Dear Friends,
Life-changing books remain at the core of everything we do, but this year—in this space on Substack—we’re excited to open another window into our work. Every month in 2026, we’re going to share one Big Idea our team can’t stop talking about: an idea that makes us think differently, act differently, and which has the potential to transform our lives, our relationships, and our world.
This month, we explore the pivotal role that intimacy and long-term relationships have played in the survival of our species with evolutionary biologist and Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute, Dr. Justin Garcia. The big idea of his groundbreaking new book, The Intimate Animal: While long-term romantic partnership has been the key to humanity’s success as a species, if we want our relationships to thrive, we also need to lean into the other strong instinct we have as mammals: our deep desire for variety.
We’re thrilled to share that Popular Science ran the first chapter of The Intimate Animal. The book is now available for purchase.
Onto another client book: in their #1 NYT bestselling smash hit Designing Your Life, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans taught us how to use design thinking to create a joyful and fulfilling career and life. Now, in their brand new book—out today!—they take design thinking to the next level: how can we design a life of not just personal fulfillment, but also one of deep meaning, purpose, and impact? In How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day, Burnett and Evans roll out their “four pillars of meaning making,” It’s available everywhere books are sold and has already been named an Editor’s Pick on Amazon.
In other community news:
- Ethan Kross’ Chatter Workbook is out in two weeks! Transform your negative self-talk with practical exercises expanding on Ethan’s seminal Chatter.
- Aziz Abu-Sarah’s and Maoz Inon’s The Future is Peace made the New York Times list of nonfiction everyone will be talking about in 2026. (We agree!)
- Our dear friend Cecily Mak has a new book—Undimmed: The Eight Awarenesses for Freedom from Unwanted Habits, full of wisdom for readers seeking to discard old patterns and live more fully.
- Our author Martin Picard has started a Substack. Until his groundbreaking Energycomes out, this is the best place to learn about his research on mitochondria as the key to vitality.
- There’s a new species of snail on planet Earth, and it’s been named after our author David Attenborough. Meet the Attenborougharion rubicundus.
With gratitude,
Doug & the IA Team (Alyssa, Elizabeth, Jordan, Kelly, Rebecca, Sarah, Shannon, & Wenonah)