The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just

Robbie Castleman Why did I love this book?

Tim Keller’s Generous Justice walks through Scripture from Genesis to Jesus, from the early church to the new heaven and new earth of the Revelation, and help bridge the gap between “believing the right things” to “doing the right things”.

Keller laments the bifurcation of the Gospel that marks Christian communities, especially in the West. He notes that too many congregations who pride themselves on “the authority of Scripture” are often lax on the call to do the work of justice that is very clear in Scripture.

He notes, too, that congregations that take great pride in how they welcome, include, and serve others often treat Scripture like a buffet table, picking and choosing what they like, but ignore the unique and overriding authority of God’s word that, too is very clear in Scripture.

Keller’s book is steeped in Scripture and is a good book to read because that is what Keller does in his book about living what we actually believe based on God’s word. 

I was reading Tim Keller’s Generous Justice when I learned that this faithful pastor died.  On May 19th, 2023 in New York City Tim’s earthly work for Christ Jesus, the Church, and the congregation he founded in 1989 came to an end.

But through his many books, his voice and vision, his witness to the Gospel of Jesus and the many ministries he modeled and encouraged to serve the outcasts, the poor, the prisoner, the lost—it’s a long list—will go on bearing “fruit that will last” (John 15:16).

Tim’s life and this book help put the truth of the Gospel and the work of the Gospel where they belong: together.  

By Timothy Keller,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Renowned pastor and bestselling author of The Prodigal Prophet Timothy Keller shares his most provocative and illuminating message yet. 

It is commonly thought in secular society that the Bible is one of the greatest hindrances to doing justice. Isn’t it full of regressive views? Didn’t it condone slavery? Why look to the Bible for guidance on how to have a more just society? But Timothy Keller challenges these preconceived beliefs and presents the Bible as a fundamental source for promoting justice and compassion for those in need. In Generous Justice, he explores a life of justice empowered by an experience…


When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of A Patchwork Planet

Robbie Castleman Why did I love this book?

This book has a few quirky characters that are flat-out hilarious and kept surprising me as I turned the pages.

Bottom line it’s a book about a man who thinks he was made for a clearance sale—where everything nobody wanted to buy ends up. But he’s also the most valuable person, in a way he doesn’t see, in every room he walks into, every person he follows, haunts, and helps.

I liked the book because it was funny as well as a worthwhile reminder that truth and grace are meant to be partnered.  Sometimes grace opens the door for truth and sometimes grace opens the door for truth. This book made me laugh a lot, and pray more for a few quirky people I know and don’t appreciate like I should.

By Anne Tyler,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK •NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author tells the story of a lovable loser who's trying to get his life in order.

Barnaby Gaitlin has been in trouble ever since adolescence. He had this habit of breaking into other people's houses. It wasn't the big loot he was after, like his teenage cohorts. It was just that he liked to read other people's mail, pore over their family photo albums, and appropriate a few of their precious mementos.

But for eleven years now, he's been working steadily for Rent-a-Back, renting his…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of In The Shadow Of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History

Robbie Castleman Why did I love this book?

In the Shadow of Statues was written by Mitch Landrieu, the mayor of New Orleans—and whose father, Moon Landrieu, was the mayor of New Orleans when I lived there. 

It’s a book about the history of segregation, injustice, and ill-tempered pride as well as a book about congregation, justice, and well-done kindness. It’s a book about American history written in a way that does not reek with blame or betterment. 

Landrieu’s writing style doesn’t preach and neither does it polarize. It’s full of wisdom and humility written by a man in politics that actually served the city he grew up in and loved. This book helped me take a deep breath and hope that politics can be better than it often is.

The book offers truthful dialogue between folks who disagree and shows a way, not just to advance the job of racial reconciliation, but to just get along with each other day to day as neighbors. I lived in New Orleans for 16 years and this book made me homesick, not just for the great food, but for the Kingdom to come when God’s will is “done on earth as it is in heaven”.

By Mitch Landrieu,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked In The Shadow Of Statues as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The New Orleans mayor who removed the Confederate statues confronts the racism that shapes us and argues for white America to reckon with its past. A passionate, personal, urgent book from the man who sparked a national debate.

"There is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence for it." When Mitch Landrieu addressed the people of New Orleans in May 2017 about his decision to take down four Confederate monuments, including the statue of Robert E. Lee, he struck a nerve nationally, and his speech has now been heard or seen by millions across the country. In his first…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Interpreting the God-Breathed Word: How to Read and Study the Bible

By Robbie Castleman,

Book cover of Interpreting the God-Breathed Word: How to Read and Study the Bible

What is my book about?

This book was written to help students and laypersons dig deeper into God’s word with discipline and detail. The book also helps believers have a thoughtful answer to the question that many people ask, “What does it mean that the Bible is the ‘word of God’?” The book is very helpful for pastors and Christian Education leaders to use in Sunday school and small groups—every chapter ends with practice examples focused on the theme for that chapter. The book is only 132 pages, with 6 chapters, a Conclusion, both Scripture and Subject indexes, and an appendix for “Growing a Library” for good resources for further study in the Scripture. From a pastor’s school in Zambia to Bible studies, The God-Breathed Word helps equip believers to be disciples that make disciples.

Book cover of Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just
Book cover of A Patchwork Planet
Book cover of In The Shadow Of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,586

readers submitted
so far, will you?