“I know sometimes, that all it takes to be invincible, is to know you are such.” This quote from poet Anis Mojgani is inspiring, but it may leave you with a question: If I’m feeling low, how can I simply believe that I’m invincible, that I can do anything?
That’s where a little science and storytelling can help. Within the ten remarkable books below, you will rediscover the wonders of the world, the joys of being alive, and the evidence you need to believe that yes, you really are invincible.
Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us
By Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
A life-altering journey through the science of neuroaesthetics, which shows how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts—and how this knowledge can both improve our health and help us build stronger communities. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, in the Next Big Idea App
Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy
By Rachel Macy Stafford
An acclaimed blogger and special education teacher offers a practical, inclusive guide to navigating a culture of distraction and depletion to find our way back to what delights our heart, makes us feel alive, and brings us peace. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Rachel Macy Stafford, in the Next Big Idea App
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
Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual
By Luvvie Ajayi Jones
With humor and honesty, and guided by the influence of her professional troublemaking Nigerian grandmother, Funmilayo Faloyin, an award-winning author walks us through what we must get right within ourselves before we can do the things that scare us. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Luvvie Ajayi Jones, in the Next Big Idea App
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 Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward
By Britt Frank
Bringing together research-backed solutions and empowering personal stories, this book is a hands-on road map for moving forward with purpose, confidence, and the freedom to become who you’re truly meant to be. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Britt Frank, in the Next Big Idea App
Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others
By Stephen M.R. Covey
People don’t want to be managed; they want to be led. Trust and Inspire is a new way of leading that starts with the belief that people are creative, collaborative, and full of potential. Indeed, people with this kind of leader are inspired to become the best version of themselves and to produce their best work. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Stephen M.R. Covey, in the Next Big Idea App
Speak: Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
By Tunde Oyeneyin
From the massively popular Peloton instructor, fitness star, and founder of SPEAK comes an empowering, inspiring book about how she transformed grief, setbacks, and flaws into growth, self-confidence, and triumph. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Tunde Oyeneyin, in the Next Big Idea App
Start More Than You Can Finish: A Creative Permission Slip to Unleash Your Best Ideas
By Becky Blades
Using digestible data, humorous and honest personal experience, interviews with artists and entrepreneurs, and assignments to help you get started, Start More Than You Can Finish challenges the tropes our dads, moms, and third-grade teachers told us about finishing. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Becky Blades, in the Next Big Idea App
One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential
By Shanna Hocking
More than just a career guide, One Bold Move a Day shows you how a single, measurable act each day will help you fulfill your potential, both personally and professionally. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Shanna Hocking, 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.
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!
