Veterans carry stories that stretch far beyond the battlefield—stories of resilience, leadership, purpose, loss, and renewal. This list brings those voices forward, highlighting books that deepen our understanding of service and the people who choose it.
The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower
By Michelle “MACE” Curran
Former Thunderbird Lead Solo Michelle “MACE” Curran provides a blueprint for converting your fear into a strength based on the hard-earned lessons she learned in the cockpit and beyond. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michelle Curran, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose
By Mike Hayes
Former Navy SEAL commander, White House Fellow, and nonprofit and business leader Mike Hayes offers an inspiring playbook for understanding and achieving your most rewarding and purposeful life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Mike Hayes, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Distancing: How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions
By David Marquet & Michael Gillespie
Distance gives you perspective. Former U.S. Navy Captain David Marquet and professor of psychology Michael Gillespie show you how to make better decisions by becoming your own coach. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author David Marquet, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Masters of Uncertainty: The Navy SEAL Way to Turn Stress into Success for You and Your Team
By Rich Diviney
Retired Navy SEAL commander and performance expert Rich Diviney reveals a revolutionary method for training individuals and teams to perform at their best, no matter what. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Rich Diviney, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Lead Like a Marine: Run Towards a Challenge, Assemble Your Fireteam, and Win Your Next Battle
By John Warren & John Thompson
The U.S. Marines Corps is the greatest fighting force on the planet, but it’s so much more than that: it’s a factory for producing first-rate leaders, problem-solvers, and innovators. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors John Warren and John Thompson, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II
By Lena Andrews
A groundbreaking new history of the role of American servicewomen in WWII, illuminating their forgotten yet essential contributions to the Allies’ victory. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Lena Andrews, 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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