Every mom is one of a kind, so her gift this Mother’s Day should speak to her unique interests, talents, and personality. Find the book that’s right for her with this guide to nonfiction for every type of mom.
Can’t pick just one? Consider giving her a membership to the Next Big Idea Club! This week only, use code 20MOM at checkout to receive 20% off on all gift subscriptions.
Purchase Gift Membership Here!
Science Mom
The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science
By Dava Sobel
A luminous chronicle of the life and work of the most famous woman in the history of science, and the untold story of the many young women trained in her laboratory who were launched into stellar scientific careers of their own. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Dava Sobel, or View on Amazon
Tired Mom
The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius
By Kendra Adachi
A practical time management book for people weary of productivity but eager to live a good life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Kendra Adachi, or View on Amazon
Funny Mom
Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs
By Jamie Loftus
Part travelogue, part culinary history, all capitalist critique―comedian Jamie Loftus’s debut, Raw Dog, will take you on a cross-country road trip and reveal what the creation, culture, and class influence of hot dogs says about America now. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jamie Loftus, or View on Amazon
Overwhelmed Mom
No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity
By Ashlee Piper
From award-winning sustainability expert Ashlee Piper, a witty, no-nonsense guide to regaining control over your time, consumerist impulses, and financial and mental wellness. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Ashlee Piper, or View on Amazon
Brave Mom
Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It
By Jenny Wood
A bold, empowering, and energizing guide to embracing your ambition and chasing after what you want from an executive who spent nearly two decades climbing the ranks at Google. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jenny Wood, or View on Amazon
Artistic Mom
Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See
By Bianca Bosker
An award-winning journalist obsessed with obsession, Bianca Bosker’s existence was upended when she wandered into the art world—and couldn’t look away. Intrigued by artists who hyperventilate around their favorite colors and art fiends who max out credit cards to show hunks of metal they think can change the world, Bosker grew fixated on understanding why art matters and how she—or any of us—could engage with it more deeply. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Bianca Bosker, or View on Amazon
Health & Wellness Mom
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health
By Casey Means with Calley Means
A bold new vision for optimizing our health now and in the future. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Casey Means, or View on Amazon
New Mom
Mother Brain: How Neuroscience Is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood
By Chelsea Conaboy
Health and science journalist Chelsea Conaboy explodes the concept of “maternal instinct” and tells a new story about what it means to become a parent. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Chelsea Conaboy, or View on Amazon
Athletic Mom
Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes
By Christine Yu
Sports and health journalist Christine Yu disentangles myth and gender bias from real science, making the case for new approaches that can help women athletes excel at every stage of life, from adolescence to adulthood, through pregnancy, menopause, and beyond. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Christine Yu, or View on Amazon
Stylish Mom
Die Hot with a Vengeance: Essays on Vanity
By Sable Yong
Journalist and former Allure editor Sable Yong debuts with a sharp-toothed and hilarious essay collection about beauty and vanity, examining their stigmatization in the cultural zeitgeist, and how to shift the focus to use both for powerful tools for self-exploration, interpersonal connection, and cultural change. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sable Yong, or View on Amazon
Philosopher Mom
Parenting on Earth: A Philosopher’s Guide to Doing Right by Your Kids and Everyone Else
By Elizabeth Cripps
Environmental catastrophes, pandemics, antibiotic resistance, institutionalized injustice, and war: in a world so out of balance, what does it take—or even mean—to be a good parent? This book is one woman’s search for an answer, as a moral philosopher, activist, and mother. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Elizabeth Cripps, or View on Amazon
Adventure Mom
Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking―How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age
By Caroline Paul
A funny, inspiring, deeply researched exploration into the science and psychology of the outdoors and our place in it as we age. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Caroline Paul, or View on Amazon
History Mom
Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women’s Words
By Jenni Nuttall
An enlightening linguistic journey through a thousand years of feminist language—and what we can learn from the vivid vocabulary that English once had for women’s bodies, experiences, and sexuality. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jenni Nuttall, or View on Amazon
Nature Mom
Earthly Bodies: Embracing Animal Nature
By Vanessa Chakour
Examining the cultural belief that our animal instincts are to be corrected or corralled, nature advocate and rewilding facilitator Vanessa Chakour explores our inner and outer landscapes through the lens of wild animals. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Vanessa Chakour, or View on Amazon
Ambitious Mom
Ambitious Like a Mother: Why Prioritizing Your Career Is Good for Your Kids
By Lara Bazelon
In this captivating and radical look at “work-life balance,” Lara Bazelon reframes our understanding of working women—and shows how prioritizing your career benefits mothers, kids, and society at large. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Lara Bazelon, or View on Amazon
Social Mom
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—from a celebrated Harvard Business School professor and leading expert on the psychology of conversation. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Alison Wood Brooks, or View on Amazon
Business Mom
Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career
By Lorraine Lee
Are you an ambitious hard worker and high-achiever―but feeling stuck, unseen, and struggling to move up in your career? Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Lorraine Lee, 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 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.
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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