5 Must-Read Books for Anyone Fascinated by the Human Mind
Magazine / 5 Must-Read Books for Anyone Fascinated by the Human Mind

5 Must-Read Books for Anyone Fascinated by the Human Mind

Psychology Science
5 Must-Read Books for Anyone Fascinated by the Human Mind

If you pause to think about it, the human mind is truly a bottomless marvel. It composes symphonies, falls in love, and grapples with the mysteries of the universe—but how? To discover the latest science behind how your mind really works, check out the five remarkable books below.

Learn something new every day with “Book Bites,” 15-minute audio summaries of the latest and greatest nonfiction. Get started by downloading the Next Big Idea App today!

Sensitive Andre Solo Next Big Idea Club

Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World

By Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo

A paradigm-shifting look at a long-undervalued yet hugely beneficial personality trait, from the creators of the world’s largest community for highly sensitive people. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author Andre Sólo, in the Next Big Idea App

Psych: The Story of the Human Mind By Paul Bloom

Psych: The Story of the Human Mind

By Paul Bloom

Was Freud right that we are all plagued by forbidden sexual desires? What is the function of emotions such as disgust, gratitude, and shame? A renowned psychologist answers these questions and many more in this riveting new book about the science of the mind. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Paul Bloom, in the Next Big Idea App

Why We Forget and How to Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory by Andrew Budson and Elizabeth Kensinger

Why We Forget and How to Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory

By Andrew E. Budson and Elizabeth A. Kensinger

This book empowers you with the knowledge you need to remember better, whether you are a college student looking to ace your next exam, a business professional preparing a presentation, or a healthcare worker needing to memorize the 600+ muscles in the human body. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Andrew E. Budson and Elzabeth A. Kensinger, in the Next Big Idea App

Body Am I Moheb Costandi

Body Am I: The New Science of Self-Consciousness

By Moheb Costandi

How the way we perceive our bodies plays a critical role in the way we perceive ourselves. A science writer explores this idea through stories of phantom limbs, rubber hands, anorexia, and other phenomena. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Moheb Costandi, in the Next Big Idea App

The Language of the Face: Stories of Its Uniquely Expressive Features By Frank Gonzalez-Crussi

The Language of the Face: Stories of Its Uniquely Expressive Features

By Frank Gonzalez-Crussi

A broad and riveting cultural history of physiognomy, exploring how the desire to divine deeper meaning from our looks has compelled humans for millennia. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Frank Gonzalez-Crussi, in the Next Big Idea App

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.

Next Big Idea App Book Bites

“I love this app! The Book Bites are brilliant, perfect to have in airports, waiting rooms, anywhere I need to not doomscroll… You guys are the best!” – Missy G.

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.

Next Big Idea Club Hardcover or Ebook membership

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 video 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.

Next Big Idea Podcast and Ecourses

“My biggest Thank You is for the quality of book selections so far. I look on my shelf and see these great titles, and I find myself taking down one or two each month to reread an underlined passage. Full marks to all involved!” – Tim K.

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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