This article was published on June 16, 2021

Blinkist not only summarizes a bestseller in 15 minutes. Now, they’re turning their magic on podcasts


Blinkist not only summarizes a bestseller in 15 minutes. Now, they’re turning their magic on podcasts

TLDR: With a two-year subscription to Blinkist Premium service, users get 15-minute text and audio summaries of nonfiction best-sellers as well as some of today’s most popular podcasts.

It’s very likely that your podcast queue is starting to look a lot like your Netflix backlog these days. With so many cool podcasts and episodes dropping all the time, it isn’t unusual to look up and realize you’re now several episodes behind on a bunch of your favorites. Who can find the time? 

Of course, that was what you said when that stack of unread books you wanted to get to started getting unruly too. 

Thankfully, Blinkist ($79.99 with code WELOVEDAD from TNW Deals; regularly $383) wants to be the service that handles all the media you can’t seem to find time for anymore. Founded by four friends in 2012, Blinkist now boasts 19 million worldwide members who get the biggest ideas and most important takeaways from some of the bestselling nonfiction books around in easily digestible 15-minute summaries.

Now, Blinkist is turning their encapsulating powers on the world of podcasting with Shortcasts, shrinking popular podcasts down to that same schedule-friendly 15 minute window. Shortcasts are actually created and produced in consultation with the original creators, ensuring listeners get the message the podcaster intended, just at a more listener-friendly pace. 

While Shortcasts are shiny and new, that doesn’t neglect the rest of Blinkist’s offerings, including a library of more than 4,500 bestselling titles, all available in text and audio form.

Blinkist really gets inside each book, cutting right to the heart of its meaning so it only takes 15 minutes to boil down all the work’s significant points. Members can choose from works in 27 different categories, including areas like entrepreneurship, psychology, parenting, economics,  creativity, science and more. And if there’s a book you’d like to see in the Blinkist archives, have patiences — they’re always adding about 70 new titles each month as their library expands.

And all of Blinkist text and audio summaries are downloadable, which allows users to save them, then dig in during any 15-minute window in their day, even if they aren’t connected to WiFi or cell service.

Blinkist fans have raved about the services, notching a cumulative 4.7 out of 5 star rating from about 135,000 reviewers on both the Apple App Store and Google Play platforms.

Regularly a nearly $400 value, a 2-year subscription to Blinkist Premium service is already significantly discounted. But you can take another 20 percent off by using the TNW Deals’ Fathers’ Day Sale code WELOVEDAD during checkout, cutting your total price down to just $79.99. The deal comes to an end in just a few days, so make sure to make your purchase now before it’s gone.

Prices are subject to change.

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