INTANGIBLES Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry

Sportswriter Joan Ryan is a first-time narrator, and she makes a fine debut in this thoughtful look at whether team chemistry is a real phenomenon or simply a myth. Can a bond between players really turn a merely good team into a champion? Ryan explores this idea with a healthy mix of scientific rigor and entertaining anecdotes, consulting both scientists and athletes. Her narrative focuses on the San Francisco Giants, a team she's covered as a reporter, and her interviews with former players Jonny Gomes (a poster boy for team chemistry) and Barry Bonds (the polar opposite) are nuanced and revealing. She occasionally chuckles at her own jokes, but this comes across as endearing and adds warmth to a polished reading. D.B. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2020]