9 Books That Prove You Don’t Need Religion to Be Spiritual
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9 Books That Prove You Don’t Need Religion to Be Spiritual

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9 Books That Prove You Don’t Need Religion to Be Spiritual

With adherence to traditional religion on the decline, where do we find meaning? How do we make sense of our place in the universe? And how do we live a truly good life?

Fortunately, a spiritual worldview can help answer these questions—no religion required. Check out these nine enlightening books below to find out for yourself.

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!

Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution By Rainn Wilson Next Big Idea Club

Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution

By Rainn Wilson

Existing political and economic systems are not enough to bring the change that the world needs. In this enlightening book, a beloved comedic actor explores the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a “Soul Boom,” to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Rainn Wilson, in the Next Big Idea App

Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most By Miroslav Volf, Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz Next Big Idea Club

Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most

By Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McNally-Linz

In A Life Worth Living, named after its authors’ highly sought-after undergraduate course, three Yale University professors provide readers with jumping-off points, road maps, and habits of reflection for figuring out where their lives hold meaning and where things need to change. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McNally-Linz, in the Next Big Idea App

Happiness Is Overrated: Simple Lessons on Finding Meaning in Each Moment By Cuong Lu Next Big Idea Club

Happiness Is Overrated: Simple Lessons on Finding Meaning in Each Moment

By Cuong Lu

Stop chasing happiness and reconnect to the meaning of each moment through this practical guide, told through vignettes of life training as a Buddhist monk under world-renowned spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Cuong Lu, in the Next Big Idea App

In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy By John O'Leary

In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy

By John O’Leary

With the daily grind of work responsibilities and obligations, we may find ourselves feeling burned out and jaded more often than we’d like. But equipped with a more joyful mindset, we can live happier and healthier lives than ever. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author John O’Leary, in the Next Big Idea App

The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life by Lisa Miller

The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life

By Lisa Miller

Absorbing, uplifting, and ultimately enlightening, The Awakened Brain is a conversation-starting saga of scientific discovery packed with counterintuitive findings and practical advice on concrete ways to access your innate spirituality and build a life of meaning and contribution. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Lisa Miller, in the Next Big Idea App

The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning By Paul Bloom

The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning

By Paul Bloom

Drawing on groundbreaking findings from psychology and brain science, a University of Toronto professor shows how the right kind of suffering sets the stage for enhanced pleasure. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Paul Bloom, in the Next Big Idea App

Life Is Short: An Appropriately Brief Guide to Making It More Meaningful By Dean Rickles

Life Is Short: An Appropriately Brief Guide to Making It More Meaningful

By Dean Rickles

A University of Sydney philosopher explains why the finiteness and shortness of life is the essence of its meaning―and how this insight is the key to making the most of the time we do have. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Dean Rickles, in the Next Big Idea App

The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning By Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko

The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning

By Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko

Two Notre Dame philosophy professors invite us into the classroom to investigate what figures such as Aristotle, Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Iris Murdoch, and W. E. B. Du Bois have to say about how to live well. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko, in the Next Big Idea App

The Great Guide: What David Hume Can Teach Us About Being Human and Living Well By Julian Baggini

The Great Guide: What David Hume Can Teach Us About Being Human and Living Well

By Julian Baggini

An acclaimed philosopher gives us a complete vision of David Hume’s guide to life, including topics ranging from the meaning of success and the value of travel to friendship, facing death, identity, and the importance of leisure. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Julian Baggini, 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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