The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Summary
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Overview of The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald's dazzling portrait of 1920s excess initially flopped, selling just 20,000 copies before becoming "The Great American Novel." What tragic irony - the book exploring wealth's corruption entered the public domain in 2021, ensuring immortality its ambitious protagonist never achieved.
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Key takeaways
The Gilded Facade of the American Dream
The summer of 1922 unfolds through the eyes of Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate who moves to West Egg, Long Island to learn the bond business. His modest bungalow sits in the shadow of Jay Gatsby's colossal mansion, where extravagant parties illuminate the night every weekend. Across the bay in fashionable East Egg lives Nick's cousin Daisy Buchanan with her husband Tom, a former Yale football star from an enormously wealthy family. Their marriage appears polished but hollow-Tom maintains a mistress in the city while Daisy confides cynically to Nick: "I hope she'll be a fool-that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." One evening, Nick spots Gatsby standing alone on his dock, arms outstretched toward a tiny green light across the water-a light that marks Daisy's dock. This single image captures the novel's essence: desperate yearning for something just beyond reach, the American Dream itself distilled into one glimmering point of light.
The Valley of Ashes: Paradise Lost
The Man Behind the Mansion
The Parties: Champagne Dreams and Empty Hearts
The Impossible Dream: Love Against Time
The Careless Rich: Privilege Without Responsibility
Boats Against the Current: The Dream Deconstructed
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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