Nigel Barham has a good post on Some Recommended Books, and the Importance of Reading (Redeeming the Time: Part 2) where he looks at some of the Christian classics which he feels are good reads. This is a nice followup to his post on online sermons.
Robin Parry has done something similar in recommending his most influential theological book, and his guests have chimed in with favorites of their own.
For me, I think the most influential book I ever read was called Love is a Decision by Gary Smalley and John Trent. I haven’t read it for several years now, but I often think back to what I had read. I will let the Amazon review from Cindy speak for me on this one.
This was the first marriage book I was able to read without becoming angry about all the things my husband WASN’T doing. Instead, for the first time ever, I suddenly saw the things I WAS doing to push my husband away from me, to crush his spirit. God truly used this book to show me His amazing and perfect plan and order for marriage, and my life hasn’t been the same since. And when I changed, made the decision to honor my husband, he became everything I had hoped for without even trying or realizing. We are best friends now, not antagonists to one another. I never dreamed marriage could be as wonderful as mine is right now.
In short, marriage isn’t about what I get out of it, but what I put into it. If I choose to honor my wife, to respect her, and cherish her, no matter what our circumstances, then our marriage will thrive.
It should be required reading for engaged couples. If it was required reading I am sure we would see a decrease in the divorce rate! You can buy it used from Amazon for under three dollars.
Posted by Eclectic Christian 
Michael Bell
Joshua Hearne
Tim Melton
Joel Black
