The Self-Starter Recommendations
Winter Book Releases 2025-2026
Let these book level you up! Read books that are sure to power your ambitions with inspiring business, science, educational and self-help.
february books:
I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right
by Matt Kaplan
An energetic and impassioned work of popular science about scientists who have had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be accepted--from Darwin to Pasteur to modern day Nobel Prize winners.
For two decades, Matt Kaplan has covered science for the Economist. He's seen breakthroughs often occur in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the research community, and how support can be withheld for those who don't conform or have the right connections. In this passionately argued and entertaining book, Kaplan narrates the history of the 19th century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis, who realized that Childbed fever--a devastating infection that only struck women who had recently given birth--was spread by doctors not washing their hands. Semmelweis was met with overwhelming hostility by those offended at the notion that doctors were at fault, and is a prime example of how the scientific community often fights new ideas, even when the facts are staring them in the face.
In entertaining prose, Kaplan reveals scientific cases past and present to make his case. Some are familiar, like Galileo being threatened with torture and Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó being fired when on the brink of discovering how to wield mRNA-a finding that proved pivotal for the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine. Others less so, like researchers silenced for raising safety concerns about new drugs, and biologists ridiculed for revealing major flaws in the way rodent research is conducted. Kaplan shows how the scientific community can work faster and better by making reasonably small changes to the forces that shape it.
Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest
by James Martin
In this humorous memoir, New York Times bestselling author and podcast host of The Spiritual Life, Father James Martin tells the story of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, and corporate tool and, finally, a Jesuit priest.
"Funny, charming, inspiring and wise--this is a memorable memoir." -- Stephen Colbert, Comedian and writer
Work in Progress is a snapshot of several years--first as a boy, then as a teenager, and finally as a young adult--of being thrown into a series of jobs for which Martin had zero training. He had never set foot in a restaurant kitchen before working as a busboy and dishwasher; never stepped onto a golf course before working as a caddy; and had never seen a factory floor before working as an assembly-line worker. He almost always felt uncomfortable, unsettled, and uneasy. But, like many of us, he needed the money.
This coming-of-age story is set in the 1960s and 1970s, a lighthearted tale for readers who enjoy personal narratives, and it's unlike anything Father Martin has written before. As he puts it, “This is a spiritual memoir from a different angle ... told 'slant' as Emily Dickinson might say.”
All about Allergies: Everything You Need to Know about Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More
by MD Rubin
From viral social media sensation Dr. Zachary Rubin, an in-depth look at both common and surprising allergies, spotlighting patient stories, the history and science behind allergies, common myths, treatment options, and more
Millions of people suffer from various allergic diseases. They're some of the most common but widely misunderstood afflictions today, and Dr. Rubin has made it his mission to pull back the curtain and help everyday people understand their allergies and find ways to feel better.
In All About Allergies, Dr. Rubin explores and explains dozens of allergies and diseases and provides actionable treatment options and information. Sections on the history of allergies, asthma, contact dermatitis, sinusitis, food allergies, anaphylaxis, medication allergies, and more pair with treatment info on medications, immunotherapy, and biologics to equip people with the tools they need to tackle their allergies.
Grounded by expert research and propelled by patient stories, science, history, and, of course, Dr. Rubin's engaging voice, All About Allergies is the ultimate resource for anyone who's ever felt in the dark about their health.
Get Home Safe: A Guide to Self-Defense and Building Our Collective Power
by Rana Abdelhamid
Grounded in her experience as a blackbelt, self-defense instructor, and globally recognized organizer, Rana Abdelhamid offers a bold, urgent roadmap to a safer world.
Abdelhamid wants every woman and survivor of gender-based violence to be able to defend themselves, and every community to build collective safety. What if we didn't accept that it's unsafe to walk home alone as a fact of life, but instead went out and created safe spaces for ourselves?
Through thousands of training sessions, she's seen firsthand the strength we carry in our bodies, no matter our background or circumstance. Her revolutionary framework for finding that strength starts with emotional healing, then teaches physical self-defense and economic safety, and finally equips readers with organizing strategies to fight the systems that enable violence in the first place. A rallying cry and a practical guide, Get Home Safe will leave readers, regardless of strength, identity, or income, knowing they can fight back and reclaim power.
january picks:
Do More in Four: Why It's Time for a Shorter Workweek
by Joe O'Connor - Jared Lindzon
An impassioned--and data-driven--case for a four-day workweek.
The five-day workweek is a pillar of modern life, but it isn't backed by science, ancient wisdom, or divine decree. It's simply a relic of the industrial age--and it's time for an upgrade. What if we could accomplish more while working fewer days?
A shortened workweek once seemed like a radical idea. Today, it's embraced by innovative business leaders, forward-thinking politicians, and a new generation of workers demanding more meaningful work.
How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Your Guide to Easy Investing, Building Wealth, and Creating the Wild, Beautiful Life You Want
by Amanda Holden
A life-changing path to the financial freedom we all deserve: How to Be a Rich Old Lady is filled with humor, heart, and real-world perspective.
Amanda Holden spent years working in investment management, where she saw exactly who gets access to the power, ease, and opportunity money can bring--and it wasn't people like her friends. She also saw how the financial system is designed to feel exclusive and confusing, and how it blames individuals for economic problems they didn't create. So, Amanda left her finance job to launch Invested Development, a financial education company where she has taught more than twenty-five thousand students how to invest with radical clarity, accessibility, and joy.
The Money Habit: The Worry-Free Way to Financial Independence
by Mike Michalowicz
Money. What if you never had to worry about it again?
In the follow-up to his international bestseller Profit First, entrepreneur and money expert Mike Michalowicz reveals how to achieve financial freedom by working with your natural habits rather than trying to change them. His Profit First model has already helped over a million businesses and entrepreneurs achieve financial independence. Now, with The Money Habit, he brings that proven system to personal finance.
Most financial advice demands strict budgets, sacrifice, and cutting back on life's joys, yet only 9% of people stick with these approaches. Other systems rely on complex tools or require adopting entirely new behaviors, leading to similarly grim results.
The Healing Power of Resilience: A New Prescription for Health and Well-Being
by Tara Narula
A revolutionary, science-backed approach to living well from ABC News chief medical correspondent and cardiologist Dr. Tara Narula, that bridges the gap between our physical and mental health to show how resilience is the key to both.
As the number one leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease has several common prescriptions from cardiologists, such as medication, surgery, diet, and exercise. There is, however, one treatment that is consistently overlooked: resilience. We need resilience to get us to face new diagnoses, to show up to doctor's appointments, to take those medications, to make it through surgery (and to recover from it), and to stick to that diet or new workout plan.
That's where this paradigm-shifting book comes in, connecting the worlds of medicine and psychology. Its application goes beyond heart disease to other difficult diagnoses and traumatic health events, and overall well-being.
Junglekeeper: What It Takes to Change the World
by Paul Rosolie
Most people assume that the world has been explored and true adventure is dead: This book is one man's rebuttal. Explorer and conservationist Paul Rosolie shares his incredible life in the Amazon rainforest--and what we can learn from the people fighting to protect it.
"On behalf of the forests that I love, thank you, Paul, for writing this book."--Jane Goodall
Deep in the Peruvian jungle, there exists a corner of the world that remains untouched--one teeming with giant anacondas, where the haunting cries of howler monkeys send brightly colored macaws shooting across the canopy. It's an ecosystem of stupendous biodiversity, uncontacted tribes, and adventures that most people don't even dare to dream of.
The Stoic Habit: How to Own Your Choices---Even When It's Difficult
by Bob Robinson
What if the path to a meaningful life isn't about what happens to you, but how you respond?
Learn to master your mindset when it matters most. The Stoic Habit offers a practical pathway to developing the strength of character needed to handle any of life's challenges with wisdom and purpose.
For centuries, the greatest minds faced obstacles just like ours. From Marcus Aurelius's Meditations written amid war and plague, to Epictetus's teachings on personal freedom despite being born into slavery, to Musonius Rufus's practical lessons on ethical living--these ancient guides offer profound insights for today's challenges. Their wisdom isn't confined to philosophy classrooms but comes alive in the arena of daily life.
Why We Drink Too Much: The Impact of Alcohol on Our Bodies and Culture
by Knowles Charles Knowles Charles
We drink it, celebrate with it, and barely question it--but what is alcohol really doing to us?
Drinking alcohol can be fun; its chemical effects on our brain are fundamentally pleasurable, and it can have social benefits. Alcohol may also help us forget the worries in our lives and temporarily overcome psychological barriers to human interaction.
But there are downsides. We now know that alcohol, even in quite modest amounts, is not good for our long-term health. So why do we, as humans, consume alcohol at all, and why does our tendency to drink "too much" vary from person to person?
Pairing scientific expertise with his personal experiences, Dr. Charles Knowles offers us an accessible window into what really happens in our brains and bodies when we drink, and why we do it. People vary greatly in the amount of reward they derive from alcohol, both physically and mentally. It's in the genes that we were born with and the environment in which we grew up. For some of us, alcohol is greatly enhancing; for others, it is not much fun at all.
For the sober curious, those who may need help, and also readers just interested in a popular science book on what happens when we sip a glass of wine, Why We Drink Too Much teaches readers the science behind drinking and invites us to examine our relationship with alcohol.
December Picks:
How Not to Die: Revised and Updated: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
by Michael Greger - Gene Stone
How Not To Die: Revised and Updated is an empowering guide featuring the latest scientific discoveries on nutrition and longevity. Discover the foods, exercise, and lifestyle habits that prevent the fifteen leading causes of disease-related death.
Doctors are good at treating acute illnesses, but bad at preventing chronic disease. The fifteen diseases that lead to the most deaths in America claim the lives of 1.6 million annually. This doesn't have to be the case. For the most part, these diseases and illnesses are preventable. In this revised and updated edition of the bestselling classic, Dr. Michael Greger shares groundbreaking scientific discoveries in nutrition and longevity. With updates from all of the most recent studies, HOW NOT TO DIE is a guide to the methods proven to keep the reaper off our backs, detailing the foods we should eat and the lifestyle changes we can make to live longer.
A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction
by Elizabeth McCracken
From bestselling and award-winning author and professor Elizabeth McCracken comes an irresistible look at the art of writing.
Writing can feel like an endless series of decisions. How does one face the blank page? Move a character around a room? Deal with time? Undertake revision? The good and bad news is that in fiction writing, there are no definitive answers to such questions: writers must come up with their own. Elizabeth McCracken, author of bestselling novels, National Book Award long-listed story collections, and a highly praised memoir, has been teaching for more than thirty-five years, guiding her many students through their own answers. In A Long Game, she shares insights gleaned along the way, offering practical tips and incisive thoughts about her own work as an artist. Writing "is a long game," she notes.
Why Do I Keep Doing This?: Unlearn the Habits Keeping You Stuck and Unhappy
by Kati Morton
Leading mental health advocate and licensed marriage and family therapist, Kati Morton, explores our common struggle and contradiction with control in ourselves and relationships, giving readers the ability to not only ask themselves whydo I keep doing this, but have the insight to find a real answer.
Many of us were told to stuff our feelings down when we were younger. We were taught that that our emotional reactions and responses should be controlled so we didn't embarrass or upset our parents and those around us. However, if that control oozes over into our relationships it's considered a bad thing. Controlling our friends or romantic partners is seen as toxic. Control is a precarious thing. Some sides of control are meant to keep us safe, while others harm connections. So, what are we supposed to do?
Super Body: A 3-Week Program to Harness the New Science of Body Composition and Restore Your Youthful Contours
by William Davis
Are you ready to take your health into your own hands? Heal your microbiome and improve your shape and body composition with Dr. William Davis' revolutionary new book.
Forget everything you've been told about dieting (from your doctor, the food industry, dietitians, and wellness influencers). You've been led down the wrong path, which has caused you to believe that calorie restriction, weight-loss drugs such GLP-1 agonists, and bariatric procedures are effective solutions for weight loss. They are NOT, nothing more than Ponzi schemes with upfront benefits, long-term disasters. Conventional weight-loss solutions are effective in the short-term but are plagued by serious problems, including virtually guaranteed weight regain over time. Muscle mass is the critical determinant of weight and provides vigor, youthfulness, and overall health. When we diet, lost muscle is regained as fat, leaving us in worse shape than before.
Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to Glp-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve
by Rocio Salas-Whalen - Mary Claire Haver
A board-certified endocrinologist shares her must-have guide to using GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, to reverse obesity and take charge of your health, with established strategies for maximizing your results
"This book is a game-changer. Dr. Salas-Whalen gives you the science and the compassion this conversation has been missing. You are not alone anymore."--Mel Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory
Whether your struggle to lose weight has lasted years or started more recently, GLP-1 medications will help you finally end it. While GLP-1s have redefined how we treat obesity, the search for expert care is likely to leave you feeling confused, overwhelmed, and unheard. Misconceptions are everywhere. Many doctors are still catching up with the science. And you may find a prescription but not the medical supervision you need for the best results.