If you're like me, you've probably seen the adverts—Blinkist popping up virtually everywhere, promising to deliver you the key insights from a bestselling non-fiction book in just 15 minutes. Intrigued by their claim to turn entire books into neat summaries, I (Claudia, your friendly neighborhood bookworm from Spinster’s Library) decided to take Blinkist for a seven-day test drive. Spoiler alert: it was an adventure that left me with mixed feelings... and a lot to unpack. 🎸

In this article, I take you through my Blinkist journey—its highs, its lows, and whether it delivers on its bold promises. And if you're on the hunt for alternatives or a better way to spend your time and money, I’ll point you to some great options. So, let’s dive in.

- Memoirs and Personal Narratives

• Complex Non-Fiction Concepts

• Featuring MyBookDigest

What Is Blinkist?

Blinkist is an app that condenses non-fiction titles into 15-minute summaries. Whether you prefer audio or text, the app touts itself as the ultimate tool for squeezing knowledge into your busy schedule. They also throw in full-length audiobooks, a handful of exclusive podcasts, and trending book recommendations.

The premise? Non-fiction distilled to its “key messages” and organized neatly into what Blinkist calls “Blinks”—bite-sized digestible ideas. Think of it as speed dating... but for books. But does this approach truly deliver?

The Blinkist Experiment: Seven Days of Summaries

Like any good bibliophile-turned-test subject, I approached Blinkist with varying levels of skepticism and curiosity. After installing the user-friendly app (bonus points for a smooth trial setup that reminded me when my free access was ending), I dove into their library. Here’s how it played out:

Day 1: Familiar Territory

I started with Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari—a book I’d already read. At 19 minutes and 13 “Blinks,” I expected at least a simplified version of Harari’s dense, thought-provoking history of humankind. What I got, however, was... disappointment. The Blinkist summary reduced the book to a mere skeletal outline, reminiscent of a book blurb or a glorified Wikipedia entry.

Key takeaway from Blinkist?

“For 300,000 years, Homo Sapiens have evolved from being just one human species to the most dominant one.”

While technically accurate, this doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of Harari’s deep analysis.

Days 2–7: Exploring Different Genres

To see if Blinkist fared better with other genres, I tried memoirs, business books, and titles on mathematics and psychology. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed. Memoirs like Tara Westover's Educated felt stripped of their emotional depth, and books like Angela Duckworth's Grit glossed over key research and nuanced arguments, reducing them to generic soundbites.

By week’s end, I had tested 15 titles—some I’d already read, others completely new—with similar results across the board.

What Blinkist Gets Right

Let’s give credit where it’s due: the app’s technical design is excellent. The interface is intuitive and sleek, allowing you to seamlessly toggle between text and audio formats. Each summary is narrated by professional voices, and users have control over playback speed and offline access. If we’re judging Blinkist solely on usability, it scores high marks. 🌟

Where Blinkist Falls Short

Unfortunately, the content itself is where Blinkist falters. Here’s why.

Memoirs and Personal Narratives  

Memoirs like Educated or Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race don’t translate well into 15-minute chunks. Personal stories lose their emotional gravity and connection when stripped down to third-person summaries. The power of these books lies in their narratives, and Blinkist’s reductionist approach drains the life out of them.

Complex Non-Fiction Concepts  

Books like Sapiens or scientific titles attempting to convey intricate ideas demand time, context, and storytelling to truly understand. A 15-minute Blink gives you a shallow outline, devoid of depth, detail, and layered arguments.

The Podcasts vs Blinkist Debate

Why not just listen to an author’s interview instead?

Podcasts from hosts like Freakonomics often feature the same authors Blinkist summarizes, except here, authors discuss their work in greater depth. For example, Angela Duckworth’s Grit was far better explained in her Freakonomics interview than in Blinkist’s reductionist take.

Blinkist vs Reading Full-Length Books

A common question: Is Blinkist worth it, or should I just read the book? My stance: if you’re genuinely curious about a topic or concept, invest your time in the book, whether by reading it traditionally or via audiobook. Full-length formats do justice to an author’s ideas, arguments, and research in a way Blinkist cannot replicate.

Alternatives to Blinkist: Is There a Better Way?

Enter MyBookDigest  

If you want concise content but aren’t willing to sacrifice quality, MyBookDigest might be a better fit. Their 15-minute professional audio summaries preserve the essence of top books while curating actionable insights for a time-strapped audience. What sets MyBookDigest apart is their commitment to depth and quality, ensuring summaries are nuanced and accurate. Plus, with a 500+ book library, they cover diverse fields from leadership and business to personal growth.

Features of MyBookDigest:

• High-quality narration by professionals
• Offline listening, making it perfect for commutes or gym sessions
• Curated step-by-step insights to enhance learning

If Blinkist left you underwhelmed, give MyBookDigest a try and experience knowledge done right.

Conclusion: Is Blinkist Worth It?

So, is Blinkist worth its £9.99 monthly price? For me, the answer is a resounding no. While the concept is enticing, the execution falls flat. Blinkist isn’t for readers seeking meaningful insights or deep understanding. It’s more of a “CliffsNotes-esque” tool for those wanting a broad, surface-level overview—or, dare I say, a way to pretend they’ve read a book.

If you’re serious about learning, opt for full-length books, podcasts, or a superior summary service like MyBookDigest. Your time is precious—spend it wisely.