4. Managing Church Conflict, by James A. Jones: #ad https://amzn.to/ 2MGQ7bo
5. Counseling Principles for Christian Leaders, by James A. Jones: #ad https://amzn.to/2HvGaZY
6. Every Life a Plan of God, the Autobiography of Batsell Barrett Baxter, by Batsell Barrett Baxter: https://amzn.to/30FRZ7p
7. J. D. Tant, Texas Preacher, by Yater Tant: (only available used)
8. The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need, by Andrew Tobias: #ad https://amzn.to/2ZwWM9U
9. Reader’s Digest: #ad https://amzn.to/2Zv6qxZ
10. QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life, by John G. Miller: #ad https://amzn.to/ 2lEj2R1

Dave Ramsey’s material is excellent for money management — The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, by Dave Ramsey: #ad https://amzn.to/30ETjaL

Two Audio Programs that Have Been Valuable for Life Structure

1. (5+) Lead the Field, by Earl Nightingale: #ad https://amzn.to/2U5WPZo
2. Your Time and Your Life, by Charles R. Hobbs (This is no longer in production)

Books on Topics

Elders, Shepherds, Overseers

1. Creating Biblical Leaders, by Ken Wilson: #ad http://bit.ly/2ZjLRFB
2. A Treatise on the Eldership, by J. W. McGarvey: #ad https://amzn.to/34d4JVw
3. They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century, by Lynn Anderson: #ad http://amzn.to/2cdgyDG
4. They Smell Like Sheep, Volume, 2: Leading with the Heart of a Shepherd, by Lynn Anderson: #ad https://amzn.to/2Hu0Phc
5. Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, by Alexander Strauch: #ad http://amzn.to/2cbebMP

Transition

1. (5+) Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, by William Bridges (the theory of transition’s three phases: ending, neutral zone, new beginning): #ad http://amzn.to/2x5kmzQ
2. Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change, by William Bridges (practical steps of how to make change a transformation — not a tragedy): #ad https://amzn.to/2NxxYfL
3. The Way of Transition: Embracing Life’s Most Difficult Moments, by William Bridges (an autobiographical account of how Mr. Bridges dealt with the death of his wife): #ad https://amzn.to/2zt2eQs

Transition After Long Ministry Without an Interim

1. Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, by William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird: #ad https://amzn.to/2A947mx
2. Transition Plan: 7 Secrets Every Leader Needs to Know, by Bob Russell: #ad https://amzn.to/2OlsdmW

Leadership, Business with Good Principles I Can Apply

1. The Way of the Shepherd: Seven Secrets to Managing Productive People, by Kevin Leman and William Pentak: #ad https://amzn.to/2KqqPbK
2. Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within, by Robert E. Quinn: #ad https://amzn.to/2KbqblY
3. Building the Bridge As You Walk On It: A Guide for Leading Change, by Robert E. Quinn: #ad https://amzn.to/2U9VZef
4. The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business, by Patrick M. Lecioni: #ad https://amzn.to/2L7NcVW

Preacher Search

1. The Search Committee Handbook: The Step-by-Step Guide to Hiring Your Next Minister, by Don Viar: #ad http://amzn.to/2DeOyw1
2. When to Leave…Before You Go: 2 Books For Pastors in Transition, by Wade Hodges: #ad http://amzn.to/2AR2pYH

Time Management, Life Planning

1. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen: #ad https://amzn.to/2MFLLBo
2. Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want, by Michale Haytt and Daniel Harkavy: #ad http://amzn.to/2nJGuZd
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, by Stephen R. Covey: #ad https://amzn.to/2NBXhgS

Family Systems

1. (5+) Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue, by Edwin H. Friedman: #ad https://amzn.to/2PgwuJr
2. (5+) Friedman’s Fables (short stories with 10 questions to discuss to illustrate and apply principles of Family Systems), by Edwin Friedman: #ad https://amzn.to/2ztjrt2
3. (5+) Leaders Who Last: Sustaining Yourself and Your Ministry, by Margaret J. Marcuson: #ad https://amzn.to/2ZuRCvl
4. Healthy Congregations: a systems approach, by Peter L. Steinke: #ad https://amzn.to/2OO7yZM

These books have had a great influence on me and helped me do the work I’m doing now and have been doing for the past sixty years.