Sometimes a book is a fun, fleeting distraction—a way to pass the time or wind down before bed. But sometimes, the right book can fundamentally transform your view of reality, challenging what you thought you knew in exciting and unexpected ways.
If you’re looking for a truly revelatory read, we recommend the five new books below. Just be sure to prepare yourself before cracking them open, because your mind is about to be blown.
The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred
By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein shares her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of dark matter—all with a new spin informed by history, politics, and the wisdom of Star Trek. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness
By Mark Solms
Neuropsychologist Mark Solms proposes a revelatory new theory of consciousness. In The Hidden Spring, he helps readers recognize the workings of their own minds for what they really are, including every stray thought, pulse of emotion, and shift of attention. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear
By Carl L. Hart
New York recently became the latest U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Is this a positive step toward a more free, more just society? Or perhaps a harbinger of dangerous developments to come? Get some straight talk about the science of drug use from Columbia neuroscientist Carl Hart. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Delusions of Crowds: Why People Go Mad in Groups
By William J. Bernstein
Financial theorist William J. Bernstein shares stories of mass hysteria that are as revealing about human nature as they are historically significant. He observes that if we can absorb the history and biology of mass delusion, we can recognize it more readily in our own time, and avoid its frequently dire impact. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
When Brains Dream: Exploring the Science and Mystery of Sleep
By Antonio Zadra and Robert Stickgold
Two sleep researchers reveal recent discoveries about why dreams are psychologically and neurologically meaningful experiences. They also explore a host of dream-related disorders, and explain how dreams can facilitate creativity and be a source of personal insight. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
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