Harvard Law lecturer Fox’s system addresses the performance gap—the disparity between what we know we should do in our interactions with others and what we actually do—by explaining the internal landscape of the mind as a set of negotiators, each with its own strengths and perspectives. Her language is geared toward a corporate mindset, imagining the principal aspects of self that govern interaction with others as an executive team: the “Dreamer”/CEO, the “Thinker”/CFO, the “Lover”/v-p of HR, and the “Warrior”/COO. Her “Board of Directors,” or higher-level functions, is comprised of the “Lookout,” who notices and reports on each voice’s urges before taking action; the “Captain,” who takes stock of all inner and outer concerns and chooses the best path at each moment; and the “Voyager,” who guides your life path overall. Lessons of “outer advancement through inner development” emphasize balance: making sure the “Big Four” all participate—and do so equally—and finding your center to act in alignment with values and presence. It’s all good shorthand for practical introspection and guidance toward making lasting improvements, not by focusing on behavior or personality type, but by integrating all the parts that make us who we are. Agent: Linda Loewenthal, David Black Agency. (Oct.)