Quick, which do you think is best: hardcovers, paperbacks, eBooks, or audiobooks? If you have some (possibly strong) opinions on the matter, you’ve already passed the test—you’re a book lover.
And if you love books, you might enjoy a few new reads that celebrate their unique magic. From our team of devoted bookworms to you, we recommend the five stellar titles below.
Once Upon a Prime: The Wondrous Connections Between Mathematics and Literature
By Sarah Hart
In her clear, insightful, laugh-out-loud funny debut, the first woman to hold England’s oldest mathematical chair shows us the myriad connections between math and literature, and how understanding those connections can enhance our enjoyment of both. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sarah Hart, in the Next Big Idea App
Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age
By Dennis Duncan
Charting its curious path from the monasteries and universities of 13th-century Europe to Silicon Valley in the 21st, a University College London lecturer uncovers how the humble index has saved heretics from the stake, kept politicians from high office, and made us all into the readers we are today. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Dennis Duncan, in the Next Big Idea App
Turning Pages: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Publisher
By John Sargent
This behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest moments in publishing over the last several decades is a must-read for every person who loves books and has always wondered about the industry surrounding them. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author John Sargent, in the Next Big Idea App
Around the World in 80 Books
By David Damrosch
Inspired by Jules Verne’s hero Phileas Fogg, the chair of Harvard’s department of comparative literature sets out to counter the pandemic’s restrictions on travel by exploring eighty exceptional books from around the globe. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author David Damrosch, in the Next Big Idea App
Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers
By Emma Smith
Revelatory and entertaining in equal measure, Portable Magic will charm and challenge literature lovers of all kinds as it illuminates the transformative power and eternal appeal of the written word. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Emma Smith, 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.
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 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.
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!
