New Book Releases for the Week of July 22, 2025
Featuring new releases from Paul Vigna, Sarah Stein Lubrano, Richard Shear, and Minda Harts.
Certain topics have been labeled taboo for what's considered polite conversation: money, politics, race, et cetera. But we're not shying away from them this week! Whether you find these topics fascinating, controversial, or both, our latest batch of new releases will dive right in and give you fresh material to talk about.
The Porchlight staff members choosing books each week include Porchlight's Managing Director, Sally Haldorson, and the marketing team of Gabbi Cisneros, Jasmine Gonzalez, and Dylan Schleicher. As expert booksellers, we browse publisher catalogs and explore new titles from across the book industry to discover what captures our interest, and we're excited to share our findings with readers like you.
Unless otherwise noted, all book descriptions are provided by their respective publishers.
Our Recommended Books This Week
Sally's pick: The Almightier: How Money Became God, Greed Became Virtue, and Debt Became Sin by Paul Vigna, published by St. Martin's Press
The complete story of how we came to worship money, and how we can stop greed from destroying everything.
The pursuit of wealth is considered an essential function of human nature, and greed is an unspoken civic virtue. Many of us revere billionaires and Wall Street rain-makers, then complain about “the system” being rigged, and wonder why the country doesn’t seem to work for the little guy anymore. Some blame the Deep State for income inequality and corruption, and others blame capitalism, but the truth is that these issues have much deeper roots: our devotion to money is a manmade invention that has transformed over thousands of years to replace religion as the foundation of our society, and it is tearing civilization apart.
In The Almightier, journalist Paul Vigna uncovers the forgotten history of money, tracing the uneasy and often accidental alliance between wealth and religion as it developed from ancient city-states to today’s secular world, where religious devotion has receded and greed has stepped in to fill the void. Through engaging anecdotes, original research, and fresh perspectives on the causes of the many challenges we face today, Vigna makes a compelling argument that money has no power apart from the power we give it.
We can build a better future, where don’t need to choose between helping others and getting ahead. But we can’t repair the damage that greed has done until we understand how it took over our world in the first place.
Gabbi's pick: Don't Talk About Politics: How to Change 21st-Century Minds by Sarah Stein Lubrano, published by Bloomsbury Continuum
“Don’t talk about politics” is a common piece of advice. Like religion, money and sex, it’s a subject that causes arguments, creates division and leaves everyone feeling awkward. In fact, as this radical, groundbreaking work of sociology, based on the latest neuroscience, shows: talking about politics is pointless. We spend our lives watching political arguments unfold on social media and the news on a daily basis, and yet despite all the speeches, opinion pieces and protests, most people will not change their political views over the course of their lifetime. We might believe in the power of rational debates and impassioned demonstrations, but as Sarah Stein Lubrano argues, as much as we like to think that they convince people – they don’t.
Everything that we’re doing now in politics is wrong. If we want to reduce prejudice and get people engaging more in democracy, we need to get rid of all our old ideas. Sarah Stein Lubrano brings together psychology, neuroscience and political theory to ask that all-important question, what actually does change our minds? This is an essential book for anyone who wants to understand how we think, and the unknown factors that do influence our beliefs. From friendship to community organizing and social infrastructure, Sarah Stein Lubrano explores a rich history of powerful political movements that have changed the world to show us how we can do the same today.
Dylan's pick: A History of Brands: Origins of Consumer Markets by Richard Shear, published by Rockport Publishers
A History of Brands explores the evolution of iconic brands, offering a captivating journey through the milestones that have shaped global commerce and culture.
In this comprehensive guide, Shear traces the origins and growth of some of the world’s most recognizable brands. He delves into how branding has transitioned from simple logos and trademarks to complex systems of identity and meaning that connect with consumers on a global scale.
In A History of Brands, you’ll explore:
- Brand Origins: Learn about the early days of branding, from ancient symbols of ownership to the birth of modern trademarks.
- Iconic Brands: Discover the stories behind some of the most successful and influential brands in history, including their breakthroughs, challenges, and reinventions.
- Cultural Impact: Understand how brands reflect and shape cultural values, influencing everything from consumer behavior to global trends.
- Technological Shifts: Examine how advancements in technology—from mass production to digital marketing—have transformed the branding landscape.
- The Future of Brands: Gain insights into emerging trends and the future of branding in a rapidly changing world.
A History of Brands is more than just a history book; it’s a deep dive into the forces that have shaped modern commerce and consumer culture. Richard Shear’s expertise and engaging storytelling make this a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of business, culture, and history. Whether you’re looking to understand the origins of your favorite brands or seeking inspiration for your own brand strategy, this book offers invaluable perspectives.
Jasmine's pick: Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace by Minda Harts, published by Flatiron Books
We are living in a world of broken trust, especially in the workplace. Employees have heard too many empty promises and are unmotivated. Managers are scrambling to keep eyes on direct reports in demanding environments. Nobody knows how to talk to one another. Trust is the central pillar of any functioning workplace. But without it too many of us are unhappy, fed up, and ready to walk out the door.
Minda Harts knows from years of experience as a highly sought-after workplace consultant how a lack of trust between colleagues, managers, and executive leaders is bad for business and our own professional well-being. That’s where the seven workplace trust languages come into play. Earning trust is different for every one of us. Some respond well to verbal affirmations of their contributions, while others need visibility to see how business decisions are made. By understanding the seven languages of trust—transparency, security, demonstration, feedback, acknowledgment, sensitivity, and follow-through—we can all learn to navigate conflict, be more productive, and communicate more effectively.
In Talk to Me Nice, you’ll learn what workplace trust languages work for you and how to show colleagues, managers, and direct reports that they are valued. When we’re talking one another’s languages, we can rebuild a more equitable, sustainable, and profitable workplace that works for us all.
Buy these recommended new book releases and more directly from Porchlight Book Company.
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