Intangibles

Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry

By: Joan Ryan

Narrated by: Joan Ryan

From baseball to biology, an award-winning journalist highlights the power of team chemistry in this "terrific" data-driven investigation of human relationships (Billie Jean King).
Does team chemistry actually exist? Is there scientific or mathematical proof? Is team chemistry as real and relevant as on-base percentages and wins above replacement?
In Joan Ryan's groundbreaking book we discover that the answer to all of the above is a resounding yes. As Ryan puts it, team chemistry, or the combination of biological and social forces that boosts selfless effort among more players over more days of a season, is what drives sports teams toward a common goal, encouraging the players to be the best versions of themselves. These are the elements of teams that make them "click," the ones that foster trust and respect, and push players to exceed their own potential when they work well together.
Team chemistry alone won't win a World Series, but talent alone won't win it, either. And by interviewing more than 100 players, coaches, managers, and statisticians, as well as over five years of extensive research in neuroscience, biology, physiology, and psychology, Ryan proves that the social and emotional state of a team does affect performance. Grit, passion, selflessness, and effort matter -- but never underestimate the power of chemistry.

Critic reviews

"A book mixing the deeply emotional with the highly technical, presented with the kind of sensitive, authoritative touch readers came to expect from Ryan."—San Francisco Chronicle

"Fascinating mix of reportage and clinical research...Ryan's cogent, persuasive effort will give sports fans much food for thought."—Publishers Weekly

"Nuanced...complex...All of this makes for a mind-opening study that extends far beyond the confines of any ballpark."—Booklist

"Ever since the wave of analytics began to dominate decision-making in baseball, many insiders have been worried that human connections were being marginalized and stripped out of the game. In a compelling way, Intangibles settles the debate about the merits and validity of the role team chemistry plays in enhancing individual, and ultimately team performance."—Vince Gennaro, President of the Societyfor American Baseball Research (SABR) and Associate Professor at the NYU TischInstitute for Sports Management, Media, and Business

"Team chemistry is real and it impacts performance. Now we know the why and the how. With terrific storytelling and deep research into the science of human relationships, Joan Ryan has delivered the seminal work on the capacity of teams - in sports, business or otherwise - to summon the best from one another.''—Billie Jean King,founder of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative

"Team chemistry is no longer valued in baseball today, which is a big mistake. It is crucial for every team; it is critical to winning. Joan Ryan explains what team chemistry actually is and how it affects performance in this fascinating and important book. The voices in here are powerful. This should be required reading for every general manager of every major league team.''—Tim Kurkjian, seniorbaseball writer/analyst, ESPN

"In this entrancing book, Joan Ryan goes on a deep dive into both the human brain and the locker room and delivers a compelling, surprising look at the nature of team chemistry, and its dramatic impact on the sports we love. Outstanding work."—Rob Neyer, author of Powerball

"In a laboratory, chemistry can be defined. But when it comes to personal and team dynamics, chemistry is among the things about which it can be said: "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it." While a precise definition will always be elusive, Joan Ryan's lively, thoughtful, and carefully reported book brings us much closer to an understanding of what team chemistry is and can be."—Bob Costas

Team Chemistry Is Real, and It Matters

Intangibles falls into the rare category sports books that can actually make you a better person. It has the kind of insights about teamwork, leadership, and performance that are useful to anyone that part of a team of any kind (which, one could argue, is everyone).

More than just a collection of sports stories - though it has plenty of those - Intangibles tries to get at the heart of what really makes great teams function. It's not a completist, subject-closing book, but rather a kind of proof that there are worlds of work across many disciplines that still needs to be done on the topic.

Intangibles, along with the also-excellent Captain Class by Sam Walker, are the types of books that you give to someone that you care about and who you want to see succeed. Give it to a young person that's joining a new team. Give it to a slightly older person that just got their first leadership position. It has the kind of direct, real-life applicability that can help benefit them - and you - in tangible ways. (And, if you're anything like me, it'll really make you regret a few times when you might have been a bad teammate, lol.)

Also, as a smaller note, Ryan is an excellent reader as well, and she makes a case for why it's good to have authors read their own work. She injects her narration with the kind of humor and character that an actor just couldn't authentically replicate.

Good Book!

Highly recommend. It’s a very interesting look at team chemistry and the different roles players play on a team.

A fun read into the art rather than science of teams

Thanks Joan for writing this book. The importance of team chemistry brings a lifelong lesson beyond just sports. While statistics have permeated sports and have placed a scientific view of players, the intangibles such as team chemistry mentioned on this book takes a refreshing look at teams and humanizes how we look at them.

Intangibles

Best book I have read! Tons of research and information. A must read

Thank you