100 books like Unbridled Faith

By Cara Whitney,

Here are 100 books that Unbridled Faith fans have personally recommended if you like Unbridled Faith. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul: Stories about Pets as Teachers, Healers, Heroes and Friends

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Author Of Paws in His Presence: 50 Inspirational Animal Stories to Help You Pray & Ponder the Psalms

From my list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a painfully shy child, I found friendship, adventure and ultimately my own voice reading about—and spending time with—animals. Animals felt safer to talk to than people, and they gave me the gift of their presence and time to practice communication. Overtime, I conquered my extreme shyness, obtained a Masters degree in counseling, and, eventually, began writing about the many ways animals can help people. There is no denying the role that animals—and books about animals—have played in my life. And by sharing this list, I hope to help others find that same comfort and inspiration. 

Jennifer's book list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did Jennifer love this book?

This is a beautiful collection of feel-good, hope-filled stories! Oftentimes, when I’m feeling overwhelmed, it’s hard for me to read a full-length book. That’s why I turn to short stories, compilations, and devotionals to help me through those harder seasons of life.

The stories in this book are the perfect length when my heart needs a little dash of encouragement or inspiration. Some stories are funny, and some are bittersweet. Some stories tug at my heart, some make me laugh, and some cause me to lift my head in wonder. But each one wraps around my heart like a hug from an animal friend, providing comfort and inspiration on days when I need it most.

By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Carol Kline

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'If you liked James Herriot's books, you'll love CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PET LOVER'S SOUL. ' James Wight - veterinarian and son of James Herriot. Do you talk to your pets like they're people? Do you sign birthday cards from the family but include the cat? Do you look forward to the welcome home you get from your pet dog and does it make your day? Well, for anyone who has ever been touched by their love for an animal, this is the book for you.


Book cover of Lessons from Lad: What My Dog Taught Me About Life, Love, Leadership, and Loss

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Author Of Paws in His Presence: 50 Inspirational Animal Stories to Help You Pray & Ponder the Psalms

From my list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a painfully shy child, I found friendship, adventure and ultimately my own voice reading about—and spending time with—animals. Animals felt safer to talk to than people, and they gave me the gift of their presence and time to practice communication. Overtime, I conquered my extreme shyness, obtained a Masters degree in counseling, and, eventually, began writing about the many ways animals can help people. There is no denying the role that animals—and books about animals—have played in my life. And by sharing this list, I hope to help others find that same comfort and inspiration. 

Jennifer's book list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did Jennifer love this book?

This book is an invitation to paws and ponder the lessons our four-legged friends have to teach us about life, love, loss, and legacy. Christine Ferris writes in such a way that you feel like you are sitting with a close friend, enjoying a cup of coffee together and learning from her beloved collie, Lad.

This is the perfect book for dog lovers who desire to grow closer to God while learning lessons from one of his greatest gifts to us—our beautiful dogs. This collection of short stories will work its way into your heart, and the lessons you learn from Lad will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

By Christine Nicole Ferris,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Lessons from Lad as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In "Lessons from Lad," Christine Nicole Ferris offers a poignant and insightful journey into the lessons learned from her beloved rough collie, Lad. Although their time together was brief, the impact Lad left on Christine's life was profound. This book delves deep into the heart-wrenching story of losing not just a cherished pet but a long-held dream and the transformative wisdom that emerged from that loss.

Through fifty-two beautifully crafted lessons, Christine shares Lad's enduring legacy. These lessons are a mosaic of joy, heartache, and enlightenment, reflecting on the nuances of life with a companion who was much more than…


Book cover of Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Author Of Paws in His Presence: 50 Inspirational Animal Stories to Help You Pray & Ponder the Psalms

From my list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a painfully shy child, I found friendship, adventure and ultimately my own voice reading about—and spending time with—animals. Animals felt safer to talk to than people, and they gave me the gift of their presence and time to practice communication. Overtime, I conquered my extreme shyness, obtained a Masters degree in counseling, and, eventually, began writing about the many ways animals can help people. There is no denying the role that animals—and books about animals—have played in my life. And by sharing this list, I hope to help others find that same comfort and inspiration. 

Jennifer's book list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did Jennifer love this book?

While this book isn’t technically about animals, I read it every morning with my golden retriever, Gracie, curled up at my feet, so I can’t help but include this one in the list. My time reading this powerful devotional book—with Gracie at my feet—became such a beautiful picture of what it means to lay my every fear, anxiety, and worry at Jesus’ feet and trust him to steady me and hold me through the hard seasons.

If you have ever wrestled with anxiety or found your heart so gripped by fear it was hard to take a deep breath, then this is the book for you! And if possible, have an animal beside you while you soak in the hope found in its pages.

By Jennifer Tucker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Breath as Prayer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Find hope amid anxiety through the spiritual practice of breath prayer in this beautifully illustrated and practical guide to connecting body, mind, and spirit during times of stress.

Breath as Prayer will lead you through the practice and the proven health benefits of Christian breath prayer: intentional prayers centered around Scripture that focus our minds on Christ as we calm our bodies through breathing.

Breath as Prayer offers:

More than 80 breath prayers focused on Scripture, along with brief meditations Gorgeous original full-color illustrations A quick-start how-to guide to refer to as needed Guidance on how to implement a breath…


Book cover of The Puppy Prophet

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Author Of Paws in His Presence: 50 Inspirational Animal Stories to Help You Pray & Ponder the Psalms

From my list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a painfully shy child, I found friendship, adventure and ultimately my own voice reading about—and spending time with—animals. Animals felt safer to talk to than people, and they gave me the gift of their presence and time to practice communication. Overtime, I conquered my extreme shyness, obtained a Masters degree in counseling, and, eventually, began writing about the many ways animals can help people. There is no denying the role that animals—and books about animals—have played in my life. And by sharing this list, I hope to help others find that same comfort and inspiration. 

Jennifer's book list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why did Jennifer love this book?

It is a quirky, fun, and surprisingly deep book about the gifts our animal friends have to give us. David Cary Lane is a gifted storyteller and poet whose words and stories invite you to ponder the beautiful lessons our canine friends have to teach us.

This book looks like a fun and light-hearted read, but as you turn the first page, you will quickly realize it is so much more. It is an invitation to slow down, a call to be present, and a collection of heartfelt wisdom meant to be savored and reflected on often. This delightful book will stay with you long after you finish reading.

By David Cary Lane, Patrick Atkins (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Puppy Prophet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The perfect gift book for dog lovers and wisdom seekers!

Dogs are our best friends, but could they also be among our wisest teachers?
Could their inner worlds hold secrets to a life of deep meaning?

Blending the timeless truths found in stoic philosophy and transcendent spirituality, The Puppy Prophet follows Daisy, a wise, old stray nearing the end of her days, as she poetically explores life’s most profound mysteries of love, hope, fear, friendship, God, and even death.

Beautifully illustrated, wildly fun and one-of-a-kind, The Puppy Prophet takes readers on a powerful journey that is thought-provoking, inspiring, and perfectly…


Book cover of Wild Thing

Marsha Hubler Author Of A Horse to Love

From my list on horses for tweens, teens, and young adults.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have horse blood in my veins. I’ve loved horses ever since I knew what amazing animals they are. I grew up in a town where no one could house a horse. As I read about horses and learned more about them, I dreamed about the day I could have my very own. As a married adult with 4 acres of property and a little barn, I finally had my own horses over a 20-year period. The knowledge I gained by having my own beloved animals and caring for 12 foster children prepared me to write the Keystone Stables series about foster girl, Skye Nicholson, and her quarter horse, Champ. 

Marsha's book list on horses for tweens, teens, and young adults

Marsha Hubler Why did Marsha love this book?

As an author ready to write my own horse book series with a Christian message many years ago, I gleaned much from reading some of Dandi Daley Mackall’s Horse Gentler series. This first one impressed me the most because it portrays the main character, twelve-year-old Winnie Willis, close to the age of Skye Nicholson, the main character in my own series. As Winnie teaches her horses about unconditional love and blind trust, God shows Winnie that he can be trusted too. The book is good, safe reading for tween and teen horse lovers. 

By Dandi Daley Mackall,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wild Thing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Twelve-year-old Winnie Willis has a way with horses. She can gentle the wildest mare, but other parts of her life don't always come as easily. Along with her dad and sister, Lizzy, Winnie is learning how to live without her mom, who was also a natural horse gentler. As Winnie teaches her horses about unconditional love and blind trust, God shows Winnie that he can be trusted too. Readers will be hooked on the series' vivid characters, whose quirky personalities fill Winnie's life with friendship and adventure.

In #1 Wild Thing, Winnie's fearful heart finally begins to trust God again…


Book cover of Hold Your Horses: Nuggets of Truth for People Who Love Horses...No Matter What

Candace Wade Author Of Horse Sluts: The Saga of Two Women on the Trail of Their Yeehaw

From my list on horse journeys not to be missed.

Why am I passionate about this?

The me of me is a “late in life rider” and freelance writer—with an edge. I learned to ride horses in my ‘40s when we left the wonders of California for sweet tea, okra, and equine “yard art” of Tennessee. Horses and writing mixed to create Horse Sluts. My political bent led me to craft an exposé on the brutal “training” of Big Lick TN Walking Horses. I still ride and explore the more humorous sides of aging and riding. A stickler for "writing worth reading,” I eschew self-conscious, wandering-lost writing. The books I recommended are well crafted.

Candace's book list on horse journeys not to be missed

Candace Wade Why did Candace love this book?

Timmons’s little treasure book is “Nuggets of truth for people who love horses... no matter what” (Bonnie Timmons quote). Hold Your Horses is a laugh at ourselves and the horses we love. We are exposed on her pages. Our goofs, gaffs, and trials are not easily explained to those who don’t kiss horse faces. Timmons’ book is a smile, a cringe, and an “I am not alone.” No arduous tome, each page of this little book is a quick elbow in our equine-loving ribs.

By Bonnie Timmons,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hold Your Horses as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A whimsical but honest look at the equestrian's life and world, and a gift idea for everyone girl or woman who loves horses.


Book cover of Religion in the Anthropocene

Julia M. O’Brien Author Of Prophets beyond Activism: Rethinking the Prophetic Roots of Social Justice

From my list on the Bible and the climate crisis.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been a biblical scholar for over 35 years and have spent a lot of time reading and writing academic volumes, analyzing arguments, and teaching diverse audiences. However, some of my formative experiences were as a child on my grandparents’ North Carolina farm, to which I still feel an almost elemental connection. Perhaps that farm (and my vegetable gardening) first sparked my interest in the environment. My interest turned to advocacy through research, which set me on the path to grasping the urgency of the climate crisis and my conviction that everything must reflect this reality. I’ve poured over the scientific reports (such as by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and read lots of nonfiction. 

Julia's book list on the Bible and the climate crisis

Julia M. O’Brien Why did Julia love this book?

I found this academic anthology helpful for grounding me in some of the more conceptual issues regarding how we think about Earth. How does it affect us, for example, to think about Earth as Mother or as a resource provided primarily for humans?

I appreciated the diversity of more philosophical explorations alongside some history of how different religious groups understand the environment. The chapter on American Evangelicalism was especially interesting. This wasn’t a short or easy read, but it was important for helping me focus on how we think about our planet and why that matters. 

By Celia E Deane-Drummond (editor), Sigurd Bergmann (editor), Markus Vogt (editor)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Religion in the Anthropocene as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book charts a new direction in humanities scholarship through serious engagement with the geopolitical concept of the Anthropocene. Drawing on religious stwhatudies, theology, social science, history and philosophy, and can be broadly termed the environmental humanities, this collection represents a groundbreaking critical analysis of diverse narratives on the Anthropocene. The contributors to this volume recognize that the Anthropocene began as a geological concept, the age of the humans, but that its implications are much wider than this. Will the Anthropocene have good or bad ethical outcomes? Does the Anthropocene idea challenge the possibility of a sacred Nature, which shores…


Book cover of Earth's Echo

Leah D. Schade Author Of Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis

From my list on connecting religion and nature.

Why am I passionate about this?

The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky.  An ordained Lutheran minister since 2000, Leah has written five books, including three focusing on environment and faith. She has served as an anti-fracking and climate activist, community organizer, and advocate for environmental justice issues, She’s also the “EcoPreacher” blogger for Patheos.com. She has recently launched a partnership with the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development to create a monthly resource called EcoPreacher 1-2-3 for busy pastors wanting to address environmental issues in their sermons.

Leah's book list on connecting religion and nature

Leah D. Schade Why did Leah love this book?

This is a perfect book to take on a hike in the woods, a walk along the beach, or a stroll down a country lane. The author combines his own poetic reflections with those of sages from many different religious traditions across the millennia. There are six sections and a set of readings for each day of the week. This book would be ideal for church camp devotionals, a Lenten devotional, or for your summer reading to get you centered and attentive to God’s Creation.

By Robert M. Hamma,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Earth's Echo as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"My profession is always to be alert, to find God in nature," Henry David Thoreau wrote. Or as the Buddha once said, "If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and the warm sun on your hand." Earth's Echo is a book for people who love nature and find spiritual meaning in it. Using brief excerpts from the work of nature writers as touchstones for meditation, the book leads the reader to reflect on the sacred reality of nature as found in different settings: the seashore, the river, the forest, the desert, and the mountain.…


Book cover of Sparrow's Prayer

Victoria Robb Powers Author Of My Love, God Is Everywhere

From my list on Christian reads for kids that are inclusive and safe.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am an ordained minister with over 10 years of experience serving as a pastor in both the hospital and church settings. I’m also a mom of three children, ages 2, 5, and 7. I routinely get asked for resources to help raise children in the Christian faith. As both a pastor and a mother, I am a strong advocate for teaching children a theology they won’t have to heal from. All the books I recommend are progressive, inclusive, and diverse. I’ve done extensive research when it comes to faith-based literature, and I’m passionate about finding the best books to recommend to families.

Victoria's book list on Christian reads for kids that are inclusive and safe

Victoria Robb Powers Why did Victoria love this book?

Not every person prays the same. It’s not helpful to teach children that the only way to pray is with eyes closed, heads bowed, and words uttered.

Children are all different – they learn different, and they express themselves different. This book teaches kids that you can pray in a number of different ways, especially the ones that come most naturally to you. Prayer can be done in word, dance, song, service, and so on. If you want to teach your kids about prayer, this is an excellent resource.

By Roger Hutchison, Ag Jatkowska (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sparrow's Prayer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

When words are hard to find, prayer blooms in unexpected ways.

Sparrow wakes each morning, ready to sing a prayer of thanksgiving. But not today. Today his words get tangled and knotted in his beak like old yarn and straw. He feels sad and gray, and he's not sure why. So Sparrow decides to ask his friends Turtle, Mousie, and Buck for advice on how to pray. Each friend shows Sparrow a different way to pray without words, through generosity, art, and movement. As the day ends, Sparrow meditates on a rose aglow in the evening light and has an…


Book cover of God Speaks Science: What Neurons, Giant Squid, and Supernovae Reveal About Our Creator

Lowell W Busenitz Author Of Soul Work: Finding God in Your Entrepreneurial Pursuits

From my list on growing your faith at work.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have long been passionate about helping people connect with God through their work. After graduating from college, I worked in full-time minister for six years and then became an entrepreneur. Was I dropping off a spiritual cliff by leaving full-time ministry? I later pursued my PhD and became a professor. At the University of Oklahoma, I became a top researcher and co-founded the Center for Entrepreneurship. The impact of work on my faith has long been an important issue for me. I ultimately gained valuable insights from God that enhanced my spiritual journey. In my book, I explain the profound significance of work for knowing God. 

Lowell's book list on growing your faith at work

Lowell W Busenitz Why did Lowell love this book?

This is the most important book I have read in five years. Van Sloten helped me see that God reveals himself to me (and you) in “two books”: the Bible and the Creation. I now see that I have not taken this second book seriously enough.

Van Sloten uses the lens of science to probe more deeply into understanding our God. Through a deeper understanding of radiation therapy, our knee joints, exploring a giant squid, and seeing God’s beauty in DNA repair mechanisms, among other topics, we can learn and experience so much more about our God.

Knowing God is at the top of my list, and this book shows me how to advance up this pathway. 

By John Van Sloten,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked God Speaks Science as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A joy-filled expedition into experiencing God’s majestic, everywhere presence.

DNA, the Danube River, and deep-sea life. Knees and trees. The Swiss Alps, songbirds, and supernovas. God speaks though His creation. And you don’t have to be naturally gifted at biology, chemistry, or physics to be awakened to His wisdom and majesty. Pastor, teacher, and non-scientist John Van Sloten invites us to know God more deeply as we marvel at the complexities of His amazing creation.

Knowing God through His written Word enables us to know Him more clearly through His creational Words. How does God speak through His creation, and…


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