These are the 18 titles that rose to the top in 2025—books that sparked conversation, challenged assumptions, and stayed with our readers long after the final page.
The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination
By Adam Zeman
From how infants perceive the world to how we can anticipate the thoughts of other people, from the benefits of play to mental disorders, The Shape of Things Unseen dazzles and delights in its insights into the workings of the human mind. View on Amazon
Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know
By Angus Fletcher
Examining the minds of visionary thinkers and U.S. Army Special Operators has solved many puzzles about how our brains work. From compiling these case studies, it is clear that there is a path for training your mind to act smart with limited information and outperform computer AI in terms of volatility and uncertainty. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Angus Fletcher, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit
By Brené Brown
Brown returns with an urgent call to reimagine the essentials of courageous leadership. In a time when uncertainty runs deep and bluster, hubris, and even cruelty are increasingly framed as acceptable leadership, Brown delivers practical, actionable insights that illuminate the mindsets and skill sets essential to reclaiming focus and driving growth through connection, discipline, and accountability. View on Amazon
Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours
By Corinne Low
You’re not imagining it: Women aren’t getting a good deal at home or at work. Low has the evidence to prove it, and her book gives you the power to change it. View on Amazon
How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty
By Elizabeth Weingarten
Journalist and applied behavioral scientist Elizabeth Weingarten charts a new path to embrace the questions of our lives instead of seeking fast, easy answers. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Elizabeth Weingarten, or view on Amazon.
Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity
By Eric Topol
A detailed guide to a revolution transforming human longevity. This is a breakthrough moment in the history of human health care. The person making that bold claim is one of the most respected medical researchers in the world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Eric Topol, or view on Amazon.
Crush: Close Encounters with Gravity
By James Riordon
The fascinating story of gravity, from its intimate role in our daily lives to its cosmic significance. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author James Riordon, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts
By Margaret Atwood
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
How does one of the greatest storytellers of our time write her own life? The long-awaited memoir from one of our most lauded and influential cultural figures. View on Amazon
The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life
By Morgan Housel
With insight and warmth, Housel shows why the most valuable return on investment is peace of mind, why expectations matter more than income, and why doing well with money has less to do with spreadsheets and more to do with self-awareness. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Morgan Housel, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change
By Olga Khazan
Is it really possible to change your entire personality in a year? The Atlantic journalist Olga Khazan proves that it is in Me, But Better, which covers her year-long experiment in personality change. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Olga Khazan, or view on Amazon.
Mark Twain
By Ron Chernow
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow illuminates the full, fascinating, and complex life of the writer long celebrated as the father of American literature, Mark Twain. View on Amazon
Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference
By Rutger Bregman
What if everything we’ve been told about having a successful career is wrong? Rutger Bregman thinks most of us are wasting our working lives and argues we should stop trying to get rich and start trying to solve the world’s problems instead. Listen to our Next Big Idea podcast episode interviewing author Rutger Bregman, or view on Amazon.
The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind
By Simon Winchester
The wind, once seen as the mysterious work of deities, continues to hold a subtle, almost mystical influence over our lives, even as science has revealed its vast and complex power. Its impact is far greater and more pervasive than early humans—or even we—could have imagined. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Simon Winchester, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows . . .: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life
By Steven Pinker
How do people think about what other people think they think? Understanding the logic of common knowledge and coordination is important in understanding politics, money, and everyday life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Steven Pinker, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life
By Suleika Jaouad
A guide to the art of journaling—and a meditation on the central questions of life. View on Amazon
The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success
By Susan Dominus
What explains those rare families that boast multiple children who achieve extraordinary success? An award-winning New York Times journalist weaves story with science to explore the circumstances that set those families apart. Listen to our podcast interview with author Susan Dominus in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Capitalism: A Global History
By Sven Beckert
A challenge to rethink the most important force shaping our lives—capitalism—by looking beyond Western narratives and embracing a truly global perspective, opening new ways to imagine our economic futures. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sven Beckert, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
The Greatest Sentence Ever Written
By Walter Isaacson
The Declaration of Independence was shaped through collaboration, revision, and moral striving by the Founding Fathers, whose work shows that progress—whether in innovation, personal growth, or society—requires iterative improvement, purpose-driven effort, and unity to advance justice and equality. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Walter Isaacson, 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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