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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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The dinosaur that vanished twice: How WWII nearly erased Spinosaurus from history
Ernst Stromer discovered Spinosaurus in Egypt. His fossils were destroyed in WWII, yet still shape how we imagine this mysterious dinosaur today.

by David Hone

A spinosaurus skeleton with tall back spines is shown in profile; its head is crossed out with a red scribble.
Everything Articles
A man with glasses reads a newspaper, with a glowing lightbulb illustration above his head, symbolizing an idea or realization.
Books
Why “read more” may be the most underrated thinking advice we have
Reading isn’t just writing prep; together, reading and writing help writers think and generate original ideas through extended cognition.
Kevin Dickinson
The cover of "Big Trust" by Dr. Shadé Zahrai with Faycal Sekkouah features a blue background with light rays, highlighting the power of big trust in rewiring self-doubt and fueling success.
Books
Your brain loves labels — even when they limit your potential
Labels help your brain make sense of a complex world, but when self-attached, those same labels can convince you that you're unable to grow.
Shadé Zahrai
Book cover for "The Healing Power of Resilience" by Tara Narula, MD, featuring a flower entwined with an EKG line, symbolizing the healing power of resilience, on a beige background with a red border.
Books
The surprising case for denial as a path toward resilience
Tara Narula shares how journalist Richard Cohen challenged conventional ideas about illness, identity, and strength while living with MS.
Tara Narula
Abstract illustration of two wide eyes with red irises peeking over a pale green, angular shape against a black background.
Books
5 literary conspiracy theories — debunked
A tour of the literary cover-ups, extraterrestrials, and cryptids lurking in the bookish backwoods.
Josh Browning
Ancient-style illustration of three nude male warriors running, each holding a decorated round shield and wearing a crested helmet, inspired by themes explored by thinkers like Ezekiel Emanuel.
Books
The 2,500-year-old secrets to health and wellness (that aren’t secrets at all)
Health policy expert Ezekiel Emanuel says you don’t have to be obsessed to live a healthy life. Wellness can, and should, be something you enjoy.
Ross Pomeroy
Book cover of "Invisible Illness" by Emily Mendenhall, depicting a person holding a mirror with the title reflected, set against a cloudy sky—capturing the hidden struggles of living with an invisible illness.
Books
The medical myth that still shapes misunderstandings of women’s health
Emily Mendenhall traces the medical myths, gender bias, and neurological truths behind hysteria, one of history’s most damaging diagnoses.
Emily Mendenhall
A woman in a blue dress sits beside a cradle with a baby; two adults are seated at a green table with a closed book, highlighting the enduring importance of books in an age of advancing technology.
Books
The most successful information technology in history is the one we barely notice
Joel Miller, the author of “The Idea Machine,” joins us to explore why books are history’s most successful information technology.
Kevin Dickinson
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