Every year, the Next Big Idea Club editorial staff reviews hundreds of upcoming books to identify the best nonfiction titles. We start with a broad pool of nominees each season, then share them with our curators—Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, and Malcolm Gladwell—who identify a small handful of finalists and, ultimately, two official season selections.
Today, we look back on the remarkable titles that our curators hand-picked as season finalists in 2024. If you’re ready to boost your happiness, productivity, and general well-being in 2025, start by checking out the 25 groundbreaking books below.
The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality
By Amanda Montell
From the bestselling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult, a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Amanda Montell, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
The Ancient Art of Thinking for Yourself: The Power of Rhetoric in Polarized Times
By Robin Reames
A University of Illinois at Chicago professor breaks down the major techniques of rhetoric, pulling back the curtain on how politicians, journalists, and “journalists” convince us to believe what we believe—and to talk, vote, and act accordingly. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Robin Reames, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Consider This: Reflections for Finding Peace
By Nedra Glover Tawwab
Inspiring advice for navigating life’s ups and downs, and finding ways to grow every day—from the New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace and Drama Free. View on Amazon
The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder
By Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao
The causes and solutions for five of the most common and damaging friction troubles: oblivious leaders, addition sickness, broken connections, jargon monoxide, and fast and frenzied people and teams. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author Bob Sutton, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
The Great Wave: The Era of Radical Disruption and the Rise of the Outsider
By Michiko Kakutani
An urgent examination of how disruptive politics, technology, and art are capsizing old assumptions in a great wave of change breaking over today’s world, creating both opportunity and peril. Read our Book Bite summary or view on Amazon
The Holocaust: An Unfinished History
By Dan Stone
A University of London professor draws on Nazi documents, but also on diaries, post-war testimonies, and even fiction, urging that, in our age of increasing nationalism and xenophobia, it is vital that we understand the true history of the Holocaust. View on Amazon
Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
By Jamil Zaki
Through science and storytelling, a Stanford psychologist imparts the secret for beating back cynicism: hopeful skepticism—thinking critically about people and our problems, while honoring and encouraging our strengths. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jamil Zaki, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days
By Kari Leibowitz
A blend of mindset science, original research, and cultural insights for cultivating a positive wintertime mindset, to vanquish winter blues and find joy and comfort in dark times year-round. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Kari Leibowitz, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine
By Daniel Levitin
An acclaimed neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author explores the curative powers of music, showing us how and why it is one of the most potent therapies today. View on Amazon
Irreplaceable: How to Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together
By Kevin Ervin Kelley
Irreplaceable provides a comprehensive roadmap for creating human experiences that have the power to convene and bring friends, neighbors, and strangers together in prosocial environments in ways the digital replacements can’t replicate. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Kevin Ervin Kelley, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down
By Corey Keyes
The Emory University sociologist who coined the term languishing—low-grade mental weariness that affects our self-esteem, relationships, and motivation—explores the rise of this phenomenon and presents a comprehensive guide to flourishing in a world that demands too much. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Corey Keyes, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts
By Oliver Burkeman
A map for a liberating journey toward a more meaningful life―a journey that begins where we actually find ourselves, not with a fantasy of where we’d like to be. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Oliver Burkeman, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Mysticism
By Simon Critchley
A probing, inspiring exploration of mysticism not as religious practice but as a mode of experience and way of life, by one of the most provocative philosophical thinkers of our time. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Simon Critchley, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life
By Brigid Schulte
From the New York Times bestselling author of Overwhelmed comes a deeply reported exploration of why American work isn’t working—and how our lives can be made more meaningful. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Brigid Schulte, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions
By Michael Norton
Drawing on a decade of original research, a Harvard Business School professor shows that rituals play a role in healing communities experiencing a great loss, marking life’s major transitions, driving a stadium of sports fans to ecstasy, and helping us rise to challenges and realize opportunities. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michael Norton, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes
By Morgan Housel
A renowned financial journalist shows how we can use a newfound grasp of the unchanging to see around corners—not by squinting harder through the uncertain landscape of the future, but by looking backwards, being more broad-sighted, and focusing on what is permanently true. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Morgan Housel, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words
By Anne Curzan
With lively humor and deep humanity, a renowned linguist reveals how the way we use language can be a powerful force for equity and personal expression. For proud grammar sticklers and self-conscious writers alike, Says Who? makes nerding out about language fun. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Anne Curzan, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
By Cal Newport
From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity reveals how to escape overload and arrive at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Cal Newport, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
By Sharon McMahon
From America’s favorite government teacher comes a portrait of twelve ordinary Americans whose courage formed the character of our country. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sharon McMahon, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
By Charles Duhigg
From a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist comes a fascinating exploration of what makes conversations work—and how we can all learn to be supercommunicators at work and in life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Charles Duhigg, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans
By Seth Godin
From one of the world’s most influential business thinkers comes an essential guide to thinking strategically in a complex, ever-changing world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Seth Godin, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together
By Michael Morris
A revelatory, paradigm-shifting work from a renowned Columbia professor that demystifies our tribal instincts and shows us how to use them to create positive change. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michael Morris, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure
By Maggie Jackson
Uncertain examines various modes of uncertainty-in-action, from creative reverie to the dissent that spurs team success. Step by step, the art and science of uncertainty reveal being unsure as a skill set for incisive thinking and day-to-day flourishing. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Maggie Jackson, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality
By Venki Ramakrishnan
A Nobel Prize winner takes us on a riveting journey to the frontiers of biology, asking whether we must be mortal. Covering the recent breakthroughs in scientific research, he examines the cutting edge of efforts to extend lifespan by altering our physiology. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Venki Ramakrishnan, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing
By Adam Moss
Weaving conversations with some of the most accomplished artists of our time together with the journal entries, napkin doodles, and sketches that were their tools, a former New York magazine editor breaks down the work—the tortuous paths and artistic decisions—that led to great art. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Adam Moss, 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.
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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.
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