If you want a quick list of recommendations, here you go:

#1 'Dictionary of Biblical Imagery' ed. Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, Tremper Longman III. It's deep, wide and enriching. If I was stuck on a desert island, this is the book I would want with me. I use if for every sermon I preach and every retreat day I lead. And I often use it for my own reflective times of prayer and study. It's great because it makes sure that I place things in the bigger context of the themes and ideas found across the whole of the biblical narrative. 

#2 'Strengthening the Soul of Leadership' by Ruth Haley Barton. It's realistic, restorative and hope-inspiring. Having spent years reading books on rest and 'doing less' and being left with simply feeling guilty, this book actually helped me change. I really appreciated that it was written by someone who 'got it' in terms of the challenges on church leadership and making space for God. 

#3 'Metamorph' by Kate Coleman. A breath of fresh air in terms of books on leadership.

#4 You're Only Human' by Kelly M. Kapic. Offers a theological understanding of embracing our limits as a good, God-given thing.

#5 'Getting Involved With God' by Ellen F. Davis: Knowledgeable, meaty and inspiring book on the Old Testament. The chapters on Abraham & Isaac, and on Ecclesiastes totally blew me away, in a good way. 

If you'd like to know about the spiritual discipline that led to these books, read further:

A couple of years ago I realised that nearly every book I read for preaching and leadership was by a white, western male leader who held a position of power (often in a large church or theological college in the USA or UK). Thus I was only learning from people with a narrow range of experience and insight, and I was buying into an unspoken narrative that only voices in that category had authority to shape my discipleship, preaching and leadership.  

I wanted a richer understanding that drew on a broader range of wisdom and experience. And thus I began the spiritual discipline I've nicknamed 'alternate reading': for every book I read by a white, male, western church leader or theologian from the evangelical fold, I make sure that the next book is by a female leader or theologian, or someone with a different heritage, or with a different church tradition.

And I have found a wealth of insight, understanding, wisdom and knowledge that has shaped me as a leader and preacher and disciple. Most importantly, it's enriching my love of God.

I'm still a work-in-progress on this, there's a wealth of voices and perspectives I have not yet given proper attention to. But the habit of 'alternate reading' is a principle that helps and keeps me attentive.