C.S Lewis writes in Undeceptions, “If one has to choose between reading the new books and reading the old, one must choose the old: not because they are necessarily better but because they contain precisely those truths of which our own age is neglectful.” Here are ten favorite and recommended books from 2023.

1. The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul – Sproul’s brilliance lies in his deep understanding of philosophy combined with a profound explanation of deep theological truths accessible to all readers. He addresses our tendency to practically confuse justification and sanctification while pointing to the goodness of God in salvation.  
2. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien – The case can be made for this as the best novel of all time. Tolkien is a master of setting, character, and the clash of good vs. evil in plot development. Worth reading every few years. While the movies are stellar, the book is better.
3. Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? Thomas Sowell – Sowell, a giant in the areas of social politics, race, and economics is a much-needed voice amid the topsy-turvy craziness today. “Groups with a demonstrable history of being discriminated against have, in many countries and in many periods of history, had higher incomes, better educational performance, and more “representation” in high-level positions than those doing the discriminating.”
4. Undeceptions, C.S. Lewis –Lewis’s wit, intelligence, and humor are on full display throughout a wide variety of topics, including personal self-improvement, modern Bible translations, the death penalty, work and prayer, reading old books, and Christmas.
5. On the Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis – The author’s strong Catholic and ascetic worldview should be considered, but nevertheless his advice to Christians is much needed as we seek to cultivate humility, graciousness, and temperate spirits.
6. What an Owl Knows, Jennifer Ackerman –A bird expert, Ackerman details the differences as well as the commonalities between species. Fascinating and enlightening for every lover of animals. Once you get past her view of naturalism as religion, much to love in this book.
7. The Book that Made Your World, Vishal Mangalwadi – Mangalwadi is more historian and cultural critic than theologian. He focuses on cultural developments that flow from the Bible: societies that tether ideas and practices in the Bible breed life, freedom, and human flourishing; societies that shackle their people in slavery, corruption, and castes lead to poverty and despair.  
8. Climbing Parnassus, Tracy Lee Simmons – By tracing the thinking of the ancients (Herodotus, Erasmus, Aquinas), the founding fathers (especially Adams and Jefferson) and more modern thinkers (T.S. Eliot and C.S. Lewis), Simmons advocates for a return to the teaching of Greek and Latin.
9. The Phantom Tollbooth, Julius Lester – A fantastical book: a mixture of fantasy (like Narnia for the time travel and the sojourn to a different world); whimsy (like Alice in Wonderland for the crazy characters throughout the journey); and creativity (like The Twenty-One Balloons for all the zany and backwards inventions). Children’s literature like this is great fun for every age.
10. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi – Bugliosi examines why we have such a penchant for wanting to believe in conspiracy theories. As he traces the crime and all the events leading up to it and the aftermath, he concludes with about twenty reasons that Oswald acted alone and why conspiracy theorists have it wrong.

Ryan has served as headmaster at Providence for nearly two decades, and prior to joining Providence, he taught sixth grade..