Ten Books That Shaped My Faith, Creativity, and Imagination

October 5, 2015

Books are one of life’s quiet luxuries.

Throughout history, literacy has often been associated with privilege—access to education, leisure, and accumulated wisdom. Even today, in an age of abundance and distraction, the ability to sit with a book, to read deeply and reflect, remains a form of wealth. Reading requires time, attention, and interior stillness. In that sense, reading is still a luxury—and one of the most accessible ways to enrich a life.

Some time ago, a friend challenged me on Facebook to list ten books that had significantly shaped my life. What began as a simple exercise turned into a surprisingly introspective process. Narrowing the list forced me to reflect not only on what I had read, but on how those books had influenced the way I think, believe, create, and imagine.

This is not a list of the “best” books, nor a recommendation meant to persuade. It is a personal canon—a glimpse into the ideas, stories, and teachings that helped form who I am.

Here is the list I shared:

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ and The Holy Bible (KJV)
Because scripture goes hand in hand. Alongside the Bible, The Book of Mormon has shaped my faith, my understanding of grace, and my sense of divine purpose. And because I cannot claim to be Christian without allowing the life and teachings of the Savior to influence my own. I have also come to deeply appreciate the literary beauty of the King James translation, especially through my study of Latin and ancient Greek.

Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson
This book brought my perfectionist tendencies into sharp relief and taught me to rely more fully on the grace of Christ rather than my own striving.

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray
This book taught me as much about myself as about others. I include it as representative of a broader category of books on relationships and communication. I would also place You Don’t Need to Slay My Dragons, Just Take Out the Trash by Beverly Campbell in this category, for adding a spiritual dimension I found meaningful.

How to Get Ideas by Jack Foster
This book opened my eyes to creativity as a disciplined, learnable process. It represents a wider body of books and essays on creativity that have profoundly shaped how I think and work.

How to Make a Living as a Painter by Kenneth Harris
Unlike many books on artistic success, this one reframed my understanding of what “making a living” truly means. It taught me that there is no single right path—and that success is deeply personal.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
A childhood favorite that remains dear to me. I have read it countless times and own multiple copies in various states of wear. It shaped my early love of story and character.

A Quiet Heart by Patricia T. Holland
A timely gift that became a lasting companion. This book reinforced the importance of daily communion with the Spirit of Christ and has been a sustaining influence.

Sunset’s Western Garden Book
Because my garden would quite literally be dead without it. A reminder that practical knowledge can also be a quiet form of beauty and fulfillment.

Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Book 12: The Centauromachy)
This was the story that inspired me to tell a story of my own. My love of mythology—and eventually my novels—can be traced directly back to this text.

The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
Not because it is my favorite literature, but because it gave me something just as important: permission. If this story could be written, published, and loved, then perhaps the stories I wanted to tell could find a place too. Sometimes inspiration comes not from perfection, but from possibility.

Choosing only ten was difficult—not because I struggled to name books that mattered, but because so many have. Still, this list represents a meaningful snapshot of the books that shaped my faith, creativity, and imagination.

Are you a reader? Which books have most shaped your life? I’d love to hear in the comments.