Big Think

What all leaders can learn from jazz-inspired military trailblazers

In most organizations, contradictions are treated as problems to be fixed. But what if they’re actually the point?

by Jeff DeGraff

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Featured Classes

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Members
8 videos
Productivity for Mortals
Oliver Burkeman
Author, “Meditations for Mortals”
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Members
6 videos
AI and the Future of Civilization
Yuval Noah Harari
Historian and Philosopher, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Best-Selling Author
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Members
9 videos
The 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking
Michael Watkins
Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, IMD Business School, and Author, “The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking”
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Members
12 videos
Radical Respect at Work
Kim Scott
Co-Founder, Radical Candor, and Author, Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better
A middle-aged bald man with light skin and blue eyes, wearing a dark crewneck shirt, looks directly at the camera against a plain background.
Members
7 videos
No-Nonsense Leadership
Ben Horowitz
Founding Partner, Andreessen Horowitz and Author, The Hard Thing About Hard Things
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Members
6 videos
A Primatologist’s Guide to Human Behavior
Frans de Waal
C.H. Candler Professor Emeritus at EMORY University, Atlanta, GA
Books

“The Devil Is a Southpaw”: A novel by Brandon Hobson

A preview of the latest novel by the National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson.

by Brandon Hobson
Book cover of The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson featuring two black birds; text on left reads "an excerpt from" on a light blue background.
Starts With A Bang

Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth

Scientists are notoriously resistant to new ideas. Are they falling prey to groupthink? Or are our current theories just that successful?

by Ethan Siegel
solar system model
The Well

Why Einstein called awe the fundamental emotion

If you’ve gotten goosebumps when hearing a story about a stranger’s selfless heroism, or you’ve felt your chest swell at a concert, when the audience’s voice and the musician’s instruments align, you have felt awe. And, according to professor Dacher Keltner, who has spent his life studying it, it’s one of humankind’s most unifying traits:

with Dacher Keltner
A beam of light shines through clouds in a painted sky, with the word "AWE" in large yellow letters centered in the image. 14mins
Leadership masterclass: Nike, Jordan, and James Baldwin
George Raveling — the iconic leader who brought Michael Jordan to Nike — shares with Big Think a lifetime of priceless wisdom learned at the crossroads of sports and business.

by Mike Hodgkinson

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FIND US ON SUBSTACK

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Big Think

Our main hub on substack.

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Mini Philosophy

Your daily dose of thoughtfulness.

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Starts with a Bang

Understand the universe better.

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Big Think Books

Explore the writers and ideas that have shaped our world.

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Big Think Business

The latest industry insights.
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What would you like to learn more about? We have thousands of videos from the world’s biggest thinkers to help you dive deeper into any subject.

A beam of light shines through clouds in a painted sky, with the word "AWE" in large yellow letters centered in the image.
14 min
Why Einstein called awe the fundamental emotion
Dacher Keltner

Psychologist, UC Berkeley
A rat stands on a concrete floor, casting a shadow on the wall that resembles the shape of a sheep.
9 min
How facing adversity can help you live a deeper, more meaningful life
Oliver Burkeman
Author, “Meditations for Mortals”
Six brain MRI scan images are arranged in two rows, showing various cross-sectional views of the human brain, with the bottom row featuring a blue and pink color overlay.
3 min
Can you measure love? 3 experts discuss
Meghan Sullivan
Members
A person stands alone on calm water with the word "STILLNESS" in bold letters over the scene.
21 min
How accepting impermanence can end the struggle to “fix” your life
Robert Waldinger

Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
A man sits on a stool in front of a backdrop displaying a declining graph with bar charts and red trend lines, suggesting a downward trend in data.
1 min
How your cognitive biases lead to terrible investing behaviors
Barry Ritholtz
3 min
Is free will a fallacy? Science and philosophy explain.
Daniel C. Dennett

Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University
A black background with white text and red lines.
15 min
Why 2025 is the single most pivotal year in our lifetime
Peter Leyden

AI and tech expert, plus thought leader on the future
A detailed black and white illustration of a toad on a green background, with the word "Car" written below it.
3 min
Even AI is self-censoring. Here’s why that matters.
Jacob Mchangama
25 min
Are we blinded by our desire to find extraterrestrial life?
David Kipping

Astronomer
Black and white cutout of a smiling man's face with red heart shapes drawn over his eyes on a black background.
17 min
The ancient origins of partnering and romantic love
Helen Fisher

Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute
3 min
Is free will a fallacy? Science and philosophy explain.
Daniel C. Dennett

Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University
A black background with white text and red lines.
15 min
Why 2025 is the single most pivotal year in our lifetime
Peter Leyden

AI and tech expert, plus thought leader on the future
A detailed black and white illustration of a toad on a green background, with the word "Car" written below it.
3 min
Even AI is self-censoring. Here’s why that matters.
Jacob Mchangama
25 min
Are we blinded by our desire to find extraterrestrial life?
David Kipping

Astronomer
Black and white cutout of a smiling man's face with red heart shapes drawn over his eyes on a black background.
17 min
The ancient origins of partnering and romantic love
Helen Fisher

Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute
9 min
Sean Carroll: Can we ever escape the logic of a clockwork universe?
Sean Carroll
A split image showing a brain scan on the left and hands using a smartphone on the right.
7 min
Addictions and habits, explained by a neuroscientist, a psychologist, and a journalist
Carl Hart

Associate Professor of Psychology, Columbia University
A human hand is positioned palm up below a floating anatomical model of a human brain against a plain light blue background.
3 min
How humans create reality through language and beliefs
Agustín Fuentes

Anthropologist
The word "ALONE" in large white letters on a purple background, with a sad person's face visible inside the letter "O.
3 min
So you spend a lot of time alone. Here’s why that’s not a bad thing.
Ethan Kross

Professor of Psychology and Management & Organizations; Author, University of Michigan
A woman in a black dress lies on a green sofa, holding a closed book in one hand, resting with her eyes closed.
3 min
How to wait well, according to neuroscience and psychology
Sarah Schnitker
Six brain MRI scan images are arranged in two rows, showing various cross-sectional views of the human brain, with the bottom row featuring a blue and pink color overlay.
3 min
Can you measure love? 3 experts discuss
Meghan Sullivan
Members
A person stands alone on calm water with the word "STILLNESS" in bold letters over the scene.
21 min
How accepting impermanence can end the struggle to “fix” your life
Robert Waldinger

Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
A man sits on a stool in front of a backdrop displaying a declining graph with bar charts and red trend lines, suggesting a downward trend in data.
1 min
How your cognitive biases lead to terrible investing behaviors
Barry Ritholtz
3 min
Is free will a fallacy? Science and philosophy explain.
Daniel C. Dennett

Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University
Black and white cutout of a smiling man's face with red heart shapes drawn over his eyes on a black background.
17 min
The ancient origins of partnering and romantic love
Helen Fisher

Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute
A split image showing a brain scan on the left and hands using a smartphone on the right.
7 min
Addictions and habits, explained by a neuroscientist, a psychologist, and a journalist
Carl Hart

Associate Professor of Psychology, Columbia University
A person is leaping between two buildings against a clear blue sky.
21 min
The alarm bells are sounding for young men. Will we listen?
Richard Reeves
A person with curly brown hair wearing a black shirt and gray t-shirt sits against a plain white background, gesturing with both hands raised near their chest.
11 min
Jesse Eisenberg: How to rewire your anxiety into authenticity
Jesse Eisenberg

Actor, Writer, Director
A human hand is positioned palm up below a floating anatomical model of a human brain against a plain light blue background.
3 min
How humans create reality through language and beliefs
Agustín Fuentes

Anthropologist
Text "Trauma in the Body" is displayed in bold white letters on a black shape, with yellow starburst shapes on a blue background.
59 min
Bessel van der Kolk: Trauma isn’t the event, it’s the response
Bessel van der Kolk

Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist, and Author, “The Body Keeps the Score”
A person with curly brown hair wearing a black shirt and gray t-shirt sits against a plain white background, gesturing with both hands raised near their chest.
11 min
Jesse Eisenberg: How to rewire your anxiety into authenticity
Jesse Eisenberg

Actor, Writer, Director
A man sits on a chair in front of a white backdrop with vibrant, rainbow-colored abstract patterns in the background.
1 min
Become stronger: Jumpstart your anti-fragile systems
Tal Ben-Shahar

Positive Psychologist and Author, “Happier, No Matter What”
A person walks barefoot on a slackline stretched high above the ocean, with one arm raised for balance and cliffs visible at each end.
5 min
Nate Silver: Habits of highly successful risk-takers
Nate Silver

statistician
A hand holding a sealed envelope emerges from turbulent ocean waves against a black background.
13 min
Yuval Noah Harari: How to safeguard your mind in the age of junk information
Yuval Noah Harari

Historian and Philosopher, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Best-Selling Author
Close-up of a person's eyes looking up, with white abstract doodles and lines superimposed over their forehead, symbolizing thoughts or imagination.
3 min
How to expand your influence, according to 2 experts 
Robert Greene

Author
An older man in a suit and red tie sits on a chair against a white backdrop, with a colorful outer space scene in the background.
1 min
Michio Kaku wants to solve Einstein’s unfinished equation
Michio Kaku

Professor of Theoretical Physics
A person sits behind bars at a desk with a computer in a dimly lit setting, suggesting restriction or confinement.
8 min
The genius guide to future-proofing your career
Josh Bersin

Author
A person in a long, light-colored garment leans forward with their head pressed against a brick wall against a red background.
8 min
Manage your emotions, in 9 minutes
Ethan Kross

Professor of Psychology and Management & Organizations; Author, University of Michigan
A man with long curly hair sits on a chair in a white hallway, surrounded by illustrated documents, maps, and notes taped to a gray wall.
1 min
The hidden process of becoming a CIA agent, from a former spy
Andrew Bustamante

Former CIA Operative and Founder, Everyday Spy
A city skyline is reflected inside a single water droplet hanging from the tip of a metallic object against a gradient sky background.
10 min
The laboratory accident that saved 500 million lives
Derek Thompson

Staff writer at The Atlantic, Host of “Plain English” podcast
Black and white cutout of a smiling man's face with red heart shapes drawn over his eyes on a black background.
17 min
The ancient origins of partnering and romantic love
Helen Fisher

Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute
9 min
Sean Carroll: Can we ever escape the logic of a clockwork universe?
Sean Carroll
A human hand is positioned palm up below a floating anatomical model of a human brain against a plain light blue background.
3 min
How humans create reality through language and beliefs
Agustín Fuentes

Anthropologist
Painting depicting a man with a crown of thorns, arms outstretched on a wooden cross, with a sign above his head that reads "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum.
3 min
How censorship turns ordinary men into martyrs
Jacob Mchangama
Close-up of a person's face with brown eyes and freckles, next to an abstract blue and white pattern resembling tree branches and lightning.
7 min
How our expectations shape what we see, hear, and feel
Paul Ekman

Psychologist
A hand holding a sealed envelope emerges from turbulent ocean waves against a black background.
13 min
Yuval Noah Harari: How to safeguard your mind in the age of junk information
Yuval Noah Harari

Historian and Philosopher, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Best-Selling Author
Two torn paper cutouts of open mouths are positioned against a black background, both appearing to be yelling or shouting.
6 min
The true cost of always needing to win an argument
Jefferson Fisher

Author
Close-up of a person's eyes looking up, with white abstract doodles and lines superimposed over their forehead, symbolizing thoughts or imagination.
3 min
How to expand your influence, according to 2 experts 
Robert Greene

Author
A person sits behind bars at a desk with a computer in a dimly lit setting, suggesting restriction or confinement.
8 min
The genius guide to future-proofing your career
Josh Bersin

Author
Browse All Videos
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The image displays the words “MINI PHILOSOPHY” in a bold, black, uppercase serif font on a white background.
Mini Philosophy is where we pause the busyness of life to reflect on ourselves, our relationships, and the Universe.
with Jonny Thomson
Japanese woodblock print of people sweeping and cleaning a kondo, with straw mats, lanterns, and various objects visible in the background. 6 Japanese concepts you need to know, according to Marie Kondo
It's not just about the home; it's about everything.
Jonny Thomson
Silhouettes of two people facing each other, clinking wine glasses against an orange background, sharing a lighthearted, possibly drunk moment. The “intoxication thesis”: The evolutionary benefits of getting drunk
Getting drunk might be bad for you but good for us.
Jonny Thomson
Two figures in dark robes bow deeply toward each other on a light background, evoking the spirit of naikan in a traditional Japanese ink illustration style. Ask these 3 “Naikan” questions for a happier, healthier attitude toward life
You are held, shaped, and sustained by a thousand invisible hands.
Jonny Thomson
A person wearing a wide-brim hat and vest crouches beside a tree stump covered with various fungi, gazing in wonder at the fascinating growths in the green forested area. 3 ways to find and invite more wonder
Wonder is like a guest you haven’t planned for.
Jonny Thomson
Black text reads "THE BIG THINK INTERVIEW" with a horizontal line and speech bubble tail extending underneath the text on a light background.
Intimate interviews with the world’s biggest thinkers.
A rat stands on a concrete floor, casting a shadow on the wall that resembles the shape of a sheep.
9 min
How facing adversity can help you live a deeper, more meaningful life
“There would be something very, very empty and meaningless about [a] sort of life with no problems.”
Oliver Burkeman
Members
A person stands alone on calm water with the word "STILLNESS" in bold letters over the scene.
21 min
How accepting impermanence can end the struggle to “fix” your life
“The idea is that we move from a place of wanting the world to conform to what we like [towards] not needing other people to be different from who they are.”
Robert Waldinger
A black background with white text and red lines.
15 min
Why 2025 is the single most pivotal year in our lifetime
"We're living in an extraordinary moment in history. We are at a moment here in 2025 where we have world historic game-changing technologies now starting to scale."
Peter Leyden
25 min
Are we blinded by our desire to find extraterrestrial life?
“Deep down the natural endpoint of this whole goal of looking for planets is to answer the question: are we alone?”
David Kipping
The text "STARTS WITH A BANG" appears in bold, uppercase letters, with "WITH A" in a lighter, italicized font between lines.
The Universe is out there, waiting for you to discover it.
with Ethan Siegel
solar system model Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth
Scientists are notoriously resistant to new ideas. Are they falling prey to groupthink? Or are our current theories just that successful?
Ethan Siegel
solar system model Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth
Scientists are notoriously resistant to new ideas. Are they falling prey to groupthink? Or are our current theories just that successful?
Ethan Siegel
ufo lights liverpool Why aliens might not “speak physics” the same way we do
Physicist Daniel Whiteson challenges the notion that all intelligent species would eventually uncover the same laws of nature. Do you agree?
Ethan Siegel
DUNE neutrino detectors Neutrinos are still the most mysterious particle we know of
Nearly 100 years after being theorized, the strange behavior of the neutrino still mystifies us. They could be even stranger than we know.
Ethan Siegel
A black and white logo.
Big Ideas. Thoughtful Conversations. One Book at a Time.
Out-of-focus trees in the foreground with a clear full moon visible in the dusk sky, evoking a scene worthy of tristan gooley’s natural navigation. Every tree, star, and cloud is a compass — if you know how to read them
Natural navigator Tristan Gooley joins us to discuss the philosophy of reading nature’s hidden clues — and how relearning this ancient skill can help us see the world, and ourselves, with greater awareness.
Kevin Dickinson
The image features the phrase "an excerpt from" on a red background next to the book cover of "Playful" by Cas Holman with Lydia Denworth, highlighting insights from play research. More than a game: How play helps wire our social brains
In this excerpt from "Playful," Cas Holman surveys the research that brought the neuroscience of play into the mainstream.
Cas Holman
A close-up of a spotted nudibranch with translucent, pointed cerata on a brown underwater branch against a black background, inviting reflection on the intricate nature of consciousness in marine life. What sea slugs can teach us about the nature of consciousness
In this excerpt from "One Hand Clapping," Nikolay Kukushkin makes the case that neurons reveal how memory, meaning, and even consciousness emerge from the same biological roots in humans, sea slugs, and beyond.
Nikolay Kukushkin
Two figures in military gear salute, rendered in white and red with visible brain scans over their heads, set against a black background—a striking nod to the neuroscience of war. How neuroscience is rewriting the art of war
In “Warhead,” neuroscientist and national security adviser Nicholas Wright explains how the brain navigates warfare and why it is our ultimate weapon (and instrument for peace).
Tim Brinkhof
Black and white logo with the letters "B T" in a square followed by the word "business" in bold, serif font.
Learn Business from the World’s Biggest Thinkers.
The surprising business model of Costco
While Costco warehouses may remind shoppers of Walmart, this membership-only retailer has a business model that more closely resembles Amazon or Netflix.
Tim Brinkhof
Million Stories
An older man sits on a chair gesturing with his hands in front of a blue background featuring a black sinusoidal waveform and an arrow. Josh Bersin: The Secrets of Crafting Enduring Organizations
Why the most enduring organizations stop chasing trends and start designing systems that prioritize people over processes.
Josh Browning
A middle-aged man with glasses and a beard, resembling Jimmy Wales, poses in front of a light-colored background featuring Wikipedia's globe logo and various language characters. Wikipedia visionary Jimmy Wales wants innovators to have fun. Seriously
Wales shares with Big Think his thoughts about the future of media, the promise of AI, and our need to build a culture on trust.
Mike Hodgkinson
On the left, text reads "an excerpt from" on a pale blue background; on the right is Goldie Chan’s book cover for "Personal Branding for Introverts. Burned out without booze? You may have an “introvert hangover”
Introverts have social batteries that will drain over time, but they can be recharged with good energy hygiene. Here’s how.
Goldie Chan
Text that reads "Strange Maps" in a decorative font on a light background.
Cartography that show the world from a different angle
with Frank Jacobs
A raised hand with bracelets is shown in focus against a blurred background of people indoors. Mapped: If America were 100 people, this is what they’d believe
Nearly 30 would be "nones" — an amorphous group that spans from zealous atheists to the vaguely spiritual.
Frank Jacobs
A world map comparing landmass outlines of the Equal Earth projection in pink and Mercator projection in green, with grid lines overlaid. Africa wants its true size on the world map
The African Union argues that the Mercator projection distorts the continent, both in size and global attention.
Frank Jacobs
Illustrated map showing streets, parks, and landmarks of a coastal city bordered by Hob's River and Delaware Bay, with a compass rose in the lower right corner. The strange cartography of Superman’s ever-shifting hometown
The latest "Superman" film sets Metropolis in the First State.
Frank Jacobs
Diagram showing a galaxy, zooming in to highlight a small area labeled "Human Experience" within a grid mapping time and space on logarithmic scales. Mapped: The boundaries of human perception
Science helps us imagine the vastness of space and time — and our small but meaningful place within it.
Frank Jacobs
The image displays the number 13.8 in large, bold, black digits on a light background.
A series by Adam Frank and Marcelo Gleiser exploring the beauty and power of science in culture.
A smiling man with short dark hair wears a button-up shirt, standing in front of a purple, splattered-texture background. David Kipping on how the search for alien life is gaining credibility
Big Think spoke with astronomer David Kipping about technosignatures, "extragalactic SETI," and being a popular science communicator in the YouTube age.
Adam Frank
Abstract illustration featuring five circles with various designs connected by curved white lines on a purple and blue background, symbolizing science or interconnected concepts. 6 questions about consciousness with Annaka Harris
A conversation with Annaka Harris on shared perception, experimental science, and why our intuition about consciousness is wrong.
Adam Frank
A man with short dark hair, glasses, and a goatee, wearing a blue jacket over a light shirt, stands in front of a beige, textured background. “Mystery humbles you”: Scott Derrickson on why skepticism and faith aren’t enemies
The "Doctor Strange" director says mystery shifts your worldview — "not in a metaphorical sense, but in a deeply experiential one."
Adam Frank
Illustration of two connected neurons with green and orange bodies, featuring detailed blue nuclei, against a black grid background. The case for expanding the definition of intelligence
A fresh view of intelligence — spanning living systems from bacteria to human civilization — challenges the idea that it’s merely problem-solving.
Marcelo Gleiser
Learn from the world’s biggest thinkers.
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