These 8 thought-provoking psychology books reveal powerful new ideas about the mind, behavior, and human nature.
The Gift of Not Belonging: How Outsiders Thrive in a World of Joiners
By Rami Kaminski
The first book to explore the otrovert personality – someone who feels like an outsider in any group, regardless of its members – revealing all the advantages of being an otrovert and ways otroverts contribute to the world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Rami Kaminski, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Ordinary Magic: The Science of How We Can Achieve Big Change with Small Acts
By Gregory Walton
Discover simple psychological shifts that build trust, belonging, and confidence—from the co-director of the Dweck-Walton Lab at Stanford University. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Gregory Walton, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
The Narrowing: A Journey Through Anxiety and the Body
By Alexandra Shaker
An exploration of the connection between anxiety and the body by a clinical psychologist, drawing from the latest research as well as historical and cultural insights through time, arguing that only through understanding anxiety’s role in our lives can we transform it into resilience. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Alexandra Shaker, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life
By Caroline Fleck
How the science of seeing and being seen is the key to inner and interpersonal transformation. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Caroline Fleck, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Start Making Sense: How Existential Psychology Can Help Us Build Meaningful Lives in Absurd Times
By Steven Heine
An investigation into the science of why we crave meaning—and how we can pursue it in this age of anxiety. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Steven Heine, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves
By Alison Wood Brooks
A groundbreaking book that reveals the hidden architecture of our conversations and how even small improvements can have a profound impact on our relationships in work and life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Alison Wood Brooks, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Our New Social Life: Science-Backed Strategies for Creating Meaningful Connection
By Natalie Kerr & Jaime Kurtz
A fascinating introduction to the science of connection that will ultimately improve your social life and lead to better relationships. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Natalie Kerr and Jaime Kurtz, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Mindmasters: The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior
By Sandra Matz
A refreshingly relatable exploration of how algorithms penetrate the most intimate aspects of our psychology, and how we can regain mastery over our lives. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sandra Matz, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
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 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!
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