James

If you like straight talk, you will love James. He was the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem. His letter is punchy and authoritative, sounding very much like the Sermon on the Mount. James is famous for a controversial statement that seems to contradict Paul: "Faith without works is dead." But he is not fighting Paul; he is fighting lazy religion.

He argues that real belief will naturally produce a changed life. He tackles practical topics like controlling your tongue, not favoring rich people over the poor, and having patience in suffering. James teaches us how to behave during trials, but the next author teaches us how to survive when those trials turn into intense persecution in 1 Peter.