The Six Best Books I Read in 2023

Each year, I like to highlight my six favorite books of the year, so I will do that for you now. These six books are not in any particular order in terms of preference, but while reviewing the list of books I had read this year, the top six definitely jumped out. I have not read as much this year as I would have liked, but I did get through a wide variety of books. If you want to hear more about all the books I read, I would recommend signing up for my newsletter (at the bottom of this article), where I highlight my favorite three from each month, and I post about every book I read on my personal Facebook.

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18 by Joseph Loconte

I cannot believe I had never read this book before. It was incredibly popular and sold really well, but I guess I just never got around to it. However, as its title implies, this book highlights the impact that World War I had on the creation of two of the greatest fantasy series ever written. Studying both friendship and heroism might be more necessary than ever in our world of isolation and fear, so I certainly would recommend picking up this book. Even if you do not love Narnia or Middle-earth, I think there is value in learning what these men learned in wartime.

Human Rites: The Power of Rituals, Habits, and Sacraments by Dru Johnson

We all participate in rituals, but we don’t really think about why we do them. This is not just a religious statement, although it has a deeper significance for people who have dedicated their lives to being a part of a religion. Rituals are not inherently problematic but can become flimsy or turn dark. I can’t help but think of some of the vestiges of cultural Christianity that people display at Christmas but don’t care about Jesus the rest of the year; they are flimsy rituals. As a result, we need to consider why we do what we do and remind ourselves of their importance if we want them to sustain.

The Canceling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust and Threatens Us All—But There Is a Solution by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott

I am not the only person concerned when someone’s life gets ruined by a Facebook post they made when they were 15 years old. It may have been terrible, but I hope people can learn, realize their errors, apologize, and be forgiven. This book provides example after example of times when forgiveness is not the answer; cancellation is. Cancellation threatens free thought, free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and so much else. This is a very important book you must read if you share similar concerns. If you don’t share these concerns then you also must read it because you should share these concerns.

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung

Sometimes, we feel like God needs to write our next step in the clouds. Some people seem to receive direct directions from God, telling them every step they need to go. I have not experienced that personally, and this book is one of the few that seems to speak to people like me. He points out that sometimes you can do everything within your power to figure out what direction you ought to go, and sometimes the time comes when you must act. In fact, sometimes, by having to make that decision, that is exactly what God wants you to do. It is not that you lack faith or are not “Christian enough.” This book was comforting to me.

On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble

This book speaks powerfully to people who are living with mental illness. While I do not personally have that experience, this book stood out to me because it continually reaffirms that you matter and your life matters. There are so many forces that seem to dehumanize us, and there are so many things that can make life seem horrible. Noble continually reminds us that life is good and is indeed a gift. This is an important reminder for everyone, and I imagine that if you are struggling with some of the issues Noble is addressing within this book, it would likely be an encouragement to you as well.

Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time by Sheila Liming

You all know that I like to write about the importance of community and friends. This book reminds us that sometimes the best part about community cannot be structured. Sometimes, you need to get together with your friends and have downtime together. Because we tend to structure everything about our lives, including the time that we allow ourselves to enjoy other people, this book is a reminder that sometimes you just need to take the pressure off to get the full benefit of friendship.