The Next Big Idea Daily

It’s easy to feel optimistic when everything is going according to plan. But what happens when the plan falls apart—or the challenge lasts longer than expected?

Positive psychology researcher Michelle Gielan says optimism isn’t just a feeling we either have or don’t. In Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times, she explores how we can practice it, even when circumstances are difficult.

Then anthropologist and endurance athlete Michael Crawley shares ideas from To the Limit: The Meaning of Endurance from Mexico to the Himalayas, exploring what different cultures can teach us about why we push ourselves—and how enduring together can bring us closer.

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Before you make plans for the future, how often do you stop to consider the life you’ve already lived? In Life in Perspective, productivity expert Tiago Forte makes the case for an annual review that starts with looking back—not judging yourself or rushing into resolutions.

Then, Life Worth Living (2023), by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, takes the question a step further: Are the things we’re chasing actually worth wanting? Together, the books offer a chance to pause, reflect, and think more carefully about what matters most. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

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Sponsored By:

Quince — Give the gift of quality this holiday season. Go to quince.com/nbid to get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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Becoming a parent changes your life—but what happens to your brain? Neuroscientist Susana Carmona explores the remarkable transformations of pregnancy and parenthood in A Mother’s Brain: The New Science of the Neuro-Maternal Revolution, and explains why “mommy brain” isn’t quite what we think.

Then, psychiatrist Daniel Amen and parenting expert Charles Fay turn to the brains of children—and the adults raising them. In Raising Mentally Strong Kids, they share ideas for building connection, setting loving limits, and helping kids learn from their mistakes. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

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Algorithms increasingly shape what we see, think, and value—but who gets to decide how that power is used? In Trias Algorithmica: What Code Rules, AI researcher Hamilton Mann argues that algorithms wield a new kind of societal power, and makes the case for checks to keep it from concentrating unchecked. ⁠⁠ In Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, from Ancient Oracles to AI, Oxford philosopher Carissa Véliz explores how predictions—from ancient oracles to AI—can shape the future they claim to foresee, and why uncertainty helps protect our freedom. ⁠⁠ Together, the books ask how we can keep algorithmic power accountable—and our future open.

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Sponsored By:Notion — Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/dailyQuince — Make your summer wardrobe easier. Go to quince.com/nbid for free shipping on your order and 365-day returnsKeeper — Right now, Keeper's offering podcast listeners! 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/DAILY.

Can spiritual practices help us, even if we’re not sure what we believe? In How God Works: The Science Behind the Benefits of Religion, psychologist David DeSteno explores what rituals surrounding gratitude, care, and loss can teach us about living better. And in The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life, Columbia psychologist Lisa Miller examines what happens in the brain when we experience a deep sense of connection.

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Sponsored By:Notion — Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at ⁠⁠notion.com/daily⁠⁠Quince — Make your summer wardrobe easier. Go to ⁠⁠quince.com/nbid⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returnsKeeper — Right now, Keeper's offering podcast listeners! 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/DAILY.