Big Think Membership

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Big Think Membership

Go Deeper with Big Think

Become a member and get quarterly print issues, expert classes, ad-free reading, and early access — all for less than $3 a week.

Our Summer issue, The Opt-Out Nation, will be available mid July.
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HERE’S WHAT MEMBERS GET
Make Big Think your intellectual home.
A flat lay of open magazines displaying various articles, images, and graphics, including headlines like "CURRENTS," "WAKE-UP CALL," and "JEDI MIND TRICKS.
Quarterly Print Magazine
A premium print magazine delivered to your doorstep every three months. US shipping only.
A grid of six book covers featuring portraits of authors and titles on philosophy, critical thinking, AI, leadership, and personal development.
A Deep Library of Expert Classes
100+ video classes and thousands of short lessons from the world’s biggest thinkers to help you think deeper and work smarter.
Tablet displaying an article titled “A physicist explains what the Kardashev scale gets wrong,” featuring an illustration of Earth with colorful energy bands around it.
Ad-free Reading and Viewing
Enjoy an uninterrupted reading and learning experience — the way thoughtful media was meant to be.
A laptop displaying a video of a man sitting on a stool in a studio with wooden flooring, plants on stands, and a white backdrop behind him.
Early Access to Interviews
Watch our flagship series, The Big Think Interview, weeks before the rest of the internet.
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Exclusive Events
Early invites & VIP experiences at live Big Think conversations, salons and symposiums.
A bigger and more thoughtful world is waiting for you…

Premium Quarterly Print Magazines

The Big Think print issue. Digital access is convenient, but a physical issue of Big Think is an immersive reading experience that can’t be replicated on a screen. Disconnect from notifications and ads as you savor thoughtful journalism and rediscover the joy of deep reading.

RECENT ISSUES
A person flips through a magazine with a close-up portrait, while a colorful illustrated book lies closed on the table nearby. A stack of Big Think magazines, with the top issue featuring illustrated people with trees for heads and roots connecting their bodies, titled "The Roots of Resilience. Eight open magazines are arranged in two columns, each displaying different layouts, images, and articles on science and nature topics against a white background. An open magazine shows a rock climber scaling a cliff and bold text reading "I JUST SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SUFFER." Sunlight partially illuminates the pages. A tabletop with a latte, books, a vase of flowers, two "Big Think" magazines, and a cat sitting at the edge, all illuminated by sunlight. Open magazine showing an article titled “How Rats Conquered Earth,” featuring illustrations of rats and related graphics under natural sunlight. Person holding an open magazine featuring an illustration of white rats on orange pipes against a space-themed background. A magazine titled "Big Think" with a cover illustration of human figures interconnected by roots and branches, and the headline "The Roots of Resilience. A bookshelf speaker and a "Big Think" magazine titled "The Roots of Resilience" are placed on a wooden surface next to a turntable. A stack of printed newsletters or magazines, each featuring a "Letter from the Editor" section on the visible front page. Four magazines are stacked on a wooden surface; the top two have colorful covers titled "BIG THINK: The Roots of Resilience" featuring illustrations of trees with interconnected roots.
  • Delivered to your door
  • The biggest ideas of our time
  • A new theme each quarter
  • Premium design & art
  • Limited-edition collectible
  • Offline, distraction-free experience
WHAT READERS SAY
“I just wanted to mention that the design and quality you folks are producing here is amazing. One really notices how much love and attention to detail you are applying to the print issue and I love it. ”
“I recently received your print edition and it was such a joy to hold in my hands. I marveled at the quality of paper, smelt the ink and ran my fingertips over the colours like they could seep into my skin. I savoured the words and the thoughts behind the articles, and I really loved how you painted resilience through science and poetry. ”
“I’ve been a fan of Big Think for a while, but their new print edition completely won me over. It’s beautiful, thoughtful, and exactly the kind of project I love having in my hands. ”
“Just got the print issue – WOW!!! I’m blown away. It looks amazing. ”

A Deep Library of Expert Classes

World-class instructors. Topics that matter. Join 400,000+ life-long learners exploring and improving with the world’s biggest thinkers. With 100s of expert classes featuring 1,000s of micro-lessons, you can grow both personally and professionally at your own pace. New classes drop every two weeks.

Example Classes

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Members
6 videos
AI and the Future of Civilization
Yuval Noah Harari
Historian and philosopher
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Members
7 videos
Understanding Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist
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Members
10 videos
Unlocking Your Team’s Hidden Potential
Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist and author
Illustration of a human head in profile with a visible brain and a beam of light projecting from the forehead, set against a background of concentric circles.
Members
10 videos
Pay Attention to Your Attention
Amishi Jha
Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, Author “Peak Mind”
A Venn diagram with three overlapping circles showing a person's face, a handshake, and a waveform on a green background.
Members
5 videos
The Humanity of Leadership
Simon Sinek
Ethnographer and author
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Members
6 videos
Transform Your Organization with AI
Daphne Koller
Founder and CEO of insitro.
A man sits on a chair in front of a white backdrop, with bookshelves and lamps in the background, raising his hands in a questioning gesture.
Members
10 videos
Leading Through Anxiety
Jesse Eisenberg
Actor, writer and director
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Members
7 videos
How to Rewire Your Brain for Learning
Barbara Oakley
Professor of engineering
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Members
7 videos
True Ingredients of Successful Leadership
Atul Gawande
Professor and author
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Members
10 videos
Sustaining Excellence with Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman
Psychologist and Author, Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day
A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a receding hairline is smiling, wearing a dark t-shirt against a light blue background.
Members
8 videos
Productivity for Mortals
Oliver Burkeman
Author, “Meditations for Mortals”
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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”
A middle-aged man with light brown hair and a trimmed beard smiles at the camera, wearing a dark blazer over a light blue shirt against a plain background.
Members
4 videos
A Better Way to Sell
Robert Herjavec
Author, Entrepreneur and Lead Shark on “Shark Tank”
A man with short hair in a collared shirt gestures with his hands, pointing toward himself, against a blue background with translucent color overlays.
Members
7 videos
Managing the Voice in Your Head
Ethan Kross
Professor of Psychology and Management & Organizations; Author, University of Michigan
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Members
8 videos
Slow Productivity
Cal Newport
Computer scientist and author

Topics Include

Creativity Resilience Productivity Communication Critical Thinking Wellbeing Habits Growth Curiosity Mindfullness Purpose Inspiration Persuasion Philosophy
WHAT LEARNERS SAY
“The sessions have genuinely helped me grow in my career by enhancing my perspective, sharpening my leadership skills, and encouraging strategic thinking. ”
“Love the topics and that they are in a bite-sized form that can be consumed within the course of my very busy day! ”
“Big Think Classes provide very practical and useful insight, thought provoking questions to ask oneself, and knowledge that can be leveraged for continuous improvement and growth. ”
“I love how you think and it helps me coach my clients who are professional women, we all need more Big Think women! ”
Ready to become a Big Think member?
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Live Events & Networking

Become part of a real-life community where curious minds connect. Experience exciting live events and grow network-expanding relationships with thought leaders, innovators, and fellow Big Think fans as you get to know the community. Members get first-access to bold gatherings where ideas clash, evolve, and harmonize. It’s guaranteed to expand your horizons.

Past Events

A man in a patterned shirt speaks on stage next to a screen displaying an image of Earth with colorful highlights. A man in a blue shirt and white t-shirt smiles while talking to a person in the foreground at an indoor event with purple lighting. A person stands behind a podium on a dark stage with abstract blue and white swirling patterns displayed on large screens behind and above them. A woman plays an electric cello with a bow on stage in front of a purple backdrop with text. Two people with drinks and bright glasses smile at a lively indoor event, standing by a candle-lit table with others in the background. People gather and converse on two levels inside a modern building with large arched windows, a high ceiling, and a prominent chandelier; the lower level has a SHACK15 sign. A person wearing a tank top, cap, headphones around their neck, and glasses operates a DJ controller in a dimly lit setting. A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a plaid shirt, speaks on stage with a tablet under his arm against a pink and purple background. Two men sit on stage speaking at an event with a sign behind them that reads "The Future" and partially visible text, under warm lighting. A woman in a crop top and jeans laughs while holding food and talking with two people at a casual outdoor gathering. A man in a black shirt stands and smiles with his hands pressed together in front of a colorful, softly lit background. Several people recline on white lounge chairs in a circular arrangement around a tall, illuminated vertical light fixture in a minimalist, white room.
WHAT ATTENDEES SAY
“Saturday’s event was awesome. Incredibly inspiring and I’m still thinking about each talk. You guys are doing amazing work! So happy we were there to witness it. ”
“Thank you again for the invite to this amazing night. I left feeling genuinely inspired, met a lot of great people, and have a sense that meaningful collaborations will grow out of this gathering. ”
“The production quality, the speakers, the bites and drinks — it was all fabulous. ”
“My wife and I attended Saturday night’s event, and afterward, we were remarking about how smart the programming was, with the speakers in the first half discussing awe through science, and the speakers in the second half through art. They were in a beautiful, deep conversation with each other. ”
“Great work. I sincerely hope you do more events like this in LA. ”
“Congrats again on a great event! Nothing else moves the needle quite like an in-person gathering. Bravo. ”

Ad-Free Reading & Viewing

Immerse yourself in ideas without interruption. Members experience Big Think as it was designed to be—clean, elegant, and entirely ad-free. Every article and video becomes a space for focus and reflection, free from distraction and noise. It’s thoughtful media, restored to its purest form.

Early Access to Interviews

Go behind the velvet rope of Big Think’s most iconic series. Members get early access to The Big Think Interview — our flagship video program seen by millions on YouTube. Each conversation is a modern-day masterclass, where the world’s most fascinating thinkers explore the ideas shaping our future. Watch weeks before the rest of the internet and experience these mind-expanding dialogues first.

WATCHED OVER 2 MILLION TIMES
Physicist Brian Cox explains quantum physics in 22 minutes
WHAT VIEWERS SAY
“This channel is one of the rare gems on YouTube — quality, passion, and effort shine through every second. ”
“I am so thankful for all these Interviews. I am seriously indebted to this channel for my personal growth. ”
“This YouTube channel goes beyond sharing incredible, practical, and valuable content—it helps shape the very foundation of meaning and understanding in daily life. That’s why we truly need more channels like this. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ”
“What a fabulously interesting video. Amongst other things, it shows that someone with an engaging attitude and a complete command of their subject can talk for over an hour with only a handful of illustrations and still keep you interest. Thank you to all those who made this possible and posted it on YouTube. ”
“This is the longest video I have ever watched all the way through on YouTube. And now I want to watch again. So many great ideas to ponder and try! ”
“This is extremely high quality content, it’s gold standard. ”
“Thanks for explaining this stuff in a way I can actually grasp enough to want to learn more. ”
“This may very well have been the most valuable 58 minutes of my year. Thank you. ”
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BELIEVE IN THINKING BIG
If you believe ideas can change the world, you belong here.

Big Think exists for people who refuse to settle for shallow takes and short attention spans. For those who believe that curiosity is strength, that wisdom matters, and that progress begins with an open mind.

When you become a member, you’re helping to build something rare—a home for intelligent conversation in a noisy world. You’re supporting the thinkers, writers, and creators who make sense of our time and imagine what’s next.

Join because you don’t just consume ideas—you believe in their power.

Your Questions, Answered

The membership provides four print issues per calendar year, roughly one per quarter. When you receive your first issue will depend on when you join, but generally, you can expect it to arrive within 4–8 weeks.

We are only shipping within the United States at this time. If you are international, please see the Digital-Only plan.

At this time, our print magazine is only available to members with U.S. shipping addresses while we work on expanding our print fulfillment to more countries. We know this is disappointing for our international community, and we’re actively working toward offering worldwide shipping in the future.

International members: You can still enjoy all the benefits of membership with our Digital-Only plan, which includes downloadable PDF editions of every print issue. When international shipping becomes available, you’ll be able to upgrade your membership to include the print magazine.

The Print + Digital membership is $144/year or $15/month. 

What’s included:

  • Quarterly print magazines
  • Unlimited access to all classes, plus a new class every two weeks
  • Ad-free reading
  • Early access to The Big Think Interview
  • Exclusive event invites
  • Special member discounts to the Big Think Store

The Digital-Only membership is $96/year or $10/month.

What’s included:

  • Unlimited access to all classes, plus a new class every two weeks
  • Ad-free reading
  • Early access to The Big Think Interview
  • High-resolution downloadable PDFs of all print issues
  • Exclusive event invites
  • Special member discounts to the Big Think Store

**Please note: We do not offer academic, senior, or veteran discounts at this time.

To purchase a membership: 

  1. Navigate to the top of the Membership page.
  2. Select your plan:
    1. Print + Digital (annual or monthly)
    2. Digital-Only (annual or monthly)
  3. Create an account login, or sign in to an existing one.
  4. Complete the payment form, and you are all set.

Not at this time. However, BigThink.com is fully optimized for computer, tablet, and mobile viewing. You can log in through your browser of choice to watch videos, read articles, and access all your member content at any time.

Big Think Classes feature world-class experts teaching the topics that matter most, from leadership and innovation to personal growth and health and wellness. With 100+ expert-led classes and 1,000+ micro-lessons, the Big Think Library enables you to learn from the world’s biggest thinkers and keep growing at your own pace.

If you would like to view our full list of FAQs, please click here. If you are still unable to find the answer you are looking for, you can email us at memberships@bigthink.com.

Ready to become a Big Think member?
Choose your plan
Learn from the world's biggest thinkers.
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