The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has announced that three IVP titles are among the finalists for the 2023 Christian Book Award® program.

The IVP finalists include the following:

Christian Living

The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community by Curt Thompson

Psychiatrist Curt Thompson suggests that underneath all our longings is the desire to be known—and what’s more, that this fundamental yearning manifests itself in our deep need to make things of beauty, revealing who we are to others. Desire and beauty go hand in hand.

“In his previous books, The Soul of Shame and Anatomy of the Soul, Curt Thompson integrated neuroscience and theology seamlessly, cheering us on in a hopeful, unhurried journey toward healing,” said singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken. “In Curt’s new book, The Soul of Desire, he brings it all back to the start, setting us right in the path of God’s beauty. With the skillfulness of a therapist and the earnestness of an evangelist, Curt Thompson implores us to see how God desires for us to create beauty in the context of confessional community—that our lives would be authentically generative, like works of art.”

Faith and Culture

The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism by Paul D. Miller

Paul D. Miller, a Christian scholar, political theorist, veteran, and former White House staffer, provides a detailed portrait of—and case against—Christian nationalism. Building on his practical expertise not only in the archives and classroom but also in public service, Miller unravels this ideology’s historical importance, its key tenets, and its political, cultural, and spiritual implications.

Russell Moore, editor in chief for Christianity Today, said, “I can think of no one more qualified to speak to the pressing issue of Christian nationalism than Paul Miller. Despite the bleak subject, this book is full of confidence, conviction, and hope. Liberal democracy matters. The kingdom of God matters more. Those who care about either or both should read this work.”

Ministry Resources

Road to Flourishing: Eight Keys to Boost Employee Engagement and Well-Being by Al Lopus

If you regularly ponder and discuss your organization’s culture or you have never given it much thought, you will benefit from the principles Al shares in this book,” said Peter Greer, president and CEO of HOPE International. “In its pages, you will meet leaders who are actively shaping workplace culture. Whether you work within the nonprofit or for-profit sector, you will gain a greater awareness of your organization’s needs and how to build a vibrant culture and an engaged team. Al shares stories from some of the countless organizations the institute has helped on the path to flourishing, and implementing his advice will help yours too.”

Lopus, cofounder and CEO of Best Christian Workplaces Institute, has studied hundreds of organizations to discover eight key drivers in companies with healthy culture and engaged employees. He gathers best practices from across a range of companies and ministries to demonstrate how people at all levels can work together to accomplish work that matters. Principles and real-life examples provide concrete ways that organizations can flourish by building fantastic teams, cultivating life-giving work, attracting and retaining outstanding talent, and much more.

The Christian Book Award® program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards program in the religious publishing industry. Finalists and winners are selected in twelve categories. The winners will be revealed and finalists/winners celebrated at an awards celebration held in conjunction with the ECPA Leadership Summit in Nashville on May 9.

For a complete list of IVP award-winning titles, visit www.ivpress.com/award-winners.