What Is Wrong With the World?: The Surprising, Hopeful Answer to the Question We Cannot Avoid

by Timothy Keller

Beloved pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller offers a hope-filled answer to the question beneath every devastating headline and personal loss: What is wrong with the world?

Everywhere we look, we see brokenness--wars, cruelty, and heartache. We feel it in the world around us and in our own lives. How did it get to be this way?

During his tenure as founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Timothy Keller explained on a weekly basis how the Bible provides the most comprehensive and sophisticated response to the fundamental questions of life. In What Is Wrong with the World?, based on a series of teachings given at Redeemer, Keller answers the title's pressing question by revealing that the only thing that can account for the world's pain and chaos is what the Bible calls sin. This clear-eyed and ultimately hopeful book reveals how sin is not simply a "bad" thing we do but something much more subtle and complex, affecting our relationships, our thinking, and every aspect of our existence. And only when we recognize sin for what it is can we find the profound, life-transforming answer our souls long for. What Is Wrong with the World? is for anyone who:

Feels overwhelmed at the state of the world
Battles with repeated mistakes and poor choices
Desires more than pat answers to difficult questions
Wonders how to know joy while still acknowledging pain
Wants to understand how God's love gives hope even in the hardest of places
Today's battles across the globe and in our own hearts are not the end of the story. As Keller writes, "If we stand any chance of answering the question of what is wrong with the world . . . we must begin with understanding the complexity and multifaceted nature of sin, and end with understanding the unfailing love of a God who chooses to save us from it. This book will show you how."

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian Living

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenally insightful. Based on one of my favorite Keller sermon series from the early 1990s, “The Faces of Sin.” So glad this is now in print.

[Josh Touard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. From a sermon series Keller preached in the 90s titled “Faces of Sin.”

I have heard from several people now, though no one who actually holds this position, that Keller is known by some as being “soft on sin.” I guess I can understand the position; while some Christian writers focus their position on sin as committing cosmic treason against a holy God, Keller often chooses to write on sin as idolatry. But what could be more treasonous than rejecting God’s covenant to make one with something else; what could be of greater evil than to give our hearts over to something other than God himself, exchanging God-worship for creation-worship, God covenant-making for creation covenant-making?

Several very good chapters in this book that I would recommend everyone to read.

[Flynn Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phenomenal spiritual successor (or predecessor, depending on how you look at it) to Counterfeit Gods.

[Austin Saunier · Rating 5 out of 5]

sin (according to the Bible and in this book explained by Keller from a sermon series in the 90's) is a predator, self-deceiving, leaven, mistrust, self-righteousness, leprosy, slavery, and yet there is healing of sin: with repentance and intimacy with God

officially my new favorite Christian author

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could 6 hours of Tim Keller's sermons and notes be anything but 5 stars?! Well put together and something I should probably return to at some point. Would be better to read on paper where I could highlight and notate and things..

[Ryan Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing. I really hope Kathy will edit more of Tim’s sermon series into books.

[Kelly Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicting, compelling and filled with sobering reminders

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did feel very hopeful after reading this. It was helpful to revisit the problem of sin, but also be reminded of God's grace to sinners. I really appreciated what he shared about King David. David lusts after his friend Uriah's, wife. Uriah serves him faithfully at the front lines. He is willing to lay his life down for his King. David repays this most precious friendship and loyalty by committing adultery with Uriah's wife. Bathsheba gets pregnant. David tries to cover up his adultery by bringing Uriah home to spend the night with his wife. Out of the deepest loyalty, Uriah says he couldn't possibly do that while others are still at the front line. He goes back to war. Now David, still trying to cover up his sin, commands Joab to put Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting. Uriah dies. The payment for Uriah's love and loyalty to David is David's adultery with Uriah's wife and his own death. What is astonishing is that David is one the godliest of men. He dwells with God. He abides in God. He seeks God's face. He has faith in God through the worst perils. He is an extraordinary man of God, but even he fell to the deception of his own heart. His sin ensnared him to the point of grave abuse and murder. We all must be on guard against sin, because it can take us to terrible places.

The hope is in God's grace to sinners. God still honours David, after he repents. David certainly pays some severe consequences in his family. But it is Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba who becomes part of the line of Christ. God saves sinners. Dire sinners. I am very thankful for that today.

[Frank Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posthumously written books can be disappointing. This one was not disappointing but rather was excellent. According to the preface, the book was put together based on a sermon series delivered by Timothy Keller. His wife, Kathy, who put the book together also let’s us know that she has been responsible for helping with the transition from the spoke to the written word in previous books. The net result is that there is no apparent difference to the style and content of this book from what might be hoped for. As the title suggests, the book is about what is wrong with the world – which is sin in each of us. Keller delves into different ways we are drawn to different types of sin and then ends the book with God’s solution to this problem.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is classic Keller. Based on a sermon series in the 1990s, Keller looks at sin from several different angles, giving us different windows into why sin--far from being antiquated, is fresh, relevant, and the underlying problem in our world.

It's easy to chalk up sin as those really bad issues--murder, adultery, theft, etc. But Keller, as he does best, pries at the insides, showing why it's a matter of the heart--of mistrusting God, being consumed, being addicted, our intractable pride.

Lastly, the solution in straightforward terms: real repentance (including hating the sin) and communion or intimacy with God.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This truly inspiring look into the Bible and the pervasiveness of sin in our lives is helpful for all who feel overwhelmed at the state of the world, and want to learn how God’s love can give hope even in the darkest of places. It also enlightens the reader who is struggling to figure out if we can know joy during the midst of pain in our personal lives, and ultimately gives coping strategies and inspiration even the difficulties are very real.

[Jed Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An instant classic. The best, most balanced, work I’ve read on the subject of sin.

And it gives me great hope for more posthumous work from Keller through his incredibly gifted editor, who also happens to be his wife. Highest recommendation.

[Kelvin Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Is Wrong with the World? makes you stop, think, and maybe sigh a little—but in a good way. Timothy Keller tackles life’s messiness with honesty, humor, and a surprising dose of hope. It’s the kind of book that makes you nod, laugh, and feel a little wiser. Highly recommended for anyone trying to make sense of it all. 😅

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Anthony Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that quite took me by surprise, but in a really good way! It focused on the sin in each of us, rather than pointing fingers at the world as the whole reason for brokenness.

[ReadingRex_ IsBooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing again and always!

[Otis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an amazing piece of art. Such incredible insights. Highly recommended. You’ll not be disappointed.

[Matt Xi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I read this sooner, put into word so much that I’ve only understood at a high-level

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Zondervan, and Goodreads for this excellent read. I very much enjoyed the teachings and will be sharing it with a friend.

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow a combo of deeply convicting and deeply comforting at the same time.

[Keith Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple, yet important book. Timmy K has a way with words. Definitely more of a Pastor Tim than cultural commentator Tim kinda book.

[Daniel Seabaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest from Timothy Keller, published posthumously. Once again, Keller shares the gospel in simple and profound ways. There’s nothing in all the world as freeing or precious as the gospel of grace.