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What books does Timothy Keller recommend?
The Timothy Keller book recommendations gathered here belong to the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, who made his name articulating Christianity to skeptical urban audiences with intellectual depth. Eighteen titles are sourced from interviews, Gospel Coalition and Redeemer articles, his social accounts, and citations within his own books. Philosophy, history and psychology dominate, alongside works of culture and fiction. The book he never stops reading is Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings; when asked how often he has read it, he answers that he actually never stops and is always in it. C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity he calls very important to his development in college, and he holds up Ernest Becker's The Denial of Death as a book he refers to all the time. Keller was among the most prolific authors on the platform, with 17 of his own works here, including The Reason for God and The Meaning of Marriage.
Last updated March 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring / The Two Towers / The Return of the King
byJ.R.R. Tolkien
19541178 Pages(721,705)
“When people ask me how often I have read The Lord of the Rings, the answer is, I actually never stop. I'm always in it.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Tony Reinke Interview
Read by Charlie Kirk, Glenn Beck, Michael Knowles and 2 others
byC.S. Lewis
2001256 Pages“C.S. Lewis was very important to my development in college.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Gospel Relevance Article
Read by Timothy Keller
Justification
Two-Volume Set
byMichael Horton
2018928 Pages(166)
“I would go so far as to say this is the most important book written in a 100 years on justification.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: YouTube: Pandemic Reading List
Read by Timothy Keller
A Brief History of Thought
A Philosophical Guide to Living
byLuc Ferry
2011304 Pages“If you only read one book on culture, read this one.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: The Gospel Coalition Article
Read by Mark Manson, Eric Weinstein, Tai Lopez and 2 others
byErnest Becker
1973352 Pages“I refer to it all the time hoping to get people to read it.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Redeemer City to City Article
Read by Timothy Keller
Answering God
The Psalms as Tools for Prayer
byEugene Peterson
1991160 Pages(1,156)
“Peterson convinced me years ago I had to immerse myself deeply in the Psalms if I was going to know God.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: The Gospel Coalition Article
Read by Timothy Keller
The Wonderful Works of God
Instruction in the Christian Religion according to the Reformed Confession
byHerman Bavinck
2019695 Pages(743)
“A synthesis of [Reformed Dogmatics] written for college educated lay people... it is just terrific.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: YouTube: Pandemic Reading List
Read by Timothy Keller
byCharles Taylor
2007874 Pages“My favorite book this year [2014].”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Official Twitter Account
Read by Timothy Keller
Dynamics of Spiritual Life
An Evangelical Theology of Renewal
byRichard F. Lovelace
2020456 Pages“I would list just two books that I always recommend... [this is one of them].”
— Timothy Keller
Source: The Gospel Coalition Article
Read by Timothy Keller
How (Not) to Be Secular
Reading Charles Taylor
byJames K.A. Smith
2014152 Pages“Yes, It's a very subtle and sophisticated critique of secularism. Christians need it.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Official Twitter Account
Read by Timothy Keller
Jesus and the Eyewitnesses
The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony
byRichard Bauckham
2017704 Pages“A great book by a top scholar showing that the Gospels are based on eyewitness testimony.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Redeemer Report
Read by Timothy Keller
Letters of John Newton
With Biographical Sketches and Notes
byJohn Newton
2007416 Pages“My favorite... great devotional reading.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: YouTube: Pandemic Reading List
Read by Timothy Keller
The Myth of Religious Neutrality
An Essay on the Hidden Role of Religious Belief in Theories
byRoy A. Clouser
2005416 Pages“I think it is nearly professional malpractice for scholars to not understand a little about the role of faith and theories.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Hearts & Minds Books Review
Read by Timothy Keller
byAlasdair MacIntyre
1988422 Pages“No one has done a better job of explaining our current predicament over justice.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Gospel in Life Article
Read by Timothy Keller
The Return of the Prodigal Son
A Story of Homecoming
byHenri Nouwen
1992160 Pages“I am indebted to many sources... especially to Henri Nouwen's book.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Authored Book: The Prodigal God
Read by Timothy Keller
byJane Jacobs
1992458 PagesSource: Authored Book: Center Church
Read by Timothy Keller
The Resurrection of the Son of God
Christian Origins and the Question of God, Volume 3
byN.T. Wright
2003817 Pages“Cannot be bettered as a Biblical and historical foundation.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Authored Book: Hope in Times of Fear
Read by Paul Washer, John Piper, Timothy Keller and 1 others
The Valley of Vision
A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
byArthur G. Bennett
1975240 Pages“A wonderful resource for learning to pray from the heart.”
— Timothy Keller
Source: Authored Book: Prayer
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Timothy Keller recommend?
His 18 recommendations include Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, Charles Taylor's A Secular Age, Ernest Becker's The Denial of Death, and Luc Ferry's A Brief History of Thought.
What is Timothy Keller's favorite book?
Keller returned constantly to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, saying that when people ask how often he has read it, the answer is that he actually never stops and is always in it.
Where do Timothy Keller's book recommendations come from?
They are drawn from interviews such as Tony Reinke's, articles for The Gospel Coalition and Redeemer City to City, his official Twitter account, a pandemic reading list on YouTube, and books he cited within his own works.
Has Timothy Keller written any books?
Yes. Keller is one of the most prolific authors here, with 17 titles including The Reason for God, The Meaning of Marriage, Prayer, Counterfeit Gods, The Prodigal God, and Making Sense of God.
What genres did Timothy Keller read most?
His recommendations concentrate on philosophy and theology and on history, with a strong thread of psychology and human behavior and cultural criticism, plus fiction such as The Lord of the Rings.
All 18 Books Timothy Keller Has Recommended
- The Lord of the Rings · J.R.R. Tolkien
- Mere Christianity · C.S. Lewis
- Justification · Michael Horton
- A Brief History of Thought · Luc Ferry
- The Denial of Death · Ernest Becker
- Answering God · Eugene Peterson
- The Wonderful Works of God · Herman Bavinck
- A Secular Age · Charles Taylor
- Dynamics of Spiritual Life · Richard F. Lovelace
- How (Not) to Be Secular · James K.A. Smith
- Jesus and the Eyewitnesses · Richard Bauckham
- Letters of John Newton · John Newton
- The Myth of Religious Neutrality · Roy A. Clouser
- Whose Justice? Which Rationality? · Alasdair MacIntyre
- The Return of the Prodigal Son · Henri Nouwen
- The Death and Life of Great American Cities · Jane Jacobs
- The Resurrection of the Son of God · N.T. Wright
- The Valley of Vision · Arthur G. Bennett