With this summer's Democratic and Republican national conventions, politics has certainly been top-of-mind for readers. Phil Robertson’s Jesus Politics: How to Win Back the Soul Of America (Thomas Nelson) shot past all the bestselling Christian relationship and personal growth books and devotionals to #1 status on August's religion nonfiction list.
This is the fourth book by Robertson, the star of Duck Dynasty – the reality TV show about a Louisiana family of conservative evangelical Christians who make products for duck hunters. The publisher describes Jesus Politics as a “manifesto, showing us how to do good by King Jesus, bringing the kingdom of heaven to our homes, neighborhoods, churches, communities, and country.” In 2018, Robertson turned a critical review of his last book, The Theft of America’s Soul: Blowing the Lid off the Lies That Are Destroying Our Country, into a promotion bonanza on Christian media.
The heart of the top-10 list, however, remains books of spiritual comfort, inspiration, and ideas for peace at home and at heart in a time of turmoil. Indeed, buyers reached back to a 2014 title to bring Paul David Tripp’s New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Crossway) on to the list in the #9 spot.
Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head (WaterBrook) continues as #2 followed by The Prayer Journal for Women (PCG) by Shannon Roberts at #3. Lysa TerKuerst‘s encouraging support in It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way (Thomas Nelson) stayed in the #4 perch while Michael Todd’s Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex, #1 for two months, shifted to #5.
Longtime favorite Jesus Calling (Thomas Nelson) by Sarah Young stands at #6. Henry Cloud’s Boundaries Updated and Expanded (Zondervan) moved up a notch to #7. The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan (IVP) holds #8. Rachel Hollis’ Girl Wash Your Face (Thomas Nelson) at #10 hangs on for two years on the bestseller list.)
The only first-timer on top fiction list was Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason (Revel), released August 4 and jumping straight to #6 after Karen Kingsbury’s #5 Someone Like You (Atria). Otherwise, buyers continued in August as they did in July by choosing tried-and-true authors such as Francine Rivers — Redeeming Love (Multnomah) at #1, The Masterpiece at #7 and The Lineage of Grace at #8 (both Tyndale) — and mystery and prophecy author Jonathan Cahn with Frontline’s The Oracle at #3, The Harbinger at #4 and The Book of Mysteries at #10.
C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce (HarperOne), which stood at #7 in July popped up to #2 in August while the ever-present The Shack (Windblown Media) from William P. Young shifted down to #9.
