Books of the Month - Non-Fiction

The inspiring story of a young man whose wisdom and strength can teach us that life isn’t about the hand you’re dealt, but how you choose to play it. Sixteen-year-old Alex Noble was a high school rugby star with a promising sporting career ahead of him when an on-field injury left him fighting for his life in the ICU. Following a four-day coma and a diagnosis of C4 quadriplegia, Alex’s first words to his brother Zac were, ‘If I fight, you fight.’ These words became a war cry as Alex’s friends, family and community rallied around him, watching in awe as he fought to regain control over his body and defy his diagnosis. From learning to breathe and move again to travelling the world, starting his own business, and even going skydiving, Alex’s story is about the power of mastering your own mind, finding happiness and taking risks to achieve your goals – no matter how out of reach they may seem. Full of warmth, humour and insight, this is a book that will teach you principles to live your life by, written by a young man who has put them into practice. I Fight, You Fight is so much more than an inspiring memoir – it’s a philosophy for living life to the fullest.

Nicole Maguire is the cook behind the hugely successful home-cooking hub Simple Home Edit, where she shares her delicious, budget-friendly recipes and clever, simple systems that will streamline your weekly plan, shop and cook, saving you money and sanity. More than a million Australian home cooks already love Nicole's simple dinner ideas. And her much-anticipated debut cookbook is a mantra in keeping it simple, with more than 80 mouth-watering dinners. Speedy weeknight lifesavers include one-pan peanut chicken, cheat's laksa and speedy san choy bao. Family favourites using everyday ingredients include butter chicken, classic smash burgers and Greek chicken and rice; and make dinner fun again with fish tacos, spring rolls and beef quesadillas. With brilliant tips at every turn on how to freeze or turn leftovers into a second meal, Nicole makes getting on top of your weekly dinners a breeze..

Find the motivation to live your best life and get into your best shape with social media influencer Zac Perna Consider this your own personal (and hilarious) road map to becoming a lean and happy good influence in your own life. Let's begin. People worldwide know fitness guru Zac Perna for his informative, motivating, curious and very funny social media content. In this book Zac goes deeper, wider and more intimate than ever before. With lots of information about diet, nutrition, exercise and fitness, Zac also reflects on pivotal lessons he's learned about confidence, resilience and what it takes to create something tangible out of your dreams. Zac has done the hard work so you don't have to struggle through the same journey - he has great insights and a host of practical tips learned through perseverance and keen observation. Drawing on his experience establishing a mega social media brand, a hugely success ful fitness-coaching business, the Slouch Potato pyjama brand and his extensive health knowledge, Zac offers life lessons through intimately personal and at times unbelievable anecdotes that will make you laugh, reflect on your own life, then laugh some more. Perfect for fans of James Smith and Ant Middleton, Good Influence is here to help you create healthy habits and to live your best life.234.

The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last. About the Author: Multi-platinum, Grammy Award–winning pop icon Britney Spears is one of the most successful and celebrated entertainers in music history, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide. In 2021, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Spears’s album Blackout was added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Library & Archives in 2012.

This is the powerful, untold inside story of Silverchair, Australia's most awarded musical act, told by two of its three members. From their beginnings in Ben Gillies' garage, this trio of high school kids from Newcastle, New South Wales, became famous with their smash-hit single 'Tomorrow', setting them on a path to domination of the Australian charts, worldwide touring and fame. So much has been written about Silverchair over the years but very little has been said by the band's members. In Love & Pain, childhood friends Ben Gillies (drummer) and Chris Joannou (bass player) tell us the tales that Silverchair's fans have never heard, about how the band started, how they worked together and how they ended up. There are some funny, unforgettable rock 'n' roll stories, along with all the love and pain that came with being in the band: the cost of fame and intense pressure on teenagers who had no way of preparing for it; the navigation of their friendships with each other and their relationships with friends and family members; the mistakes they made and the successes they cherished. Gillies and Joannou write with vulnerability and blistering honesty, making this an extraordinary account of a band adored by so many.

Jamie's most popular cookbook goes Mediterranean in this mouth-watering follow-up People keep asking Jamie for another 5 Ingredients book and this is the answer. Over 120 utterly delicious, easy-to-follow recipes, this time inspired by Jamie's travels to the Mediterranean. It's all about making every day cooking super-exciting, with minimal fuss, while transporting you to sunnier climes. Recipes that empower you to make big-flavour food, but without copious amounts of ingredients, long shopping lists or loads of washing up. 65% of the recipes are meat-free and all offer maximum flavour. With chapters on Veg, Pasta, Fish, Seafood, Pies and Parcels, Soups and Sarnies, Meat, Chicken and Sweet Things, it will have readers coming back for more, seven days a week..

A daily devotional full of inspiring quotes and advice for fathers - from the bestselling author of The Daily Stoic 'Make this book a morning ritual.' - Matthew McConaughey 'A simple way to ground us, to force a reflection on the choices we're making, and the ones we want to make. And it's not just for dads.' - Emily Oster, author, Cribsheet What does it mean to be a great father? And how do you become one? Parenting is a role filled with meaning and purpose, but every dad needs guidance: because fatherhood is not a one-off, it is something you do every day. Instead of a parenting book you read once as a sleep-deprived new parent, The Daily Dad provides 366 accessible meditations on fatherhood, one for each day of the year. Drawing quotes from history, literature and psychology, bestselling author Ryan Holiday - a father of two himself - has crafted a daily practice that will help dads old and new to find inspiration and advice. Each entry offers a memorable lesson on being the role model your child needs, rooted in timeless principles. From Socrates to Martin Luther King Jr., ancient philosophy to contemporary figures, The Daily Dad collates wisdom from around the world to help every dad face the day-to-day challenges in the lifelong job of parenting, and ultimately become the best father they can be.