A Good Life: 15 essential habits for living with hope and joy by Pope Francis (Hodder & Stoughton, £18.99 (£17.09); 978-1-399-81195-8).

“Pope Francis offers 15 mindsets that allow readers to find hope and meaning in every circumstance. He encourages us to defend and protect the light that shines in us, to believe in the beautiful, to find meaning in the struggles, to work for peace, and to build something wherever we are. He also reminds us of the importance of gratitude, warns Christians against complacency, and encourages real, face-to-face connection over conversations merely on screens.”


Jesus and the Powers: Christian political witness in an age of totalitarian terror and dysfunctional democracies by Tom Wright and Michael Bird (SPCK, £12.99 (£11.69); 978-0-281-09007-5).

“Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird join forces to address the pressing question: How can Christians engage with the turbulent politics of our times while remaining true to the teaching and example of Jesus? With wisdom and clarity, Wright and Bird present a compelling case for Christians to embody a counter-cultural witness that upholds the biblical ideals of justice, mercy and truth while vigorously opposing oppressive political schemes based on autocracy and nationalism.” 


Asceticism and the Eucharist: Exploring Orthodox spirituality with Metropolitan John Zizioulas by Maxym Lysack (DLT, £19.99 (£17.99); 978-1-913657-88-8).

“Guided by the teachings of celebrated Orthodox theologian Metropolitan John Zizioulas, this outstanding volume by Maxym Lysack demonstrates the twin importance to Orthodox spiritual theology of asceticism (usually practised as a personal discipline) and the Eucharist (the corporate celebration that makes us one with God as Church), and also the essential complementarity of the two approaches.”

Selected by Frank Nugent, of the Church House Bookshop, which operates the Church Times Bookshop.