Since 2009 I have reviewed and/or rated more than 1,200 newly published books focused on ministry and leadership here on So What Faith. And, each December I’ve published a list of my top ten books of that year (for the latest edition, see 16th Annual Top 10 Books of the Year).
A decade into this I decided to begin publishing a list of all authors who appeared on two or more top ten lists. I have since shared expanded versions of that list in 2024 and 2025. The list grew from 12 to 16 to 18 over that time. This year the list expands yet again to 19, welcoming Ryan Burge.
So What Faith All-Time Top Authors
- Diana Butler Bass, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021
- Marcus Borg, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017
- Ryan Burge, 2022, 2025
- Joan Chittister, 2011, 2017
- John Dominic Crossan, 2010, 2012, 2015
- Lillian Daniel, 2013, 2016
- Mark Elsdon, 2021, 2024
- Tenzin Gyatso (the 14th Dalai Lama), 2012, 2016
- Eric Klinenberg, 2012, 2018
- Robert P. Jones, 2016, 2020
- Amy-Jill Levine, 2014, 2024
- Scot McKnight, 2010, 2011
- Brian McLaren, 2016, 2021
- Derek Penwell, 2014, 2019
- Stephen Prothero, 2010, 2016
- Alan J. Roxburgh, 2011, 2015
- John Shelby Spong, 2011, 2013, 2016
- Barbara Brown Taylor, 2014, 2019
- Jim Wallis, 2013, 2016, 2019
Best of the Best
With an appearance on 2025’s list, Diana Butler Bass joins Marcus Borg as the only authors to appear on five lists.
Across the Generations
Only five of the authors appearing on multiple top ten lists are under 60 years of age and just two are under 50. Interestingly, this year’s addition – Ryan Burge – is the youngest on the list.
Deceased
- John Shelby Spong (1931-2021)
- Marcus Borg (1942-2015)
Living (by birth year)
- John Dominic Crossan (1934)
- Tenzin Gyatso (the 14th Dalai Lama) (1935)
- Joan Chittister (1936)
- Alan J. Roxburgh (1946)
- Jim Wallis (1948)
- Barbara Brown Taylor (1951)
- Scot McKnight (1953)
- Amy-Jill Levine (1956)
- Brian McLaren (1956)
- Diana Butler Bass (1959)
- Stephen Prothero (1960)
- Derek Penwell (1965)
- Lillian Daniel (1966)
- Robert P. Jones (1968)
- Eric Klinenberg (1970)
- Mark Elsdon (1977)
- Ryan Burge (1983)