Eric Metaxas may be best known for his biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, but he's also devoted much of his work to making Christian faith winsome and accessible--in his Socrates in the City lecture series and in books like Everything You Wanted to Know about God (But Were Afraid to Ask). Here he lists the 5 best books for nonbelievers.

Joseph Loconte (Thomas Nelson)

Was there ever a more compelling writer than Loconte, who teaches history here in NYC? In The Searchers, he takes the familiar Road to Emmaus story and opens it up in fascinating ways you never thought possible. Along the way, he shows the infinite difference between phony religiosity and real faith in that Mysterious Stranger who appeared to the two pilgrims on that lonely road of grief. What's the Aramaic for "wow"?

Rod Dreher (Grand Central Publishing)

Journalist Dreher shares the tremendously poignant story of returning to rural Louisiana to be near his 40-year-old sister, dying of cancer. He is so powerfully affected by the faith and grace around her that he and his family decide to stay. Forever. As New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote, Dreher and his wife "decided to accept the limitations of small-town life in exchange for the privilege of being part of a community."

Susan E. Isaacs (FaithWords)

If it's funny you want, look no further. Isaacs's true story of looking for God and a husband--not necessarily in that order--is utterly hilarious. The kooky premise is that Isaacs takes God to couples counseling. What follows is both spectacularly funny and searingly honest. Anyone who has ever wondered why faith can be so difficult, or why so many Christians seem to be positively kuh-razy, could hardly find a better companion for their own journeys.