Best “Smart Thinking” Books of 2024

One of the great minds of our time – Malcolm Gladwell – follows up his sensational book The Tipping Point by revisiting the subject matter with a modern lens, dissecting what it is that pushes society over the edge, and what role we play in it.

Feeling blue? Feeling dreamy? Feeling full of love or broken-hearted? There’s a piece of music for every mood. Wondering how something as deeply emotional and intimate as music connects head and heart to heal what ails us? This elegant study from an acclaimed neurosurgeon is the place to start.

The universe is a big place. Best to see it with Neil deGrasse Tyson and his fictional chaperone Merlin as a guide. Traveling through space one question at a time, this is a lively and energetic exploration of the cosmos.

Yuval Noah Harari strives to find the happy medium between the stone age and the internet age in this sweeping history of humanity and the information networks that make or break us.

Addressing the ongoing teen mental illness crisis, this is an actionable approach to making a difference. It’s practical and insightful, engaging and necessary.

From one of the most renowned futurists alive today, this meticulous dig into the future of humanity weaves in new technologies like AI and expands on how it could be the cornerstone of a whole new era.

This is a playful and smart exploration of all our very human foibles and the stories we tell ourselves as we try to make sense of the world. (Think of Amanda as a new best friend who will only tell you the truth.)

Merging the personal with the professional, Dr. Means is a relatable narrator guiding readers through what it means to use food as medicine. This is a tool chest of insights designed to give you the resources to build your own health. Great for readers of Outlive.

If you’re struggling to connect more effectively, this is the book for you. Charles Duhigg expertly examines how to understand others and be understood, better. Backed by an impressive array of case studies, it will have you ready to deepen your connections and feel confident doing it.

Burkeman changed the way we thought about time management with one of our favorite nonfiction monthly picks, Four Thousand Weeks. Here he turns his talents to making meditation charmingly accessible.

A gentle and easy-to-understand approach to changing negative thinking so you can stop holding yourself back.

It’s always the right time to do the right thing (even if it feels close to impossible.)

Amy Tan’s stories of love and family have moved us for decades and now we get to experience birding through her eyes. The Backyard Bird Chronicles taps into the fascination with our avian friends and will delight readers of The Bird Way and What It’s Like to Be a Bird.

A sweeping survey of tragically endangered creatures, from wombats to wolves, seals to storks and beyond. Rundell explores their role in our world and our role in their collapse in this moving collection, complemented by gorgeous illustrations.

Taking on expansive issues with care and compassion, Robin Wall Kimmerer provides perspective on what’s truly important, and how we can rediscover ourselves and our place in the natural world.

What’s the first thing you think of when you think of our planet? Be prepared to reconsider everything you think, know or believe to be true, thanks to this engaging and thoughtful new look at our world.

What if we could reimagine what might come and find new ways to confront climate change, one of the greatest challenges of our time? What if we pushed forward into a future full of possibility? A timely and essential must-read for anyone hoping to change our world for the better.

This book will make you think twice before talking to your ficus — a fun read for indoor (and outdoor) plant people.

Sy Montgomery wowed the world with her first octopus book, Soul of an Octopus, and now she returns to the same subject. Utilizing the insights of experts in the field, this is a fresh new look at one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet, all from someone who knows them dearly.

A snappy, sharp history of one of humanity’s great inventions. This one will make you look at your fridge in a whole new way.

If you’re looking for a companion in your journey to personal growth, Russ delivers. Paralleling his own journey, each chapter provides fresh inspiration to help keep you going.

The American ideological divide may feel impassable these days, but digging into the core of Appalachia, Arlie Russell Hochschild offers new, critical perspectives on how poverty and alienation play out on the national political stage.