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Where books open worlds
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Books are more than stories on a page — they are mirrors, maps, challenges, and companions in understanding ourselves and the world we inhabit.

Big Think Books is a space devoted to the writers and ideas that shape culture, knowledge, and the way we think. Through thoughtful recommendations, deep dives, and engaging commentary, this column guides readers toward books that expand curiosity, provoke insight, and deepen understanding across fields like science, history, psychology, literature, and more. Whether you’re exploring the latest releases or rediscovering timeless classics, here you’ll find ideas worth your time and thought.

with

Kevin Dickinson is a staff writer and columnist at Big Think, focusing on the intersection of education, psychology, business, and science. He holds a master’s in English and writing, and his work has appeared in Agenda, RealClearScience, and The Washington Post.

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A man with short gray hair and wearing a plaid shirt is seated at a wooden table in a dimly lit restaurant, smiling at the camera.
5 horrifying stories that double as lessons in philosophy
Each of these stories rests on a foundation of great ideas that will scare you to death and make you think.

by Scotty Hendricks

A sketch of a seated, nude figure resting their chin on one hand, surrounded by dark shading and a textured background, evokes an atmosphere of philosophy horror.
Everything Articles
Krel and Hana Koecher celebrate with StB colleagues after returning to the Eastern Bloc.
Big Think Books
Operation TRIGON: How a rookie spy helped change the world of espionage
In this excerpt from "Agents of Change," Christina Hillsberg tells the story of Martha “Marti” Peterson, the first female case officer stationed in Soviet Moscow.
Christina Hillsberg
Book cover of "The Gift of Not Belonging" by Rami Kaminski, MD, featuring five birds on a branch and the subtitle “How outsiders and otroverts thrive in a world of joiners.”.
Big Think Books
“Otroverts” and why nonconformists often see what others can’t
In "The Gift of Not Belonging," Rami Kaminski explains why group consensus may hinder the original thinkers who help advance society.
Rami Kaminski
A man in a suit looks at the camera with a neutral expression, set against a light green background with abstract black scribble accents.
Big Think Books
John le Carré’s son joins the Circus with his new book
With "Karla's Choice," Nick Harkaway had an impossible mission: maintain his father’s legacy while staying true to his voice.
Kevin Dickinson
A woman, resembling a paranormal investigator, holds a rectangular glass dish above her eyes, which are illuminated by light shining through the dish in a dark setting.
Big Think Books
Why don’t Americans trust experts? Just ask a paranormal investigator.
For his new book, “The Ghost Lab,” Matt Hongoltz-Hetling spent time with paranormal investigators to understand their relationship with science and society.
Ross Pomeroy
A white dinosaur skull silhouette on a black background with red, rough, scribbled lines evokes the intrigue of the dinosaur myth.
Big Think Books
A Mesozoic myth: Dinosaurs didn’t rule the Earth like we think
In "The Shortest History of the Dinosaurs," Riley Black reveals the bold mammals that thrived in the Age of Reptiles.
Riley Black
A man in glasses and a suit jacket, resembling John Green, stands in front of a light background with a purple rectangle and abstract black lines.
Books
‘Everything is Tuberculosis’ author John Green on writing, anxiety, and illness
John Green opens up about his struggle to remain hopeful while writing about suffering and injustice.
Tim Brinkhof
A graphic with the text "an excerpt from" on the left and the grayscale book cover of "Raising AI" by De Kai on the right.
Big Think Books
Why AI today is more toddler than Terminator
In "Raising AI," De Kai argues that today's AIs are already more like us than we think they are.
De Kai
Silhouette of a person carrying a cross in front of the United States Capitol building, symbolizing cross purposes between faith and politics.
Big Think Books
The price of Christianity’s “broken bargain” with democracy
An atheist's case for why American democracy needs a more Christlike Christianity.
Stephen Johnson
A classical painting of the historical Jesus carrying a cross, with his face obscured by white scribble marks.
Big Think Books
Why historians can only give Jesus a one-sentence biography
The Gospels aren’t historical biographies but genre-defining works that blend myth, theology, and a promise of hope.
Kevin Dickinson
A photograph of an ancient manuscript with Greek text, displayed on a plain background with abstract purple lines drawn around the edges.
Big Think Books
From Gnosticism to Gospel Manga: 6 books to help you unpack the Bible and its history
Experts and Big Think writers recommend their favorite reads for diving deeper into the history and perspectives found in the Book of Books.
Scotty Hendricks
A man sits with his head resting on his hand, surrounded by crossed-out words like "nonsense," "babble," and "rubbish" in red text.
The Learning Curve
Stephen King’s most misused piece of writing advice
A thesaurus isn’t for finding fancy words; it’s a resource to help you keep your rhythm.
Kevin Dickinson
Book cover of "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" by Laura Spinney shown on the right, with the words "an excerpt from" on a purple background on the left, exploring the rise of a killer language.
Books
Is English a “killer” language — or is it dying?
English could settle into a state of "diglossia" where a gulf exists between the written form and its spoken varieties, but the two are bound into a single tongue.
Laura Spinney
A graphic with text “an excerpt from” on the left and the book cover of “The Never Ending Empire” by Aldo Cazzullo on the right, exploring how the Roman Empire still influences British culture today.
Books
The Empire reflects back: Rome’s lasting influence on British culture
From medieval myths to Shakespeare's plays and modern cinema, British culture kept the Roman Empire alive long after its fall.
Aldo Cazzullo
Image split in two: left side has the words "an excerpt from" on an orange background; right side shows the book cover of "The Creativity Choice" by Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, PhD, on a blue background—perfect for those looking to find your passion.
Books
The passion trap: The misguided advice that limits creativity and drives burnout
Nurture your passions instead.
Zorana Ivcevic Pringle
Man in a dark shirt smiling against a purple background with black scribbles and a white rectangle, reminiscent of "The Year of Living Biblically," embracing the chaos with serene humor.
Books
What happens when you follow the Bible literally for a whole year?
A.J. Jacobs looks back at what he learned about religion, himself, and modern American culture during “The Year of Living Biblically.”
Tim Brinkhof
A man wearing a beanie and dark clothing sits with one arm resting on his knee, inside a blue rectangular frame on a light background with abstract lines, embodying the cool, thoughtful vibe of King Willonius.
Books
The 6 books that changed King Willonius’ life
The comedian and musician behind the viral hit “BBL Drizzy” shares the books that shaped his thinking and approach to art.
Big Think+
A vintage-style illustration of a celestial scene, echoing science fiction by scientists, features a textured black planet and a whimsical moon with an eye, all enclosed in a pale green border against a starry background.
Books
5 classic science fiction novels written by scientists
What happens when scientists "write what they know"? Some amazing science fiction stories.
Scotty Hendricks
Black-and-white photo showing a disc-shaped object with a shadowed underside, floating in a blank sky—an iconic image from the UFO craze.
Books
Science fiction, Project Blue Book, and the beginnings of the UFO craze
In this preview from "The Saucerian," author Gabriel Mckee explains how the combination of fantastical stories and obscure bureaucracy launched the “space age of the imagination.”
Gabriel Mckee
Cover of "Target Earth" by Govert Schilling shows a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere, hinting at cosmic catastrophe. The book explores the world of meteorites, asteroids, and comets. Text reads "an excerpt from.
The Past
How scientists unearthed the cosmic catastrophe that paved the way for humanity
If an asteroid hadn't killed off the dinosaurs, humans would almost certainly have never walked the Earth.
Govert Schilling
A large black question mark with the words "live the questions" overlaid in cursive font, set against a beige background with red abstract lines.
Thinking
The 1903 letter that’s helped countless people embrace the unknown
"Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms, like books written in a truly foreign language."
Elizabeth Weingarten
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