As a christian I read Josh McDowel's Evidence that Demands a Verdict as well as the skeptics version The Jury is In
I've also read his More Than a Carpenter
Lee Strobel's Case for Christ
Reasonable Faith by William Craig
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
There are several more but they all tend to run together over the years.
As far as books to recommend, I stopped doing that a couple years ago. First, they are rarely ever read and second, it's pointless if you aren't open minded. I only read them as a Christian because I was curious and probably had some questions that I wasn't getting very good answers on. Then, as an agnostic because I was concerned I may have made a mistake that I would pay for eternally and I wanted to be sure. Had someone recommended them to be when I was younger or "strong in the faith" , I would have also blown them off or read them with a bias that would allow me to discount the information quite easily. But if someone asks me how I went from being a very committed christian to a non believer, I point them to a book by Dan Barker called Losing Faith in Faith and suggest they read that, as he explains it much better than I do. I would also warn them that Barker writes with a chip on his shoulder in that book and pulls no punches which can be a turn off, but the general message is similar to my story.
I remember my brother, who is a very active christian and actually walks to walk saw that particular book on my coffee table a few years ago. He picked it up and read the back cover. He then tossed it back on the table and stated "Well, that books full of crap, he says miracles don't happen and I know they do". So someone like him reading that book would be a complete waste of time.
I suppose when a believer has truly experienced the Holy Spirit in their life and that experience has truly changed their life in a wonderful way reading entire volumes on why God doesn't exist isn't helpful in anyway (so I'd agree with you). Believers are called to act and represent Christ while nonbelievers are not (that's the primary disconnect). Now, reading books authorred by aths & ags can be a great way to understand the opposing view, but for the believer that has experienced the risen Christ it won't give them a reason to turn from their faith. It's a unique position for those folks. I've known many folks that call themselves Christians, but never lived out their faith....never represented Christ....never shared with others. Later in life they walk away from their faith and tell others what a waste faith in Christ was. Faith in Christ is no easy business, if it was "everyone would do it". Some say, "it takes more faith to be an atheist than it does to be a Christian". I respectfully disagree...our lives can easily be lived without Christ or any Christian influence. The vast majority in the world support the nonbelievers' perspective....it's quite easy to join the majority. It's much more challenging to have faith in Christ, but when you truly engage in your faith, when you truly surrender, when you truly experience Christ it makes all the difference. Then the books telling you you're foolish really don't offer anything more than a brief chuckle, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth reading. I learn a ton from aths and ags. They give me things to consider and usually help me grow my faith as I seek answers to their questions....it's a funny situation (at least for me).
Josh McDowell I haven't read.
I've read most of Strobel's books (haven't read his Easter book...thinks that's all I haven't read).
I'm in the middle of "Reasonable Faith". Some of the mathematical proofs leave me a bit flat to be honest, but others parts are brilliant.
I've read the majority of Paul Copan's books (I think I've missed 2).
I've started "Mere Christianity", but was more engaged in "The Screwtape Letters".
I've read the bible which includes the works by the world's greatest apologist Paul LOL.
I've read numerous online articles.
I've read others short apolgetic books as well (RC Sproul, Billy Graham, etc...)
To be honest, I've glossed numerous ath and ag books and read many, many online articles. I listen to online debates (Aths/Ags v Chrisitian) all the time. I watch the Atheist Experience online all the time (based out of Austin, TX) lead by Matt Dillahunty. I've read David Hume. I watch Ath and Ag lectures. Personally I'd rather deep dive into a volume that will expand my faith, but get the cliffs notes version on the other or the 1-2 hour lecture or 30 minute online article that summarizes.