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The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

We've asked 1,608 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads of the year.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of TomorrowMind: Thrive at Work with Resilience, Creativity and Connection, Now and in an Uncertain Future

Joey Havens Why did I love this book?

Tomorrowmind is such a great read because it helped me understand how fast our world is changing compared to the Industrial Revolution.

The authors go into great detail to explain what mindsets will need to thrive in an exponential world. Thriving in the future will require resilience, meaning, connection, anticipation, and creativity.  

By Gabriella Rosen Kellerman, Martin Seligman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked TomorrowMind as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A future-proof guide to rehumanising the workplace in order to bring about greater personal success and corporate productivity, from two global authorities in workplace mental health.

In recent years, workplace toxicity, industry volatility, employee isolation and technology-driven change have threatened the psychological well-being of employees. The rise of quiet quitting has shown that when we can't flourish at work, both personal success and corporate productivity suffer.

As we sit on the cusp of some of the most turbulent economic changes in history many of us wonder if we can not only survive but flourish in our careers.

Based on the…


My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Terminal List

Joey Havens Why did I love this book?

I literally could not stop listening to this book as it is so engaging and riveting with a classic hero storyline. 

Navy Seal James Reece has nothing to live for when he discovers sinister forces were behind the tragedies in his life. This book is so powerful, so real, that I was drawn into the story as if I was right there with James Reece. 

I love this book because, in the end, good defeats evil, and you are repeatedly held in suspense. The character and the action leap off the pages to bring you into James Reece’s world.

By Jack Carr,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked The Terminal List as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

**SOON TO BE A TV SERIES STARRING CHRIS PRATT**

'With a particular line in authentic tradecraft, this fabulously unrelenting thrill-ride was a struggle to put down' Mark Dawson, bestselling author of The Cleaner

James Reece has nothing to live for and everything to kill for in the debut thriller from former Navy SEAL Jack Carr, perfect for fans of Lee Child and David Baldacci.

On deployment in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Commander James Reece's entire team is killed in a catastrophic ambush. But the deaths don't stop there, and Reece soon discovers that this was not an act of war by a…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Savage Son

Joey Havens Why did I love this book?

Savage Son is book five in the James Reece series. I loved this book because I fell in love with the main character, James Reece. He is an America’s hero in every way imaginable. I recommend you read the first four books in this series, as they help build the storyline for Savage Son. 

This book has an evil person in the storyline that you simply want to reach in and choke him to death. Suspense from start to finish.  

By Jack Carr,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Savage Son as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

**NOW AN AMAZON PRIME TV SERIES STARRING CHRIS PRATT**

'A propulsive and compulsive series. Jack Carr's James Reece is the kind of guy you'd want to have in your corner. A suspenseful and exhilarating thrill-ride. Jack Carr is the real deal' Andy McNab

Deep in the wilds of Siberia, a woman is on the run, pursued by a man harboring secrets - a man intent on killing her.

Half a world away, James Reece is recovering from brain surgery in the Montana wilderness, slowly putting his life back together with the help of investigative journalist Katie Buranek and his longtime…


Plus, check out my book…

Leading with Significance: How to Create a Magnetic, People-First Culture

By Joey Havens,

Book cover of Leading with Significance: How to Create a Magnetic, People-First Culture

What is my book about?

Your journey to a magnetic culture starts by recognizing that good culture simply isn't enough to drive top performance. With uncertainty swirling around every corner in the world today, team members are reevaluating their workplaces and walking out as they look past hollow promises and perks that are mere temporary bandages.

People are searching for teams with purpose, a compelling vision, and a sense of belonging where they can pursue their full potential and live their lives to the fullest.

In Leading with Significance, Joey Havens breaks through the limiting barriers of common culture theory and shows, with great transparency, the real human emotions that elevate a culture to one that is genuine, enduring, and magnetic.