If you’re fascinated by what it means to be human and how to live a happier, fuller life, you’re probably captivated by psychology books. And honestly, we are too—that’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 50 top psychology reads of 2023.
Our curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, and Adam Grant pick two exciting books per season to share with Next Big Idea Club members. The rankings below, however, are based on the most popular “Book Bite” audio summaries in the Next Big Idea App. In other words, they are 2023’s best psychology books, according to our thousands of app users. So if you’re ready to dive into the wonders of the human mind, check out the 50 remarkable titles below.
50. Data Baby: My Life in a Psychological Experiment
By Susannah Breslin
Lab Girl meets Brain on Fire in this provocative and poignant memoir delving into a woman’s formative experiences as a veritable “lab rat” in a lifelong psychological study, and her pursuit to reclaim autonomy and her identity as a adult. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Susannah Breslin, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
49. Moving on Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss
By Gina Moffa
Grief hurts. Don’t do it alone. Learn to navigate any loss—a parent, a friendship, a job, a miscarriage—at your own pace with the help of a licensed grief and trauma therapist. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Gina Moffa, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
48. The Unexpected Gift of Trauma: The Path to Posttraumatic Growth
By Edith Shiro
A groundbreaking approach to healing from trauma and experiencing posttraumatic growth from a leading psychologist, featuring a powerful, five-stage framework to help readers not just recover, but thrive and transform. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Edith Shiro, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
47. 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 or view on Amazon.
46. Seeing Others: How Recognition Works—and How it Can Help us Heal a Divided World
By Michèle Lamont
An acclaimed Harvard sociologist makes the case for reexamining what we value to prioritize recognition—the quest for respect—in an age that has been defined by growing inequality and the obsolescence of the American dream. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michèle Lamont, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
45. This Exquisite Loneliness: What Loners, Outcasts, and the Misunderstood Can Teach Us About Creativity
By Richard Deming
Yale’s Director of Creative Writing turns an eye toward loneliness, both in his own experiences and the lives of six groundbreaking figures, exploring how to navigate it and what unique achievements loneliness has made possible. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Richard Deming, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
44. Three Roads Back: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Responded to the Greatest Losses of Their Lives
By Robert D. Richardson
From their acclaimed biographer, a final, powerful book about how Emerson, Thoreau, and William James forged resilience from devastating loss, changing the course of American thought. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by philosopher John Kaag, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
43. Flip Thinking: The Life-Changing Art of Turning Problems into Opportunities
By Berthold Gunster
Change your mindset from problem-focused (“yes, but”) to opportunistic (“yes, and”) using omdenken, the Dutch art of flip thinking—from the bestselling author and founder of the omdenken philosophy. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Berthold Gunster, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
42. Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure
By Maggie Jackson
Uncertain examines various modes of uncertainty-in-action, from creative reverie to the dissent that spurs team success. Step by step, the art and science of uncertainty reveal being unsure as a skill set for incisive thinking and day-to-day flourishing. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Maggie Jackson, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
41. A Pity Party Is Still a Party: A Feel-Good Guide to Feeling Bad
By Chelsea Harvey Garner
What if all the advice we’ve received about “looking on the bright side” is wrong? What if sadness is actually the key to happiness, and can even be… fun? A beloved psychotherapist is here to make that case, arguing that it’s not enough for us to tolerate hard feelings; we need to embrace them. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Chelsea Harvey Garner, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
40. A Renaissance of Our Own: A Memoir & Manifesto on Reimagining
By Rachel Cargle
From a highly lauded modern voice in feminism and racial justice comes a deeply personal and insightful testament to the power of reimagining to dismantle the frameworks and systems that no longer serve us while building new ones that do. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Rachel Cargle, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
39. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: The Astonishing New Science of the Senses
By Maureen Seaberg
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made takes readers through their own bodies, delving into the molecular and even the quantum, and tells the story of our magnificent sensorium and what it means for the next wave of human potential. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Maureen Seaberg, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
38. Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others
By Scott Lyons
A clinical psychologist and mind-body expert turns the notion of the “drama queen” on its head, showing that drama is actually an addiction and those who are suffering with it are experiencing a much deeper psychological, biological, and social pain. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Scott Lyons, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
37. Why We Need to Be Wild: One Woman’s Quest for Ancient Human Answers to 21st Century Problems
By Jessica Carew Kraft
Weaving deep research and reportage with her own personal journey, a renowned journalist tells the remarkable story of the potential benefits rewilding has for us and our planet, and questions what it truly means to be a human in today’s world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jessica Carew Kraft, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
36. What’s Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety
By Cole Kazdin
Blending personal narrative and investigative reporting, an Emmy Award-winning journalist reveals that disordered eating is an epidemic crisis killing millions of women. Listen to our Book Bite Summary, read by author Cole Kazdin, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
35. Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom
By Sharon Salzberg
Merging the insights of inspiring voices with her own understanding of mindfulness, a world-renowned meditation pioneer shows us how we can recover from the emotional effects of crisis. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sharon Salzberg, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
34. Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life
By Shelby Stanger
In these pages, you will find stories with practical tips and tactics from world-famous rock climbers and ultra-runners, to longtime thru-hikers, surfers, desk jockeys who’ve figured out how to get off the clock, and even a suburban mom who started teaching women to scale frozen waterfalls in her mid-fifties. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Shelby Stanger, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
33. The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life
By Mike Rucker
Discover the latest compelling scientific evidence for the potent and revitalizing value of fun, and how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of your daily life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Mike Rucker, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
32. Making Great Relationships: Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building Connection, and Fostering Love
By Rick Hanson
From a renowned psychologist comes a comprehensive guide to fostering healthy, effective, and fulfilling relationships of all kinds: at home and at work, with family and friends, and with people who are challenging. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Rick Hanson, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
31. Goodbye, Perfect: How to Stop Pleasing, Proving, and Pushing for Others… and Live for Yourself
By Homaira Kabir
A must-read leadership and self-care book for women who have fallen into the toxic traps of perfectionism, approval-seeking, and endless doing. Goodbye, Perfect teaches us how to embrace the gifts our lives embody, and reclaim joy, ease, and psychological well-being. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Homaira Kabir, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
30. Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It
By Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris
Two psychologists describe the key habits of thinking and reasoning that serve us well most of the time but make us vulnerable to deception—like our tendency to accept what we see, stick to our commitments, and overvalue precision and consistency. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author Daniel Simons, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
29. Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our Selves and the Social Order―and What We Can Do About It
By Tess Wilkinson-Ryan
Facing the fear of being suckered head-on means deciding for ourselves what risks to take, what relationships to invest in, when to share, and when to protest—drafting a new template for how to live with integrity in a sucker’s world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
28. The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life
By Sally Jenkins
A Washington Post sportswriter presents a love letter to the extraordinary coaches and athletes she has covered over the years and the actionable principles of excellence they embody. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sally Jenkins, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
27. Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods
By Mariana Alessandri
An Existentialist philosopher draws on the stories of a diverse group of nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophers and writers to help us see that our suffering is a sign not that we are broken but that we are tender, perceptive, and intelligent. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Mariana Alessandri, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
26. The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough
By Thomas Curran
An acclaimed professor at the London School of Economics explores how the pursuit of perfection can become a dangerous obsession that leads to burnout and depression—keeping us from achieving our goals. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Thomas Curran, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
25. The Power of Awe: Overcome Burnout & Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity & Purpose―in Less Than 1 Minute Per Day
By Jake Eagle and Michael Amster
The A.W.E. Method ensures that awe and its many benefits are accessible to you at any time, in any place—sitting at a stoplight, cooking a meal, petting an animal, or listening to a loved one’s laugh. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Jake Eagle and Michael Amster, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
24. The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action
By Eduardo Briceño
Discover how to balance learning and performing to bolster personal and team success with this revolutionary guide from a world-renowned expert on growth mindset. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Eduardo Briceño, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
23. The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead
By Monica Parker
The Power of Wonder takes readers on a multidisciplinary journey through psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, literature, and business to explore the mechanics of wonder and guide readers toward bringing more of it into their lives. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Monica Parker, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
22. Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships
By Nedra Glover Tawwab
Covering topics ranging from the trauma of emotional neglect, to the legacy of addicted or absent parents, to mental health struggles in siblings and other relatives, and more, this clear and compassionate guide will help you take control of your own life—and honor the person you truly are. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Nedra Glover Tawwab, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
21. Deeper Mindfulness: The New Way to Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World
By Mark Williams and Danny Penman
From the authors of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World, this anticipated follow-up allows both new and seasoned practitioners of mindfulness and meditation to deepen their practice and alleviate anxiety, stress, depression, and improve overall quality of life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Mark Williams and Danny Penman, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
20. How Trust Works: The Science of How Relationships Are Built, Broken, and Repaired
By Peter H. Kim
How Trust Works transforms our understanding of our deepest bonds, giving us the tools to build strong and supportive relationships on every level. With our families, coworkers, and friends. With the groups, organizations, and institutions that touch our lives. And even with societies and nations. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Peter H. Kim, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
19. What Do You Want Out of Life?: A Philosophical Guide to Figuring Out What Matters
By Valerie Tiberius
Blending personal stories, philosophy, and psychology, this insightful and entertaining book offers invaluable advice about living well by understanding your values and resolving the conflicts that frustrate their fulfillment. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Valerie Tiberius, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
18. Selfless: The Social Creation of “You”
By Brian Lowery
We don’t just exist in communities; we are created and shaped by them. By recognizing that we are products of relationships—from fleeting transactions to deep connections—we shatter the myth of individualism and free ourselves to make our lives and the world accordingly. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Brian Lowery, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
17. You and Your Adult Child: How to Grow Together in Challenging Times
By Laurence Steinberg
A leading psychologist provides some basic principles to help parents with adult children think more intelligently about common issues, avoid minefields, weather the inevitable ups and downs, and create a stronger, happier, more effective bond with their child. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Laurence Steinberg, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
16. Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well
By Amy Edmondson
A revolutionary guide that will transform your relationship with failure, from a pioneering researcher of psychological safety and award-winning Harvard Business School professor. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Amy Edmondson, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
15. Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things
By Dan Ariely
The renowned social scientist, professor, and bestselling author of Predictably Irrational delivers his most urgent and compelling book—an eye-opening exploration of the human side of the misinformation crisis—examining what drives otherwise rational people to adopt deeply irrational beliefs. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Dan Ariely, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
14. The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts You in Charge of Your Life
By Vanessa Patrick
An award-winning professor and researcher delves into the new science of saying no. She introduces the groundbreaking concept of “empowered refusal” and reveals surprising secrets about the power of the word no. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Vanessa Patrick, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
13. The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power
By Katherine Morgan Schafler
Which of the five types of perfectionist are you? Classic, intense, Parisian, messy, or procrastinator? As you identify your unique perfectionist profile, you’ll learn how to manage each form of perfectionism to work for you, not against you. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Katherine Morgan Schafler, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
12. The Language of the Face: Stories of Its Uniquely Expressive Features
By Frank Gonzalez-Crussi
A broad and riveting cultural history of physiognomy, exploring how the desire to divine deeper meaning from our looks has compelled humans for millennia. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Frank Gonzalez-Crussi, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
11. Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing—Including You
By Brad Stulberg
A revelatory book on rethinking change and creating a rugged and flexible mindset amidst life’s intensifying flux, from expert on sustainable excellence, coach, and bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Brad Stulberg, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
10. Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
By Dacher Keltner
From a foremost expert on the science of emotions and consultant to Pixar’s Inside Out comes a groundbreaking, essential exploration into the history, science, and greater understanding of awe. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Dacher Keltner, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
9. STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World
By Dan Lyons
Talk less, get more. That’s what STFU is all about. Prescriptive, informative, and addictively readable, STFU gives you the tools to become your better self, whether that’s in the office, at home, online, or in your most treasured relationships. Because, after all, what you say is who you are. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Dan Lyons, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
8. 8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go
By Jay Shetty
The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Think Like a Monk offers a revelatory guide to every stage of romance, drawing on ancient wisdom and new science. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jay Shetty, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
7. Psych: The Story of the Human Mind
By Paul Bloom
Was Freud right that we are all plagued by forbidden sexual desires? What is the function of emotions such as disgust, gratitude, and shame? A renowned psychologist answers these questions and many more in this riveting new book about the science of the mind. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Paul Bloom, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
6. Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today
By Hal Hershfield
Many of us view the future as incredibly distant, making us more likely to opt for immediate gratification that disregards our health and well-being in the years to come. People who are able to connect with their future selves, however, are better able to balance living for today and planning for tomorrow. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Hal Hershfield, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
5. The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction
By Jamie Kreiner
A revelatory account of how Christian monks identified distraction as a fundamental challenge―and how their efforts to defeat it can inform ours, more than a millennium later. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jamie Kreiner, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
4. Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most
By Adam Alter
Whether you’re muddling through a midlife crisis, wrestling writer’s block, trapped in a thankless job, or trying to remedy a fraying friendship, Anatomy of a Breakthrough is the roadmap we all need to escape our inertia and flourish in the face of friction. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Adam Alter, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
3. Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World
By Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo
A paradigm-shifting look at a long-undervalued yet hugely beneficial personality trait, from the creators of the world’s largest community for highly sensitive people. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author Andre Sólo, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
2. The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness
By Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz
What makes for a happy life, a fulfilling life? A good life? According to the directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, the answer to these questions may be closer than you realize. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
1. Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way
By Jonah Berger
A world-renowned marketing expert reveals how mastering a few words can change your life, offering an inside look at the new science of language and how you can use it to motivate, engage, and persuade. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jonah Berger, 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
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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.
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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.
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