The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss Summary
Overview of The Name of the Wind
In Rothfuss's spellbinding fantasy masterpiece, a legendary musician-turned-wizard recounts his extraordinary life. With 4.62/5 stars from 2.5 million Goodreads readers and praised by George R.R. Martin, this meticulously crafted world asks: what price would you pay for power beyond imagination?
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Key takeaways
A Legend Begins in Silence
In a small town called Newarre, a red-haired innkeeper named Kote serves drinks with quiet efficiency. Few would guess this unassuming man was once Kvothe-arcanist, musician, and notorious figure whose exploits have become tavern tales across the Four Corners of Civilization. When a traveling scribe named Chronicler recognizes him despite his careful disguise, Kvothe agrees to share his true story over three days. As he begins to narrate, something remarkable happens-the weary innkeeper's demeanor falls away, revealing glimpses of the legendary figure beneath. What could have reduced such a powerful man to hiding as a simple innkeeper? The answer lies in his tale, which begins not with grand adventures but with music, family, and the simple joys of a traveling performer's life. This frame story creates a fascinating tension between past and present-every triumph we witness in young Kvothe's life is shadowed by the knowledge of his eventual fall, making even the most joyful moments bittersweet.
The Traveling Troupe and First Lessons in Magic
Survival in the Shadows
The University and the Magic of Sympathy
Music, Identity, and the Enigmatic Denna
The Birth of a Legend
The Power of Names and Stories
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"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
"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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