If you’re an American, you may look forward to July 4th as a day of simple pleasures—having a barbecue with friends, for example, or watching Joey Chestnut inhale 60+ hot dogs in ten minutes flat.
But July 4th can also be a day for thoughtful reflection. Where is America really going? What can we learn from the good people defending our country? If questions like these pique your interest, crack open one of the terrific new books below on Independence Day.
Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain
By Brett Crozier, with Michael Vlessides
From his days as fighter pilot facing near-death experiences to commandeering suspected pirate vessels in the Persian Gulf—and of course, seizing any opportunity to go surfing—a renowned Navy officer describes the lessons he has learned and the principles that have guided him. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Brett Crozier, in the Next Big Idea App
Cold Peace: Avoiding the New Cold War
By Michael Doyle
As a renowned international relations expert makes hauntingly clear, we now face the specter of a new Cold War, this time orbiting the trilateral axes of Russia, the United States, and China, and exacerbated by new weapons of cyber warfare and more insidious forms of propaganda. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Michael Doyle, in the Next Big Idea App
The Art of Clear Thinking: A Stealth Fighter Pilot’s Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions
By Hasard Lee
Based on a career of making high-stakes, split-second decisions as a U.S. fighter pilot, The Art of Clear Thinking teaches readers to apply the author’s combat-tested techniques in everyday life. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Hasard Lee, in the Next Big Idea App
Launchpad Republic: America’s Entrepreneurial Edge and Why It Matters
By Howard Wolk and John Landry
An insightful and thought-provoking history of entrepreneurship in the United States, with a focus on the political, legal, and cultural forces that have sustained “creative destruction” and propelled the country forward for more than 200 years. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Howard Wolk and John Landry, in the Next Big Idea App
The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America
By Philip Bump
We know what will happen eventually to the baby boomers. What we don’t know is how the boomer legacies might reshape the country one final time. The answers in this book will help us manage the historic disruption of the American state we are now experiencing. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Philip Bump, 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!
