Best Independent Books August 7
We are delighted to recommend the following books from the independent publishing sector.
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
How to Become an Effective Leader
by Michael Brainard
This insightful guide is not just another leadership manual. It’s a comprehensive exploration into psychological and positive behavioral conditioning.
The author uses his extensive experience developing and coaching leaders across the country to detail eight disciplines that enable leaders to create a sustainable platform for organizational excellence and propel their growth as leaders to new heights. He provides a prolific manifesto for becoming the type of leader that many people aspire to be.
The book explores the skills required to influence other people positively as leaders. It shows how to take leadership to the next level.
The author has added eye-catching and creative graphs and charts that made the book visually appealing to read, and the case studies he wrote were enlightening and educational. — Readers’ Favorite Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637351697
TOO BLUE!: The IBM PC from an Acorn to a Renegade
by Dennis Andrews
Long before Apple became a household name and Bill Gates the poster child for computational wealth, there was IBM — a few crazy visionaries who saw a future no one else could have predicted. In this thrilling work, the author pulls back the curtain of IBM’s history to reveal the sometimes serendipitous, sometimes nerve-racking, technological race to develop a computer that would change the course of history.
The author tells how a small, relatively unknown team of engineers at IBM colored outside the blue line, thus shifting IBM’s mainframe business to an untapped and ‘fruitless’ market; pitched and signed what was then a small but feisty Microsoft Corporation to the Acorn Project; fought a corporate slew of internal naysayers that deemed the personal computer a risky and unnecessary reputational hazard; elevated the PC from relative obscurity to a household product for millions worldwide; took the IBM PC from zero units in 1980 to more than 2 million units in 1984 and a 34 percent market share; and developed a road map for pioneering tech startups.
This story of what almost never was reads as a breathtaking technological adventure fraught with corporate perils and groundbreaking innovation.
A nice combination of technical subject and history... makes this piece of work interesting and absorbing. — Goodreads
Honors: seen on ABC, CBS and NBC
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350034
The Strategy Handbook: The Secret Sauce to Daily Business Success
by Jeroen Kraaijenbrink
This practical handbook provides daily benefits that far exceed the initial strategy and its application. In this granular guide, people are empowered to generate and execute business strategies through user-friendly charts, tools, case studies and a step-by-step process.
Although strategy can be complex, it isn’t reserved merely for the boardroom or academic elite. On the contrary, strategy, if done right, is for everyone and from everyone. The time has come to demystify the stigmas that have traditionally plagued institutionalized strategy.
In this book, the author unpacks the value-added learnings from MBA programs and scholarly textbooks to achieve obtainable results that actually matter, all in a down-to-earth way.
Highly accessible and understandable — GoodreadsHonors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637352083
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
In case you missed the books featured in the last newsletter, here they are again:
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
Who Moved My Data?: Data-Driven Strategies In Modern Finance
by Craig Fookes and Greg Hood
The role of finance is evolving. No longer confined to spreadsheets and traditional accounting, today’s finance professionals must become data-driven and data-savvy to thrive. This book offers a clear roadmap for navigating this transformation, equipping emerging and seasoned professionals with the tools to embrace data as a core asset.
The authors explore how finance can take ownership of data rather than relying on IT, highlighting the industry’s pioneers who are leading the data revolution. Through compelling success stories, they illustrate how finance professionals have leveraged data to drive strategic decisions and organizational growth. The book delves into actionable insights and data strategies tailored for finance.
This is a practical guide to integrating data into everyday workflows. The authors provide a forward-looking perspective on the future of finance, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637353745
Lead To Disrupt: 7 Keys To Success In The Changing World
by Kumar R. Parakala
In a world transformed by disruptive forces such as rapid technological advances, geopolitical tensions, climate change and demographic shifts, the very foundations of business and society are being reshaped in unforeseen and unpredictable ways. Traditional leadership models are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of this dynamic environment.
The author, with a background in technology entrepreneurship, asks what kind of leaders are needed to navigate the relentless pace of such changes. He delves into this urgent question, offering profound insights and practical strategies for thriving amidst constant transformation.
This book is a clarion call for a new paradigm of leadership — one that not only adapts to disruption, but also harnesses it to drive meaningful change. It provides essential tools to master the art of disruptive leadership.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637353943
How to Live to 100: Secrets from the World's Happiest Centenarians
by Dr. Elizabeth Lopez
In this book, the author shares the secrets of how regular people embrace a long, healthy and happy life.
The book consists of ten individual case studies from the Nicoya peninsula on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It reveals the insights (known only by Costa Rica's famous Blue Zone centenarians) to living a long life full of purpose. The author explains the role peace and well-being play in day-to-day life and why connecting to others is life's best medicine.
In this study, the author investigates the ways in which culture can extend life expectancy. The author has also collated simple recipes that have been part of the centenarians’ happy and healthy way of life.
Honors: seen on ABC, CBS and NBC
Category: Health, Family & Lifestyle
ISBN: 978-1943386550
Cutting Through: Your Company's High Performance Management System
by Bernie Haffey
This comprehensive guide provides a blueprint for optimizing business operations. It emphasizes the importance of having a robust management system that drives performance from the ground up.
The book introduces the six pillars of a high-performance management system (HPMS), and explains the methodology behind building an effective coalition of in-house ambassadors. It also highlights the significance of the ‘first follower’ and how to define and direct company culture within the framework of a larger HPMS. It explores the power of subtraction, elimination and simplification.
Sharing insights on how leading companies such as Amazon, Ford, IBM, Medtronic and Ritz Carlton implemented their own HPMS, this book is a guide on how to pinpoint the vital few while incorporating the remainder into a unified, cohesive system.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350232
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
