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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.

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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.
The profound life lesson at the heart of chaos theory
In this excerpt from Think Like a Mathematician, Junaid Mubeen explains how tiny actions can shape complex systems, revealing the limits of prediction and control in our lives.

by Junaid Mubeen

The word "chaos" is repeatedly written in orange over a beige background, with a large, rough black scribble overlaid in the center.
Everything Articles
A young girl with light brown hair sits with her knees drawn up, looking down, illustrated blue teardrops on her face—capturing a quiet moment that reflects why humans cry.
Books
Why do only humans weep? The evolutionary puzzle of crying.
In this excerpt from "When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…," Steven Pinker examines how crying may have evolved as part of a suite of emotional expressions aimed at strengthening social bonds.
Steven Pinker
Black and white illustration of a human brain with purple scribble circles and arrows pointing toward it on a light background, perfect for those interested in books about the brain.
Books
5 brilliant books to demystify the brain
Neuroscientist Rachel Barr shares her favorite books on the brain and how they shaped her approach to the field.
Kevin Dickinson
a painting of a woman avidly reading a book.
Smart Skills
Neuroscience shows that speed reading is bullshit
Despite the claims of speed reading apps and programs, you actually have to read the book if you want to learn.
Ross Pomeroy
The word "liberalism" in white lowercase text is centered on a black background, surrounded by rough red circles drawn with a crayon effect, visually emphasizing the ongoing discourse on liberalism.
Books
Not since WWII has the fight for liberalism been this urgent
In “On Liberalism," Cass Sunstein argues that liberalism can only endure if we reclaim its core commitments and revive its spirit of freedom and hope for the future.
Kevin Dickinson
Book cover for "Facing Infinity: Black Holes and Our Place on Earth" by Jonas Enander, featuring a starry night sky, a swirling black hole graphic, and a faint silhouette of a priest gazing into the cosmic abyss.
Books
Centuries before Stephen Hawking, an isolated priest imagined black holes
In this excerpt from "Facing Infinity," Jonas Enander examines how John Michell conceived of "dark stars," or massive bodies with enough gravity to trap light, all the way back in 1783.
Jonas Enander
An open book, symbolizing dangerous books, burns with flames rising from its pages against a black background, its fiery reflection shimmering on a glossy surface.
Books
Why today’s publishers fear Goodreads more than government
In "That Book Is Dangerous," author Adam Szetela examines the rise of the “Sensitivity Era” in publishing and how outrage campaigns try to control what books authors can write and readers can read.
Kevin Dickinson
Book cover for "The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything" by Peter Brannen, featuring colorful, stylized illustrations of landscapes, industrial structures, and the role of fire in human evolution.
Books
How taming fire made us human
In this excerpt from "The Story of CO2," Peter Brennan explains how changes in the Earth's ecosystem led to fire, which in turn led our ancestors to become the "fire apes."
Peter Brannen
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