Daniel Seabaugh

Like many bloggers, I post a list of my favorite books each year. I try to read broadly but the genres typically include fiction, nonfiction, biography, memoir, and fantasy.

Here’s the list of my ten favorite books of 2023.

1. Freedom of Simplicity

Foster’s Celebration of Discipline made my list last year. In it, he spent a chapter discussing simplicity. It was my favorite chapter. This book expands on those themes.

2. All the Light We Cannot See

There’s a reason this book won the Pulitzer Prize. It’s a great piece of historical fiction, full of love, bravery, war, greed, and other gripping themes. It’s not particularly suspenseful, but the storytelling makes you fall in love with its characters and the world they inhabit.

3. The Prodigal Prophet

I read four books by Keller this year. I could’ve chosen them all. The Prodigal Prophet, however, blew my mind. I will never read Jonah the same way again.

4. Out of Solitude

Nouwen was the master at sharing truth concisely and graciously. I plan on returning to this one.

5. Love Thy Body

We live in a world with low respect for the body and high respect for the self. This book tells us how we got here.

6. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

I’m finally digging into the world of Harry Potter. The Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite so far. It’s simply superb.

7. On Writing Well

If my writing improves, it will be largely due to this book. I can’t recommend it enough. I appreciated the section on cutting unnecessary words.

8. The Boys in the Boat

Simply amazing! This book produced all the feels. I’m grateful the story was recorded. As with so many others from the greatest generation, this one is chock-full of grit and courage. These men and women lived life fully despite the challenges of their day.

The movie releases on Christmas. I hope to see it.

9. The Pursuit of Holiness

Jerry Bridges is a masterful teacher. This book inspired my forthcoming book on holiness.

10. The Death of Ivan Ilyich

I read this short story in college and loved it. It’s better than I remember.

HONORABLE MENTION

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

There were things I really loved about this book. Peterson devotes a chapter to each of the songs of ascents found in Psalms 120-134. Though I loved much of it, a few parts felt like filler. All in all, it’s a worthwhile read.

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