Steve Magness
Performance coach and author of Do Hard Things; writes the Steve Magness newsletter.
A Story Is a Deal by Will Storr
A Story is a Deal by Will Storr The book reveals what really drives human behavior: our relentless pursuit of connection and status.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
American Kings by Seth Wickersham
From managing the unreal expectations of Arch Manning to what in the world you do once the lights are off, it’s a fascinating glimpse into the psychology of a position that demands both supreme confidence, but the humility to do the work.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
As if Running on Air: The Diaries of Jack Lovelock by Jack Lovelock
It’s a running nerds dream. A glimpse into how he trained to become Olympic champion, but even more so how he looked at racing. I just loved the parts where we see him struggling with anxiety and pressure, or figuring out how to peak at the right time.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
Conquerors of Time by Lynn McConnell
What makes the book special is how McConnell excavates Lovelock’s mind.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
Endure by Alex Hutchinson
In Endure , Hutchinson took the science of fatigue in a book that has now become a classic.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant
In Grant’s own words, he traces his journey from a struggling leather shop clerk to commanding general to president. We get to see what made Grant special, a kind of quiet resilience.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel
The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel Housel does what he does best: takes a topic we think we understand and reveals how little we actually grasp.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
The Explorer's Gene by Alex Hutchinson
What Hutchinson argues is that our lives are more productive, more meaningful, and more fun when we sometimes ditch the maps and find our own way. It’s a kind of love letter for trying new things and sometimes getting a bit lost.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned by Kenneth Stanley and Joel Lehman
I’m biased, but in a world that often tells us to set SMART or big hairy audacious goals, this one resonated deeply.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
Win the Inside Game by Steve Magness
It’s the book I wish I had as a teenager achieving success in running or when I started my writing career. If you haven’t read it yet, consider doing so.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday
I also loved his treatise on Lincoln. Well worth a read, especially in our current climate where social media is rotting our brains.
on stevemagness.org · 13 Dec 2025 · Report
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