10 essential books on how to be a godly husband and father

It amazes me, guys will spend their lives studying their field of pursuits. But when it comes to reading about being a husband and father, they’ll say, “Meh, I got this.” Gentlemen, we don’t have this. Here are 10 essential books on how to be a godly husband and father.

The same person who doesn’t read these types of books is the same person who struggles with feeling like a failure as a husband and father.

I beg you before you grab the 50th John Grisham novel (no offense Mr. Grisham, I loved The Firm. Tom Cruise was great in the movie. I’m sure the book was better.) read these books on how to be a godly husband and father. Thank me later.

Listen to Manhood Journey’s Father’s Day Special for Dads. Listen now.

These are the book on how to be a godly husband and father that I’ve either read, or they are on my shortlist to read. They’ve come highly recommended by wise friends, professors, and the like. So you can trust them. Review the list and grab all of these books so you can know how to be a better husband and father.

1 Manly Dominion in a Passive-Purple-Four-Ball Word (Mark Chanski)

Chanski writes, “On the tabletop of life, many of us act more like the purple four-balls than like skillful billiard players.” I read this book in seminary. I remember my biggest takeaway.

We must actively resist the world “happening to us” and instead recognize we’ve been given an assignment on this earth—to be good stewards of what God entrusts to us.

Whether it be a wife, kids, or material possessions. How we view what God has given us directly affects how we treat or mistreat it.

Manly Dominion will challenge you to lead from your vocation and work to decision-making, husbandry, child-rearing, and relationships.

You can be the leader God wants you to be. This book will help.

2 Marriage God’s Way (Henry Brandt & Kerry Skinner)

My notes in my personal copy of this book remind me I read this several times while dating Tonia and the months after marrying her. Henry Blackaby, at the time at least, said of this book, “This is the only book on marriage I recommend.”

Why do so many marriages today end in divorce? Because most people, even in the church, are following the world’s models of marriage instead of God’s ordained design.

Marriage God’s Way helped me before I was ever married, understand what I was signing on for. This book changes your view from the first page.

Blackaby writes in the foreword, “The God who met Abraham and Peter in the simple moments of life is exactly the same God who is wanting to impact your marriage.” Yeah, that’ll preach gentlemen. 

3 Shepherding a Child’s Heart (Tedd Tripp)

This is the parenting Bible—aside from the Bible. Read it!

Shepherding a Child’s Heart comes highly recommend from the one and only Mr. Kent Evans, Founder of Manhood Journey, and numerous other people in my life.

Written for parents with children of any age, this book helps you focus your attention on the heart issues and character behind our kid’s behavior (instead of just their behavior).

So it helps you address the root cause instead of the symptoms of child behavior. And, it’s a great resource to show you how to ask your kids great questions so they’ll open up. One day, I’ll write more about this book. It’s literally life-changing.