6 Books Every Christian Leader Should Read

There are tons of books on Christian leadership! Some good. Some bad. Below are a few unconventional books that I think every Christian leader should read. Four are novels and two are biographical. None of them are intended to be leadership books. But I often find myself recommending them to leaders.

Here they are:

1. Silence by Shusaku Endo
2. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
3. The Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos
4. Watership Down by Richard Adams
5. The Authobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, Alex Haley
6. Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt

These books deal with personal sacrifice and depth of conviction. Why is this important? Because good leaders are aware of the sacrifices they are making and why.

They are stories of leaders with a story to share–and their success or failure of effectively sharing their story. Why is this important? Because establishing a compelling narrative is what all great leaders do.

These books challenge assumptions often made within western dominant culture and western Christianity. Why is this important? Because effective leaders are aware of the limitations of their worldview and that not everyone shares theirs.

But, possibly most important, these books provide an imagination for what it looks like to lead–which is often more important than information on how to lead.

And, yes, I think it's worth considering what a rabbit named Hazel would do if he were in your situation.

What books would you recommend to Christian leaders?