These books will help you pick up (and stick with!) a new hobby in this year!
If you want to level-up your cake skills
Mali Bakes
Patti Chimkire
Melbourne baker Patti Chimkire is known for the elaborate, colourful and frankly iconic cake decorating skills that make Mali Bakes a cult favourite – and now, with the help of the Mali Bakes book, you can become a piping-bag master too!
The book includes recipes for the delicious flavour combinations that add substance to the incredible style of these retro cakes, as well as tips, tricks and several step-by-step projects to help you become a decorating expert.
If you've been thinking of joining a run club
Run For Your Life
Konrad Marshall
This isn't a how-to guide for making running part of your everyday routine, but if you've been wanting to run more, it will definitely give you the motivation to follow through. Run For Your Life is a chronicle of sport journalist Konrad Marshall's year of running everyday (and he means every day!) and of his conversations with other Australians passionate about running.
His conversation (and running) partners include those already known for their running, like Australia's record-breaking Olympic sprinter Gout Gout, to those better known for the books they've written, like bestselling authors Trent Dalton and Andy Griffiths. This is an uplifting and affirming read, and the perfect boost to get you to actually get up and go to Park Run on a Saturday.
If you want to do more DIY
Home
Harriet Birrell
Home is an environmentally conscious guide to buying less, using less and making more. If you've wanted to experiment with making your own lip balm, laundry detergent or wash cloths, this is the perfect resource to show you how homemade alternatives are more cost-effective and easier to make than you think.
Sections include DIYs for house cleaners, body care and even recipes for delicious plant-based food, so you can experiment with lots of different creations, and feel good about reducing your plastic waste at the same time.
If you want to log-off and reconnect
The Healing Power of Korean Letter Writing
Juhee Mun, translated by Clare Richards
More and more people are keen to put down their screens and get away from the neverending scroll of social media, so now is the perfect time to discover (or rediscover) the beauty of letter writing. In The Healing Power of Korean Letter Writing, Juhee Mun shares the mindful practice and powerful connection that lies in writing letters, and which made his unassuming shop in Seoul – Geulwoll – an international sensation.
This book will motivate you to pick up a pen and be more intentional in how you reach out to and communicate with your loved ones. Forget about etiquette or rules, this is a manifesto on why you should take the time to write, in whatever form that takes for you.
If you always hold onto ticket stubs and want something to do with them
A Year of Junk Journaling
Martina Calvi
This fun and adorable book includes 52 prompts to guide you through your junk journaling journey, and to help you stick with the hobby through 2026 and beyond!
The ethos of junk journaling is to embrace the everyday, to forget about seeking perfection, and to get creative just for the fun of it. If that sounds appealing, this book will certainly leave you inspired, liberated and with lots of ideas for what to do with the paper scraps and aesthetic stationery you've been hoarding.
If you want to make your own pickles and preserves
The Japanese Art of Pickling & Fermenting
Yoko Nakazawa
If you love the vinegar tang of a pickle, or are looking to make your veggies go further, this culinary handbook is for you. Yoko Nakazawa shares generations' worth of knowledge that has been passed down in her family, and gently guides readers through every part of the process, from working out how much salt to use, to how to chop your vegetables for best results.
Not only is this book a perfect crash course in everything you need to know to get started, but the personal stories Nakazawa shares will inspire you, and keep you excited about trying new things on your pickling and fermenting journey.
If you're interested in stargazing
A Guide to the Night Sky
Dr Sara Webb
Whether you've always been into astronomy, or you're looking for a whimsical hobby with no screen time, this book is everything you need to start your stargazing journey! Dr Sara Webb – an Australian astrophysicist and lecturer at Swinburne University – takes readers through the history of astronomy and stargazing across human cultures, the deep-space objects visible in our galaxy, and the lore behind each constellation visible in the night sky.
Plus, with practical tips on how to actually view the stars, even without a telescope, this is truly a perfect beginner's guide to learning about the stars.
If you want to make your own clothes
Knits to Wear
Veronika Lindberg
Knit wearable pieces for your daily wardrobe with the help of Finnish knitter Veronika Lindberg (a.k.a. kutovakika). These chic, scandi patterns are both approachable for a variety of knitting skills (yes, even beginners) and have the versatility to become wardrobe staples. The colourwork techniques and styling tips Lindberg offers also mean you'll be left with the skills to remake and personalise the patterns in whatever way makes them most wearable for you!
