Best Independent Books January 15
We are delighted to recommend the following books from the independent publishing sector.
NON-FICTION
No EGO Policy: Culture Reimagined: leading with love and authenticity
by Daniel J. Batty
Company culture is often treated as a set of policies or perks, but the truth is it is shaped every day by how leaders show up. This book reframes leadership as a deeply human practice, rooted in authenticity, accountability, and care for the people doing the work.
Drawing from decades of real-world experience across construction, operations and fast-growing national brands, the author blends personal stories with practical leadership lessons. The result is a grounded look at how trust is built, how teams stay aligned under pressure and why humility often unlocks better performance than authority ever could. Culture, as the book shows, is not enforced. It is modeled. Readers are guided through how to hire and develop people who reflect the mission, create transparency without fear, and build environments where wins are celebrated and growth is shared. The tone is honest and reflective, offering insights forged through experience rather than theory.
For leaders who want to move beyond ego-driven management and create workplaces defined by purpose and pride, this book offers both inspiration and direction. It is a reminder that when leadership is grounded in love and authenticity, culture becomes a powerful engine for innovation, loyalty and lasting impact.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637353929
Your Book or Your Excuse: why the 1% of leaders publish — and the 99% get forgotten
by Alinka Rutkowska
There are two kinds of business leaders: the 99 percent, who keep talking about writing a book someday, and the 1 percent who actually do it. Those in that 1 percent then use that book to dominate their field. In this eye-opening guide, the author reveals how top entrepreneurs transform a single book into a 24/7 salesperson.
The author describes the role of a business leader’s book in attracting high-value clients, securing $25K+ speaking engagements, drawing media attention, and building unshakable credibility. She dismantles the excuses that hold most leaders back — being too busy, being too uncertain, or believing they’re not ready — and uncovers the hidden ROI that publishing unlocks, from unexpected opportunities to multimillion-dollar deals sparked by one influential read.
Through real case studies from global brands, the author demonstrates how publishing becomes the ultimate authority builder and the key to staying relevant, visible and unforgettable.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Leadership, Business
ISBN: 978-1637354049
The Learning Revolution: AI's influence on intelligence and education
by Sarah Chardonnens
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we learn, think, and adapt. In this book, the author explores the intersection of AI and cognitive science, offering a groundbreaking perspective on how education must evolve in the digital age.
This book provides an innovative framework for understanding the synergy between AI and human cognition. The author examines the differences between human and artificial intelligence, introducing the Synapse model — a fresh approach to how the brain learns and adapts. She offers practical insights into how AI impacts sensory input, memory and emotional regulation, while exploring strategies to foster self-regulation, motivation and curiosity in AI-driven education.
Beyond learning techniques, the author delves into the ethical implications of AI in education, questioning its effects on creativity and cognitive diversity. As technology reshapes the way people acquire knowledge, this book empowers educators, students, and tech enthusiasts to rethink the future of learning.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Education
ISBN: 978-3952422076
FICTION
Zero Two Hundred Hours: a fact-based military thriller
by Eric Wentz
To avenge the death of his father, a Navy SEAL leads a counterstrike against Al-Qaeda.Saudi-trained Al-Qaeda operatives launch an attack on Camp Delta, the terrorist prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The assault mirrors not only the brutality and sophistication of the assault that killed his father but mimics the SEAL’s own tactics. Lieutenant Commander Grant Chisolm must outsmart Shakir Amir, the head of the fanatical movement.
Chisolm prepares his men to stop an attack he’s expecting to come from the water. When he realizes he’s about to clash with Al-Qaeda forces coming from all directions and wearing suicide vests — 2:00 a.m. is the scheduled detonation time — he crosses international borders and confronts Cuban forces as well as the terrorists. Hours later, his forces slaughtered, Amir, badly wounded, bleeding and delusional, floats off the coast of Guantanamo.
A veritable crash course in world history, military strategy and the psychology of warfare, the narrative is so fast-paced and electrically charged, it will leave readers’ hairs standing on the back of their necks.
Wentz teaches as well as mesmerizes... Intensity of writing pervades the pages of this stunning story. — Goodreads
Honors: seen on CBS and Fox
Recognition for Author: Bronze Medal, Thriller – Terrorist, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, 2013; Honorable Mention, Thriller – Terrorist, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, 2017
Category: Mystery & Thriller
ISBN: 978-1637350553
Why They Run
by Zoey Wheeler
Some races are about speed. Others are about escape, identity and the courage to want more. This story centers on two runners chasing the same scholarship, each driven by very different fears and hopes. One runs to survive the weight of a secret that threatens to derail everything he has built. The other runs to step out from a legacy that has defined her before she ever set foot on the track.
For the two characters, every stride carries pressure, expectation and the promise of a future neither can afford to lose. As competition intensifies, the rivalry between them sharpens into something far more complicated. Ambition collides with vulnerability, and the pursuit of victory becomes tangled with emotions neither planned for. The tension on the track mirrors the stakes off it with winning being no longer just about crossing the finish line first.
Blending sports drama with a slow-burn romance, this novel explores resilience, identity and the quiet moments that define who people become when under pressure. It is a reminder that sometimes the hardest races are not the ones with spectators, and that the most meaningful victories often come when everything is on the line.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1970584028
In case you missed the books featured in the last newsletter, here they are again:
NON-FICTION
Multifamily Apartment Syndications
by Chris Roberts
In this book, the author draws on his extensive experience making money for himself and his investors in the real-estate sector to explain how he invests in multifamily value-add projects.
The author explains how to create and build a company with which to purchase and renovate existing multifamily properties, outlining how to source and negotiate multifamily deals with high-profit potential. He provides a step-by-step description of how his company purchased, renovated, and sold a Class C multifamily property for a ROI that was substantially greater than anticipated. The book provides a comprehensive recipe for learning the skills necessary to purchase, rehab, and then sell value-add multifamily property.
This book demystifies the process of investing in value-add multifamily real estate, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in learning how investors can profit from this asset class. It includes the story of how the author went from earning uninspiring returns in the stock market to making substantial sums of money running a real-estate company investing in multifamily apartment buildings.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637352366
Creating Golden Roots: the seed of remembering
by Matthew J. Hall
This book brings an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the essence of a meaningful life. The first installment of a trilogy, it is a guide to stepping beyond the noise of daily routines and rediscovering the quiet strength that lies within.
The author weaves personal experiences with universal wisdom, offering profound yet practical insights that encourage resilience, balance and clarity. He shows how life’s obstacles can become stepping-stones for growth; how beauty can be found in the simplest daily moments; and how deeper connections can transform the way people live. His warm, conversational style makes complex ideas accessible, while his reflections provide a grounded path toward inner peace and renewed perspective.
This book is more than a guide; it is a seed planted for transformation. It is a reminder that individual choices have power, personal stories matter, and independent journeys are part of something far greater. Whether people are seeking purpose, balance or a fresh outlook, this book offers a starting point for cultivating strength and harmony.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Self-Help
ISBN: 979-8999956408
Supreme Leadership: gain 850 years of wisdom from successful business leaders
by Alinka Rutkowska
This book brings together the wisdom of 34 CEOs who celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2018. The author interviewed those CEOs, working in a wide variety of sectors and locations, and sought to understand the qualities that have brought them success and longevity as business leaders.
Full of honest reflection on their careers, the book is a distinctively personal resource for anyone seeking to inform their approach to leadership. Some of the fascinating angles on supreme leadership include the need for all employees to believe in the business and feel a sense of belonging to it; and an appreciation that success in business comes down to the same principles as success in marriage.
Another interesting feature of the book is that each CEO discusses the books that have influenced them most in their careers.
Supreme Leadership is a book for anyone who wants to lead... It is packed with the wisdom and knowledge that will transform your life, and it brings perspective to anyone’s journey towards effective leadership. — Readers’ Favorite
Honors: seen on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and Yahoo
Recognition for Author: Bronze Medal, Business/Finance, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, 2016
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1943386215
The Why Whisperer: how to motivate and align teams that get your strategy done
by Hans Lagerweij
This book is a practical roadmap for aligning teams with a clear and compelling direction. Drawing on decades of international leadership experience, the author demonstrates how to connect purpose, vision and strategy to daily execution.
The author explores how to clarify mission, vision and goals for maximum impact while crafting an organizational direction that resonates with teams. He shows how to align strategy with daily work to drive results, master purposeful communication, and implement reverse elevator speech to inspire and motivate. Using the Six Cs model, he guides leaders in fostering a culture where all team members understand their role in achieving success.
This resource is essential for leaders seeking to transform uninspired teams into high-performing organizations. It challenges readers to rethink their approach to leadership, emphasizing collaboration, motivation and lasting organizational change.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 979-8310573062
FICTION
Nine Days in Rome
by Julian Gould
The story begins when Atticus Winterle, a laid-off senior executive from the U.S., accepts a temporary job chaperoning 16 high-school students and their teachers from Atlanta during their visit to Rome. Despite the chaos that ensues, Atticus uses his skills and local resources to keep the group on track and out of trouble.
The book offers a profound exploration of the impact of bad parenting on America’s youth, reflected in the students’ behavior during the trip. Amidst the challenges of managing a group of teenagers, romance finds a way to bloom, adding a touch of sweetness to the tumultuous journey. While the events chronicled in the book may seem like a wild weekend in Las Vegas, the experiences lead to significant personal growth. The characters in the novel learn and grow in response to challenging circumstances. The book demonstrates how surprising bonds can form and connections can be made when people from different spheres are brought together.
The author’s captivating descriptions of Roman landmarks, art and architecture transport readers to the heart of Rome, making them feel as if they are exploring the city alongside Atticus and his group. The trip, however, is not without its crises. Factors common to teenagers worldwide, such as drugs, hormones and depression, unleash a series of challenges that Atticus must handle.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Literature & Fiction
ISBN: 978-1637350119
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
