Best Independent Books August 28
We are delighted to recommend the following books from the independent publishing sector.
NON-FICTION
Success DNA: Mastering Persistence in Leadership and Life
by Alinka Rutkowska, Manuel R. Aragon, Golshan Barazesh et al.
This isn’t just a collection of inspirational stories — it’s a call to action for those who are ready to take ownership of their journey and lead with courage, clarity and compassion. In this book, 19 accomplished leaders talk about their journeys from adversity to achievement, revealing the personal qualities that fuel enduring success.
Through powerful storytelling, this anthology illuminates the pathways forged by persistence, resilience and adaptability, traits that transcend backgrounds and redefine what's possible. Each chapter in this book offers deep insights into the evolution of leadership, the strength found in overcoming personal and professional obstacles and the purpose discovered when ambition aligns with core values. From redefining success beyond status and wealth to transforming setbacks into stepping stones, these stories provide a roadmap for navigating today’s complex challenges.
Readers get to explore how effective leadership emerges through experience and reflection, how balance and fulfillment go hand in hand and how lasting impact is created when individuals lift others up. Rooted in real-world lessons and emotional truths, this is a guide to cultivating an authentic leadership style.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637353875
We Have Nothing to Lose: A Dark Optimist's Call to Action
by Ralph H. Groce III
This book is a bold exploration of leadership, responsibility and the urgency of acting in a world on the cusp of pivotal change. The author presents an unflinching narrative that intertwines personal memoir with a passionate political manifesto.
With his audacious life story as a backdrop, the author presents thought-provoking insights on the power of individual choice and responsibility. The book offers a critical look at current global and political challenges, providing actionable solutions. Inspiring stories of overcoming adversity demonstrate the impact of principled leadership.
Standing at the intersection of personal experience and public service, the author offers a stirring vision for a better future, emphasizing the need for intentional actions. His powerful message resonates with free thinkers and anyone seeking to be a catalyst in today’s complex world.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637353257
Sweetie, That's Not Sweets!
by Dr. Kathleen Humel
This book teaches children the importance of only taking medicine as directed by a healthcare provider, parent or guardian to ensure safety and proper treatment.
The author, a pharmacist, uses verse to deliver the educational message in an engaging and accessible way. At the center of the story is the parent-child relationship, pointing children to trust the advice of their parents in relation to medicine.
The book contains valuable insights and tips for parents and caregivers from an expert in the field. It puts safety at the heart of the conversation about medicine.
The story follows a relatable dialogue between a mother and daughter, explaining the dos and don’ts of medicine use in a way that’s accessible and memorable... — The Review Universe Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Children’s
ISBN: 978-1637351734
Why Brave Women Win: Creating Your Path to Confidence and Power in the Workplace
by Jill Bausch
In this book, the author shares her story as a woman who used bravery to tackle imposter syndrome, find joy in failure, and transform into a real-life hero.
This book is intended for women aiming to achieve all types of wins. The author explains why it’s important to learn to mirror confidence until it is natural and how to do it. She discusses different levels of listening and how they bring people closer to reaching success. She describes the habits that have helped make women highly successful. She underlines what it takes for a woman to package herself in a way that produces maximum impact without compromising individual integrity or authenticity or voice and how to be a lasting leader during turbulent times.
The author’s story doesn’t start with her on a direct path to success. She’s proof that any woman can be a hero with a little bit of bravery.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637351529
Inevitable Revolutions: Secrets and Strategies for a Successful Business
by Aaron Vick
In this book, the author, a serial entrepreneur, catalogs the repetitious growth cycles of business organizations worldwide.
By comparing this growth anthropomorphically to that of a human child, the author pinpoints the key leadership characteristics, as well as the organizational milestones, necessary to ensure continued entrepreneurial longevity. He identifies the telltale signs of each of a company’s unique growth-cycle metrics. He explains how the health of a company is often a reflection of the health of its foremost leaders. He teaches how to identify and mitigate bottlenecks and hazardous departmental silos. He describes the skills necessary to identify and implement a successful exit strategy ahead of the next professional opportunity. He discusses how emotional intelligence is the core characteristic of leadership today. He also provides guidance on how to hack a business model by leveraging the knowledge of its fluid, cyclical evolutions.
This is a comprehensive dive into the machinations of founding, growing, and ultimately leaving a company, provided, of course, that the timing is right
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350218
In case you missed the books featured in the last newsletter, here they are again:
NON-FICTION
It Began in Africa: A Banker's Memoirs from the Heartland!
by Rizwan Haider
In this book, the author, an accomplished international banker, offers a compelling memoir that blends personal reflection with professional insight. This memoir is set against the vibrant backdrop of Africa, the author having moved there from his native Pakistan in 1979.
The author’s journey unfolds through evocative storytelling and sharp observations, revealing the continent’s cultural richness, historical depth and economic complexity. From bustling cities to remote villages, he explores Africa’s diverse communities, sharing stories shaped by resilience, tradition and transformation. He guides readers through the intricacies of African banking and finance, offering a rare insider’s view into a sector often overlooked yet vital to the continent’s progress.
This memoir captures the echoes of Cold War legacies, the enchantment of local myths and the pulse of innovation driving Africa’s future. The author’s narrative is both enlightening and entertaining — an invitation to see Africa not just through numbers and markets but through the lives and dreams of its people.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Biographies & Memoirs
ISBN: 978-1637353431
Resilience Under Fire: From Breakdown to Breakthrough
by Jochen Schwenk
This book is a bold and practical guide to transforming chaos into clarity, setbacks into success and fear into forward momentum. Drawing from high-stakes experiences in military intelligence, special operations and corporate crises at Fortune 500 companies, the author shares a proven framework for leading decisively and rising stronger.
This empowering book reveals how to identify a crisis and take swift, effective action. The author outlines mental models for navigating pressure, overcoming indecision, and making impactful decisions, whether time is scarce or abundant. He introduces innovative methods for thinking inside and outside the box to generate solutions that stand out, even in the most volatile situations. With expert insights and real-world scenarios, he shows how to transform stress into strategy. His step-by-step approach fosters resilience and confidence in the face of adversity, and equips readers to handle the unexpected with precision and strength.
Whether managing teams, steering a business, or facing personal upheaval, this book delivers the tools people need not only to survive, but to thrive. When everything feels uncertain, this is a blueprint for clarity, confidence and renewed purpose.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637353806
Business As UnUsual: How to Thrive in the New Renaissance
by Rick Yvanovich
This book outlines the mindsets, daily habits and skills required to break free from any ruts and get back in the business game. Action today determines success tomorrow.
In this book, the author shows how to organize for long-lasting success. He affirms coaching as a sought-after skill for the 21st century, and outlines its evolving landscape and its opportunities. He teaches the need to align internal purpose with external goals through mindset and habits. He describes unique assessments, tools and exercises to create a game plan. The objective is to establish critical skills for the next decade.
This book offers invaluable insights, practical strategies and actionable steps to adapt, overcome, and succeed in the new normal.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637352335
Stifled: Where Good Leaders Go Wrong
by James G. Wetrich
Great leaders and managers are not about control. They inspire, enable, and get the hell out of the way. A leader recognizes a person’s potential; a great leader helps develop that potential to its fullest.
This book explores the techniques of successful leaders and managers in detail, offering ideas and solutions to all the challenges facing today’s organizations. In the wake of a global pandemic, a blossoming worldwide social consciousness and a titanic shift in how business is done, the major issues of leadership and management have morphed, intensified, and multiplied.
Among the issues addressed by the author are management of millennials and Zoomers; diversity, equity and inclusion; the need for transparency; the new global workplace; and management of the quantum speed of business evolution.
Well-written with incredible strategies, useful information and actionable tactics… — GoodreadsHonors: seen on CBS
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350386
Profit Generating Pipeline: A Proven Formula to Earn Trust and Drive Revenue
by Leslie Venetz
In today’s competitive B2B landscape, building a reliable pipeline isn’t just about hitting numbers; it’s about earning trust, leading with purpose, and creating sustainable growth. This book offers a no-nonsense, proven framework for sales leaders who want to drive consistent revenue without relying on outdated tactics or flashy gimmicks.
With a clear and actionable approach to outbound sales, the author helps teams generate qualified leads, improve buy-in, and establish repeatable processes that stand the test of time. At the heart of this guide is the “Earn the Right” mindset. That powerful philosophy fosters respect, builds credibility, and transforms how leaders engage with their teams and prospects. The author shows how to build a top-of-funnel pipeline that converts, implement scalable systems for long-term success, and lead with confidence in a way that inspires trust and performance.
This book is a roadmap for leading with purpose, selling with confidence, and growing with consistency. With practical insights and a refreshing dose of honesty, the author proves that selling with integrity isn’t just possible; it’s profitable.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 979-8998527036
We trust that your readers will enjoy our hand-picked selection.
For more bestselling and award-winning books from the independent publishing sector, please go here.
Warm regards,
Alinka Rutkowska
CEO, LibraryBub
