A practical guide to building thriving literature communities in areas where reading isn't valued, focusing on connecting with existing cultural practices and creating inclusive, sustainable literacy spaces.

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"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

Lena: Hey Miles, I was thinking about something on my drive here today. You know how we always talk about the power of community in education? I was wondering about places where literature and reading aren't really emphasized or valued. How do you even begin to build a reading community in those environments?
Miles: That's such a great question, Lena. And it's more common than people realize. There are so many areas—both geographic and cultural—where literature takes a backseat, whether it's due to limited resources, competing priorities, or just not having been cultivated as a value.
Lena: Right! And I imagine it's not as simple as just dropping off some books and saying "here you go, start reading." There must be so many layers to building that kind of community from scratch.
Miles: Absolutely. What's fascinating is that building a literacy community in underserved areas is actually about much more than just books. It's about creating connections, valuing diverse forms of expression, and making literacy practices inclusive and authentic to the community itself.
Lena: That makes sense. I remember reading that successful literacy communities often start by recognizing the literacy practices that already exist, even if they don't look like traditional "book reading."
Miles: Exactly! And that's such a crucial first step. Too often we approach low-literacy areas with this deficit mindset, when in reality, every community has its own rich traditions of storytelling and communication. The key is to build bridges between those existing practices and more formal literacy.
Lena: So where do you even begin with something like this? It seems like such a massive undertaking.
Miles: Let's break it down into practical steps that anyone—whether they're a teacher, librarian, or just a passionate community member—can take to start building a thriving literature community from the ground up.