A pragmatic, thoughtful guide to better leadership through self-awareness.
An insightful guide for leaders that recommends practicing personal growth strategies to improve the workplace.
Naish, an executive coach, believes that “personal transformation leads to organizational transformation.” She introduces her “Level Up Your Leadership” model, comprising three parts: Essentials, Core Questions, and Foundational Practices. Each section reinforces the others in a dynamic cycle of leadership growth called the Level Up Loop. Part One, “Master the Essentials,” discusses what she considers the leadership basics: awareness, curiosity, and acceptance. Awareness can be cultivated by observing feelings, shifting self-talk, and being mindful of one’s beliefs. Curiosity encourages asking questions, checking assumptions, and listening deeply. Acceptance keeps people grounded and reminds them that “reality is an interpretation, not necessarily ‘the truth.’” Through analogies, such as the “leadership gym,” Naish frames these qualities as skills that can be strengthened through practice. Part Two: “Ask Core Questions” invites readers to contemplate “Where Am I?” “What’s My Role?” “What’s Important Now?” and “Who Am I?” Secondary prompts like “What’s my story?” and “Where can I add the most value?” deepen reflection. Part Three, “Adopt Foundational Practices,” notes that mindsets matter and readers should appreciate and celebrate, pause, rest, and replenish; embrace resistance; acknowledge their feelings; become comfortable with being uncomfortable; and remain unattached to the outcome. These practices enable leaders to navigate challenges, cultivate resilience, and strengthen their relationships. Concepts like the “3 A’s” (acknowledge, assess, and adapt) help leaders detach from disappointment and eliminate drama. Naish concludes by reminding readers, “You can be and do more than you think you can.”
Naish consistently offers actionable and accessible advice that professionals across various industries and leadership levels can implement. Her innovative approach—self-improvement leads to better leadership—shifts the focus from what leaders do to who leaders are. The supportive tone emphasizes incremental progress, encouraging managers to focus on consistent practice rather than quick fixes. “Moments to Practice” and “Invitations” throughout the book make self-improvement feel like a collaborative effort between the author and the reader. Naish illustrates concepts with real-life coaching client stories and nudges leaders to ask themselves probing questions, such as, “When I have negative feelings about what happened, can I be open to seeing the experience differently? How might that benefit me?” The manual effectively uses metaphor to illustrate concepts, such as how four people sitting around a black-and-white beach ball will each have a different—and ultimately limited—perspective, demonstrating how easy it is to lose sight of the big picture. The book’s clear messaging and structure are also among its strengths; the three parts build on one another and envision leadership as a living, evolving process. The book’s formatting, which includes bolded text, bulleted lists, numbered steps, illustrative graphics, and chapter summaries, highlights the key takeaways, making this a manageable read for busy people. Some readers may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of concepts and practices (and their accompanying acronyms); others may find recommendations like journaling and meditation to be indistinguishable from other self-help fare. A pragmatic, thoughtful guide to better leadership through self-awareness.Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2025
ISBN: 9798999380500
Page Count: 276
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An inventive, timely fantasy that’s nonstop fun.
A businessman plans to exploit a portal to a magical realm in this fantasy adventure.
Marc Aaron has a knack for finding oil. He’s traveled all over Africa and the Middle East, guiding his small company, Epoch, to success. When billionaire Roland Griff summons him to New York, Marc leaves Libya immediately. In anticipation of a thrilling new job prospect, Marc asks his wife, Diane, and their children to meet him in Manhattan. The oilman reunites with his family at the Waldorf Astoria hotel after two years apart. Marc receives a chilly reception from his wife and his daughter, who asks, “So, how’s the greenhouse-gas biz going?” Soon, the family is touring the Griff Corp building. To his astonishment, Marc learns that the company’s success with importing goods and materials is the result of a magical gateway. In a subterranean chamber, a strange glowing orb gives Griff access to a medieval realm of elves, orcs, and other magical beings. Griff wants Marc’s expertise in acquiring this Fourth World’s resources. When armed soldiers prepare to enter the gateway, the general, an orc, launches his invasion plan. Robertson has ensured that there’s fun, heart, and excitement in every scene of his latest novel. Marc and Diane’s rocky marriage is a drama on par with the orc invasion; he takes Griff’s offer without consulting her so the family can finally live together. When war hits the city’s streets, events remain entertaining, with a measured amount of gore that never feels gratuitous (“The headless troll turned and felt about awkwardly for its missing cranium”). Robertson’s comedic timing is phenomenal, as when a blowhard general admires his vanilla latte by saying, “If our boys had these in ’Nam we’d have won that war.” Moral and environmental reckonings factor into the finale, e.g., Griff tells Marc, “Drilling for oil, exploiting the locals is what we do, you and I.” A last-minute gambit sets up a potentially bold sequel.
An inventive, timely fantasy that’s nonstop fun.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 286
Publisher: Gin & Tonic Press
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A straightforward, if rather basic, understanding of income considerations in one’s later years.
Financial planner Lynch provides a plan for people contemplating retirement in this financial how-to book.
“Your gut tells you that you have enough money to retire, but your head is not quite sure,” the author writes, and his book aims to help readers make up their minds. He begins with the story of a fictional potential retiree named Maria who had a sizable savings account that generated enough interest to supplement her Social Security income. But with the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009, she lost most of that supplemental income. Lynch uses this example to examine earlier financial truisms that no longer work in today’s market: “It’s time for a new formula and a new definition of safety,” he says. The book aims to help readers find ways to generate wealth that aren’t subject to economic swings that are out of readers’ control. Using real-life examples, Lynch analyzes how much each family needs in various “buckets” to generate income, outlining three basic parts to any retirement plan: principal, which is a “U.S. government-denominated asset that will never decline in nominal value”; reliable income; and growth that outpaces inflation. Over the course of the book, Lynch explains these three aspects of generating retirement income in simple, clear terms, and with each example, he includes easy-to-understand charts and illustrations to clarify his points. Those who are familiar with retirement literature are likely to find it rather generic, though, with few new insights. That said, many readers will appreciate the takeaway that not considering inflation when planning for retirement can be a costly oversight: “Inflation: The carbon monoxide of retirement—the slow, silent killer that turns a dollar into fifty cents.”
A straightforward, if rather basic, understanding of income considerations in one’s later years.Pub Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5445-3026-0
Page Count: 164
Publisher: Lioncrest Publishing
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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