Every season, the Next Big Idea Club editorial staff reviews dozens of upcoming books to identify the most exciting, must-read nonfiction titles. We start with a broad pool of nominees, and then share them with our curators—Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, and Malcolm Gladwell—to identify a small handful of finalists and, ultimately, two official season selections.
Today, it’s our pleasure to share our list of ten finalists for Season 25! Without further ado, the new books we’re most excited about right now are…
Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts
By Oliver Burkeman
A map for a liberating journey toward a more meaningful life―a journey that begins where we actually find ourselves, not with a fantasy of where we’d like to be. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Oliver Burkeman, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Mysticism
By Simon Critchley
A probing, inspiring exploration of mysticism not as religious practice but as a mode of experience and way of life, by one of the most provocative philosophical thinkers of our time. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Simon Critchley, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans
By Seth Godin
From one of the world’s most influential business thinkers comes an essential guide to thinking strategically in a complex, ever-changing world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Seth Godin, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days
By Kari Leibowitz
A blend of mindset science, original research, and cultural insights for cultivating a positive “wintertime mindset,” to vanquish winter blues and find joy and comfort in dark times year-round. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Kari Leibowitz, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine
By Daniel Levitin
An acclaimed neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author explores the curative powers of music, showing us how and why it is one of the most potent therapies today. View on Amazon
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
By Sharon McMahon
From America’s favorite government teacher comes a portrait of twelve ordinary Americans whose courage formed the character of our country. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sharon McMahon, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together
By Michael Morris
A revelatory, paradigm-shifting work from a renowned Columbia professor that demystifies our tribal instincts and shows us how to use them to create positive change. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michael Morris, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life
By Brigid Schulte
From the New York Times bestselling author of Overwhelmed comes a deeply reported exploration of why American work isn’t working—and how our lives can be made more meaningful. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Brigid Schulte, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon
Consider This: Reflections for Finding Peace
By Nedra Glover Tawwab
Inspiring advice for navigating life’s ups and downs, and finding ways to grow every day—from the New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace and Drama Free. View on Amazon
Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
By Jamil Zaki
A Stanford psychologist imparts the secret for beating back cynicism: hopeful skepticism—thinking critically about people and our problems, while honoring and encouraging our strengths. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jamil Zaki, 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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