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, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Faith

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.

[Brett Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 stars for content but 5 stars for nostalgia. I never thought I would read another new Keller book, but God graced us with this book through his wife Kathy editing a sermon series on sin from the 90s. Each chapter looks at a different aspect of sin, its nature, and what it does in and to us. And, of course, each chapter looks how the gospel can bring forgiveness, freedom, and real change to the effects of sin in our lives. In a world that increasingly avoids the idea of sin, this book brings welcome honesty, conviction, and clarity to what is ultimately wrong with the world.

While the problems we face today are different than those of the 1990s (which is the greatest decade in American history by the way...don't @ me), there is nothing new under the sun. Sin has been humanity's core problem since the garden and Jesus alone can bring the healing, joy, and hope that we all long for.

"If there is a lack of joy in your life today, if the thought of Jesus dying for you does not transfix and transform you, if you're not able draw power out of the thought of what he has done for you on the cross, then you don't understand the enormity and power of sin. You haven't really seen how much of a debt Christ paid for you. You don't know how far he has brought you. You don't know the magnitude of what he has done. And you don't know the seriousness and depth of your sin that led him to do what he did." - Keller

I am forever grateful for this man's legacy and ministry.

[John Pawlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book based on a sermon series Keller gave in the 90’s called “the Faces of Sin” and it’s a collection of sermons on sin. It was strange to me at first that this was edited and published posthumously with Kathy Keller’s help, but when I read it I could see why they did. It’s Keller at his best and most incisive. There are some really incredible sermons in this book, especially the first half.

Honestly, if you want to round out your thinking about sin and the remedies for addressing it in yourself and others, this was an edifying and pretty exhaustive treatment of it.

[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.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeekkk! I think this is my first written review on Goodreads!

What’s Wrong with the World by Timothy Keller was profoundly convicting in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for but deeply needed. I didn’t grow up with a clear understanding of sin or how deeply it affects both the world and the human heart. I was first really introduced to that reality in college, and now, walking through a particularly complicated season of life, this book resonated with me on a much deeper level.

Keller doesn’t allow the reader to remain distant or merely intellectual. Again and again, I found myself having to pause, go back, and read the passages of Scripture for myself. What followed was uncomfortable but holy; genuine reflection, conviction, and humility.

There was a moment where I could only describe my response as learning to truly hate my sin but not in like a hopeless or condemning way, but in a way that drove me toward repentance and grace. It stripped away self-justification and left me laid bare before God. I don’t know how else to explain it except to say the Holy Spirit was clearly at work haha.

This is not a light or casual read for me at least. Keller writes with clarity, theological depth, and pastoral wisdom, inviting the reader into deep self-examination while never losing sight of the hope found in Christ. I’m grateful for how this book humbled me, challenged me and ultimately pointed me back to the gospel… again and again. Gosh and people think Keller is “too soft” on sin. Reminds me I’m in need of Christ more than ever!

[Flynn Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Emily Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best Tim Keller book that I have read. Simple and concise, yet very powerful, convicting, and thought provoking.

[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

[Barbara Olpinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

On my shelf to revisit as a resource. Practical and compelling.

[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.

[David Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author's answer to his own question, in a word: SIN. -- This is about as find a book on the subject of sin as one could hope to find. It is direct, it is clear, it is readable, it is -- above all and most importantly -- Scriptural. Pastor Keller provides the reader with the nature of sin, the manifestations of sin, the penalties of sin. His 'surprising, hopeful answer' is the Cross of Christ. -- And the forgiveness to be found there is for EVERYONE who seeks it. Highly recommended!

[Kyle Tomlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of sermons originally given in the 1990s and adapted to be read as a book by his wife Kathy, this book by Tim Keller has some fantastic insights into the human condition and what it means to be a sinner. This book will help you see sin as a heart problem instead of merely a behavior problem while at the same time giving the promise of God’s grace for sinners in Jesus Christ. Highly recommended!

[Chris Borden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first “Keller” and what a joy it was! What I thought would be a theological explanation for all of the world’s hurts is actually a gentle and thorough confrontation of my sin.

Much like Ray Ortlund, Keller’s style is simultaneously easy to read, polite in confrontation, and powerful in conviction. I needed this book.

[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. 😅

[Shawn Aebi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well organized and as with all of Keller's work well communicated. Grapples with the dark subject of sin, but does so in a way that does not wear you down. Brings it into modern context and gives hopes that if we can individually make progress the world will indeed improve.

[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.

[ReadingRexIsBooked · 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.