Top 5 Books on Preaching That Will Never Be Assigned

I was talking with a friend recently about all the great books on preaching that will never be assigned in a preaching class, or at least it wasn’t in any that we took.

From my own reading the last couple of years, here’s what I think are the top 5 books on preaching that will never be assigned in a class on preaching:

5. How Can The Bible Be Authoritative by N.T. Wright
Ok, my first one isn’t technically a book, although N.T. Wright did write a book specifically on this later, but I’m still a fan of this lecture personally. The way we approach the Bible in our messages teaches the people who listen to us how to approach the Bible. Many of us are missing the mark maybe not in how we read it, but in how we preach it, and are falling into one of Wright’s Authority Problems.

4. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont or On Writing by Stephen King
I’m having a hard time deciding between these two. They both are books about writing that have given me some great insight into preaching regularly. I read them both originally at the same time, so in some ways they both blur together for me. But, what I learned is that there is a lot of crossover between what it is to write regularly and what it is to speak regularly. There’s some great inspiration as well as great practical advice.

3. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
This book isn’t about speaking or communicating, but instead about creativity and the battle to release creativity. So much of what he talks about regarding “The Resistance” can easily be applied to crafting a message. I have a few books on my need to read every year list, and this has become one of them.

2. Communicating for Change by Andy Stanley
I’m honestly not sure why this one isn’t included more often at least in introductory courses to preaching. Maybe it’s because it’s a simple read, but it’s some great thoughts by one of the leading communicators in the church today. While he gets a little too systematic at times for me, I think he provides a really helpful framework in what makes an effective sermon.

1. Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
One of the best books written on why some messages resonate with people and others don’t. While it’s more directed towards marketing, it easily applies to what makes an effective sermon. Understanding the “Curse of Knowledge” alone makes this book worthwhile.

Those of you who regularly speak in front of audiences, what other books would you recommend that would probably never get assigned?