Best Non-Church Books for Church Leaders?

| By Ben Simpson | Found in Communication | 17 Comments

It has been said that leaders are readers, and we hope you’re reading books that grow your soul and deepen your life with God.  But we know savvy church leaders are reading more than theological tomes, and we here at Collide want to know what titles have been the most insightful, most revelatory, and most practical for you and your ministry.  We’ve got some strong opinions, but your voice is needed.  Help us out.

What non-church books have you read that have proven immensely valuable for your ministry?  Can you name one that you would say is the best?  Why?

Our titles represent a range of genres from business, marketing, sociology, cultural studies, screenwriting, and the arts.  We’re well aware that there could be books from other fields.  Tell us what you think.

Christians have long held the idea of common grace, acknowledging that God has given unmerited gifts of beauty, wisdom, intelligence, and creativity to all people, regardless of their professed allegiance to Jesus Christ.  For this reason, church leaders may look to those writing in sociology, leadership, business, finance, economics, psychology, or any other field for wisdom and guidance.  Of course, this task requires the application of a robust theological lens and the art of careful discernment, for every concept plucked from the latest trendy title might not align itself with the best of Christian convictions.  As Scott has mentioned recently, this is why it is critical for us to develop ourselves in both our professional and our spiritual lives.

We know you’ve got some titles you are eager to share.  Fire away.

  • Bill

    Tempered Radicals by Debra E. Meyerson (Harvard Business School Press, 2001) – One of the best books I have read on working real change in organizations that are hierarchical, set in their ways, and conformity-oriented (although there isn't a single church mentioned in the text).

  • Mark

    Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell ( http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Magic-Common-Leade… ) – incredible book about creating staff culture and for learning to serve people (particularly guests to your church).

    The War of Art by Steven Pressfield ( http://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Ba… ) is a great book for creatives. Serves as a real motivator.

  • Eduardo Bousson

    Good to Great, Jim Collins. I found specially helpful the section on choosing the right people. I read it with my leadership team at church and they hated it. I think that some of the assertions hit home too close for them. That should have been a warning side for me…

    The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. It helped me identify the right people with the right gifts (connectors, mavens, etc.) to further the message. The book in itself is a jewel on how to advance a movement. I actually read it every so often to keep my leadership fresh.

  • http://www.michealfelker.com Micheal

    I second "Good to Great" and would add Collins' "How the Mighty Fall" to help understand how character shapes and propels leaders from good to great and how a lack of characters leads to the fall of a leader and organization.

    I second "Tipping Point" and would add Gladwell's "Outliers." The chapter on the "10,000 Hour Rule" was a game changer for me.

    "Love is the Killer App" by Tim Sanders helped me learn how to read, process, and share what I'm learning. This book helped me do something with the information I come across- digest it for myself and give it away to help others.

    Patrick Lencioni's '5 Dysfunctions of a Team," "3 Signs of a Miserable Job," and "3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family"

  • http://lifeasironman.wordpress.com Tim V.

    Tribes by Seth Godin

    The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience by Carmine Gallo

  • Eric

    Linchpin by Seth Godin
    Getting Things Done and Making it All Work by David Allen

  • http://www.adamlehman.us Adam Lehman

    "Cradle to Cradle" By William McDonough & Michael Braungart.

    "Art and Fear"

    "The Little Red Book of Selling"

  • http://www.facebook.com/justin.winter Justin

    "Free: The Future of a Radical Price"

    http://www.amazon.com/Free-Future-Radical-Chris-A…

    "Upgrade Your Life: The Lifehacker Guide to Working Smarter, Faster, Better"
    http://www.amazon.com/Upgrade-Your-Life-Lifehacke…

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/tonybkim Tony

    Tribes and Linchpins by Seth Godin

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ScottMcClellan ScottMcClellan

    Wow, we've got a great list going here! Thanks, everyone!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Beaconhillnw @jim_gray

    Groundswell by Li/Bernoff…Guerrilla Marketing by Levinson

  • http://www.spaconline.com Jonathan Gonyou

    The most invaluable book that EVERY church staff member needs to read is MADE TO STICK by chip & Dan Heath. It's a communicating manifesto (interestingly there have been the typical Christian knock-off versions since, but it doesn't need it… it's applicable to all leaders & communicators).

    Y'all also need to read SPIRITUAL MACHINES (kurzwiel) No Logo (Klein) Lexus and the olive tree (Friedman) Each are a decade old but have been uncannily accurate.
    Also, any Gladwell, and the LONG TAIL (anderson) to name a few

  • http://etechne.blogspot.com techne

    amusing ourselves to death by neil postman
    the gift by peter hyde

  • http://etechne.blogspot.com techne

    umm…that should be the gift by lewis hyde

    (can someone edit that? sheesh)

  • http://www.twitter.com/erikjfisher Erik Fisher

    Six Pixels of Seperation – Mitch Joel

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/bensimpson Ben Simpson

    Great list everyone. We've compiled the results and are discussing them at length. More thoughts forthcoming.

  • http://www.churchit.co.uk Tim Smith

    The Non-Designers Design Handbook ISBN:978-0321534040 A must read by ANYONE who creates posters, flyers, anything more than a simple word document. It's easy to read and the difference following the help is immense.