I Asked ChatGPT What Separates the Rich From Everyone Else — It Kept Coming Back to This One Habit
Let's start with an uncomfortable question: if the information is all out there — the books, the strategies, the frameworks — why do so few people actually use it to get ahead? Psychologists point to something called the Dunning-Kruger effect: people with limited knowledge of a subject tend to dramatically overestimate how much they understand. The wealthy, it turns out, have found a systematic way around this trap. They read — consistently, deliberately, and across a wide range of topics. The problem for most of us isn't motivation. It's time. Which is exactly why millions of people are now turning to an app called Blinkist.
Even Apple recommends Blinkist for lifelong learners, naming it one of the best apps in the world. With 43 million users worldwide — among them Apple CEO Tim Cook — it's become the go-to tool for people who refuse to let a packed schedule get in the way of learning. And if ChatGPT is right about what separates the rich from the rest, Blinkist might be the most practical shortcut to that habit there is.
"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 high-performers and top earners get from Blinkist that others don't?
1. A Book's Worth of Knowledge in 15 Minutes
It takes the average person 10 hours to read a book — time that most people simply don't have.
With Blinkist, the most powerful ideas from the world's best nonfiction books are distilled into short audio and text explainers. The best part? 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. Not just bestsellers — the hidden gems, the timeless classics, the books that actually change how you think.
‘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, specialist editors identify the key insights in each book and turn them into bite-sized explainers. All of the content is created using neuroscientific principles, making the information easy to understand and remember.
Take a look — here's the explainer to bestseller The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.
The Psychology of Money
- 22 min reading time
- audio version available
3. It Transforms Mindless Scrolling Into a Wealth-Building Habit
You know those moments when you catch yourself endlessly swiping through social media? It's something an alarmingly high number of people struggle with — a phenomenon called "doom-scrolling" that leaves people feeling drained and behind.
One of the main reasons high-earners love Blinkist is because it turns those wasted minutes into genuine learning opportunities. Whether it's on the subway, during a lunch break, or before bed: instead of getting lost in time-wasting apps, they're absorbing the ideas that actually move the needle. 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 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
"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. The Wealthy Learn by Listening — And So Can You
Blinkist became particularly popular with high-performers when the audio feature was introduced. It made it possible to absorb big ideas without ever sitting down — on a run, during a commute, while cooking dinner.
Today, listening is the most popular way to consume Blinkist's packs of actionable insights, with around 70% of users opting for audio. This is no surprise: over 30% of people learn and retain information better when it's heard rather than read.
5. Over 94 Thousand 5-Star Ratings
Blinkist isn't just loved by high-earners and ambitious professionals — it's loved by anyone who is eager to learn more. Today, there are over 94K five-star ratings across the App Store and Google Play.
What users enjoy most is how the learning experience fits around their lives — not the other way around:
"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 Worth Buying — Before You Buy Them
With 15-minute explainers, busy people can take any book for a test drive. If the ideas land, they can buy the full thing. If not, they've saved themselves 10 hours and $25.
"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 money on books that never get read — it saves time, too. Every book you do buy is one you already know you'll get something 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 sharp and discover new titles.
8. The Right Knowledge at the Right Moment
What separates consistent learners from occasional ones isn't willpower — it's access. Blinkist gives you the ideas you need, exactly when you have a spare moment to absorb them.
This no-fuss, no-stress approach to learning removes the friction that stops most people from ever opening a book. High-performers can stay current on the latest thinking, fill gaps in their knowledge, and integrate learning into the pockets of time they already have.
9. Built by People Who Believe in What They're Making
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. 43 Million People Have Already Made the Switch
We believe in what we do — because it works. Our aim is to help people learn, grow, and access the ideas that used to be locked behind hundreds of hours of reading time.
That mission was recognized 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 43 million people across the world — from entrepreneurs to full-time parents to top executives — Blinkist has built a loyal base of users who are all discovering powerful ideas in nonfiction books, one 15-minute session at a time. Be part of it. Download the Blinkist app now and start reading like the world's most successful people – one 15-minute session at a time.
Curious to learn more about the sources we have used for our ad creatives? Click here.
The Blinkist editorial team
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What is Blinkist?
Blinkist is an app that transforms key insights from great nonfiction books into quick, easy-to-understand highlights. The reality is – everyone loves reading, but no one has the time. Blinkist fills this learning gap and makes acquiring new knowledge effortless.
