Top 10 Reads of 2023

I read less books “for me” this year due to the amount of reading I had in my doctoral program. As I head into 2024, here are some of my favorite reads from this past year. They impacted me in different ways and degrees, but I thoroughly enjoyed each one.

1. Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen

After Tim Keller died this past May, I wrote a post about the ways he has influenced me over the years. This book by Collin Hansen was timely and encouraging as I considered the impact Keller’s ministry has had on my life.

2. The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Curt Thompson

My counselor recommended this book to me earlier this year. Thompson’s medical research regarding the way shame impacts the brain was particularly insightful and something I hadn’t considered previously.

3. The Lord of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and Host by David Gibson

I absolutely love Gibson’s book on Ecclesiastes, Living Life Backward, and couldn’t wait to pick up The Lord of Psalm 23. This book was beautiful. You’ll spend about 150 pages meditating on some of the most famous words in Scripture. Gibson reminds you of old truths and leaves you with plenty of fresh insights. This is a great book to put on your list for 2024.

4. Surprised by Jesus: Subversive Grace in the Four Gospels by Dane Ortlund

I liked Surprised by Jesus as much as (or maybe more than!) Gentle and Lowly. If you want to take a deeper look at it, check out my book review over at Books at a Glance.

5. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter

I read a book about Tolkien every year—the creator of Middle Earth always leaves me inspired. It’s more thorough than Wyatt North’s biography but still very manageable at 260 pages.

6. The Ache for Meaning: How the Temptations of Christ Reveal Who We Are and What We're Seeking by Tommy Brown

Will I have enough? Am I enough? Do I matter?

These are three big questions The Ache for Meaning answers. I heard about this book from an interview with Tommy Brown on the Pastor Writer Podcast. Brown shows how the temptations of Christ reveal the deepest parts of us.

7. The Epic Story of the Bible: How to Read and Understand God's Word by Greg Gilbert

This is a great introductory book if you are wanting to grow in your understanding of biblical theology. For a deeper look at The Epic Story of the Bible, check out my book review over at Books at a Glance.

8. Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim Challies

Tim Challies has written an incredible book recounting the grief he walked through following the death of his son Nick in 2020. l would encourage you to listen to Tim’s interview on The Afterward Podcast and then read Seasons of Sorrow slowly. It’s deeply moving.

9. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

I read the Great Divorce for the first time about fifteen years ago. It was as fascinating to me now as it was then. This is a must-read by Lewis.

10. The Secret Place of Thunder: Trading Our Need to Be Noticed for a Hidden Life with Christ by John Starke

The Secret Place of Thunder made it on several best book lists this year. Starke unpacks the various dangers associated with performative individualism. In our age of Instagram and selfies it was a refreshing reminder of where true joy comes from.

Honorable Mention: The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most by Craig Groeschel

I typically read at least one book every year that has something to do with productivity, habits, or personal transformation. In The Power to Change, Groeschel harnesses insights from James Clear’s Atomic Habits. This is a great book to read as you think through the habits you want to start/stop entering the new year.