Support our educational content for free when you purchase through links on our site. Learn more
What Website Summarizes Books for Free [2023]?
Are you tired of reading pages and pages of a book to understand its context? Do you want to learn multiple books and subjects without having to spend hours reading? Fear not, because at Book Summary Review™, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive list of websites that provide free book summaries without any cost.
Whether you’re a casual reader or a student looking to pass a literature course, book summary sites can be the perfect solution for you. They offer a time-efficient way to grasp the core idea of a book without having to read hundreds of pages.
In this article, our team at Book Summary Review™ has come up with the best places online to get free book summaries. This article ranks all the useful options and provides a thorough analysis of each site. We've also put together an FAQ section to address all your doubts. So, keep reading to learn about the top free book summary websites available online.
Free Book Summary Websites
1. Blinkist.com
Blinkist is the first name that comes to every short-liner book summary seeker’s mind. It’s arguably the most popular book summary site with over 4000 titles in its repository, including fiction and non-fiction books. Blinkist offers an annual or monthly subscription plan, but it does provide a free trial period for 7 days with complete features to explore.
Features of Blinkist
- Hundreds of new book summaries every month.
- Free trial available for 7 days.
- Read summaries offline.
- With "Blinkist Premium," you can access multiple audio versions.
Pros
- Offers access to book summaries immediately.
- Has a wide range of titles.
- Available offline mode.
Cons
- Blinkist is a subscription-based service and is not entirely free.
2. Four Minute Books
Four Minute Books believe in making you smarter in four minutes or less; this is their slogan. There’s a vast collection of over 600 book summaries in categories like management, psychology, self-help, and so on. The website has a minimalist look, making it easy to navigate for readers around the world.
Features of Four Minute Books
- Four-minute summaries of popular books.
- A wide variety of books on various topics.
- The site offers offline reading mode.
Pros
- Quick access to short summaries.
- Numerous choices of books available.
- Website offers a free version of summary and full versions with a paid subscription.
Cons
- The website can be difficult to navigate, especially for beginners.
3. SparkNotes
SparkNotes is one of the most popular, free book summary sites. Its primary purpose initially was to offer help to students studying literature. Now, SparkNotes has expanded its reach, and they have book summaries on over 500 books; they are complete with analysis, character lists, and chapter summaries.
Features of SparkNotes
- Annotations, summaries, and quizzes available.
- A wide selection of literature titles.
- Free guides about literature topics and notions.
Pros
- Free access to book summaries, Q&A, and study guides.
- Available offline mode.
- The site offers short videos explaining the analysis of popular books.
Cons
- The site primarily focuses on literature and doesn’t summarize many non-fiction books.
4. CliffsNotes
CliffsNotes is another popular book summary site that offers free guides and summaries of classic and modern literature, as well as Shakespearean plays. They have broadened their reach from just literature to other fields by providing summaries on test preparation for SAT, GRE, and TOEFL.
Features of CliffNotes
- Free notes on literature titles.
- Provides Study guides.
- Free articles with general advice on subject topics.
Pros
- Offers graded quizzes on summaries.
- Site covers popular books, not just classic ones.
- The site is easily navigable.
Cons
- There isn’t a broader selection of non-fiction summaries.
5. GetAbstract
GetAbstract features summaries of books, news stories, and reports in several areas. They’re known for their summaries of the latest business books, with a variety of titles on company management, entrepreneurship, marketing, and e-commerce.
Features of GetAbstract
- Free summary of over 30000 titles available.
- The site also offers video, audio, and podcasts as a summary tool.
- Articles and reports on various topics.
Pros
- Some summaries are brief and to-the-point.
- Provides an Executive Summary for a quick overview of the details.
- Offers free samples for readers before registration.
Cons
- The site does not cover as many education and classic literature book summaries.
Paid Book Summaries Websites
Several sites offer paid subscriptions to their book summary packages. Although we have dedicated this article to listing the free options, here are two paid book summary websites that you might want to check:
1. Summarystory
Summarystory offers affordable yet comprehensive book summaries to readers. They provide extensive summarization of titles such as "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki.
2. Instaread
Instaread is another subscription-based website with paid summaries of non-fiction books. What sets them apart is the personalization of services as per the reader's preference and summary recommendations based on their previous reads.
What is the Best Website to Summarize Books for Free?
After considering our team's expert opinions and conducting a survey, we recommend Blinkist as the best website to summarize books. It provides a regularly updated library of over 4000 books. Plus, readers can preview every summary before opting for a subscription. Although it is primarily a subscription-based service, Blinkist offers a free trial to new users who intend to explore and evaluate the services.
Where can I Find Free Book Summaries?
There are several book summary websites available online, offering summaries on a wide variety of books. These websites include Blinkist, Four Minute Books, SparkNotes, CliffsNotes, GetAbstract, and more.
Is There a Website That Summarizes Books?
Yes, there are several websites that offer book summaries and related services. Some of the most popular summary websites include Blinkist, Four Minute Books, SparkNotes, CliffsNotes, and GetAbstract.
What is the Website That Summarizes Stories?
SparkNotes and CliffsNotes cover not only book summaries but also summaries on stories and plays. SparkNotes focuses primarily on literature, while CliffsNotes offers summaries on subjects such as history and philosophy as well.
Quick Tips and Facts
Here are some quick tips and facts about book summaries:
- Book summaries can be your allies if you're looking for a time-efficient way to learn.
- Most book summary sites offer an active free trial period or a limited free version. So, you can preview before investing.
- Even though book summaries offer an abridged version of the book's content, they don't provide the same benefits as reading the whole book. However, they are perfect for people who have time constraints.
In conclusion, book summaries offer a quick and easy way to access the content of books without having to read the whole thing. The internet has made this content even more accessible than before. Several websites offer summaries of classic literary texts, business books, and more. Whether it be free and online or paid for, book summaries are incredibly convenient for people who want to learn more without making an extensive time commitment.