Shortform vs. Blinkist vs. Headway: Comparing the Apps (2025)

Shortform vs. Blinkist vs. Headway: Comparing the Apps (2025)

Do you want to read and learn more, but struggle to find the time to sit down with a book for hours? That’s where book summary apps come in—offering a faster way to absorb key insights from popular books while filtering out the extraneous information. If you’re researching book summary apps, then you’re likely comparing Shortform vs. Blinkist vs. Headway. These three platforms are leading the charge in helping busy people learn more in less time. But, while they all promise to distill big ideas into bite-sized formats, the experience—and the value—can differ quite a bit depending on which one

The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward

Melinda French Gates at the World Economic Forum

How do we navigate life’s major upheavals when our plans suddenly fall apart? What can we learn from someone who successfully rebuilt her identity after divorce, career changes, and personal transformation? Melinda French Gates offers a roadmap for handling transitions in The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward. Drawing from her experiences leaving Microsoft, co-founding the Gates Foundation, divorcing Bill Gates, and becoming a grandmother, she presents practical strategies for moving through uncertainty with grace and purpose. Read more to discover her framework for turning life’s most challenging moments into opportunities.

Get It Done: Surprising Lessons From the Science of Motivation

A man on a mountaintop triumphantly raising his arm represents Get It Done: Surprising Lessons From the Science of Motivation

Why do so many people struggle to stick with their goals, even when they start with the best intentions? What if the problem isn’t your willpower, but how you design and pursue your objectives? Ayelet Fishbach’s Get It Done: Surprising Lessons From the Science of Motivation reveals science-backed strategies for achieving what matters most. Fishbach’s approach shows how to craft compelling objectives, push through the inevitable middle slump, and balance competing priorities without burning out. Read on to discover how small changes in your goal-setting strategy can improve your success rate and help you finally accomplish what you’ve been putting

Habits of a Happy Brain: Book Overview (Loretta Breuning)

A happy woman smiling outside

How does the brain create that sweet feeling of happiness? Why is happiness defined as a survival mechanism? Loretta Breuning says that by understanding how your brain achieves happiness, you can rewire it to build positive, sustainable happiness habits. In Habits of a Happy Brain, Breuning discusses the brain chemistry of happiness, how harmful happiness-seeking patterns develop, and her methods for building and maintaining healthier happiness habits. Read more in our Habits of a Happy Brain book overview.

Bill Gates’s Source Code: My Beginnings (Book Overview)

Young Bill Gates with a thoughtful expression sitting in a chair by a window

What childhood experiences shaped Bill Gates into the tech visionary we know today? How did a rebellious middle child from Seattle end up founding one of the world’s most influential technology companies? Bill Gates’s Source Code: My Beginnings reveals these formative moments. The book traces his journey from an energetic troublemaker to a pioneering entrepreneur. Gates shares stories about family influences, early computer encounters, and the friendships that changed everything. Continue reading for an overview of this autobiography.

Why Shortform Is the Best App for Productivity & Habits

A man sitting at a table with a coffee who is using the Shortform app on his phone

Time feels more limited than ever, and it’s easy to get pulled in a dozen directions at once. You might’ve already tried productivity apps, color-coded calendars, and endless to-do lists, but they don’t always help and can sometimes cause you to become even more stressed.  Shortform takes a different approach. While Shortform is known mostly as a premium book summary app, it’s also one of the best apps for productivity. Here’s why. Get to the Important Stuff, Faster  Shortform has an impressive library of productivity books—from timeless classics like Getting Things Done and Atomic Habits to newer titles like The

8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go (Overview)

A couple holding hands while outside

What do ancient Hindu scriptures have to say about love? Why should you learn how to be single before you start dating? In Jay Shetty’s book 8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go, he explains how to navigate being in a relationship, drawing from his experience as a Hindu monk. He provides perspectives on love from ancient Hindu scriptures, then explains how to apply them to your life and your relationship. Continue reading for an overview of Shetty’s book, complete with insights and exercises.

Quantum Accountability: Overview (Kelly & Kevin Kramer)

A woman pondering with a thought bubble in front of a yellow background

Do your negative thoughts control you? Do you feel unfulfilled in life? In Quantum Accountability, Kelley and Kevin Kramer explain what quantum accountability is and how it’s linked to your mindset and reality. They also discuss how to practice quantum accountability so you can create a positive mental and physical world that enables you to flourish. Read more in our overview of Quantum Accountability.

Structures: Book Overview and Takeaways (J. E. Gordon)

A strong tree blowing against the wind in a storm

Have you ever wondered why some things bend under pressure while others break? How do some buildings remain standing for centuries? In Structures, scientist and engineer James Edward Gordon reveals why some materials and structures can withstand forces like gravity and wind while maintaining their form and stability, while others collapse under pressure. Read more in our Structures book overview.

Shortform vs. Headway: Full Comparison Guide (2025)

The Shortform logo vs. the Headway App logo on a plain background

In the fast-paced world we live in, book summary apps have carved out a unique space, offering bite-sized wisdom for busy minds. Two names you’ve likely come across are Shortform and Headway. While both platforms aim to make knowledge more accessible, they go about it in quite different ways. In this comparison of Shortform vs. Headway, we’ll look at their strengths across multiple areas—from content depth to learning experience to pricing—so you can choose the one that fits your learning style best. Content Depth and Quality Let’s start with what matters most: the content. When comparing Shortform vs. Headway, one