If you consider yourself a sensitive person, you may feel that life’s volume is turned up too high. Maybe work stress can become all-consuming, or your moments of sadness tend to linger for hours.
But being sensitive is also a beautiful thing. You may have the unique capacity to be moved by music and art, or maybe you’re skilled in forging deep connections with friends and family. No matter what sensitivity means to you, check out the seven excellent books below to more fully embrace your sensitive nature.
The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body’s Fear Response
By Ellen Vora
From an acclaimed psychiatrist comes a groundbreaking understanding of how anxiety manifests in the body and mind—and what we can do to overcome it. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Ellen Vora, in the Next Big Idea App
I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times
By Mónica Guzmán
In this timely, personal guide, the chief storyteller for the national cross-partisan depolarization organization Braver Angels, takes you to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Mónica Guzmán, in the Next Big Idea App
The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You
By Holley Gerth
In this eye-opening book, a bestselling author dives into the psychological, neurological, relational, and spiritual aspects of being an introvert. She also explains how introverts can live with clarity, courage, and confidence in a world that needs what only they can give. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Holley Gerth, in the Next Big Idea App
Dream First, Details Later: How to Quit Overthinking & Make It Happen!
By Ellen Marie Bennett
The author shares her incredible journey from young line cook to the founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett, an apron and kitchen gear brand that outfits the world’s best chefs. Her book will help anyone who’s procrastinating on a goal, career change, or business idea to stop the obsessive worrying and leap into action. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Ellen Marie Bennett, in the Next Big Idea App
Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World
By Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo
A paradigm-shifting look at a long-undervalued yet hugely beneficial personality trait, from the creators of the world’s largest community for highly sensitive people. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-author Andre Sólo, in the Next Big Idea App
Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others
By Scott Lyons
A clinical psychologist and mind-body expert turns the notion of the “drama queen” on its head, showing that drama is actually an addiction and those who are suffering with it are experiencing a much deeper psychological, biological, and social pain. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Scott Lyons, in the Next Big Idea App
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It
By Ethan Kross
Psychologist Ethan Kross interweaves groundbreaking brain research with real-world case studies to explain how our inner voice shapes our lives, work, and relationships. Chatter gives us the power to change the most important conversation we have each day: the one we have with ourselves. Listen to or read our “Book Bite” summary, read by Ethan Kross, on 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!
