Book Capsules, May 2025

Win the Inside Game
Steve Magness HarperOne, 320 pp., $28.99

In a high-stress world, many people feel lost, isolated, and overwhelmed. Instead of operating in a constant, high-stress survival mode, Magness, a performance scientist, helps readers shift to a fulfillment- oriented thriving mode that creates sustainable success at a high level. Excellence and fulfillment don't have to be mutually exclusive. To help readers focus on what matters, the author provides a three-part framework: be (clarity on who you are), do (clarity in your pursuits), and belong (clarity on where and how you fit in). It's a practice that seeks not only excellence but also inner and personal growth.

Radical Listening
Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Robert Biswas-DienerBerrett-Koehler, 208 pp., $27.95

Humans must contend with data, digital distractions, and a culture that celebrates talkers over listeners. The starting point for radical listening is to be clear about your intention as the listener. Intentionality distinguishes listening from merely hearing words to a process that actively co-creates meaning and connection. This book outlines six core competencies to improve leadership, foster more collaborative teamwork, and connect more meaningfully with colleagues: noticing, quieting, accepting, acknowledging, questioning, and interjecting. Readers mastering those attributes can reshape how they experience the world and connect with those around them.