Best Independent Books January 29
We are delighted to recommend the following books from the independent publishing sector.
NON-FICTION
Quitless:
the power of persistence in business and life
by Alinka Rutkowska, Akintoye Akindele et al.
This book is an honest, thoughtful look at the mental fortitude and dexterity it takes to be a great entrepreneur.
This is a comprehensive anthology of some of the most successful, die-hard and tirelessly working entrepreneurs in the world. It is a compelling narrative about the cruciality of persistence. It describes the art of responding purposefully, deliberately and pragmatically to the myriad obstacles standing between an entrepreneur and success. It teaches specific tactics and strategies for perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds. It explains how to develop a mindset that welcomes challenges and adversity via cognitive programming. It explores the value and usefulness of failure in developing resilience and new points of view.
Every single day there is an entrepreneur that comes to life for the first time, and every single day there is another who gives up on his dreams. Persistence is all that separates them.
This book… is uplifting and supportive to all the people who wish to succeed in what they love doing… The message is simple: never give up. — Goodreads
Honors: Honorable Mention, Non-Fiction Anthology, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637350539
The Price Whisperer:
a holistic approach to pricing power
by Per Sjöfors
Consumer behavior is irrational. People are finicky, temperamental and subjective, but they’re also highly predictable. When it comes to determining optimal product pricing, therefore, it’s important to keep in mind that the perception of value is value.
In this book, the author explores the complex network of variables that regulate customer perception of price and value. By isolating key factors that determine a target market’s willingness to pay, businesses can effectively hack their existing model, thereby increasing asking price and sales volume. It’s simple psychology. This book explains the unique internal and external factors that control consumer purchase behavior; how to increase pricing without sacrificing sales volume; how to identify the right customers for products and save marketing dollars; why pricing does not exist in a vacuum and how the set-and-forget approach is a recipe for failure; why lowering prices and offering frequent discounts seldomly translates into greater purchasing volume; and how price sets an expectation of quality and benefit or lack thereof. The author advises to approach consumer behavior through a psychological mindset, not an entrepreneurial one.
The product might be right, the marketing strategy might be right and the branding be right, but if the pricing is off, the business will suffer. It’s essential to value a product correctly.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637351178
Automotive Search Marketing
by Alex Melen
This book contains a detailed account of the latest and greatest strategies in online marketing for car dealers looking to take their digital marketing to the next level.
The author tells what it takes to plan and implement a strategy for search marketing that uses the latest techniques to maximize the return on investment. He provides a detailed description of Google ranking signals to help improve the search engine optimization and jumpstart organic search traffic. He reveals advanced pay-per-click implementations to revamp Google Ads campaigns and increase business immediately.
In this book, the author explains how to select an advertising agency, evaluate performance, and optimize campaigns consistently.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637352113
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
FICTION
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:
FICTION
The Opaque Conspiracy:
finding a way through destruction and despair
by Grace Flores-Hughes
The story revolves around a hard-working couple who fall prey to a ruthless conspiracy involving their company’s bank and a group of unscrupulous business executives.
When an unexpected setback leaves their company temporarily unable to meet its obligations, the bank seizes the opportunity to demand the sale of the company’s assets. The bank, having financed the company, misuses its power and colludes with the executives to engineer a rigged sale process, aiming to gain possession of the entire company, not just its assets. The story is narrated by Bonita Levine, a woman of remarkable resilience. She must draw upon every ounce of toughness she developed growing up in a harsh environment to navigate the dire situation they find themselves in. Her husband, C.E. Levine, a distinguished and decorated military veteran, is forced by the lender to sell his company’s assets, shattering their once happy and prosperous life.
This novel uncovers the dark underbelly of the modern business world, serving as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in dealing with those who prioritize greed above all else.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Mystery & Thriller
ISBN: 978-1637352236
NON-FICTION
Outsource Your Book: your guide to getting your business book ghostwritten, published and launched
by Alinka Rutkowska
This book shares the secrets of a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author on how to hire experts to write, publish, and launch your bestseller.
The author describes the 17 steps involved in going from a book idea to a six-figure funnel. She explains numerous aspects of the process, including how to position a book so that it’s a bestseller; where to hire a pro to craft a clever book outline; the three different types of editing; how and where to hire for interior layout and formatting; where to hire a designer for an attention-grabbing cover; and how to reach libraries and foreign markets.
This book enables business leaders to become recognized as authorities in their field, to build credibility, to prepare for a consultancy, and to leave an appreciable legacy.
Honors: seen on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1943386406
CIONET Cookbook No. 2:
recipes for digital success
by Hendrik Deckers
Digital sits at the heart of every successful organization, whether in the public or private sector.
For digital leaders, the requirement for constant change brings opportunities and challenges. Modern technology chiefs — be it CIOs, CTOs or CDOs — need exceptional skills to overcome any obstacles they encounter and to deliver a brighter future for their businesses. Help comes in the form of this book, which showcases the very best in European digital leadership.
The recipes within this book reveal the unique stories of digital leaders. They show how successful technology chiefs use an eclectic and enticing set of ingredients to produce delightful and delicious digital transformations.
Honors: seen on MarketWatch
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1637352021
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 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: 978-1637352618
InvestPreneur:
real estate lessons for the determined investor
(Book Two of the I Can. I Will. Watch Me! series)
by Kristin Cripps
This book lays out the proven track that the author — a former bartender and massage therapist — followed to become a real-estate mogul and a millionaire before her 30th birthday.
The author explains the first crucial step toward investing. She describes some out-of-the-box ways to save for the first down payment. She explores different types of loans available and discusses the common investments that can result in a loss. When deciding on properties, she points out those that should be avoided like the plague, but also shows the right way to fix up a fixer-upper. There is also guidance on when and why to sell properties and an insider’s scoop on what buyers are likely to be looking for.
The author has built an empire from the ground up. She’s spent years learning the ins and outs of real-estate investing. In this book, she shares her hard-earned knowledge so that others can follow her lead.
Honors: seen on CBS and NBC
Category: Business
ISBN: 978-1943386857
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
