The explanations we come up with for our own behavior, and the theories we build about others, could use a little guidance. These top psychology books of 2025 will help us show up as our best selves–just in time for the new year.
The Ideological Brain: The Radical Science of Flexible Thinking
By Leor Zmigrod
Why are some people particularly susceptible to extreme worldviews? As it turns out, there are neurobiological differences and variances in everyday thought patterns that can render some people vulnerable to rigid dogmas. There are also key traits that can increase resilience against extreme ideologies. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Leor Zmigrod, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change
By Emily Falk
By understanding how the brain calculates values to drive daily decisions, we can learn how to explore paths that are more aligned with new goals and evolving self-image. By expanding the power and possibility of our choices, we increase the capacity for inner, societal, and cultural growth. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Emily Falk, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Taming the Molecule of More: A Step-by-Step Guide to Make Dopamine Work for You
By Michael Long
Thanks to dopamine, we often feel restless and hopeless. So no, maybe it’s not quite accurate to call it the “happiness” molecule, but it has gifted humans some amazing powers. Dopamine is the source of imagination, creativity, and ingenuity. There are practical ways to harness the strengths of our dopamine drives while protecting and nurturing a life of consistent joy. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michael Long, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Proof: The Art and Science of Certainty
By Adam Kucharski
We don’t always have the luxury of “being sure,” and many situations demand decisions be made even when there is insufficient evidence to choose confidently. Professionally and personally, it is important to understand what constitutes proof and how to proceed when facts falter. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Adam Kucharski, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
The New Emotional Intelligence
By Travis Bradberry
The world is changing rapidly, and emotional intelligence (EQ) is more important now than ever. As times change, so should your approach to increasing your EQ. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Travis Bradberry, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Don’t Talk About Politics: How to Change 21st-Century Minds
By Sarah Stein Lubrano
The chances of talking someone into changing their political beliefs are extremely slim. By giving people opportunities to engage with the world differently and by repairing social wellbeing, we can open people’s minds to believe differently. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sarah Stein Lubrano, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
You Already Know: The Science of Mastering Your Intuition
By Laura Huang
Each of us has a voice inside of us—one that is calm, clear, and quiet. That gut feeling that tugs you toward what you already know has always been there, ready to be heard by those who learn to listen to it. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Laura Huang, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know
By Angus Fletcher
Examining the minds of visionary thinkers and U.S. Army Special Operators has solved many puzzles about how our brains work. From compiling these case studies, it is clear that there is a path for training your mind to act smart with limited information and outperform computer AI in terms of volatility and uncertainty. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Angus Fletcher, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Manipulation: What It Is, Why It’s Bad, and What to Do About It
By Cass Sunstein
Hidden forces shape our decisions all the time—whether that comes in the form of peer pressure, marketing strategy, or cultural norms. Manipulation is silent, pervasive, and dangerous. We need to find ways to protect ourselves from influences that guide our actions without giving us a fair shot at making deliberate choices. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Cass Sunstein, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
A Trick of the Mind: How the Brain Invents Your Reality
By Daniel Yon
Your brain is like a scientist, constantly trying to build its own theories and models about the world, other people, and itself. Understanding the mechanisms by which our minds build our perceptions can transform how we approach mental health, neurodiversity, and relationships. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Daniel Yon, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves–and How to Find Our Way Back
By Ingrid Clayton
If you’ve ever been called a “people pleaser” or “codependent,” you might actually be living in a chronic state of fawning. This is a trauma response that depends on altering your personality and behaviors to appease and please a threat as a means of avoiding conflict. When this happens, authenticity can feel dangerous, and therefore impossible. It is absolutely vital that we find ways to set boundaries and speak our truth. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Ingrid Clayton, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free
Joe Nucci
The problem is not that therapy has gone mainstream, but that some of the assumptions we have absorbed from therapy culture are actually holding us back from healing, growing, and solving our problems. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Joe Nucci, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection
By Ben Rein
Why is isolation so harmful? Why are virtual interactions a poor substitute for getting together in person? What does our brain get out of spending time with a friend? The neuroscience underlying our social interactions adds a crucial component to conversations about the loneliness epidemic and what we can do about it. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Ben Rein, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows . . .: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life
By Steven Pinker
How do people think about what other people think they think? Understanding the logic of common knowledge and coordination is important in understanding politics, money, and everyday life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Steven Pinker, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
The Key Ideas in 15 Minutes
“If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books,” Roald Dahl once famously said. The only trouble is, reading even one book from cover to cover takes hours—and you may not have many hours to spare.
But imagine for a moment: What if you could read a groundbreaking new book every day? Or even better, what if you could invite a world-renowned thinker into your earbuds, where they personally describe the 5 key takeaways from their work in just 15 minutes?
With the Next Big Idea App, we’ve turned this fantasy into a reality. We partnered with hundreds of acclaimed authors to create “Book Bites,” short audio summaries of the latest nonfiction that are prepared and read aloud by the authors themselves. Discover cutting-edge leadership skills, productivity hacks, the science of happiness and well-being, and much more—all in the time it takes to drive to work or walk the dog.
Go Deeper with a Next Big Idea Club Membership
The Next Big Idea App is free for anyone to try—and if you love it, we invite you to become an official member of the Next Big Idea Club. Membership grants you unlimited access to Book Bites and unlocks early-release, ad-free episodes of our LinkedIn-partnered podcast. You also gain entry to our private online discussion group, where you can talk big ideas with fellow club members and join exclusive live Q&A sessions with featured authors.
For a more focused learning experience, we recommend a Hardcover or eBook Membership. Every few months, legendary authors and club curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink select two new nonfiction books as the must-reads of the season. We then send hardcover copies straight to your doorstep, or eBook versions to your favorite digital device. We also collaborate with the authors of selected books to produce original reading guides and premium e-courses, 50-minute master classes that take you step by step through their most life-changing ideas. And yes, it’s all available through the Next Big Idea App.
Learn Faster, from the World’s Leading Thinkers
Whether you prefer to read, listen, or watch, the Next Big Idea is here to help you work smarter and live better. Wake up with an always-fresh Idea of the Day, the perfect shot of inspiration to go with your morning coffee. Then dive into one of our Challenges, hand-picked collections of Book Bites that form crash courses in subjects like communication, motivation, and career acceleration. Later, watch the playback of an interview with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Stanford psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt, or philosopher John Kaag. And be sure to check the “Events” tab in the app, so that you can join an upcoming live Q&A and personally chat with the next featured thought leader.
If you’re hoping to grow as a person or as a professional, we hope you’ll join us and tens of thousands of others who enjoy the Next Big Idea. Get started by downloading the app today!
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