Learning plan cover

Read the great authors

LEARNING PLAN

Read the great authors

This learning plan equips you with the tools and knowledge to engage meaningfully with the world's greatest literature. Perfect for readers who want to move beyond surface-level reading to truly understand the masterworks that have shaped culture, thought, and storytelling across centuries. Whether you're starting your journey with the classics or deepening an existing practice, this structured approach builds both skills and a lasting reading habit.

ByCommunity User
2 h 11 m
12 coursesUpdated 3 days ago
How to Read a BookHow To Read Literature Like A ProfessorReading Like a Writer12 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed’s proprietary AI to help you learn Read the great authors 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 Read the great authors.

What You'll Learn

  • Master critical reading skills that reveal deeper meanings and literary techniques in any text
  • Gain foundational knowledge of Western literature through Homer, Virgil, and Dante's transformative works
  • Explore defining novels of modernity from Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Joyce, and Fitzgerald that shaped contemporary storytelling
  • Develop analytical frameworks for understanding epic poetry, narrative structure, and experimental prose
  • Build a sustainable lifelong reading practice with a personalized program for engaging the classics

Master the essential skills for reading deeply and critically, learning how to unlock hidden meanings and appreciate literary craftsmanship in any work you encounter.

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
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
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

Journey through the foundational texts of Western literature, from Homer's heroic epics to Dante's spiritual masterpiece, discovering the timeless themes that shaped all literature to follow.

The Odyssey cover
The Odyssey

Epic tale of Odysseus's perilous journey home, facing mythical creatures and divine challenges in ancient Greece.

10 m
The Iliad cover
The Iliad

Epic poem of heroic battles, divine intervention, and human tragedy during the Trojan War's final year.

8 m
The Divine Comedy cover
The Divine Comedy

Dante's allegorical journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, exploring morality and faith.

8 m

Explore the novels and epics that defined modern literature, from Tolstoy's sweeping historical vision to Joyce's experimental modernism and the Jazz Age brilliance of Fitzgerald.

War and Peace cover
War and Peace

Epic historical novel exploring love, war, and philosophy in 19th-century Russia during the Napoleonic era.

9 m
The Great Gatsby cover
The Great Gatsby

A tale of love, greed, and the American Dream, set in the roaring twenties.

8 m
podcast cover
source 1Themes, Interpretations, and Symbolism in "The Death of Ivan Ilyich"The Death of Ivan Ilyich Themes - LitChartsExistentialism in Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" - StudyCorgi
6 sources
The Death of Ivan Ilyich: Wake-Up Call

Tolstoy's brutal masterpiece reveals how a 'successful' man discovers his entire life was performance, not living. Learn to master yourself authentically, build real relationships, and live fully before it's too late.

35 m

Develop a lifelong practice of reading the classics with guidance on creating a personal reading program and understanding the full scope of literary history and tradition.

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
Give War and Peace a Chance cover
Give War and Peace a Chance

Discover timeless wisdom from Tolstoy's masterpiece for navigating life's challenges in our turbulent modern world.

9 m
podcast cover
Ten Paths, One Wisdom: What the World's Philosophies Teach Us Timeless Wisdom: Global Philosophies That Lead to a Better, Meaningful Life How Should We Live?The Lessons of History
6 sources
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Life: Timeless Truths Revealed

Discover how the greatest philosophical traditions from Stoicism to Buddhism all point to the same fundamental truths about living well. Explore practical ways to apply thousands of years of tested wisdom to your modern life.

9 m

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

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

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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

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

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

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

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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

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

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

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

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

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

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

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

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

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

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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@Cashflowbubu
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