Blinkist Review 2020 — The best option for reading and listening to books on-the-go
Here’s our Blinkist Review 2020. We are going to let you guys know the pros and cons of using Blinkist and how the basic and premium packages differ. Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
Your daily schedule doesn’t allow you to read as much as you want. Understandable.
If you’re reading this, you probably know or have heard of Blinkist, and chances are you’re here because you want to know how good the paid version is and whether it’s worth subscribing. However, If you don’t, we’ll tell you why we love this app so much.
What is Blinkist?
Blinkist is designed for busy (or lazy) individuals who have a jam-packed schedule. On their official website, Blinkest describes the service as the following:
‘Key takeaways from the world’s best nonfiction books in text and audio.’
It’s a great application that summarises books in 15–20 minutes. In other words, you can use it on your phone, directly on your browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.), wherever you are without using up too much of your precious time.
If dragons, magic and fantasy is what you’re looking for then Blinkist might not be for you, unfortunately (although they may release a fiction version in the future, who knows?). However, what Blinkist does offer, is an excellent selection of nonfiction titles that can have a positive impact in our lives, from saving you hours of your time, to changing your mindset, to increase the efficiency of your business, amongst many more!
As described above, they give you the option to either read or listen to their summarised titles and do an excellent job in doing so.
If you’re looking for an application which will save you time, but you also want to understand the critical points in a book, we highly recommend trying Blinkist out.
What are the pros and cons of Blinkist?
Pros
Perfect Addition to a busy lifestyle
If you’re a person with a full daily schedule, travelling around often or want something at your fingertips wherever you are, Blinkist is the perfect addition to your lifestyle.
Can listen to on-the-go
No time to read? No problem. You can listen to the books just like an audiobook! The voice-overs are easy to understand and listen to as well, which is always a bonus.
Cost-effective relative to the knowledge you gain and the time you save
If you’re someone looking to save time by understanding just the relevant and essential points in a book, this is the app for you. You gain the knowledge and save time simultaneously — it’s a no brainer.
Able to highlight important points
Really like a particular point or phrase in summary? The Blinkist app allows you to highlight certain parts that are important so you can refer back to it whenever you want to.
Gain knowledge and understand the key points and main takeaways easily and quickly
Content on Blinkist is straightforward to consume and learn. The key points are well summarised and presented. You have a great selection of titles at you fingertips for easy access and can start/stop reading or listening and pick back up whenever you want to.
Very easy to use
The interface is clean and straightforward, making it very easy to become familiar with the application. You can start reading or listening to your books within seconds of going into the app.
Good selection of titles
There are over 3000 titles currently on Blinkist, with a good range of categories to choose from with more being added regularly.
Cons:
Not the same feel as holding a physical book
Some people like the touch and feel of a good old fashioned book. Using the Blinkist app will undoubtedly make you feel like you’re making the most of the latest tech, but some people prefer sitting down with a paper copy — each to their own.
Misses the backstory and build-up
The Blinkist app is fantastic for summarising all the essential facts. However, some of the build-up and emotion is lost due to the app being so efficient.
Information overload
The content on Blinkist is so easy to consume that you can find yourself going through 3 or 4 titles very quickly within an hour. This situation leads to information overload and as a result, you’ll remember less than you’d like to.
Very easy to get distracted or lose focus while listening and reading from your phone. It is even tougher if you have a game installed that might take your attention away from taking in information.
Some frequently asked questions:
How much does Blinkist cost?
There are a few options; the first one is a free service which limits you to one title a day which is ‘the daily pick.’
What type of categories are there?
Most of the categories offered by Blinkist is non-fiction. They provide various categories related to politics, society, personal development, popular science, psychology, productivity and much more!
Our best books and recommendations on Blinkist?
- The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People — Stephen R. Corvey
- How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie
- The Power of Habit — Charles Duhigg
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad — Robert T. Kiyosaki
- How to Fail — Elizabeth Day
How many titles do they offer?
Currently, Blinkist offers 3000+ titles with more being added regularly.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Blinkist does work while it’s offline. Download the book while you’re are connected to WiFi and add to your library, and you’re all set!
Conclusion
The million-dollar question — Is Blinkist worth the price and investment?
Absolutely.
Blinkist is hands down one of the best apps I have subscribed to in the past year. The variety of categories means that there are always a plethora of titles to choose. Having an app available and ready to read or listen to at any time is very powerful; whether that’s on the train, at the gym, or home etc. The monthly subscription is $15.99, while the annual subscription is generally cheaper because the overall amount works out to $8:34 per month. All considered, the pros far outweigh the cons with the app and is well worth the investment.
Blinkist works best for those looking to understand ONLY the critical points made in the book. If you like the build-up of a story or the fluff that gives you time to breathe, this might not be for you. However, the titles they provide are optimised for those who are into self-improvement, business, productivity, thinking outside the box etc.
Thanks for reading our Blinkist Review 2020, and we hope you found some value in this review on the Blinkist app. If you did, please consider using our affiliate link HERE. Thank you for your support!
If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below where we’d be more than happy to answer.
Check out our other reviews on services and products which we think will help you live your best life HERE
Blinkist Review 2020
For more articles like this check out our website at The Top Essentials
