Do Your Future Self a Favor. Pre-Order These Two Reads.

Dear Readers,

As a publishing professional, not to mention an avid reader, I’m used to listings for books that aren’t yet for sale. But every so often, an upcoming title makes me particularly impatient for its release day. With that sense of anticipation, I’m sharing two upcoming reads you need to pre-order today. These titles are as different as they are inspiring, with something for every reader to find value in.

The first is the unforgettable true story of a man’s perseverance and generosity in the face of uncertainty. Meet Hamid Andalib, the author of The Secret of the Long Spoon: A Wholehearted American’s Unconventional Road Map from Survival to Significance. During Iran’s 1978 Revolution, Andalib gained a ticket to freedom thanks to a via lottery and made it to the U.S. with only a few hundred dollars to his name. he ultimately purchased the huge restaurant where he had washed dishes and went on to build a $120 million company, be inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and receive the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He credits his success to the lessons learned from the parable of the long spoon: the story of a spoon too long to feed yourself and made instead to feed others. Having spent time with Hamid, he is the real deal, with generosity that is absolutely infectious.

The second title is for anyone who’s been made to feel they’re past their prime. Playwright, speaker, author and professor Dr. Dorothy Marcic, author of the upcoming book Blooming: What 100 Women Over 50 Can Teach You About Aging Fearlessly, says women over 50 should get ready for the best chapter of their lives. drawing on interviews with more than 120 women ages 40 to 94, along with decades of research in psychology, sociology and adult development, Dr. Dorothy demolishes the most persistent myths about aging women and replaces them with the truth: the years after 50 can bring unprecedented confidence, creativity, freedom and joy. Through vivid personal stories, scientific research and practical exercises, Marcic guides readers through the full landscape of the Grande Dame years. She explores overcoming age stereotypes, deepening self-awareness, finding new purpose and navigating menopause and relationships, revealing that what others call “decline” is often the beginning of a vibrant stage.

With wisdom gathered from women around the world — artists, executives, professors, coaches, nurses and activists — Blooming is both a celebration and a call to action, inviting women to stop taking on others’ limitations for them and start designing a life worthy of who they have become. Complete with fortune-cookie and reflective exercises throughout, this book is for every woman ready to step into her authority — and claim her place as a Grande Dame.

One is a memoir that recalls the past and presents a future for the American Dreamer; the other is a guidebook that leads women into a positive, fulfilling future. Both are equally essential readers. Don’t let these books slip through your fingers — pre-order now, and your future self will thank you.