Learning plan cover

Learn about books

LEARNING PLAN

Learn about books

Reading is fundamental to learning, critical thinking, and personal growth, yet most people never learn how to read strategically or analyze literature deeply. This learning plan is ideal for avid readers wanting to enhance their comprehension skills, students seeking to analyze texts more effectively, or anyone looking to build a rich, lifelong relationship with great books through systematic study of reading as both a cognitive skill and an art form.

ByCommunity User
1 h 49 m
11 coursesUpdated 5 days ago
Proust and the SquidReader, Come HomeHow Books Literally Rewire Your Brain for Open-Mindedness11 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed’s proprietary AI to help you learn Learn about books with ease. It is curated from in-depth research on the topic and structured around the most effective learning journeys proven by BeFreed users.

Each episode delivers bite-sized, high-impact lessons distilled from world-class sources — bestselling books, research papers, and expert insights. Together, they form a sophisticated yet accessible path to mastering Learn about books.

What You'll Learn

  • Understand the neuroscience and history behind how reading transforms symbols into meaning in your brain
  • Master active reading techniques to comprehend deeply and retain more from every book you read
  • Analyze literature like a professional critic by identifying themes, literary devices, and hidden meanings
  • Build a personalized reading foundation based on classical education principles
  • Develop lifelong skills to navigate and appreciate the world's greatest literary works

Discover the science and history of reading—how your brain transforms symbols into meaning and why reading is one of humanity's most powerful cognitive tools.

Proust and the Squid cover
Proust and the Squid

A fascinating exploration of the reading brain's evolution, from ancient writing systems to modern neuroscience and dyslexia research.

9 m
Reader, Come Home cover
Reader, Come Home

A thought-provoking exploration of how digital technology impacts our reading habits, cognition, and society's future.

9 m
podcast cover
THE RUDEST BOOK EVERReader, Come HomeBeyond Good and EvilOpening the Closed Mind: The Effect of Exposure to Literature on the Need for Closure
6 sources
How Books Literally Rewire Your Brain for Open-Mindedness

Discover the fascinating science behind how reading literary fiction reshapes neural pathways, reduces mental rigidity, and transforms you from closed-minded to radically open-minded through neuroplasticity.

7 m

Learn essential techniques to read more actively, comprehend deeply, and extract maximum value from any book through proven reading strategies.

How to Read a Book cover
How to Read a Book

A comprehensive guide to analytical reading, offering strategies to extract maximum value and understanding from complex texts.

9 m
10 Days to Faster Reading cover
10 Days to Faster Reading

Boost your reading speed and comprehension in just 10 days with practical techniques and exercises for efficient learning.

9 m
podcast cover
Breakthrough Rapid ReadingSpeed Reading10 Days to Faster ReadingHow to Speed Read: 10 Proven Techniques That Work
6 sources
Master Speed Reading: Proven Techniques That Actually Work

Discover science-backed speed reading methods to double your reading speed while maintaining comprehension. Learn practical techniques like hand pacing, chunking, and strategic reading approaches that transform how you process information.

10 m

Develop critical reading skills to analyze literature like a professional, uncovering hidden meanings, themes, and literary devices that bring books to life.

Reading Like a Writer cover
Reading Like a Writer

A passionate guide for book lovers on how to read critically and write better by studying literary masters.

10 m
How To Read Literature Like A Professor cover
How To Read Literature Like A Professor

Unlock hidden meanings in literature with this lively guide to symbols, themes, and literary devices from an experienced professor.

8 m
podcast cover
How I track books and reading with ObsidianThe Ultimate Guide to Reading Journals for Book LoversStop forgetting what you read.Which Is the Best Book Tracking App? A Comparison of 5 Book Trackers
6 sources
Transform Your Reading Life with Smart Book Tracking

Discover powerful methods to remember, organize, and deepen your relationship with books-from high-tech Obsidian setups to simple paper journals that capture every literary journey.

20 m

Create a lifelong relationship with great books through a classical education approach, learning which works to read and how to navigate the world's literary treasures.

The Well-Educated Mind cover
The Well-Educated Mind

A guide to classical self-education, offering strategies to read and understand great works of literature, history, and science.

8 m
Read Dangerously cover
Read Dangerously

A thought-provoking exploration of literature's power to challenge oppression and inspire change in troubled times.

10 m

Users also liked

Reading

Reading

LEARNING PLAN

Reading

Reading is the foundational skill for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and intellectual growth, yet most people never learn to read strategically or deeply. This learning plan is essential for students, professionals, and anyone who wants to extract more value from books, engage meaningfully with complex ideas, and develop the sophisticated reading skills that distinguish educated thinkers from passive consumers of information.

2 h 16 m4 Sections
Understand books better

Understand books better

LEARNING PLAN

Understand books better

Reading is one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth, yet most people never learn to read strategically or deeply. This learning plan is essential for students, professionals, and lifelong learners who want to stop skimming surfaces and start truly understanding the books they invest time in, turning reading from a passive activity into a transformative skill that accelerates learning across all areas of life.

1 h 19 m4 Sections
Books

Books

LEARNING PLAN

Books

Reading is one of the most powerful tools for personal growth, yet most people never learn to read with intention or depth. This learning plan is ideal for lifelong learners, aspiring writers, students of literature, and anyone who wants to move beyond surface-level comprehension to truly master the art of reading and build a lasting relationship with books.

2 h 34 m4 Sections
Improve my reading abilities

Improve my reading abilities

LEARNING PLAN

Improve my reading abilities

Reading is the foundation of learning, yet most people never learn to read effectively beyond basic literacy. This comprehensive plan takes you from fundamental principles through advanced mastery, equipping you with skills to read faster, comprehend deeper, and think more critically—abilities that compound across every area of personal and professional growth. Whether you're a student, professional, or lifelong learner, these skills will multiply your ability to acquire knowledge and insight from books.

2 h 12 m4 Sections
Improve book comprehension

Improve book comprehension

LEARNING PLAN

Improve book comprehension

In an age of information overload, the ability to read deeply and retain what you learn is a crucial competitive advantage. This learning plan is designed for professionals, students, and lifelong learners who want to stop forgetting what they read and start building genuine expertise from books. Whether you're struggling to remember key insights, finding it hard to focus, or simply want to get more value from your reading time, this structured approach will transform how you learn from written material.

2 h 9 m4 Sections
Learn and read more

Learn and read more

LEARNING PLAN

Learn and read more

Reading is a fundamental skill that enhances knowledge, empathy, and critical thinking across all areas of life. This learning plan is ideal for anyone who wants to read more consistently, whether you're a professional seeking to consume more information efficiently, a student aiming to improve comprehension, or simply someone who loves books but struggles to make time for them. By building both the habit and the skillset, you'll unlock the full potential of reading as a tool for personal and intellectual growth.

1 h 59 m4 Sections
I like to read

I like to read

LEARNING PLAN

I like to read

Reading is one of the most powerful tools for personal growth, cognitive development, and lifelong learning, yet many adults struggle to maintain consistent reading habits or engage deeply with texts. This learning plan is ideal for anyone who wants to rediscover the joy of reading, professionals seeking to learn faster and retain more, or intellectually curious individuals who want to move beyond surface-level reading to genuine literary understanding and appreciation.

1 h 39 m4 Sections
To read more for  examples.

To read more for examples.

LEARNING PLAN

To read more for examples.

Reading is one of the most powerful tools for personal and intellectual growth, yet many people struggle to read consistently or deeply engage with texts. This learning plan is perfect for anyone who wants to read more books, understand them better, and build a lifelong reading practice—whether you're a busy professional seeking self-improvement, a student wanting to excel academically, or simply someone who loves learning and wants to make reading a central part of your life.

2 h 2 m4 Sections

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

See More Stories?

How people are talking about BeFreed across the web
Start your learning journey, now