A debut book by John Lovell— a former Army Ranger and Christian missionary who calls himself the Warrior Poet whose John Lovell Show on YouTube and Warrior Poet Society website claims over 100 million views on social media—has blasted to the top of July's nonfiction religion bestseller list. The Warrior Poet Way: A Guide to Living Free and Dying Well (Sentinel) released July 11, promises it will guide "all men to be what they truly are. Both dangerous and good. Lovers and fighters. Lions and lambs" by steering them through "each mental and physical change they must make to embody the ancient spirit of a real man."
Next comes a gentler title with powerhouse sales, Sarah Young's Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. The 2004 devotional launched a Jesus Calling suite of titles surpassing 45 million in sales for Harper Collins Christian Publishing's Thomas Nelson division. Behind that is an ode to spiritual perseverance, Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You A Million Reasons to Walk Away (David C. Cook) by Natalie Runion, a worship leader, songwriter, and speaker. The book is titled after her ministry to serve people who work in local churches, who say "Yes" to Jesus and no to church politics, ladder climbing, or burnout.
The heart of the Top Ten beats for familiar titles: #4 Good Boundaries and Good Byes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are (Thomas Nelson) by Lysa TerKeurst; #5 Mere Christianity (HarperOne) by C.S. Lewis; #6 The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life (Thomas Nelson) by John Bevere; #7 The Artist's Way 30th Anniversary Edition (Tarcher-Perigee) by Julia Cameron; #8 Disruptive Thinking: A Daring Strategy to Change How We Live, Lead, and Love (Faith Words) by T. D. Jakes; #9 The Return of the Gods (Frontline) by Jonathan Cahn; and #10 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurray: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive In the Chaos of the Modern World (WaterBrook) by John Mark Comer.
In fiction, only two debut titles made the bestsellers list: #4 Break of Day, by romance/suspense bestselling author Colleen Coble for Thomas Nelson, and #7, Amish Fugitive by Shelley Shepard Gray, the latest entry in Harlequin Books Inspirational Cold Case Collection.
The list leads with Reese's Book Club pick, Wrong Place Wrong Time (William Morrow) by Gillian McAllister and the Top Ten rounds out with #2 The Greatest Salesman in the World (Bantam) by Og Mandino; #3 The Stranger in the Lifeboat (Harper Paperbacks) by Mitch Albom; #5 Redeeming Love (Multnomah) by Francine Rivers; #6 The Great Divorce (HarperOne) by C.S. Lewis; #8 The Shack (Windblown Media) by William P. Young; #9 It Happened One Week and She Dreamed of A Cowboy (Harlequin) by Joann Ross; and Hunted at the Hideaway (Harlequin) by Jennifer Brown.
