Blinkist Is Getting A Big Update And It Includes Audiobooks

The Blinkist app gathers key ideas from more than 3,500 nonfiction books into packs of insights which can be read or listened to in just 15 minutes.

Now celebrating its eighth year, the app is introducing a host of new features and content like audiobooks and original podcasts.

“We created Blinkist as a way to make it easier for people to fit more learning into their lives. With the addition of audiobooks, original podcasts and exclusive content with authors, we’re moving closer to our vision to become the ultimate destination for lifelong learners.” — Holger Seim, CEO of Blinkist

Prior to the new updates, Blinkist had already become a key player in the educational app scene being named one of the top 20 apps for lifelong learners in the App Store. There are over 14 million users worldwide and the app has raised $35 million in funding. CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, even visited the offices in Berlin and praised the team for their goal of helping more people learn from books, no matter how busy they are.

The app started when the founders—Holger Seim, Sebastian Klein, Niklas Jansen, and Tobi Balling—realized they all had the same problem: a love for learning, but not enough free time to read as much as they’d like. They knew if they had this problem, then other people probably did, too. And so, Blinkist was born to help those tight on time access key insights from the world’s best nonfiction books. Now, with the introduction of audiobooks and original podcasts, the app is widening its educational offering even more.

“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.” – The United Nations

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

What are the new features on Blinkist?

1. You Can Now Get Full Audiobooks on the App

If users listen to a 15-minute explainer of a book and like what they hear, they can now purchase, download and listen to a select range of full audiobooks on the app.

These are available at a discount and are currently available for $14.95 each through the app—65% cheaper than other platforms.

But why audiobooks and not e-books? Because Blinkist users love audio! Just like the founders, the app’s users are busy people and love to learn on-the-go while exercising, cleaning or commuting.

2. Seth Godin Creates Exclusive New Content just for Blinkist

In-keeping with Blinkist’s tradition of having experts oversee content creation, the company has hired Rachel Mallender, former Group Audio Director at HarperCollins with many years of experience with the BBC.

One of Mallender’s first projects with Blinkist was to team up with Seth Godin, marketing expert, prolific blogger and author of 19 bestselling books, to produce an exclusive audio series called Two Minutes with Seth Godin. Each episode explores one thought-provoking idea that might spur you on or change your perspective.

“I’m bringing new content to Blinkist. Content about writer’s block, about launching a business, about running a marathon, about making a difference. […] [T]wo minutes is enough time to plant a seed.” — Seth Godin

3. There are New Podcasts with World-Class Guests

As well as Two Minutes with Seth Godin, the app now has two new original podcasts.

The first is called Simplify where the hosts boil down big ideas around happiness, love, sex, success, and more, with bestselling authors and industry leaders like Susan Cain, David Allen and Laura Vanderkam.

In State of Mind, Blinkist co-founder Niklas Jansen interviews successful people on their mindsets, habits and inspirations. The likes of bestselling author Ryan Holiday, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, and former CEO of Kickstarter, Yancey Strickler, have already appeared on the podcast.

4. Blinkist Has Big Expansion Plans

In 2019 alone, Blinkist grew its user base by 50% from eight to 12 million, and at the time of writing, that number has broken 14 million.

“Our ambition is to keep growing at high double-digit, if not triple-digit rates year over year. If we continue that trajectory, we will be one of the world’s top learning platforms in the next few years. To do that, Blinkist should be at the front of people’s minds when they decide they want to learn something new, and we’re excited to make that happen.” — Holger Seim, CEO of Blinkist

With new features and fresh content, Blinkist is on track to become a go-to app in the learning space and grow even more this year.

5. Get Smart Content and Tailored Recommendations

Blinkist uses machine learning to provide tailored, continuously-improving recommendations for new titles to read and listen to. Not only does this save users time when looking for their next read, but suggests titles they may never have thought of otherwise.

Neuroscientific principles are also used to create the explainers which include anecdotes and real-life examples to make them more memorable. The audio versions use immersive sound effects and are narrated specifically with listeners in mind to ensure they’re as engaging as possible.

“We are building an experience that people love to use. We want to help build learning routines that last, and the best way to do that is to make it as easy as possible for people to find what they are looking for.” — Holger Seim, CEO of Blinkist

If you want to learn from leading authors and life-changing ideas, download Blinkist to check out the 15-minute explainers that made the app so popular and the new features that are paving the way to the future of learning.