Bad Thoughts: A Preacher and a Shrink's Guide to Reclaiming Your Mind and Soul

by Judah Smith, Les Parrott

Overcome bad thoughts and discover lasting inner health that transforms your life and faith by the renewing of your mind.

Your thoughts don't have to control you. You can control your thoughts--if you know how. And that's exactly what Judah Smith (New York Times bestselling author and popular pastor) and Les Parrott (New York Times bestselling author and trusted psychologist) will teach you.

Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, the principles of Christian formation, and their unique relationship as therapist and client, Smith and Parrott give you a fresh, easy-to-understand, and highly practical guide to curbing your compulsive negativity and finding inner health that lasts.

In these pages, they dive into what they call the "Big 5"--the most commonly held self-destructive thoughts--revealing what they are, why they happen, and how you can overcome them. You'll be equipped

Let go of false guilt and discover the road to graceCure your disease to please and cultivate authentic relationshipsExtinguish self-doubt and rekindle your confidencePut pride in its place and embrace humilityQuit questioning your personal value and receive God's gift of love 

Smith brings the sermon. Parrott brings the science. Together, they're dedicated to helping you retrain your brain and refresh your spirit.

Genres: Christianity, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christian

Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Judah Smith and his wife, Chelsea, are the lead pastors of The City Church in Seattle, Washington. Judah is in high demand as a speaker, both in the United States and abroad. Judah and Chelsea have three children: Zion, Eliott, and Grace.

Reviews

[Ken Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me between the eyes. Again and again. Right from the Introduction onward, it kept feeling incredibly relevant to me. I can relate strongly with four out of five of the self-destructive thought patterns addressed in this book, along with the negative self-talk that goes along with them.

Dr. Les Parrott, the psychologist who did most of the writing for this book, has a way of putting things plainly, but also quite strikingly so that his statements get your attention. At times, I felt like I was in a counseling session with him. And what's even better is that he has provided really practical assessments and exercises to do in each chapter so that a reader can see where their inner dialogue is harming them and what to do about it.

This book is both extremely provocative and helpful, and I highly recommend it.

[Meredith Beam · Rating 4 out of 5]

listened to the audio! this was shorter than I expected but was a nice 2 day listen.
main takeaways: I can't believe everything I think.
My thinking defines my life.
I have a Lot to unlearn.
and lastly, I chose to name my 'inner critic' Judy and have decided she's an unreliable and disgruntled source of information.

[Francisco Magarino · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a lot of truth in this one. Forces you to reflect. I thought the practical applications were slightly lacking in my opinion. And it definitely could have been summed up in a sermon. But overall very poignant.

[Tori Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Extraordinarily practical and on the nose with the timeliness and relevance. This book has its pulse on the culture and I will definitely come back to it and reference in the future. Fantastic resource!

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Bad Thoughts: A Preacher and a Shrink’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Mind and Soul by Judah Smith & Les Parrott
Rating: 4.2/5

Initial Impressions
This collaborative guide merges pastoral wisdom with psychological science to tackle the pervasive issue of negative self-talk. Smith’s theological perspective and Parrott’s clinical expertise create a balanced approach, offering both spiritual reframing and actionable cognitive strategies. The Big 5 framework (e.g., false guilt, people-pleasing) provides a clear structure, though the blend of neuroscience and scripture may polarize readers outside evangelical circles.

Emotional Resonance & Reactions
As someone prone to self-doubt, I found the chapter focused on extinguishing self-doubt particularly validating. The authors’ dual voices—Smith’s empathetic preaching and Parrott’s data-driven insights—complemented each other well, though the transitions between sermon-like exhortations and therapy-speak occasionally jarred. The disease to please section resonated deeply, with its emphasis on boundary-setting as an act of faith. However, some analogies (e.g., pride as a weed) felt oversimplified for complex emotional struggles.

Strengths
-Integrated Approach: Faith and science coexist organically, avoiding the pitfalls of overly prescriptive or secularized self-help.
-Practical Tools: Thought replacement exercises and reflection questions are concrete and adaptable.
-Relatable Tone: Casual anecdotes (e.g., Smith’s therapy sessions with Parrott) humanize the concepts.

Constructive Criticism
-Niche Appeal: Heavy Christian framing (e.g., receiving God’s love) limits accessibility for non-religious readers.
-Depth on Neuroscience: Promised cutting-edge research surfaces only briefly; deeper dives would bolster credibility.
-Repetition: Some concepts recur verbatim across chapters, diluting their impact.

Final Verdict
Bad Thoughts succeeds as a compassionate, faith-anchored manual for mental renewal—best suited for Christian audiences seeking to align cognitive health with spiritual growth. While its scientific promises feel underexplored, the book’s heart lies in its relatable vulnerability and practical grace.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy.

Rating: 4.2/5 (A solid hybrid of pulpit and therapy couch, with room for broader inclusivity.)

[Otis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read several of Dr Parrott books. My wife and I are SYMBIS certified and Marriage Mentors. I had to privilege of gleaming from Pastor Judah Smith from conferences in the past. And I must say I wasn’t ready for the powerful combination of these two intellectuals spirit filled godly minds slam dunking this topic. I was inspired encouraged invigorated from this connection. This book is truly amazing work of art.

The way they interacted with each other came across loud and clear throughout the book. Now my suggestion would be to cream a lesson plan for RightNow media platform. That would be amazing and would help me and other go deeper into this subject setting people free from strongholds. Highly recommend investing into the book.

[Jason Baugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE me some Judah Smith. There is some good content in this book, but I would view it as an addition to a library of books on mental health rather than a one-stop-shop. This book focuses on self-awareness and seeing your personal blind spots.

Pastor Judah’s personal notes, pictures, and thoughts in the margins is a clever idea and made it feel like I was hanging out with him. His approachability and relatability are part of what makes him great. Honestly, I could’ve used more core content from him.

Any investment in your mental health is always a good choice, especially from a Biblical perspective.

[Chad Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better books I’ve read on controlling your inner dialogue. It does what other books have failed to do, which is categorize the types of thoughts most people have and directly tackle that category head on. The books feels much more relatable and personal this way. Having a preacher bring the biblical angle to this, especially with Gods grace, was an incredible part of the structure. I thoroughly enjoyed this and find it to be extremely beneficial.

[Nicole Laet · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really loved this book! there was a lot of truth to it that i hadn’t realized before. it’s crazy how our subconscious can bring us down simply because we feed the lies that it tells us. will definitely work on becoming more aware of my thoughts and trying to break the cycles of bad thoughts in my life.

[Billy Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and inspiring read, made easier by the friendly and warm writing style mixed with captivating doodles by the authors!

A blending of Bible and psychology to emphasize on the value and importance of thoughts in living the Christian life!

Highly recommend!

[Brock Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read along while the audiobook played. Dr. Parrott and Judah read together. It made it a little confusing and sometimes cheesy. I loved the content though. The audiobook just sounded like a rehearsed podcast. Get the book and read it yourself. I would pass on this audiobook though.

[Cynthia De La O · Rating 4 out of 5]

the perfect mix of science and biblical references to back up their claims. i enjoyed this book and got great takeaways that i hope will help me stop thinking so negatively

[Meredith Ryburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear. Easy to read. Helpful.

[Amanda]

I loved this. As someone who is exploring their faith and continuously stuck in their own head, this had a nice balance of faith and science

[Allie Slocum · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOOOOO good - will need to read over and over...

[Jessica Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with a lot of food for thought! Caused me to do deep introspection yet an easy and quick read!

[Jon Major · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that makes you think. I love the self assessment test and the questions to help us push past the thoughts. I highly recommend this.

[Brooke Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly wished this was longer lol