During 2019, I was introduced to an app called Blinkist, and it changed my world. I was already familiar with Audible, where you can listen to books being read aloud by professional readers or the authors themselves. But honestly, I do not have the attention span or the time to listen to a book for 10 hours.
Enter Blinkist
Blinkist, a subscription service that provides summaries of about 3000+ bestselling non-fiction books in “blinks,” allows me to absorb the key takeaways of every book in 15 minutes or less. Granted, they don’t have the library that Audible boasts yet, but for those well-known, must-read books, they have it covered. Plus the cost is astronomically good. Essentially, it’s $100 for an entire year’s worth of listening ‒ unlimited.
Thanks to this incredible format, in 2019, I was able to listen to nearly 40 books. Actually, let me strike that … IN LESS THAN 4 MONTHS I LISTENED TO 36 BOOKS!
I signed up in September 2019, and by January 1, 2020, I had listened to 36 titles. Below are my Top 10 Blinkist Reads that I recommend for digital marketers, entrepreneurs, business owners, sales professionals, and anyone looking to uplevel in 2020.
10 Books to Help You Uplevel in All Areas of Life
You’ll notice a common theme in these books ‒ they are not about digital marketing. They are not about the ins and outs of SEO. They do not talk about how to create data-driven marketing campaigns. They do not teach you how to implement CRM systems. They are not technical.
These books are productivity focused. They are about management. Personalities. Behaviors. They are about becoming a better person at work and at home. The following ten books had the biggest impact on me. They are the ones that warranted listening to again and again, and then going to Audible and grabbing the full versions so I could get even more. Happy reading!
Game Changers ‒ Dave Asprey
What Leaders, Innovators, and Mavericks Do to Win at Life
Game Changers (2018) condenses the wisdom of 450 highly successful business leaders, scientists, athletes, authors, artists, journalists and other individuals who are at the top of their fields. It then combines wisdom with an understanding of human biology and psychology. The result? A wide-ranging and practical guidebook to success.
The 4-Hour Workweek ‒ Timothy Ferriss
Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
The 4-Hour Workweek (2009) describes the life of the New Rich, people who’ve emancipated themselves from the slavery of office work and built a life centered around happiness in the here and now. If you want to lead such a life too, you’ll have to start by being more productive and finding a source of continuous – and almost entirely passive – income. These blinks will show you how.
Fanatical Prospecting ‒ Jeb Blount
The Ultimate Guide to Opening Sales Conversations and Filling the Pipeline by Leveraging Social Selling, Telephone, Email, Text, and Cold Calling
Fanatical Prospecting (2015) is full of home truths and tips and tricks designed to help salespeople up their game – it’s the ultimate no-nonsense guide to salesmanship. The message is simple: If you want to make it as a sales superstar, you have to keep your pipeline full of leads. After all, no one’s going to hit a home run if they haven’t even made it up to the plate. Achieving this approach is exactly what these blinks will teach you how to do.
The Tyranny of Email ‒ John Freeman
The Four-Thousand-Year Journey to Your Inbox
The Tyranny of Email (2011) is about the rise and unprecedented power of email as a form of communication, and the profound effect it has on our lives. We have more access to communication now than at any other time in history; but not everything about email is positive.
The 5am Club ‒ Robin Sharma
Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.
Through the enchanting story of an entrepreneur, an artist, and their eccentric billionaire mentor, The 5 AM Club (2018) shows how embracing a revolutionary morning routine can deliver epic results. It explains how you can use the first hour of your day to drive personal growth and get the most out of life.
Atomic Habits ‒ James Clear
Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results. An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Atomic Habits (2018) provides a practical and proven framework for creating good habits and shedding bad ones. Drawing on scientific research and real-life examples, it shows how tiny changes in behavior can result in the formation of new habits and help you achieve big things.
We’re All Marketers ‒ Nico De Bruyn
20 Go-To Principles to Help You Market Like a Marketer
We’re All Marketers (2019) offers a helpful overview of the tactics and principles that are guiding the world of digital marketing. Whether you’re part of a small business or a giant corporation, or you’re simply curious about how ideas are sold online, these are tips that can change the way you think about marketing.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ‒ Stephen R. Covey
Learn the habits of those who achieved everything
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) is the enormously influential self-help phenomenon that can teach you the principles of effectiveness. Once you make these principles into habits, you’ll be well on your way to more success, both in your personal and your professional life.
Surrounded by Idiots ‒ Thomas Erikson
20 The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)
Surrounded by Idiots (2014) offers insight into the four main personality types and provides methods and tips for how to use this insight in order to be more effective in getting your message across to each of them. Different people require different considerations when you’re trying to work alongside them or sell them on an idea. The more you know about each person’s personality type, the more effectively you’ll be able to communicate in your work life and private life.
Extraordinary Influence ‒ Tim Irwin
How Great Leaders Bring Out the Best in Others
Extraordinary Influence (2018) delves into the latest neuroscientific research to shed light on the secrets behind effective leadership. The key? Communication. Getting that right, clinical psychologist and corporate consultant Tim Irwin argues, doesn’t just keep team members motivated – it also drives them to go the extra mile and perform at their highest level.
Why Not Gain Valuable Insight in 15 Minutes or Less?
You may have heard of some of these books before, or maybe even read them once upon a time, but they are worth listening to again and again to help you get through your career and life with the best tools and attitude possible. Take it from me, someone who barely has a minute to spare between career and momlife ‒ there is no faster or better way to gain invaluable insight in fifteen minutes or less than listening to the most valuable book snippets on Blinkist. What a great way to start or end the day, get pumped up at lunchtime or in the school carline … you simply can’t go wrong.
Blinkist Offers a Free Trial
Those of you who know me, know I only recommend the things I love and use constantly. I don’t have time to waste on things that aren’t useful or of great value. Therefore, please note, if you choose to download Blinkist and sign up for the free trial, I do not get any compensation. However, in full disclosure, if you sign up for the paid service, I get a small commission, which has zero bearing on why I wanted to share this service and these books. It has truly changed my life and I hope it has an impact on yours as well.
If you have any questions about this blog, please contact me, and feel free to share, like, or comment on your Blinkist experience on my Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.