PRINTED WORD REVIEWS
Printed Word Reviews' TOP Picks: A Season of Insight and Imagination
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Printed Word Reviews (PWR) is proud to unveil its list of TOP Picks this season, a curated collection of award-winning and critically acclaimed titles that span the full spectrum of human experience and imagination. This year's list highlights books that offer transformative insights into leadership, social impact, and personal growth—from Dr. William Keyes IV's testament to mentorship in “The Stories They Hear” and the timely legacy reflection in “What is My Legacy?” by Martin Luther King III et al., to guides on modern influence and ethical investing like Lida Citroën's “The New Rules of Influence” and Marcia Dawood's “Do Good While Doing Well.” Terence Ang embarks on a poetic journey of resilience and transformation in "Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story." Beyond non-fiction, readers can journey into gripping fiction and breathtaking art, including the literary epic “Wild Fox Ridge” and the essential art history work “The Female Gaze in Art and Photography,” plus enchanting children's stories like “Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!” and “Words.” Whether you're seeking guidance on achieving greater heights with Tony Jeton Selimi's “Climb Greater Heights,” a beautifully illustrated tale like Amanda Hall's "Song of the Raven," or gripping literary thrillers such as Stephanie Bretherton's “The Fire In Their Eyes” and Roselyn Teukolsky's “A Reluctant Spy,” this diverse collection of books offers the best of the season.
The Stories They Hear: Expecting Greatness as the Key to Success
by Dr. William Keyes IV
“The Stories They Hear:” is a profound testament to the power of mentorship and the impact one visionary program has had on America's best and brightest African American male college students.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781646871834
What is My Legacy? by Martin Luther King III, et al.
To heal a world in crisis, we must rethink “legacy”—and commit to something bigger than ourselves. Martin, wife and fellow activist Arndrea Waters King, legacy architects Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger, explore a new way forward. Based on the simple but profound recognition that our small, day-to-day actions create legacies that have the power to transform, uplift and unite us all. Living Legacy invites us to live our best lives and lives larger than ourselves—and in doing so, discover the most sought-after yet elusive state of being: fulfillment.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/97819647210950
Do Good While Doing Well - Invest for Change, Reap Financial Rewards and Increase your Happiness by Marcia Dawood
If you're eager to make a lasting, meaningful difference but are unsure how to begin, “Do Good While Doing Well” is the guide to maximizing your impact, designed for changemakers ready to take action. It expands the definition of social good beyond traditional charity by demonstrating how angel investing offers an additional, powerful pathway to creating lasting, meaningful change.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9798891381247
The New Rules of Influence: How to Authentically Build Trust, Drive Change, and Make an Impact by Lida Citroën
The outdated rules of influence, symbolized by the "power tie," are no longer effective for modern leadership. Today's successful leaders embrace a new paradigm of executive presence built on bold mission, transparency, passion, authenticity, and honesty. Lida Citroën helps leaders navigate this shift by offering practical guidance on how to connect genuinely with others and foster inclusivity.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781523006663
Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT! by Jill Rosen
From the author of "Ode to a Pug" comes a new, adorably illustrated story starring the hilarious, gassy little pug, Phoebe. The first in a new series, this book follows Phoebe's silly antics as she grapples with sharing the spotlight after an unexpected new member joins the household. This laugh-out-loud, read-aloud story is perfect for children aged 2-8 and animal lovers of all ages. https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781069226105
Words by Katherine Davis-Gibbon, Illustrated by Anne Berry
In a charming exploration of language, children discover that words, much like people, can surprise us with their warmth and depth, transforming our understanding of communication and connection. "Words," invites readers on a fascinating journey into the very essence of language.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781737957690
Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President's Taste by Adrian Miller and Deborah Chang
The first ever history of the many Asian Heritage chefs who have prepared meals for the presidents at the White House, at State Dinners, on Presidential Yachts, and at Camp David. From navy stewards to Executive White House Chefs, the presidential service of these chefs extends back more than a century and continues to the present day, yet many of their names are largely unknown.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781950273683
The Female Gaze in Art and Photography by Anita Selzer
Historically, male artists have re-presented women through their eyes. The Female Gaze in Art and Photography redresses this imbalance, looking at art through women’s eyes. It shines a light on the work of twenty contemporary women artists and photographers from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and United States of America, placing these creatives and their works center stage.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781743799925
Climb Greater Heights by Tony Jeton Selimi
An award-winning author and transformational coach, Selimi presents "Climb Greater Heights," a comprehensive guide that empowers entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and achieve lasting success through his 12-Step Growth Accelerator Method.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9798765261378
Federal Resume Guidebook, 8th Edition by Kathryn Troutman
A comprehensive guide to crafting impactful 2-page federal resumes, emphasizing keyword integration, accomplishment storytelling, and strategic formatting to enhance job seekers' chances in the competitive federal job market.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781733407687
Joyous Longevity: The A-Z Field Guide by Sieglinde Othmer
In "Joyous Longevity," Othmer shares her personal journey and practical strategies for embracing aging with positivity and purpose, offering readers a vibrant roadmap to a fulfilling life at any age.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781737602804
Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story by Terence Ang
After surviving a life-altering stroke, Ang embarks on a poetic journey of resilience and transformation, illuminating the path from darkness to light and offering solace to those navigating their own profound changes.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9798308508892
The Circus and the Atom by Joseph Howse
In the midst of the USSR's turbulent thaw, a drama student, a taxi driver, and an exile navigate personal dilemmas and political unrest in Kiev as they prepare for a New Year celebration that intertwines their fates and reveals the resilience of family and friendship.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781738788613
COLORSCAPES by Lee Woodman
In "Colorscapes," Woodman weaves a vibrant tapestry of poetry that explores the emotional and historical significance of colors through personal reflections and artistic inspirations.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781962082860
Song of the Raven: An Inuit Tale of Harmony with Nature by Amanda Hall
A beautifully illustrated Inuit tale by Amanda Hall that tells the story of how the raven created the world and how a young boy must restore the sun after humanity's disrespect for nature plunges the Earth into darkness. The book is a powerful reminder of the importance of living in harmony with the natural world, featuring a moral message wrapped in a stunning visual experience.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781957670041
Foresight by Craig Ford
A talented young hacker, Samantha "Foresight" Erkhart, navigates the dangerous world of cybercrime and unexpected alliances as she battles a crime syndicate and a mysterious hacker known as Shadow, all while grappling with her own identity and the shadows of her past.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781922751461
The Third Act by Kathleen Brehony
A Story of Rekindled Romance and Healing, the novel delves into the complexities of love, loss, and rediscovery, offering a mature story perfect for readers who appreciate nuanced LGBTQ romance and journeys of personal growth. Set against the serene backdrop of a beachside resort owned by the protagonist's family, the narrative unfolds primarily in the present day, interwoven with reflections on the past, creating a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences.
https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9798339914860
The Fire In Their Eyes by Stephanie Bretherton
The second book in The Children of Sarah series, a literary eco-thriller that moves across dual timelines and multiple global locations. It follows geneticist Dr. Eloise Kluft as she battles a terrifying emerging biological threat found in the Arctic, while also exploring the struggles of an ageing shaman in prehistoric Kenya who foresees danger for her tribe. The novel weaves together themes of science, spirituality, human nature, and the long-term impact of our shared heritage.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781068718571
A Reluctant Spy by Roselyn Teukolsky
When young computer scientist Madeline Geiger's husband dies under suspicious circumstances, she is persuaded by the FBI to go undercover in her university's department to find the source of encryption software used by an illicit pornography ring. Though an introverted "nerd" and not a spy, Madeline must quickly learn to navigate a shadowy world of academic intrigue, discovering devastating secrets about her late husband and co-workers. To survive the killer who is onto her and has already murdered once, Madeline must outwit her antagonist in a deadly game.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781967036004
The Perfumer's Secret by Neroli Lacey
Debut novel, “The Perfumer's Secret,” is a mesmerizing work of women's fiction set in the perfume capital of Grasse, France. The story follows Zandy Watson, a documentary maker who is forced to film a "puff piece" on a 300-year-old perfume house, where she falls for the debonair heir, Dominique Severin. Zandy's pursuit of truth forces her to choose between exposing a devastating secret about the family business—upholding her journalistic integrity—or protecting the man she loves and the lives dependent on the company.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781647427641
Wild Fox Ridge by Xue Mo
A genre-defying, historical mystery and literary epic set in the deserts of western China. The novel centers on the baffling disappearance of two large Mongolian and Han Chinese camel caravans—smuggling arms and goods to aid an uprising against the Qing Dynasty—a century prior.
The narrator attempts to solve this mystery by summoning the spirits of the lost caravan through an ancient ritual, chronicling their fragmented stories in 27 surreal "interviews" with ghosts, warriors, bandits, and even camels. Blending magical realism with historical accounts, the book explores profound themes of fate, desire, betrayal, failed revolution, and the cyclical nature of human existence across the boundaries of life and death.
