Maybe things aren’t going well at work. Maybe the presidential debate left you listless and disappointed. Or maybe you don’t know why, but you’re definitely feeling low lately. If you’re ready to lift your spirits and look forward to brighter days ahead, we recommend the seven hopeful reads below.
Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity
By Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell
Embrace—and share—the transformative power of kindness through stories of more than one hundred good people, brought to you by Upworthy, where millions find inspiration, joy, and daily affirmation. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell, in the Next Big Idea App
Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
By Jamil Zaki
Through science and storytelling, a Stanford psychologist imparts the secret for beating back cynicism: hopeful skepticism—thinking critically about people and our problems, while honoring and encouraging our strengths. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jamil Zaki, in the Next Big Idea App
Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down
By Corey Keyes
The Emory University sociologist who coined the term languishing—low-grade mental weariness that affects our self-esteem, relationships, and motivation—explores the rise of this phenomenon and presents a comprehensive guide to flourishing in a world that demands too much. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Corey Keyes, in the Next Big Idea App
Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being
By Sue Varma
From the first medical director and attending psychiatrist at the World Trade Center Mental Health Program comes a practical program to help you live fully and joyfully in an imperfect, turbulent world. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sue Varma, in the Next Big Idea App
New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That’s Got It Wrong
By Stephanie Harrison
Well-being expert and social media sensation Stephanie Harrison of @newhappyco reveals the counterintuitive secrets to happiness and provides a practical guide to help us all learn how to live a happy life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Stephanie Harrison, in the Next Big Idea App
When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others
By Elissa Strauss
A journalist explores the powerful role caring for others plays in our individual and communal lives, weaving together research about care and stories from parents and caregivers with a feminist bent. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Elissa Strauss, in the Next Big Idea App
How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind: Forget the Fairy Tale and Get Real
By Todd Baratz
A sanity-saving guide that cuts through the sky-high expectations of modern love and helps you build healthier and more fulfilling relationships, from the creator of viral Instagram account @YourDiagnonsense. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Todd Baratz, 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!
