Start the new year by diving into these highly anticipated books releasing in January 2019. We have a book by Malala Yousafzai and one by Russell Brand. Joanna Palani finally shares the story of her fight against ISIS and a book on Jallianwala Bagh gives us the common man’s perspective on the incident and its impact on the freedom struggle. There are books which will change how you think of business and help you find fulfilment at work. There are also some edge-of-the-seat psychological thrillers and the conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy. Get your hands on one or all of these books.
01
Freedom Fighter: My War Against ISIS On The Frontlines Of Syria
Joanna Palani
Joanna Palani made headlines as one of the few Western women who fought ISIS in the Syrian conflict. Inspired by the Arab Spring, Palani left her student life in Copenhagen and travelled to the Middle East to join the YPJ- the all-female brigade of the Kurdish militia in Syria. In Freedom Fighter, Palani shares her story for the first time giving us details of her military training, including as a saboteur and sniper, her part in the brutal siege of Kobani, and the personal cost of the battles she fought on and off the frontlines, including her arrest upon returning to Denmark.
Releasing on January 3, 2019. Buy it here.
02
We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World
Malala Yousafzai
Millions of people are being displaced worldwide and Nobel Peace Prize winner and author, Malala Yousafzai brings us face-to-face with some of them through her book, We Are Displaced. Her experiences visiting refugee camps caused her to look into her own past and both her internal and external displacement. Through this part memoir, Yousafzai not only shares her own stories but also those of girls who’ve lost their community, relatives and, very often, the only world they’ve ever known. This book will encourage you to understand that every one of the 68.5 million people who are currently displaced deserve universal human rights and a safe home.
Releasing on January 9, 2019. Buy it here.
03
The Rumour
Lesley Kara
An offhand rumour leads to a bizarre turn of events in a sleepy little town as Joanna, the protagonist, regrets passing it on in the first place. A single mother desperately looking to make friends for her son, Joanna unwittingly spreads the rumour that a woman charged with child homicide is living in the town under a new identity. But she is in for a deadly surprise when the rumour appears to be true and someone is not happy with her and wants to hurt her through her child. The Rumour is a gripping book about how far people can go when they are threatened or exposed. Kara’s debut novel will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Releasing on January 10, 2019. Buy it here.
04
The Winter of the Witch: The Winternight Trilogy
Katherine Arden
In the superb conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, Vasya returns to save Russia and the spirit world, battling enemies both mortal and magical. The Winternight Trilogy introduced Vasilisa Petrovna, a girl making her own way using her extraordinary gifts. When Moscow is struck by disaster, with a demon in its midst, it is up to Vasya to save the world. Her fate is uncertain as Vasya uncovers truths about herself in a race to save Russia and the magical world she reveres. Can she save everyone?
Releasing on January 10. Buy it here.
05
Sitayana
Amit Majmudar
The Ramayana has been retold, translated and reworked endlessly since the time it was first written. Majmudar’s Sitayana stands out because it tells the story from multiple perspectives- ranging from Hanuman and Ravana to even the squirrel helping Rama’s army build the bridge. Above all, he focusses on Sita and we get to hear her powerful voice as we have never heard it before.
Releasing on January 24, 2019. Buy it here.
06
Mentors: How to Help and be Helped
Russell Brand
In this follow up to Recovery, comic Russell Brand shares the benefits of seeking and offering help. He stresses on the importance of finding mentors who can help you improve as an individual and that of mentoring others to better themselves. He describes the impact a series of individuals have had on him from the wayword youths of Essex to the ex-junkie sage and even those he looks to today for advice on being a better father. This book will help you understand the importance of guides, mentors and heroes and the new perspectives they bring to our lives.
Releasing on January 24, 2019. Buy it here.
07
Jallianwala Bagh: An Empire of Fear and the Making of the Amritsar Massacre
Kim A. Wagner
On April 13, 1919, Colonel Dyer ordered the British Indian Army to fire rifles into a crowd of Indians gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, causing numerous deaths. This incident, which came to be known as The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre or the Amritsar Massacre, changed the relationship between India and the British forever. In Jallianwala Bagh, Wagner takes the perspectives of ordinary people into account to give us a dramatic telling of the incident and its aftermath. He argues that it was an act of fear with profound consequences for the Indian freedom struggle. By contextualising the incident in reference to British colonial mentality as well as Indian nationalism, Wagner has taken an interesting and nuanced approach to the bloody history of the British Empire.
Releasing on January 25, 2019. Buy it here.
08
Company of One
Paul Jarvis
Instead of creating and scaling up a new business, Jarvis suggests that it is better and smarter to remain small- to work for yourself, set your own hours and become a profitable and sustainable company of one. Jarvis’ approach is refreshing and works for any kind of business which intends to stay small. He argues that by staying small you avoid the stress of managing employees, long meetings and expansion. Not only does Jarvis make a compelling case for a company of one, but also shares his business strategy and how you can make it work for you. This book will change the way you approach your business.
Releasing on January 29, 2019. Buy it here.
09
Happy Ever After
Paul Dolan
There is an endless amount of advice out there on how we should live our lives and what would make us happy. In Happily Ever After, Dolan argues that these narratives of what makes a perfect life can do more harm than good. Drawing on a wealth of evidence, Dolan explains that there are many ways to find lasting happiness and busts common myths about what makes us happy. He suggests that the first step to finding a life worth living is to free ourselves from the idea of the perfect life.
Releasing on January 29, 2019. Buy it here.
10
The Suspect
Fiona Barton
From the author of The Widow and The Child, comes a new psychological thriller featuring journalist Kate Waters whose reporting has already helped the British police crack some disturbing cases. 18-year-old Alexandra O’Connor has been backpacking in Thailand with a friend when her parents alert the police that they haven’t heard from her in a week. When her longtime police source informs her of the case, Waters finds herself identifying with the parents as her own son has been in Thailand for the past two years. Waters heads to Thailand in search of answers, and is tested to the limit as what started as a routine story takes a deadly turn.
Releasing on January 29, 2019. Buy it here.
11
The Joy of Work
Bruce Daisley
Bruce Daisley is the creator of hit podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat where he talks with leading experts about how we can make our jobs more fulfilling and enjoyable as well as be more productive. In his new book, The Joy Of Work, he shares the results of his research in the form of 30 succinct tips that cover all aspects of office life in the 21st Century. He shares answers to questions like ‘Do lunch breaks make us more productive?”, and “Why meetings are sometimes a waste of time and how can they be fixed?” If you’re seeking a happier work life, this book will point the way.
Releasing on January 29, 2019. Buy it here.
12
Calm the F**k Down
Sarah Knight
From the author of The Life Changing Magic Of Not Giving A F**k, and You Do You, comes her latest offering- Calm The F**k Down. This book is for you if you waste time overthinking things you have no control over, and feel anxious when things don’t go according to plan. Unlike other self-help books, this book does not provide platitudes; instead it tells you that bad stuff will happen to you and shows you what you can do to bounce back. ‘Anti-guru’ Knight’s NoWorries method will help you curb the anxiety and overthinking that’s making everything worse while teaching you how to accept what you can’t control.
Releasing on January 31, 2019. Buy it here.
Disclaimer: Some of these books were previously available on Kindle or as international editions which were available for import. This list features Indian editions of these books, which tend to be more affordable. The information featured here is accurate as of December 21, 2018.
