One of the most tragic responses I hear when I start talking about books or recommending something I’ve just read is this:
“Oh, I don’t really read. It’s just not my thing.”
Hmmm.
My first thought - obviously - is where does that leave our Bible study? But that’s not the only book we should be reading either. That’s our life manual - critical reading.
But there’s more.
Don’t get me wrong—there have been seasons in my life where reading took a back seat to everything else. But I remember summer days as a kid when my brothers and I would spend hours devouring books: Tom Swift, The Hardy Boys, William Sleator.
We didn’t think about the benefits or the discipline back then. We just read for the joy of it.
There’s something about a book. Depending on the genre, it can transport you to another place or time. It can introduce you to people you never could have met otherwise. It can spark your imagination and ground you in a broader understanding of the world beyond your normal reach.
Reading as a Call to Readiness
As I began to pursue the calling God placed on my life, I realized something—there are three essential areas every believer, every man, needs to cultivate. The physical. The spiritual. And the intellectual.
One thing I didn’t feature heavily in Sell Your Cloak—but advocated strongly in the appendix—is the discipline of reading. Voraciously.
In my reading, I’ve been to Middle-Earth. I’ve seen Aslan in Narnia.
I’ve met Sir Winston Churchill. I’ve walked with soldiers in Lincoln’s (yes, Lincoln’s) Special Forces.
I’ve enjoyed classics I was never introduced to as a teenager—Atlas Shrugged, 1984, Brave New World.
I’ve been challenged by men who’ve forced me to think deeper—On Killing, The Gift of Fear, and Leadership and Training for the Fight.
John Lovell and Tim Larkin sharpened me through The Warrior Poet Way and When Violence Is the Answer.
And each year, I’ve set a goal for myself. Some years I’ve gotten close; others, I’ve surpassed it and had to raise the bar.
But I read.
I read most of what people recommend. I read fiction, biographies, history (1776 by David McCullough will change your life), fantasy, preparedness, security, warfare.
Even Harry Potter.
Why Reading Matters
Ancient Greek historian Thucydides famously said:
“The nation that will insist on drawing a broad line of demarcation between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to find its fighting done by fools and its thinking by cowards.”
That line should send chills down your spine.
It’s not enough to prepare our hands for war—to strengthen our bodies, train our reflexes, or ready our hearts for sacrifice.
We must educate ourselves.
We must learn how the opposition thinks. We need grand stories and great histories. We need to be reminded that truth, courage, and wisdom often come from those who lived and died long before us.
We need to read.
My Recommendations
My initial suggestions mirror what I listed in the Sell Your Cloak book, and I stand by them:
• The Warrior Poet Way — John Lovell
A gospel-centered call to courage, service, and preparedness. John’s work inspired and cemented many of the same convictions you’ll find in Sell Your Cloak.
• On Killing — Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
A sobering but necessary look at the psychological cost of lethal force.
• Left of Bang — Patrick Van Horne & Jason A. Riley
Teaches situational awareness before the first shot is fired. Prevention is the highest form of preparedness.
• The Gift of Fear — Gavin DeBecker
Learn to trust your instincts. This is required reading for every person serious about protecting life.
• When Violence Is the Answer — Tim Larkin
Hard truths about real-world violence and what it takes to survive when it comes knocking.
To that, I’ll add a few more that have made an impact on me:
• 1776 — David McCullough
This book will change how you see leadership, conviction, and what it truly means to stand when others retreat.
• The First Conspiracy — Brad Meltzer
A powerful look at the men who risked everything to stop a plot against George Washington.
• Mere Christianity — C.S. Lewis
A foundational defense of faith, logic, and the moral law written on our hearts.
• Tactics — Greg Koukl
A practical guide to thinking and speaking wisely in spiritual conversations.
And if you’ve never read the full complement of Tolkien’s works—do it. Read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. All of it. His writing is rich, layered, and deeply spiritual.
The Rhythm of Reading
These are just my initial recommendations. I alternate between genres so I don’t get burned out.
Right now, I’m listening to Band of Brothers on audiobook. Next, I’ll probably tackle Jack Carr’s new release.
Some years I meet my goal. Some years I don’t. But I set it anyway.
Because reading sharpens the mind and feeds the soul.
It helps me understand leadership, courage, history, and human nature. It prepares me—not just to think, but to act with wisdom.
Why You Should Start
We’ve lost something sacred in the modern world: the art of deep, intentional reading.
Scrolling doesn’t count. Highlighted quotes don’t count. Watching book summaries on YouTube doesn’t count.
Reading does.
Reading slows you down. It makes you wrestle with ideas, visualize, empathize, question, and reflect. It teaches you to stay still and focus—skills increasingly rare in our distracted age.
It’s not enough to be strong. You must be thoughtful. It’s not enough to be prepared physically. You must be prepared intellectually.
And it’s not enough to carry a weapon if you don’t understand the weight of the responsibility that comes with it.
The Call
So, whether you’re a young man just starting out, a father trying to lead your family, or a seasoned believer striving to stay sharp—read.
Start somewhere. Start anywhere.
Pick a book. Read a page. Then another.
Learn from others. Let the words of thinkers, warriors, pastors, and poets shape you.
Because the man who will pick up a book is preparing his mind for the same fight his spirit and hands are already engaged in.
And that is what it means to live Prepared in Spirit. Ready in Strength.
📚 Read.
