May 2025 Book Recommendations
- Christopher J. Watt
- May 31
- 4 min read
May has been a month full of reading and literature for me. Below, I've listed my Top 3 book recommendations for this month, and given a star rating out of 5.
Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn't
by Stephen McAlpine
★★★★☆
Have you noticed that recently, Christian views aren't seen as merely false but dangerous—our opinions no longer worth considering but rather in need of silencing?
How did this happen? How did Christians become the bad guys?
In this illuminating tour through the modern Western world, discover why our culture has such a problem with Christian ethics—and learn how to avoid surprise and anger, and instead remain calm, confident and clear-sighted.
This book isn't about how to stop being the bad guys—it's about how to be the best bad guy you can be.
My Thoughts
An excellent, well-written little book that's especially significant for today's world. It goes in-depth and is easy to understand, and the messages are clear. I was a little sceptical when I began reading it, but as I read further in I was able to understand where the author was coming from. There were one or two things that I didn't fully agree with personally, but they were a welcome challenge.
Being the Bad Guys dives well into topics of how we can - and should - live in a society that opposes much of what we believe, and I appreciate McAlpine's perspective of "in this world, but not of it".
At times it was difficult to see how some of the content related to the title of the book. However, the conclusion and Afterword pulled it together really well, which is something I admire in authors, especially with nonfiction books.
All in all, Stephen McAlpine has done well with this little book. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Christian living when the secular world opposes it.
Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World
by Patrick Schreiner
★★★☆☆
Christians tend to get stuck in one of two political ditches: we either privatize our faith or make it partisan, we think religion and politics should be separate and never intermingle, or we align so tightly with a political party that we conflate the gospel with human agenda.
In a supercharged political climate, Political Gospel explores what it means for Christians to have a biblical public witness by looking to Scripture, the early church, and today. Should we submit to governing authorities or subvert them? Are we to view them as agents of the dark forces or entities that promote order? In these pages, we'll see that Christians live in a paradox, and we'll see how to follow Christ our King right into the political craziness of our day.
My Thoughts
Patrick Schreiner was onto a good thing before he started talking about modern politics.
The analysis of how the gospel is inherently political was excellent. The etymologies and historical parallels were fascinating, and I loved how Schreiner highlighted the political messages conveyed by Jesus’s words and actions.
However, it all fell apart when it came to the analysis of today’s politics. Schreiner’s approach leaned way too far into submission, neglecting the equally vital call to stand up in our faith and engage actively in shaping society. While yes, he promoted humble Christian subversion, his message felt too much like passive endurance and “turning the other cheek” all the time. I understand the importance of this, but this book overdid it.
His left-leaning perspective on political neutrality is completely contradictory to the core message of the book. “The gospel is political, but stay out of politics” is basically what he was saying. While I agree that Christians shouldn’t idolize political leaders, we as Christians do have a political duty—especially since political decisions have an effect on our lives.
It’s more than clear that Schreiner is writing from a limited, naive viewpoint where voting is optional. Were he to consider the implications of compulsory voting (such as in Australia), his stance would have been much better.
All in all I enjoyed the historical and literary aspect of this book; Schreiner’s writing style is engaging and easy to follow; but the message was contradictory and very one-sided.
On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel, Hamas, and the Future of the West
by Douglas Murray
★★★★★
Douglas Murray, international bestselling author and renowned cultural commentator, confronts what he views as the most pressing issue of our time:
Why Western support of the Palestinian cause is ultimately playing into the hands of a much more dangerous force.
Drawing from intensive on-the-ground reporting in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon, Douglas Murray places the latest violence in its proper historical context. He takes readers on a harrowing journey through the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, piecing together the exclusive accounts from victims, survivors, and even the terrorists responsible for the atrocities. If left unchecked, misplaced sympathy could embolden forces that seek to undermine not only Israel, but all of Western civilization.
My Thoughts
I'll start off by saying that I do not give 5-star ratings easily, but this book absolutely deserves it.
It’s clear, well-structured, and an honest account of the massacre in Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The book provides raw, unfiltered firsthand accounts of those who suffered, and testimonies that expose the true nature of the war on Israel’s pure existence. While Murray does not hold back in expressing his own views, these arguments are justified with culturally-significant context and hard evidence.
The book covers substantial ground, yet it flows well and is easy to read. The facts and harrowing truths Murray presents have opened my eyes even more to the antisemitism that is spreading across the world at an alarming rate, and I especially appreciate how Murray shamelessly confronts the West’s failures; emphasising the urgency of decisive action before it’s too late. He brings to the foreground how Western support for the pro-Palestinian cause is a dangerous game; while many in the West support the Palestinian narrative under the guise of “social justice”, they fail to see this movement’s exploitation by extremists to undermine conservative Western values.
On Democracies and Death Cults is a must-read for anyone seeking true, honest clarity on the current Middle East war, and how the left’s naive activism only emboldens anti-freedom, anti-reason groups who pose a serious threat to the stability of Western societies.
Thanks for the recommendations, Adam!