Q: When do you know a business book is a GOOD business book?
A: When you’ve been in business for 26 years and you’re reading it for the second time.

That has been my experience with Pricing Strategies for Small Business by Andrew Gregson. The author takes what could be a boring subject and livens it up with bits of trivia, stories, examples, charts, and more. As an example, do you know why businesses price items one penny under the dollar ($9.99 instead of $10.00)? If you believe it is a psychological trick, you will definitely want to read the book.

If you have never been in business you will find this book to be a valuable tool as you establish initial profitable, competitive pricing strategies. For business veterans, the book offers insightful clues as to how to earn even more money by adjusting pricing margins -- sometimes up but also down. Pricing can make or break a small business. As Gregson explains, there is no “one-size-fits-all” pricing strategy, so business owners need to consider all the options for their particular type of business. Available through: www.self-counsel.com

Just in time for its 10th anniversary, Attitudes of Gratitude by M.J. Ryan has been released as a special edition. Packed with short essays and quotes, Attitudes of Gratitude has brought a positive message to readers for the past generation. “Gratitude helps us to return to our natural state of joyfulness,” Ryan writes, “where we notice what’s right instead of what’s wrong. It makes us feel complete, that we have everything we need, at least in this moment.” Available through: www.redwheelweiser.com

From the author of The Paper Bag Christmas, Kevin Alan Milne, comes another heart-melting read: The Nine Lessons. In the novel, the main character, August Witte, is firmly against having children, but after seven years of marriage, his wife is delighted to realize she is unexpectedly pregnant. August is terrified, having never learned the first thing about being a good parent from his father, London. A widower since August was a toddler, London has always valued the game of golf more than his son. In spirte of how he hates the game, when August confronts his father he finds himself agreeing to meet each month of the pregnancy for a round of golf. In exchange, London will give him the only thing that could make August agree to pick up a club again -- memories of his mother that London has written on golf scorecards since the day he met her. August quickly realizes that his father’s motive is not to teach him about golf, but to teach him about life -- and, as August learns -- the old man just might know something about it that’s worth sharing.

This is a beautiful book to tuck into Father’s Day baskets, especially for Dads who love golf. It is also a great gift for a new Dad, a grad, or anyone who loves a novel touched with philosophy and overflowing with values. Published by Center Street, a division of Hatchett Book Group. Available through Center Street and anywhere books are sold. www.centerstreet.com

Puzzle enthusiasts will enjoy testing brain skills with KenDoku -- a new puzzle introduced by the same people who launched KenKen. It combines the features of KenKen with those of sudoku. KenDoku comes in two different grid sizes, 6x6 and 9x9, so everyone can choose the size that best matches the time they want to spend on a puzzle and their own solving skills. Within each grid size the puzzles come in a wide range of levels of difficulty. One of the key features of KenDoku is the fun that can be had from using logic combined with the simple basic arithmetic skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Developed by David Levy & Robert Fuhrer, KenDoku is available through www.sevenfooterpress.com