Ask Fred > Career/Work > What are the 5 Books that you consider anybody should have read to walk the right way?

Select a Category:

Dear Fred

What are the 5 Books that you consider anybody should have read to walk the right way?

Fred's Response

In the past there have been well educated men who have said their primary, almost only, source was the Bible. There was a time when we would not consider a person well-educated unless they thoroughly understood the divine principles in the Bible. There are other books that I have found very helpful. Some I only read a chapter or two because it was the center of my interest and yet others I read through repeatedly. Those on the "repeatedly" list include "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers which has pretty well formed my theology. I was fortunate to receive "The Seeking Heart" by Francois Fenelon, the French monk, who has been a mentor to me. His work is featured on the website, on the home page. I find that Chambers if a teacher while Fenelon is a mentor. Then I have gotten help from Peter Drucker and his writings on management as well as some of his personal comments. His remark, "Remember, gentlemen, the task is the reward" has been most helpful to me. That is a significant statement. Then I have profited a great deal from Jim Collins' book, "Good to Great. I think it's one of the best management books that I have read. I do not read fiction. I guess for the same reason that I don't enjoy theater. I'm pretty consistently wanting to deal with reality yet I see the possibility that in novels you can write as you wish life were rather than as it really is. I try to read a great deal from a single author whom I find has the same philosophical and theological context as mine. I like C.S. Lewis, Frank Laubach, and Brother Lawrence. St. John of the Cross gave me a greater understanding of the "dark night of the soul." It might surprise you that a Southern Baptist reads so many of the ancient Catholics, but I found them to be men of God. It was very interesting to me that in reading a half dozen of them, I find practically no conflict in their understanding of the Bible and their relationship to God through Christ. Let me give you a quote from Thomas Merton which I found helpful: "Read not to find out what to think, but to find out how to think." Hope this is helpful.