The COVID pandemic has taught us many things, but one of the big takeaways is this: where and how we work can change—drastically. These days, many more of us are working remotely, leaving the businesswear untouched in the closet while we lounge happily in our PJs. So what other big changes are in store for the coming future of work? Check out the five excellent reads below to find out.
The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society
By Mauro F. Guillén
A Wharton professor explores how a new postgenerational workforce known as “perennials”—individuals who are not pitted against each other by age or experience—will level the playing field so that everyone has a chance at living a rewarding life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Mauro F. Guillén, in the Next Big Idea App
The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal
By Felix Salmon
An award-winning journalist presents a tour-de-force analysis—drawing from history, economics, sociology, and popular culture—of the profound and transformative years of the early 2020s, both for individuals and for the global economy. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Felix Salmon, in the Next Big Idea App
This Working Life: How to Navigate Your Career in Uncertain Times
By Lisa Leong and Monique Ross
This Working Life is one of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s most popular podcasts and this book offers the best lessons from the show, offering a holistic, warm approach to finding a new working normal in our increasingly uncertain times. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Lisa and Monique, in the Next Big Idea App
Where Is My Office?: The Post-Pandemic Edition
By Chris Kane and Eugenia Anastassiou
This new follow-up edition of Where Is My Office? highlights some of the bold new frameworks and practical considerations for business leaders, workplace practitioners and those involved in commercial real estate as they navigate the complex post-pandemic working landscape. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Chris Kane and Eugenia Anastassiou, in the Next Big Idea App
The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work
By Simone Stolzoff
Based on groundbreaking reporting and interviews with Michelin star chefs, Wall Street bankers, overwhelmed teachers and other workers across the American economy, an acclaimed journalist exposes what we lose when we expect work to be more than a job. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Simone Stolzoff, 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!
