The Brain Habit Harvard Swears By — And Almost Nobody Does

According to Harvard Health Publishing, proven ways to protect memory as you age include regular exercise, a healthy diet, and managing blood pressure and sleep. But there's one habit that sits alongside all of them, and gets far less attention: keeping the mind busy and challenged through lifelong learning and stimulation. In Harvard's own words: "One key to keeping your mind young is to keep it busy and challenged through lifelong learning and stimulation." Learning new things, they document, promotes the growth of new brain cells and helps the brain forge new pathways — at any age.

The research is clear. Just as muscles grow stronger with use, mental exercise keeps cognitive skills and memory in tone. The people who stay sharpest into old age aren't just the ones who eat well or exercise — they're the ones who never stop learning.

The question is how to make that habit fit into a real life. That's exactly what Blinkist is built for, a daily learning habit that fits in 15 minutes, wherever you are.

Even Apple recommends Blinkist for those who are lifelong learners, naming it one of the best apps in the world. For anyone who wants to keep their mind sharp, build new knowledge, and make learning a daily habit — Blinkist is where that starts, in 15 minutes.

At Blinkist, we gather the key insights from nonfiction books into 15-minute reads and listens. There are over 9,000 titles across 27 categories including health, neuroscience, psychology, and personal development.  

More than 40 million people, among them Apple CEO Tim Cook, are now expanding their horizons with Blinkist. Tim Cook even stopped by the Blinkist office to get a glimpse of the hype, and the app is loved by everyone from The New York Times to Forbes.

“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 makes Blinkist the go-to tool for people who want to keep their mind sharp for the long run?

1. A Book Explained in 15 Minutes

It takes the average person 10 hours to read a book — which is a lot of time most of us simply 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.

The Ageless Brain by the physician Dale E. Bredesen and Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett can be found on Blinkist. Plus, there are 40 new titles added every month, so you'll never run out of great content.

The Ageless Brain

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von

1. 19 Minuten Lesezeit
2. Audioversion verfügbar

Die wichtigsten Ideen auf Blinkist

Auf Amazon kaufen

1. 19 Minuten Lesezeit
2. Audioversion verfügbar

Die wichtigsten Ideen auf Blinkist

Auf Amazon kaufen

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 serious thinkers, by serious thinkers.

"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 books are selected, specialist editors extract the key insights and transform them into bite-sized explainers — all crafted using neuroscientific principles that make information easier to absorb and remember.

Take a look and listen to The Ageless Brain, one of the standout titles on Blinkist for anyone serious about keeping their mind sharp.

3. It Transforms Mindless Scrolling Into the Habit Harvard Recommends

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 no closer to the life they want.

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

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

So, say goodbye to mindless scrolling and hello to a new habit that feeds your curiosity, challenges your mind, and builds the kind of mental fitness that lasts. No wonder so many users recommend it:

"This app should be in the Essentials category. I've 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

4. The Best Thinkers Learn by Listening

The app became particularly popular when the audio feature was introduced. It made it possible for busy professionals 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 use Blinkist, with around 70% of users opting to listen to Blinkist. This is no surprise, as over 30% of people retain information better when it’s heard rather than read.

5. Over 94 Thousand 5-Star Ratings

Blinkist isn't just loved by investors and finance enthusiasts, it's loved 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 fits 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. Read the Books Behind the Science — Before You Buy Them

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 it 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 received major awards from Apple, Google, and the United Nations. It's been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, and recommended by millions of users worldwide.

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 people who use Blinkist to stay sharp, discover new ideas, and build habits that actually serve their brain, rather than drain it.

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, serious 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 any topic I'm curious about." – Adam Gries, Founder of OKpanda

9. Blinkist Treats Its Employees Well

LinkedIn named Blinkist the best startup employer in Germany, and 95% of employees on Glassdoor would recommend working there. That kind of culture produces a product built with real intention, not just to grow, but to genuinely improve people's lives.

“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 40 million people located across the world — from health-conscious professionals to curious retirees to people who simply want to keep their minds sharp — Blinkist has a loyal fanbase of users who are all discovering powerful ideas in nonfiction books on the app. Be part of it! ⁠Download the Blinkist app now and join the 40 million curious thinkers who also love to learn.

Curious to learn more about the sources we have used for our ad creatives? Click here. ⁠ ⁠References (1)