There is a temptation in the modern age—where we can fill our ears and eyes with media at every spare moment—to over-due it. Too much of a good thing, after all, is a bad thing. I often struggle with this, because there is always another great book to read, another excellent movie to watch, and so forth. In light of that challenge, I appreciate lists and curators who can help us prioritize quality over quantity: sifting through the glut so not everyone has to.
To that end, here are my favorites in the genres I have time to prioritize: books, music, and movies. In case you’re wondering, I watch very little TV so don’t even pretend to know what’s “best” in that genre (but I did quite enjoy Jury Duty this year).
What were your favorites this year? Here are mine.
Favorite Books
There is no end to the number of great books there are to read, but time is limited (especially as a husband and father of three). Still, I managed to read 40 books this year, most of which I enjoyed. Below are my 15 favorite reads of the year (not necessarily released in 2023):
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty
How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key (read my full review)
Self-Made: Creating Our Identities from Da Vinci to the Kardashians by Tara Isabella Barton
Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson
The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America by Daniel Boorstin
Abundantly More: The Theological Promise of the Arts in a Reductionist World by Jeremy Begbie
The Toxic War on Masculinity by Nancy Pearcey
Curing Mad Truths: Medieval Wisdom for the Modern Age by Rémi Brague
Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon by Edward Dolnick
Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble
The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by Fred Sanders
The Secret Place of Thunder: Trading Our Need to Be Noticed for a Hidden Life with Christ by John Starke
10 Favorite Albums
For TGC I have a fuller recap of the year’s best Christian music, but below is a list of my favorite albums overall—as well as my five favorite EPs—released in 2023.
Jon Guerra, Ordinary Ways
Explosions in the Sky, End
Caroline Cobb, Psalms
Chris Renzema, Manna Pt. 1
Victory, Glory Hour
FLAME, 1517 Music, Freedom Lessons
Skye Peterson, Where the Winter Was
sxxnt. and Brother Joe, Hymns in High Fidelity
Abraham Alexander, SEA/SONS
The Arcadian Wild, Welcome
5 Favorite EPs
The Antlers, Need Nothing
CityAlight, Simple Songs for Young and Old
Manchester Orchestra, The Valley of Vision
The Corner Room, The Words of Jesus, Vol. 1
Jess Ray, born again b-sides
20 Favorite Movies
I saw 60 movies in 2023, and while I generally felt it was a year of mediocre quality, there were some diamonds in the rough. Here are my favorites.
Godzilla Minus One
The Eight Mountains
The Zone of Interest
Killers of the Flower Moon
Past Lives
Living
Godland
Dreamin’ Wild
The Boys in the Boat
The Integrity of Joseph Chambers
The Holdovers
Tori and Lokita
Wonka
Surprised by Oxford
Freedom’s Path
Oppenheimer
Priscilla
LOLA
You Hurt My Feelings
A Thousand and One
Read my “best movies” article (including my favorite documentaries) at The Gospel Coalition. As always, use discernment in what you choose to watch and listen to. Some movies and albums listed above contain objectionable content.