Book Capsules, August 2025

Accelerating Innovation
Phil Budden and Fiona Murray
MIT Press, 208 pp., $32.95

Workplace leaders are under constant pressure to use rapid advances in technology. However, few of those individuals possess the necessary tools to keep up. This book is a practical source for navigating the innovations that will improve organizations. The authors draw inspiration from innovative places such as Singapore; Perth, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tel Aviv, Israel. The guide equips leaders at all organizational levels with a clear road map to maximize their available resources, stay ahead of the curve, and pass on knowledge to employees to advance their careers.

The Archetype Effect
James RootWiley, 224 pp., $29

This book classifies workers into six major archetypes based on their motivations: givers, operators, explorers, artisans, strivers, and pioneers. Recent disruptions such as gig work, remote work, and artificial-intelligence-assisted automation have affected worker motivators across various roles, industries, and organizations. Root provides a new lens through which to view the paradigm. His research stems from a survey of more than 48,000 individuals from 19 countries. The text also gives employers and their employees a language to discuss their current roles, future choices, and career options.