Hmm, I can’t imagine why, but there are a few on your list that would be on mine too. :) After Scripture, the top of my list would be The Book of Concord, The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by CFW Walther, and Christian Dogmatics by F. Pieper.

I have not read all of Luther’s Works that have been translated into English, but selections from Luther’s Works, M. Chemnitz’ Loci Theologici and Ministry, Word, and Sacraments: An Enchiridion, Melanchton’s Loci Communes, and P.E. Kretzmann’s commentaries might be in the top ten. Sasse’s This Is My Body was among the books on my mind in the 90’s. Luther’s Bondage of the Will did a pretty good job of exercising my mind, as did another work I read recently entitled, Luther and Erasmus: Free Will and Salvation edited by Gordon Rupp and Philip S. Watson. From the early 80’s, most of my Christian friends considered Mere Christianity to be significantly influential in their lives but for some reason, I appreciated C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves.

When it comes to fiction, whether it’s the Chronicles of Narnia series, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or so many other stories, there is no shortage of fantasies from which to choose, but I have to agree with Fred Sanders in that I could not make general recommendations from all the works that have influenced me from childhood to adulthood because many of them may have more “dangerous toxin than nutritious ideas” and I have had to discern the “nutritious ideas” worth retaining. In the 80’s and 90’s, my collegiate and post graduate education required reading texts and doing research in the discipline of psychology and in the field of law. Selections from these books have profoundly affected my life but I would not try to pick and choose favorites. As an intercollegiate athlete, I digested my share of books on athletic performance, fitness and nutrition, which added another dimension to my perspective on life.