The judge is Jesus, not God the Father. It is Jesus who sits upon the Great White Throne of majesty and gathers all the dead before Him. Deeds reveal the condition of the heart. Deeds reveal belief. All the deeds of mankind are preserved in God's great library.
Books are a symbol of the eternal record of our lives.
If John were receiving this vision today, the symbol would probably be videotape or computer disks rather than books. Only those whose names are in the book of life can do righteous deeds. Only the deeds of the righteous will survive the fire of judgment. All other deeds will be consumed to ashes. Only those acts that have been done by the power of the Spirit of God and done for the glory of God will remain.