December 2025 list by Angie R. |
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Crochet Scandinavian Christmas Gnomes: Miniatures for the Mischievous Gnome in Your Home
by Annelie Kojic
Crochet your own Scandinavian Christmas gnomes! Inspired by Nordic folklore, these playful holiday visitors bring magic and mischief to your home. Learn to crochet a gnome door, plus sitting and dangling gnomes with charming accessories—snowmen, trees, boots, and tiny treats—for cozy winter scenes. With 21 step-by-step patterns, you can mix and match designs to create your own festive tradition. Perfect as a handmade gift or a new holiday hobby, Crochet Scandinavian Christmas Gnomes adds whimsy and warmth to the season.
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The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life
by Mark Nepo
As the years go by, this question becomes more and more real. Now in his seventies, poet and philosopher Mark Nepo explores the rhythms of the second half of life. As we age, We are led to what the Chinese call the fifth season--that moment in late summer when the glare of the sun fades so that we can see clearly the true colors around us. The Fifth Season offers Mark's wise and gentle insights on growing older, helping readers identify the second half of life as a turning point, a time of integration and transformation that guides us in making sense of our experiences. All seasons lead to this season; all experiences lead to this understanding of experience.
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Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy
by Joyce Vance
Giving Up Is Unforgivable by Joyce Vance is a timely call to action, blending history, law, and political insight to address the erosion of democratic norms. With hope and practical guidance, Vance empowers readers to stay engaged, understand the stakes, and strengthen democracy in the face of unprecedented challenges.
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Guided: The Secret Path to an Illuminated Life
by Laura Lynne Jackson
Guided by Laura Lynne Jackson reveals how our loved ones continue to communicate from the Other Side, helping us discover purpose, connection, and meaning. Blending spiritual insight with moving real-life stories, Jackson shows how embracing this guidance can lead to an illuminated life of peace, creativity, and alignment with our highest path.
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The Look
by Michelle Obama
The Look is Michelle Obama's inspiring reflection on how fashion has shaped her public and personal journey. Featuring over 200 beautiful photos, she shares the stories behind her most memorable outfits--from the campaign trail to the White House and beyond--along with insights from her trusted stylists and designers. More than a celebration of style, the book explores how clothing can express confidence, purpose, and authenticity.
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The Milk Street Cookbook: The Definitive Guide to the New Home Cooking, with Every Recipe from the TV Show, 2017-2026
by Christopher Kimball
Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street offers nearly 700 simple, flavorful recipes from his TV show and cookbooks, all tested for home cooks. With approachable ingredients, step-by-step guidance, and full-color photos, it covers salads, soups, mains, and desserts—making bold, high-quality cooking easy for any skill level.
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Music from Peanuts Holiday Specials: Piano Solo
by Vince Guaraldi
Celebrate the seasons with the timeless charm of the Peanuts gang! Music from Peanuts Holiday Specials brings together 20 unforgettable selections from five classic TV specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
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Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past
by Brian Earl
For a celebration as old as Christmas, it's no surprise that many traditions have come and gone--what often is a surprise is just what some of those traditions were. This book reveals these traditions and will appeal to anyone whose Christmas spirit includes a healthy dose of curiosity.
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The Outward Path: The Wisdom of the Aztecs
by Sebastian Purcell
The Outward Path presents Aztec philosophy for living a meaningful life through connection and engagement with others. Offering twelve lessons and seven exercises, it provides practical guidance on decision-making, willpower, love, and resilience—an Aztec-inspired self-help guide for the modern world.
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The Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions: How to Make Decisions Without Losing Your Mind
by Joseph Nguyen
Your brain is wired to overthink decisions--not because something's wrong with you, but because you care deeply about making the right choice. If you've ever found yourself trapped in endless loops of "what if," analyzing every option to exhaustion, or seeking everyone's advice while still feeling lost...this book is your way out. The Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions breaks new ground where "just trust your gut" advice has failed you. Unlike traditional approaches that leave you stranded between endless analysis and vague intuition, this book provides a counterintuitive system that bypasses the overthinking loop entirely. This isn't about making perfect choices. It's about making aligned ones from a place of clarity instead of chaos.
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Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World's Greatest Mentalist
by Oz Pearlman
A New York Times bestseller, Read Your Mind shares mentalist Oz Pearlman’s most effective strategies for influence, confidence, and connection. Drawing on three decades of performing and studying human behavior, Pearlman offers practical, easy-to-learn tools to understand people, build trust, strengthen memory, and overcome fears and self-doubt. Through stories and actionable techniques, he teaches readers how to master influence, sharpen emotional and cognitive intelligence, and break through mental blocks. You don’t need to be a mentalist to change your life—just learn to think like one.
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Rewinding the '80s: Cinema Under the Influence of Music Videos, Action Stars, and a Cold War
by John Malahy
Rewinding the '80s is a lively, illustrated journey through the decade’s cinema, exploring hundreds of films and the cultural shifts they reflected. From blockbusters like E.T. and Top Gun to indie hits, animation, and emergent LGBTQ+ cinema, John Malahy offers witty, insightful profiles of the movies, filmmakers, and stars that defined an era of change and nostalgia.
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Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much
by Cynthia Erivo
In this honest and inspiring book, performer Cynthia Erivo shares life lessons drawn from her personal journey onstage and off. Through intimate vignettes, she shows how embracing the parts of ourselves we’re told to hide can lead to our fullest potential. Reflecting on challenges—from marathon training to major performances—she encourages readers to pursue their dreams, trust their bodies, and take steady steps toward the lives they want.
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Snow Be It!: How to Make a Wreath and 29 Other Fun Christmas Activities
by Thomas Linkins
Learn how to make the perfect holiday wreath to adorn your front door with a step-by-step guide. Then move onto other holiday activities like making an advent calendar; preparing a custom snack tray to leave out for Santa; building a sturdy snowman; and trimming a tree to perfection. Then turn your attention to crafting the perfect festive table, whipping up some steaming mulled wine, eggnog, or a fizzy festive cocktail to entertain your guests, before impressing them all with a showstopping feast with all the trimmings.
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Something from Nothing: A Cookbook
by Alison Roman
New York Times bestselling author Alison Roman gives you a collection of simple, smart, timeless recipes that rely on a home cook's best kept secret: a well-stocked pantry. Making the most of your shelf-stable bottles, bags, jars, and cans, Alison shows you how to cook as she does--loosely, intuitively, and with maximum flavor. With each recipe you'll fall deeper in love with the magic of pantry cooking by using flavorful, hardworking ingredients, leaving you to ask, 'How did something so wonderful come from basically nothing?'
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We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir
by Anthony Hopkins
We Did OK, Kid is Anthony Hopkins’s candid memoir, tracing his journey from a challenging Welsh childhood to an acclaimed acting career. Reflecting on triumphs, struggles with alcoholism, and personal loss, Hopkins shares an intimate story of resilience, vulnerability, and artistic devotion.
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