School is back in session, and with it a whole new year of assignments, tests, and expectations. The pressure is on for students to excel and shine, but what is the best way for parents and educators to set them up for success? Study these six books to learn what schools need for nurturing brilliance.
A Measure of Intelligence: One Mother’s Reckoning with the IQ Test
By Pepper Stetler
In a quest to advocate for her daughter, Pepper Stetler uncovers the dark history of the IQ that leads her to question what exactly we are measuring when we measure intelligence. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Pepper Stetler, in the Next Big Idea App
Math Mind: The Simple Path to Loving Math
By Shalinee Sharma
Bust the math myths that are holding you and your kids back and learn the joys of numeracy with this one-of-a-kind resource for parents, educators, and policymakers. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Shalinee Sharma, in the Next Big Idea App
The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual
By Jennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider
A perfectly timed book for the educational resistance for those of us who believe in public schools. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider, in the Next Big Idea App
Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)
By Salman Khan
From the founder of Khan Academy, the first book written for general audiences on the AI revolution in education, its implications for parenting, and how we can best harness its power for good. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Salman Khan, in the Next Big Idea App
Apprentice Nation: How the “Earn and Learn” Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America
By Ryan Craig
College isn’t for everyone. It’s time to challenge the status quo and embrace the potential of apprenticeships: a more inclusive, affordable, and sustainable pathway to economic opportunity. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Ryan Craig, in the Next Big Idea App
A+ Parenting: The Surprisingly Fun Guide to Raising Surprisingly Smart Kids
By Eva Moskowitz with Eric Grannis
Eva Moskowitz, founder of the highly lauded Success Academy Charter Schools, shares her advice for raising smart, successful, and intellectually engaged children. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Eva Moskowitz, 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!
