Invisibles: The Power of Anonymous Work in an Age of Relentless Self-Promotion

Building upon his 2012 Atlantic article “What Do Fact-Checkers and Anesthesiologists Have in Common,” in his nonfiction debut, journalist Zweig presents an entertaining, good-natured exploration of the mindsets and psyches of “invisibles”—people whose passions have required years of training and experience, but who happily toil in obscurity for the love of the work itself, rather than fame. As Zweig notes, it’s this very single-mindedness in the quest for excellence—and the emphasis on getting the job done—that research suggests correlates with both happiness and business success. The book’s strength is in Zweig’s portraits of those dedicated workers behind the scenes, including a ghost writer; a perfume maker for celebrity brands; a structural engineer; an interpreter at the United Nations; a cinematographer; and a guitar tech for rock bands. The author’s genuine respect for his subjects shines through and keeps these stories lively. Agent: Eric Lupfer, WME. (June)