Ah yes, sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll—three timeless pillars of hedonism that account for most of the world’s wildest nights and deepest regrets. But perhaps there’s more to them than mindless, youthful abandon; maybe there’s an intelligent way to approach them so that we can learn something, and even become better, more enlightened people. Indeed, the five remarkable books below will help you do just that.
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Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear
By Carl L. Hart
A Columbia neuroscientist draws on decades of research and his own personal experience to argue that the criminalization and demonization of drug use—not drugs themselves—have been a tremendous scourge on America, not least in reinforcing this country’s enduring structural racism. Listen to our “Book Bite” summary, read by author Carl Hart, in the Next Big Idea App
Two Beats Ahead: What Musical Minds Teach Us About Innovation
By R. Michael Hendrix and Panos A. Panay
Discover what the musical mind has to teach us about innovation in this fascinating book, featuring interviews with Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, T Bone Burnett, Gloria Estefan, Imogen Heap, and many more. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author R. Michael Hendrix, in the Next Big Idea App
Everybody: A Book About Freedom
By Olivia Laing
Arriving at a moment in which basic bodily rights are once again imperiled, Everybody is an investigation into the forces arranged against freedom and a celebration of how ordinary human bodies can resist oppression and reshape the world. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth
By Sam Quinones
From the New York Times bestselling author of Dreamland, a searing follow-up that explores the terrifying next stages of the opioid epidemic and the quiet yet ardent stories of community repair. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sam Quinones, in the Next Big Idea App
Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization
By Edward Slingerland
From a University of British Columbia professor comes a long overdue investigation into the history and psychology of humanity’s oldest indulgence—one that explains not only why we want to get drunk, but also how it might actually be good for us to tie one on now and then. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Edward Slingerland, in the Next Big Idea App
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