
Discover the stuttering boy who mastered nine languages and became Gettysburg's unlikely hero. Jon Meacham calls this bestseller "vital and vivid" - the definitive portrait of Joshua Chamberlain, whose battlefield brilliance and post-war leadership shaped modern America.
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain stands as one of America's most remarkable yet overlooked leaders. Before becoming a Civil War hero, he was a mild-mannered Bowdoin College professor fluent in nine languages. His transformation culminated in his famous bayonet charge at Gettysburg's Little Round Top-a moment that may have saved the Union. Though forgotten for decades, Chamberlain experienced a cultural resurrection through Ken Burns' documentary "The Civil War" and the film "Gettysburg," which introduced millions to his extraordinary courage. What makes his story so compelling is how he repeatedly answered the call to serve-as soldier, governor, college president, and civic leader-always guided by unwavering principles rather than personal ambition. His life reveals how ordinary individuals can rise to extraordinary challenges when principle and opportunity converge.
Break down key ideas from On Great Fields into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Distill On Great Fields into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.

Experience On Great Fields through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.

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

Get the On Great Fields summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.