1. The Bible

I have been reading this book since I was little. It profoundly influences my life on a daily basis.

2. Abolition of Man (C.S. Lewis)

A short book, but it importance is inverse to its length.

3. All of the Horatio Hornblower series (C.S. Forrester)

I can't get enough of these books. I almost have them memorized.

4. The Aubrey Maturin series (Patrick O'Brian)

Obviously, I love British naval history from the 19th century. Down with Bonny!

5. The Second World War (Winston Churchill)

Churchill said of this work, "This is not history; this is my case." I wish I could make cases like this.

6. That Hideous Strength (C.S. Lewis)

The literary version of Lewis' Abolition of Man—a great look at scientism, arrogance and academia institutions run amok.

7. Confessions (St. Augustine)

One of the densest books I read. I learn something new from it every time I read it. It demands close inspection.

8. The History Plays (William Shakespeare)

A tour de force of the human condition and a political primer.

9. From Dawn to Decadence (Jacques Barzun)

I am in awe of Barzun's ability to synthesize the history of ideas, and present them in such a salient manner. For years I thought he was dead, but he is alive and kicking at 100.

10. Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)

I read this every year. Themes of friendship, heroism and honor permeate the work, and who doesn't like a book that kicks a little Orc tookus?

11. Orthodoxy (G.K. Chesterton)

One of the most influential thinkers in Christendom during the late 19th and early 20th century.

12. Institutes (John Calvin)

I have come to understand the discipline of theology from Calvin. This is not an academic endeavor for him, but a pursuit of God.