Jonny Thomson
Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a staff writer at Big Think, where he writes about philosophy, theology, psychology, and occasionally other subjects when he dares step out of his lane. His first book, Mini Philosophy, is an award-winning, international bestseller, and has been translated into 20 languages. His second book, Mini Big Ideas, was published in 2023.
Happiness is not a five-star holiday. It’s often the result of struggle — and asking for help, as author Stephanie Harrison recently told Big Think.
Neuroscientist Tali Sharot recently spoke with Big Think about a two-step method for escaping the dark sides of habits.
When all your teammates fall for “the emperor’s new clothes,” the results can be disastrous — here’s how to bust the groupthink.
At work we’re often asked to be decisive — but how can we make an informed choice without complete information?
It’s time for an honest conversation.
We were not born to stagnate — the point of life (and work) is to go somewhere.
If the daily grind feels like Sartre’s phony act of “bad faith,” Heidegger’s sense of “being” can help redefine your role.
How to juggle while walking a tightrope — at work.
Big Think recently spoke with sleep psychologist Dr. Jade Wu about the surprising consequences of forgoing sleep.
Ways to move forward when you’re wrong and I’m right.
Prolonged and repetitive tasks rewire us in profound ways – which can be a force for good at work.
Depression applies to individuals and businesses alike — and so does the solution.
Parents will sometimes use children as weapons in their relationship battles — and the fallout can be devastating.
Intentions tend to get mangled by overreach in every complex organization — so dial up the charisma and the clarity.
Millions of people have had a near-death experience, and it often leads them to believe in an afterlife. Does this count as good proof?
We each have the same 24 hours in the day. How will you spend yours?
How to say, “In many ways, Proust is similar to Joyce” and get away with it.
The corporate unicorn was yesterday — now we should consider the wisdom of black and white stripes.
A controversial new philosophy paper tries to bring our moral prejudices to heel. Should it?
With great power comes retcon responsibility.
Acting “little and often” has huge consequences and they’re not always good — but awareness yields solutions.
From Æthelred the Unready to Halfdan the Bad Entertainer, these strange epithets colored the legacy of four rather unlucky historical figures.
Big Think spoke with AI expert Nick Jennings about the future of regulating fast-evolving AI.
The essential element needed for innovation is creative dissonance — and the keys to unlocking it were forged by bankers in Italy.
Lockdowns moved the burden of COVID from the at-risk elderly to the less-at-risk young. Does this sacrifice merit compensation?
How to figure out the right amount of time for any project.
When ancient humans stared into the darkness, they imagined monsters. Today, staring into the future, AI is the monster.
The problem with carnivores turned omnivores.
A single knife is sometimes worth more than a thousand armies.