Thousands swear by the learning routing of the 5-Hour Rule. I gave it a go to see what all the fuss is about.

“Blinkist encourages you to read more nonfiction books. The app contains cleverly written digests — called blinks — where books are broken down into their main arguments.” – The New York Times

So, what exactly is it that top thinkers like about Blinkist? And how does it help you with your daily learning?

1. A Book Explained in 15 Minutes 

It takes the average person 10 hours to read a book, which is a lot of time many of us don’t have. 

With Blinkist, the most powerful ideas are shared in short audio and text explainers. The best bit? It only takes 15 minutes to read or listen to them, so you can fit learning in while eating breakfast, commuting to work, or walking the dog. 

Plus, there are 40 new titles added to the app every month, so even the most voracious reader will never run out of great content. 

2. It’s Backed By Science 

At Blinkist, there’s a dedicated team of experts who sift through the millions of books published each year to find the best ones out there. We don’t just want bestsellers—we want the hidden gems, the timeless classics, the books written for intellectuals, by intellectuals.

‘When we started most apps were for social media or gaming. We wanted to do something different and build an app that would add genuine value to someone’s life’ — Holger Seim, Blinkist co-founder.

Once the books are selected, our specialist editors identify the key insights in each book and turn them into bite-sized explainers. The best part? All of the content is created using

3. It Transforms Your Mindless Scrolling Routine – And Replaces It With A Good Habit

You know those moments when you catch yourself endlessly swiping through social media? It’s something an alarmingly high amount of people suffer from and it’s called “doom-scrolling”, a phenomenon that leaves people feeling tired and angry.

One of the many reasons, intellectuals love Blinkist is because it turns those wasted minutes into valuable learning opportunities. Whether it’s on the subway, a quick break or before bed: Instead of getting lost in time-wasting apps, all the curious minds are now engaging in focused and insightful learning sessions. It’s a game-changer! 80% of the Blinkist users say that they are more likely to spend time on Blinkist than scroll through social media. Here’s what some of them are saying:

“This app should be in Essentials category: One of the best app purchased. I have been a member for 6+ years and I don’t think I will ever stop. This is a learning experience that truly enhances my life.” –5 star review on the Apple Store

So, say goodbye to mindless scrolling and hello to a new habit that’ll feed your curiosity, spark intellectual growth, and help you become a better you. No wonder Apple and many of its users recommend it:

“This has been the biggest boost to my productivity / lifelong learning ever. Honestly, I can’t think of a better habit to start than Blinkist.” –5 star review on the Apple Store

4. Intellectuals Love to Learn by Listening 

The app became particularly popular with intellectuals when the audio feature was introduced. It made it possible for big thinkers to listen to every title in the app, which means learning never has to wait until you have time to sit down. 

Today, listening is the most popular way to consume the packs of actionable insights with around 70% of users opting to listen to Blinkist. This is no surprise as over 30% of people learn and retain information better when it’s heard as opposed to reading.

5. Over 94 Thousand 5-Star Ratings 

Blinkist isn’t just loved by intellectuals, but by everyone who is eager to learn more. Today, there are over 94K five-star ratings across iTunes and Google Play stores. 

What some users enjoy most about Blinkist is how the learning experience can fit around their lives. Just take a look at what some users are saying:

“Perfect for populating your mind with smart thoughts and the latest research. I use the audio format while in transportation.” – 5-star review

“Very informative and insightful. I can cook dinner and enjoy the knowledge over audio.” – 5-star review

6. Buy Only the Books You’ll Love 

With 15-minute explainers, busy people can take books for a test drive. If they like what they hear in those 15 minutes, they can buy the full thing to learn more. 

“I’ve found that if a book is still interesting after reading the highlights I end up buying the book anyway. I now buy half as many, the ones I do buy are higher quality and more impactful.”– @DaleyErvin

Not only does this save people money buying books they never read, but it saves them time, too, as every book they do buy is one they know they’ll get a lot out of.

“Blinkist has helped me read more — period. I love that I can get the key learnings from 10+ books a week, and immediately implement them in my own life. Blinkist has also helped me filter the books I purchase — if I couldn’t get enough of the Book-in-Blinks, I buy it.” – Hitha Palepu, entrepreneur, author and Blinkist user

7. One of the Best Apps in the World 

“Blinkist is one of the world’s best apps.” – Apple

Blinkist has won numerous major awards from Apple, Google, and even the United Nations. It’s loved by everyone from The New York Times to Forbes, along with its millions of users. 

What’s more, Apple recommends Blinkist for those who love to learn. The tech giant named Blinkist one of the top 20 apps for lifelong learners.

The app is a favorite among book lovers who use Blinkist to keep their minds young and discover new titles.

8. The Right Knowledge at the Perfect Time 

Curious people are drawn to Blinkist because they know they can quickly access the knowledge they want—exactly when they need it. This no-fuss, no-stress approach to learning removes the time and strain that might otherwise go into research.

This way, intellectual thinkers can keep up-to-date on the latest ideas, fill gaps in their knowledge, and easily integrate learning into their everyday lives.

“Blinkist is a lens to kick off thinking, a surveying tool. I can, for example, quickly review a few of the best books on negotiation.” – Adam Gries, Founder of OKpanda

9. Blinkist Treats its Employees Well

The founders of Blinkist (from left): Niklas Jansen, Tobi Balling, and Holger Seim (Not pictured: Sebastian Klein)

Many people find out about Blinkist by hearing about the inner workings of the company itself. It’s proven itself a great place to work with a unique company culture. LinkedIn named Blinkist the best startup employer in Germany and 95% of its employees on Glassdoor would recommend the company to a friend.

Employees love the startup’s culture and feel like they’re taken care of. This has led to a low attrition rate where staff has stuck around for the long run to help make the app even better.

“I moved to Berlin after living in New York City for ten years to work at Blinkist. I knew I would be working alongside some amazing people, building a revolutionary product. This, mixed with an exciting new culture and the way of life Berlin offers, made the move an easy decision.” – Carlos Alvarado, Country Manager at Blinkist

10. Global Success and the Stamp of Approval 

We’re proud of what we do—we believe in our product because it has meaning, purpose, and intention. Our aim is to help people learn, to allow them to grow, and to better themselves in whatever way they would like. 

This was recognized and praised by the United Nations, who acknowledged Blinkist as a Global Leader in Learning and Education.  

“With Blinkist you can boost your knowledge and gain new perspectives so that you can be a better professional, a better partner, or a better you—and finally get through your book list or make sense of the increasingly big and busy world of ideas.” – United Nations

With a community of 37 million people located across the world—from tech entrepreneurs to full-time moms to top CEOs—Blinkist has a loyal fanbase of users who are all discovering powerful ideas in nonfiction books on the app.

Want to start learning like Buffett, Gates, or Musk—but don’t have hours to spare?

Join 37 million thinkers and try the Blinkist app. Make the most of your 5 hours a week—and never stop growing.