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The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

We've asked 1,641 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads of the year.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Asylum

Tobias Hurwitz Why did I love this book?

I have a weakness for books written in the 1930s, and this one is intense and riveting, as well as historically educational.

It shows the contrast between the mental hospitals of the past and those of today through the eyes of the notorious William Seabrook, a real-life “Indiana Jones” and bestselling author of his time.

Seabrook commits himself to a posh mental asylum for alcoholism. After the DTs have passed, his impressions of his fellow inmates and his personal journey toward sobriety are chronicled.

Gut-wrenching, funny, smart, and honest - it’s a great read! 

By William Seabrook,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

"Perhaps the most honest and haunting accounts of the struggle for mental health in literature." — Observer
This dramatic memoir recounts an eight-month stay at a Westchester mental hospital in the early 1930s. William Seabrook, a renowned journalist and explorer, voluntarily committed himself to an asylum for treatment of acute alcoholism. His sincere, self-critical appraisal of his experiences offers a highly interesting look at addiction and treatment in the days before Alcoholics Anonymous and other modern programs.
"Very few people could be as honest as Seabrook is here," noted The New York Times, "and it is honesty plus the talent…


My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Book of Five Rings

Tobias Hurwitz Why did I love this book?

Japanese Samurai culture has been dumbed down by film and TV until it’s not much different from Hollywood’s portrayals of the Wild West. What of the real 16th-century Samurai? What does he have to say? What of the deepest Zen wisdom that enabled him to survive and stay calm while fighting against overwhelming odds?

According to legend, the greatest Samurai swordsman of all time was Miyamoto Musashi, who penned this book. Musashi’s Zen wisdom – straight from feudal Japan - reads like fine poetry and can be applied to today’s world, much like Sun Zu’s The Art of War. Zen is a part of Buddhism and yet, paradoxically, a part of combat.

This book makes me think, makes me feel, makes me ponder the nature of life, spirituality, and death. Highly recommended! 

By Miyamoto Musashi,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Book of Five Rings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The complete and official edition of the original Japanese text. Translated by Prof. Nabiki Imagawa and Prof. James Ashcroft in 2019 to fix all the previous mistakes present in the old public editions. This is the recommended edition for university specialists and experts in Japanese history who want the full uncensored version of The Book of 5 Rings as the samurai Miyamoto Musashi wrote it in 1645.


My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Dandelion Conspiracy: Maine's Wicked Weeds

Tobias Hurwitz Why did I love this book?

Dandelions are the misunderstood underdogs of the flower world, and boy, do they ever need some advocacy! That’s exactly what this book does, and I love it!

Most people and organizations are more concerned about having perfectly green lawns than avoiding the dangers of pesticides like Roundup or harvesting edible goodies like dandelions. Grass cannot be digested by humans, but every part of a dandelion can be used to make something useful, like wines, teas, vitamin tinctures, meals, and more!

Dandelions are also one of the earliest blooming springtime flowers, which makes them very important for feeding bees. This book contains dozens of stunning photographs and recipes for all things Dandelion.

It makes me see beauty where I least expect it - and it’s been fun trying the recipes! This is one conspiracy theory I can get behind! 

By L.E. Barrett, Lin Diket (photographer),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Dandelion Conspiracy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Dandelion Conspiracy is our third book on wild edible plants and like the previous two books, it too contains interesting information, beautiful photographs and one hundred and twenty-five delicious dandelion recipes. Dandelions have a long history. They have been used as both a source of food and a source of herbal therapy. Up to the early 1970’s, many people with bags in hand combed their neighbors’ lawns and local parks for an ample supply of dandelions. The Dandelion is not a native of North America. Historians believe that the first dandelion seeds arrived in the personal possessions of the…


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The Steampunk Metronome is a free learning channel that will wow you with amazing musical performances while teaching rhythm from the ground up.

It is associated with the world’s best metronome, on the Apple or Droid stores. The new free course, Understanding Rhythm, by Tobias Hurwitz, is among the many featured videos.

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