5 New Books That Belong on Every Art Lover’s Shelf
Magazine / 5 New Books That Belong on Every Art Lover’s Shelf

5 New Books That Belong on Every Art Lover’s Shelf

Arts & Culture Science Women
5 New Books That Belong on Every Art Lover’s Shelf

There are so many ways to love art. Even if you’re not a weekly museum visitor, if you’ve ever been moved by a piece of music, drawn to an intricate tattoo design, or captivated by a movie, you’ve had a moment of authentic artistic appreciation. So if you’d like to celebrate the art you already love—and maybe discover some new masterpieces—check out the five excellent 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!

Falling Rocket Paul Thomas Murphy Next Big Idea Club

Falling Rocket: James Whistler, John Ruskin, and the Battle for Modern Art

By Paul Thomas Murphy

The untold story of the artistic battle between James Abbot MacNeill Whistler and John Ruskin over Whistler’s controversial, groundbreaking painting Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Paul Thomas Murphy, in the Next Big Idea App

The Story of Art Without Men By Katy Hessel Next Big Idea Club

The Story of Art Without Men

By Katy Hessel

Have your sense of art history overturned and your eyes opened to many artforms often ignored or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, this is the history of art as it’s never been told before. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Katy Hessel, in the Next Big Idea App

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. By Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen Next Big Idea Club

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us

By Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

A life-altering journey through the science of neuroaesthetics, which shows how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts—and how this knowledge can both improve our health and help us build stronger communities. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, in the Next Big Idea App

Culture Martin Puchner Next Big Idea Club

Culture: The Story of Us, from Cave Art to K-Pop

By Martin Puchner

An acclaimed author, professor, and public intellectual takes us on a breakneck tour through pivotal moments in world history, providing a global introduction to the arts and humanities in one engaging volume. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Martin Puchner, in the Next Big Idea App

This is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You By Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas

This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You

By Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas

A sound engineer turned cognitive neuroscientist guides readers to recognize their musical personality, and offers language to describe one’s own unique taste. This is a journey into the science and soul of music that reveals the secrets of why your favorite songs move you. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author Susan Rogers, 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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