MasterClass is easily one of the best educational investments I’ve ever made. I’ve completed 41 MasterClasses now, writing glowing reviews for many of them, so it’s safe to say that I’m totally addicted.
The instructors in the MasterClass catalogue are the best in the world.
No other platform is offering anything close. We’re talking filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, writers like Neil Gaiman, and chefs like Gordon Ramsay.
Not only are the MasterClass instructors unparalleled, the content and production value is the best you’ll find anywhere on the internet.
As a writer, I owe so much of what I know to the MasterClass writers (greats like Aaron Sorkin, James Patterson, and Margaret Atwood). MasterClass is the best writing suite anywhere. It’s also a one-stop-shop for other creatives from musicians to chefs to filmmakers.
Thanks to the All Access Pass, I can take whatever MasterClass I want whenever I want without paying extra. And I can take new MasterClasses as soon as they come out. But maybe you’re interested in just taking a standalone MasterClass. Or maybe you’re interested in the All Access Pass but don’t know which MasterClass to start with.
In this MasterClass review, I’m going to rank and review the 41 MasterClasses I’ve taken so far.
41 MasterClasses Ranked and Reviewed (What is the best MasterClass?)
This is not a definitive ranking of the MasterClasses.
Firstly, this is an incredibly personal and biased ranking. I’m a writer and storyteller by trade, so naturally some MasterClasses were more useful to me than others.
But I tried to stay impartial and rank each MasterClass based on their own merits.
Secondly, this was an incredibly hard task.
Choosing a number one best MasterClass was basically impossible. If you asked me next week, my choice would probably be different.
And trying to order the top ten MasterClasses was ridiculously hard. Just because one of the MasterClasses in this review is further down the list, does not mean I don’t recommend it. I’ve been blown away by the quality of all of the MasterClasses. This just comes down to what personally had the biggest lasting impact on me.
Without further ado, let’s get into ranking 41 of the MasterClasses!
We’re going backwards.
41 – Annie Leibowitz Teaches Photography MasterClass
As a beginner photographer I found the Annie Leibowitz MasterClass immensely entertaining and thoroughly motivating, but I didn’t learn too much about technique.
I did manage to improve my portrait photography skills and learnt about different lenses and lighting, but this MasterClass is mainly a meditation on the craft of photography from a master who has dedicated her life to it.
For anyone who is already fascinated with photography, I still consider this MasterClass a must-watch. It’s still good for beginners, but it’s not photography 101, and might serve those photographers who are already quite advanced in their craft better.
You can check out the Annie Leibowitz Teaches Photography MasterClass here.
Full Annie Leibowitz MasterClass review here.
40 – Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy MasterClass
The most exciting aspect of the Judd Apatow MasterClass was the fact that you got to choose from one of three different project assignments depending on what discipline you fall into: stand-up comedian, writer-director, or screenwriter.
The projects are all totally awesome, challenging, and inspiring, leaving you with a finished product at the end. I had a blast doing my screenwriter project.
My favourite part of the Judd Apatow MasterClass was all about getting personal, considering situations from every angle, best practices for brainstorming comedy (lists, questions, etc), starting with the punch-line and building a story around it, and how to build your act methodically.
You can check out the Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy MasterClass here.
Full Judd Apatow MasterClass review here.
39 – Spike Lee Teaches Independent Filmmaking MasterClass
The Spike Lee MasterClass was chocked full of value. I personally got the most value out of Spike Lee’s writing blueprint and found his technique for putting a script together to be fascinating.
There’s a lot of unconventional wisdom in this MasterClass and I consider it a must-watch for any up-and-coming indie filmmaker (or just anyone who loves a good Spike Lee joint), but the thing I really loved about this MasterClass is the fact that it felt like a mini film school.
Watching and analysing film clips like those from On the Waterfront and Do The Right Thing alongside Spike Lee is guaranteed to light an artistic fire under your ass.
You can check out the Spike Lee Teaches Independent Filmmaking MasterClass here.
Full Spike Lee MasterClass review here.
38 – Bob Woodward Teaches Investigative Journalism MasterClass
What I really loved about Bob Woodward’s approach to teaching journalism is that he gives out these timeless wise principles of writing and investigating and sits them side-by-side with real life stories from the trenches that gets your heart pounding.
Bob Woodward’s MasterClass is half writing class, half adrenaline-pumping political thriller that aims to get you writing a 4,500-word investigative reporting project aimed at examine a government program, school, local event, or business.
The aspect that stood out the most to be in this MasterClass was Bob Woodward’s interview advice. If you are giving interviews in any capacity soon, I consider the Bob Woodward MasterClass a must-watch.
You can check out the Bob Woodward Teaches Investigative Journalism MasterClass here.
Full Bob Woodward MasterClass review here.
37 – David Axelrod and Karl Rove Teach Campaign Strategy MasterClass
This is candidate bootcamp for anyone considering a career in political campaigns.
By the end of this MasterClass, you know exactly what goes on inside a campaign, how winning candidates prepare and educate themselves, and you also end up having more faith in the political system itself.
David Axelrod and Karl Rove, men from opposing ends of the political spectrum, are a fantastic dynamic. I personally loved learning about campaign storytelling and how to craft a great message.
This MasterClass really makes the political drama come alive and is so electrifying in places that you’ll want to run for office in some capacity whether or not you had plans to do so.
You can check out the David Axelrod and Karl Rove Teach Campaign Strategy MasterClass here.
Full David Axelrod and Karl Rove MasterClass review here.
36 – Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar MasterClass
This MasterClass is about, in Carlos Santana’s words, using music to transport you to “a place beyond fear, beyond guilt and shame, beyond good and bad, right and wrong, black, white, or grey”.
I never thought a guitar class could be so spiritual. That doesn’t mean it’s all theoretical though – you’ll definitely need your guitar in hand as you’ll be playing along with Santana himself.
You’ve got a lot of cool techniques in this MasterClass and you should really take your time with it. Like basically all of the MasterClasses, the Carlos Santana Guitar MasterClass isn’t something you watch through once and never again. You really live with this class. You can bliss out with Santana on a long-term basis and you’ll always have something to do on those lazy Sunday afternoon practice sessions.
You can check out the Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar MasterClass here.
Full Carlos Santana MasterClass review here.
35 – Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking MasterClass
I personally got a lot of value out of the modules about building your script in the Jodie Foster MasterClass.
We get to see how Jodie takes a real life experience and turns it into a dramatic scene with the screenwriter for her first film. There’s a great push-pull dynamic between the theoretical and the practical in Jodie’s MasterClass (just like in all MasterClasses).
One moment you’re learning about how to assemble a team for your film, the next you’re deconstructing visual choices in Jodie’s films, the next you’re learning how to storyboard.
MasterClass is basically film school and Jodie Foster’s course is one of the all-rounders where you get insight into every facet of filmmaking.
You can check out the Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking MasterClass here.
Full Jodie Foster MasterClass review here.
34 – Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking MasterClass
Mira Nair’s MasterClass is all about learning how to cultivate the greatest directorial spirit, how to have the heart of a poet and the skin of an elephant.
This MasterClass is beautiful, gentle, and therapeutic tone, one that touches the heart right to the core and gets you immediately simmering with thoughts of art and beauty and story – your own unique story.
There are a lot of in-depth practical lessons in this MasterClass (including some really fascinating scene deconstructions and footage of Mira working with her cinematographer and actors. But if I had to sum up this MasterClass in one overarching theme, it’s all about learning to put your culture, language, people at the heart of your vision.
You can check out the Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking MasterClass here.
33 – Howard Schulz Teaches Business Leadership MasterClass
Howard Schulz, the man behind Starbucks, runs a must-watch MasterClass for any entrepreneur.
If you’re just getting started in your entrepreneurial career, you’ll be given a firm and encouraging push to dive in.
If you’ve already been in business for a while, you’ll learn all about taking calculated risks, balancing values and profits, how to differentiate yourself in the marketplace, how to disrupt the common conversation, how to focus on audacious goals, how to invest in company culture, how to prioritise the right things in your business, how to hire a values-based team, how to be a leader instead of a manager, and so much more.
Howard Schulz even gives you a viable and exciting niche business idea that’s going to be huge in the coming years. So even if you haven’t any ideas for your business, you can get started today.
You can check out the Howard Schulz Teaches Business Leadership MasterClass here.
Full Howard Schulz MasterClass review here.
32 – Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring MasterClass
The Hans Zimmer MasterClass is the perfect balance between tight, precise, well-thought out and prepared information and a incredibly amiable, relaxing, compellingly bingeable learning experience.
This MasterClass is a joyful experience all about the universal language of music, walking the tightrope between originality and suitability to particular films, how to choose keys strategically, how to serve the plot, story, and characters of a film, how to arrive at a common language with a director, how to create sound palettes, and so much more.
One of the most fascinating parts of this MasterClass was seeing Hans Zimmer break down his process for films like Interstellar, The Dark Knight, Sherlock Holmes, and The Pirates of the Caribbean.
A must-watch for any budding film scorer or any lover of music and film generally.
You can check out the Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring MasterClass here.
Full Hans Zimmer MasterClass review here.
31 – David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film MasterClass
The David Lynch MasterClass is freaking weird.
But would you expect anything less from the David Lynch who brought you the masterpieces of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, and so many more?
Without a doubt, this MasterClass is the weirdest, most surreal, most speaking-straight-to-the-heart-of-your-subconscious, most effective meditation on creative and the art of getting ideas I have ever experienced.
Equal parts disorienting and inspiring, hypnotic and motivating.
I’ve read every book on the subject of ideas and listened to a lot of mentors and people I respect talk about ideas, but this is one of the most unique classes on the subject I’ve ever encountered. This is the first time I’ve ever taken an online course and felt stoned just by watching.
You can check out the David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film MasterClass here.
Full David Lynch MasterClass review here.
30 – Alice Waters Teaches Home Cooking MasterClass
People who love natural cooking, love being around calm caring energy, and people whose philosophy of cooking is making delicious meals that create wonderful emotions and memories will love the Alice Waters MasterClass.
This is a course for people who want to learn to cook so they can enjoy long healthy meals with family and friends filled with laughter and memories.
I know that might sound a little corny – but isn’t that what life’s all about?
What’s really exciting is that Alice Waters delivers the MasterClass in her own house and introduces us to her daughter Fanny who grew up in her kitchen and shows us how she learnt the lessons her mother taught.
If you’re looking for a class to enjoy with your own daughter (or son), this MasterClass would make a perfect bonding experience.
You can check out the Alice Waters Teaches Home Cooking MasterClass here.
Full Alice Waters MasterClass review here.
29 – Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass
Without a doubt, the Wolfgang Puck MasterClass (along with the Gordon Ramsay MasterClass) is responsible for me being able to cook some of the most delicious signature dishes in my culinary repertoire.
The steak I was able to cook after Wolfgang Puck’s MasterClass? Delicious doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Tuna sashimi, pepper steak with red wine sauce, roasted branzino, and oatmeal risotto are just some of the awe-inspiring recipes you’ll find in the Wolfgang Puck Masterclass. You’ll also learn to make some yummy cocktails too.
Despite what appears to be complex recipes (at least to an amateur cook like myself), Wolfgang Puck’s teaching style is incredibly crisp and clear. Chef Puck’s affable attitude really makes it easy to whip up some fancy meals and the entire MasterClass is a joy to follow along to.
You can check out the Wolfgang Puck Teaches Cooking MasterClass here.
Full Wolfgang Puck MasterClass review here.
28 – Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting MasterClass
Samuel L. Jackson’s MasterClass is easily the coolest motherfuckin’ MasterClass in the entire catalogue.
I loved learning Jackson’s process of character creation. I loved the case studies, where Jackson tells us his approach and then follows it up with a clip analysis so we can see his principles and acting philosophies in practice.
Most of all, I loved the scene deconstructions and I was thrilled to see Jackson take some up-and-coming actors through several readings of that iconic scene in Pulp Fiction.
This isn’t a full-blown acting MasterClass, but where this one excels is in the topic of character creation. No other resource online goes into this amount of depth and detail in regards to creating a character, which makes it required viewing for any actor.
You can check out the Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting MasterClass here.
Full Samuel L. Jackson MasterClass review here.
27 – Natalie Portman Teaches Acting MasterClass
For me, the Natalie Portman MasterClass is one of the best acting MasterClasses I’ve taken.
The MasterClass is centred around an assignment: you will develop your own acting process by the end of the course.
Natalie shows you how to prepare for your character, how to map out your character’s journey, how to think about your character’s relationship to other roles in the film, how to relate to your director, how to audition, the way you do green screen, how to use your physicality to affect your character, but ultimately it’s all about how you can create your own set of tools and influences that will work uniquely for you.
You can check out the Natalie Portman Teaches Acting MasterClass here.
Full Natalie Portman MasterClass review here.
26 – Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking MasterClass
I binged the Martin Scorsese MasterClass in a day.
I actually have to force myself to slow down with many of these MasterClasses, especially the ones taught by my personal lifelong heroes.
Scorsese goes into a lot of different facets of filmmaking in this MasterClass, from editing, costume design, and sound design to discovering your process, understanding cinematography, and channelling your influences.
Personally I got the most value out of Scorsese’s discussions of the old masters. What a treat to sit down with this great director and dissect scenes from influential films from Fellini, Hitchcock, Truffaut, Tourneur, and Kubrick.
You can check out the Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking MasterClass here.
Full Martin Scorsese MasterClass review here.
25 – David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing MasterClass
The David Mamet MasterClass might just be one of the most complete writing MasterClasses in the catalogue.
Of course, most people signing up to the David Mamet MasterClass are going to be interested in learning dialogue. After all, Mamet’s a master of dialogue. And Mamet definitely does cover dialogue in this MasterClass. But there’s so much more here than that.
You’ll learn everything from the purpose of drama, dramatic rules from Aristotle and about the hero’s journey, story ideas and themes, plot (from precipitating events to second act problems), character (from character objectives to writing backstory), structure (three uses of the knife), and so much more.
You can check out the David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing MasterClass here.
Full David Mamet MasterClass review here.
24 – Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography MasterClass
I was only going to check out the introduction to the Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography MasterClass before bed, something quick to watch. I hit ‘play’ but noticed the very first video was over 17 minutes long. I didn’t have time for that. Too tired. I went to exit out of the screen but in the first few seconds of play time I was… captivated. I couldn’t look away. I certainly couldn’t even dream of exiting out of the screen.
And that’s how I ended up binging the Jimmy Chin MasterClass and furiously scribbling notes and making plans for my own travel photography shoots long into the night.
It’s extraordinary how much practical information is crammed into each module of this MasterClass. Jimmy Chin will make you want to go out a climb a mountain with a camera around your neck.
You can check out the Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography MasterClass here.
Full Jimmy Chin MasterClass review here.
23 – Thomas Keller Teaches Cooking Techniques MasterClass
Chef Keller’s teaching style is superb.
His instructions are easy to follow and his enthusiasm and dedication to haute cuisine and refinement are incredibly infectious.
What I really loved about this MasterClass is that it focuses on cooking techniques rather than recipes because those are the most important parts. This is really exciting for me and exactly what I wanted.
I had so much fun following Gordon Ramsay’s recipes in his MasterClass, but I really appreciate is Keller’s principle-based approach to cooking.
Thomas Keller’s MasterClass is all about nailing the fundamentals. Talking about vegetables alone, some of the fundamentals you can learn in this MasterClass include big pot balancing, confit, purée, braising, roasting, peeling, glazing, baking, and pickling. This is a must-take class for any food aficionado.
You can check out the Thomas Keller Teaches Cooking Techniques MasterClass here.
Full Thomas Keller MasterClass review here.
22 – Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television MasterClass
Easily one of my favourite writing MasterClasses. For me, Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass was bursting with practical lessons that I could immediately apply to my own screenwriting endeavours.
I learnt what I should and shouldn’t do when it comes to scriptwriting, how to analyse other scripts and tear them apart, how to know if I have a good and original idea, how to research story, how to create memorable characters (Shonda’s character bible template is gold), and so much more.
Most of all, I loved the round-table modules and I really loved analysing Shonda’s actual television show clips so I could see her lessons and advice more concretely.
You can check out the Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing For Television MasterClass here.
Full Shonda Rhimes MasterClass review here.
21 – Billy Collins Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry MasterClass
The Billy Collins MasterClass is the MasterClass my teenage self most would have wanted. I used to stay up all night reading and writing poetry and I would have absolutely gorged on this divine class. Taking it was a real nostalgia kick and got me back into reading and writing poetry after a long lay-off of many years.
This was one of the MasterClasses that personally touched me the most and will always have a special place in my heart. The Billy Collins Poetry MasterClass is perfect for anyone who is a curious and intelligent reader who doesn’t know much about poetry but wants to learn more. Of course, this MasterClass is also a delight for any lifelong lover of poetry like myself who simply enjoys lectures about the art.
I’d say Collins aims his materials at those kind of new to the craft of poetry, yet he doesn’t dumb down his lectures. Collins assumes you’re on the same intellectual level as him and yet is brilliant at formulating his lessons for the layman, a very difficult teaching technique to pull off, and one that is tremendously refreshing.
You can check out the Billy Collins Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry MasterClass here.
Full Billy Collins MasterClass review here.
20 – Dr. Jane Goodall Teaches Conservation MasterClass
Here’s another MasterClass that has a special place in my heart. As we get further down this list ranking the MasterClasses, the classes become more meaningful, touching, and personal for me. It’s such a shame that the Jane Goodall MasterClass isn’t more popular (I’d hazard a guess than it’s one of the least popular in the catalogue). It’s a shame because it might just be the most important MasterClass in the catalogue.
The amount of joy, education, and incite to act in this MasterClass is phenomenal. I’d say this MasterClass is perfect for any parents who want to bring their children up with a greater awareness of the world around them. Watch this with your kids. Or, if you’re a teacher, watch it with your class. Or, if you’re an animal lover, just watch it. It will change your life.
You can check out the Dr. Jane Goodall Teaches Conservation MasterClass here.
Full Dr. Jane Goodall MasterClass review here.
19 – Judy Blume Teaches Writing MasterClass
The Judy Blume MasterClass is perfect for beginner writers, particularly those who wish to write for children. I think this MasterClass is structured in a logical progression for someone looking to write a book from scratch – even if you have no ideas.
There are writing case studies from Judy’s books. Judy discusses how to craft memorable characters, how to write compelling and realistic dialogue, how to tackle the difficult issue of plot. We get deep insight into Judy’s own writing process and we even get tons of info on the topics of submitting, finding an editor, handling rejection, the marketplace (e.g. cover design), how to handle controversy and censorship, and so much more.
The Judy Blume MasterClass is perfect for the beginner writer because there is lots of handholding and it’s well laid out. If you follow the assignments in the course workbook, you could have a nice little book by the end of it. When I say the masterclass is perfect for the beginner writer, I don’t necessarily mean the beginner who has never written anything. I mean the beginner who is unpublished. Maybe you have a folder full of ideas or journals full of story scraps – then this course is perfect for you.
You can check out the Judy Blume Teaches Writing MasterClass here.
Full Judy Blume MasterClass review here.
18 – Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing MasterClass
If I had to encapsulate the thing I loved about the Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing MasterClass so much in a single sentence it would be this: It felt like having an intimate discussion with an incredibly endearing mentor who made me (a writer of many years) think differently about the craft of writing that immediately had a positive impact on my current work in progress.
You’re instructed to get a notebook specifically for this class and to complete all of the exercises longhand (the reason for this becomes apparent in the class). We learn about how to start and what not to start with, how we were taught literature backwards in high school, about beginning with characters, voices, scenes, objects instead of a theme.
Margaret takes you through how to find your process and how to immerse yourself in something in order to foster tons of rich ideas. We learn how to deal with fear. And then the mindset stuff transitions into hands-on practical advice. The Margaret Atwood MasterClass is a guiding light through the darkness.
You can check out the Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing MasterClass here.
Full Margaret Atwood MasterClass review here.
17 – R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences MasterClass
The Stephen King of kid’s horror needs no introduction and his MasterClass is every bit as fantastic as you would expect. R.L. Stine basically holds your hand and shows you how to get from the idea stage all the way to a finished book. You can get a full book completed in a month easily following along with the R.L. Stine MasterClass.
It’s really hard to choose a favourite part of the masterclass because it was all fantastic and you really need to experience it as a whole. But if I had to choose a few favourite video modules, they would be: The Idea Store, Making Monsters, Mixing Horror and Humor, Developing a Book Series, How To Scare Your Readers, Writing for Different Age Levels, and Outlining: Surprise Endings and Cliffhangers. R.L. Stine’s teaching style is kind of genius. His lessons are memorable, motivating, and practical. It’s impossible not to feel inspired and capable when taking this masterclass. And Many of the individual video modules are worth the price of entry alone.
You can check out the R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences MasterClass here.
Full R.L. Stine MasterClass review here.
16 – Penn and Teller Teach the Art of Magic MasterClass
The Penn & Teller Teach the Art of Magic MasterClass was MAGICAL. This MasterClass is what my ten-year-old self would have loved. The Penn and Teller Teach the Art of Magic MasterClass brought all the joyful nostalgia of my magic-obsessed childhood tumbling forth. Penn and Teller become teachers and performers at the same time. And I’ve gotta say even these simple tricks look amazing.
You’ll be thinking, “How the heck can I get to that stage?!” Even going into the tricks knowing they’re teaching sleight of hand, you can’t see how they’re doing it – until they tell you. I’m telling you, if you’re not giddy like a school kid all the way through this masterclass you are not a true fan of magic. I was positively smiling ear to ear and shaking with glee. But this MasterClass isn’t just about learning a few card, coin, and rope tricks. Sure, you’ll learn those. But the really thrilling thing about this MasterClass was how it was a beautiful meditation on the art, craft, and history of magic. You’ll be moved to tears at multiple points during this MasterClass.
You can check out the Penn and Teller Teach the Art of Magic MasterClass here.
Full Penn and Teller MasterClass review here.
15 – Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking MasterClass
Gordon Ramsay wins the cooking MasterClasses for me, just because it’s such an all-rounder and the easiest class to cook up simple yet impressive and delicious dishes. I’m guessing this was one of the most popular MasterClasses, if not the most popular, because Gordon Ramsay ended up doing a part two, which was just as amazing as the first MasterClass.
The Gordon Ramsay MasterClass resulted in me cooking my first meal in years. Sure, there’s a ton of mindset principles and you’ll learn so much about different herbs, spices, and techniques, but for me the mark of a great MasterClass always comes down to what you’re able to produce at the end of it. And I was able to cook up some amazing dishes, going from hardly any cooking experience at all to suddenly feeling super confident in the kitchen. That makes Gordon’s MasterClass a win.
You can check out the Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking MasterClass here.
Full Gordon Ramsay MasterClass review here.
14 – Steve Martin Teaches Comedy MasterClass
I tried to binge through Steve Martin’s 6-week MasterClass in just 2 weeks. I don’t recommend you do that. As I progressed through the course, I realised the MasterClass has a highly structured comedy syllabus and homework that requires you to take your time.
This MasterClass is set up so that you have a working comedy routine that you have tweaked, tested, perfected, and taken to the stage by the end. I’m now going back over the course and currently following the homework schedules in the correct order and I’m getting a ton of value out of it. They always say you can’t teach comedy, and that might be true, but what’s also true is that if anyone ever could teach comedy it would be Steve Martin and this would easily be the best course on comedy anywhere in the world. This is one of the most jam-packed MasterClasses in the entire catalogue, and that’s saying something.
You can check out the Steve Martin Teaches Comedy MasterClass here.
Full Steve Martin MasterClass review here.
13 – Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing MasterClass
The Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing MasterClass might just be the best non-fiction writing course on the internet. I always learn so much from these MasterClass courses. But the Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing MasterClass was the first one where I found myself furiously scribbling tons of notes within the first few minutes. A few minutes in and I had so many ideas sparked that I knew the course was worth the purchase. As someone looking to up my non-fiction writing game, Gladwell’s lessons made me think in ways I hadn’t before.
You will learn a lot of new stuff you can immediately apply to your writing. You’ll think about different aspects of writing in ways you’ve never considered before. And you’ll be highly motivated by Gladwell’s infectious passion, which will drive you to write faster and with more joy than ever before. No exaggeration. Malcolm Gladwell easily ranks as one of the best MasterClass instructors. I’ve been privileged to have studied under many world-class writing teachers in my time. Professors of Poetry and prestigious prize winners from Oxford University. And also many of my heroes already teaching in the MasterClass catalogue. But I knew within the first few minutes of this MasterClass, that Malcolm Gladwell was one of the best teachers of language and non-fiction narrative I’ve ever encountered.
You can check out the Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing MasterClass here.
Full Malcolm Gladwell MasterClass review here.
12 – Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting MasterClass
Best screenwriting course anywhere on the face of the internet. Hands down. Maybe I’m nostalgic because this was my very first MasterClass. But I’ve heard from enough people who also enrolled in the Aaron Sorkin MasterClass to know that it’s objectively fantastic. You’ll learn a staggering amount. Intention, obstacle, ideas, characterisation, research, audience, rules of story, film story, writing habits, group workshops, writing scenes, and so much more. Every base is covered and it’s covered incredibly well.
I could go into so many things that make this a fantastic MasterClass, but ultimately it was more than worth the price of entry for me when Aaron Sorkin taught me one thing that changed the way I wrote stories forever – and now I never get writer’s block thanks to his tips, tricks, and tools of the trade.
You can check out the Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting MasterClass here.
Full Aaron Sorkin MasterClass review here.
11 – Chris Hadfield Teaches Space Exploration MasterClass
Want to learn about orbital mechanics? How to operate 200+ ongoing experiments on the space station? How a rocket works? You’ll learn all of this, plus how Chris Hadfield can solve complex problems in a single breath, in one of the most fascinating MasterClasses I’ve ever taken. I’ve never been any good at science, but this MasterClass gripped me from start to finish. Who would have thought someone like me would have been so enthralled learning about the equations for drag?
I even teared up during Hadfield’s talks, wondering at the amazement of human achievement. My brain and my heart were on fire throughout this MasterClass. I really felt a renewed appreciation for science. I just wish I’d had this MasterClass back during my high school days when I was zoning out in Physics class. It definitely would have given me renewed motivation for the subject.
The thing that really makes these lessons gripping is that they’re chocked full of compelling information side-by-side with some really moving poignant discussions about the fragility of life. Hadfield’s discussion about the dangers in pursuing the nearly impossible (and the death of his friend in a space shuttle disaster) were profound, moving, motivational, and touching. This is one of those courses that should be mandatory watching for all. Whatever tough thing you’re dealing with in your life, I’m sure this MasterClass will help you through it.
You can check out the Chris Hadfield Teaches Space Exploration MasterClass here.
Full Chris Hadfield MasterClass review here.
10 – Daniel Negreanu Teaches Poker MasterClass
My attitude going into the masterclass was casual. But it didn’t take long before Daniel Negreanu made me obsessed with poker. With 38 video modules, and at 8 hours of running time, this is the longest MasterClass in the MasterClass catalogue. Not only is this MasterClass the longest, it’s also a prime contender for one of the best, if not the best (seriously, any MasterClass in this top ten ranking is basically interchangeable).
Though this MasterClass by no means feels like it’s tailored to complete beginners, there’s a lot of assumed knowledge that makes me think a more advanced poker player will get the most out of this MasterClass. So if you’re a complete beginner, you’re going to want to play some poker (online is easy) and get a feel for the game before diving into the course. But Daniel is such a superb teacher that my own poker game instantly improved.
I started playing some amateur games online and, even though I don’t have much of a past poker version of me to compare with (other than someone playing very randomly), I immediately noticed that I became the best player at the table. Granted these were amateurs (like me) but we’ve gotta start somewhere. I can’t believe the value on offer with this MasterClass, and this is one of the classes that I consistently return to again and again.
You can check out the Daniel Negreanu Teaches Poker MasterClass here.
Full Daniel Negreanu MasterClass review here.
9 – Helen Mirren Teaches Acting MasterClass
The Helen Mirren MasterClass blew me away. It is essential viewing for anyone interested in the performing arts or storytelling and is incredible value for money. Your assignment involves workshopping a Shakespeare monologue. You get 6+ hours of video modules. That’s Helen Mirren talking directly to us on a number of key fascinating acting and storytelling concepts.
Some of my favourite modules include: Human Behaviour, Characterising the Set, Breaking Down A Script, Shakespeare, Preparation and Rehearsal, and Creating Characters. To be honest, it’s actually impossible to rank the lessons because each one is brilliant. Each of Helen’s video modules is a masterclass in itself.
Helen Mirren is inspiring, raw, open, emotional (but not overly so), philosophical, fun, interesting, and a compelling speaker. Her passion leaps from the screen and is incredibly infectious. Her discussions on Shakespeare alone rank as some of the most enjoyable educational content I have ever experienced. Helen offers an incredibly passionate and intelligent reading that made me want to devour Shakespeare all over again. If only she had been my tutor at university – I think I would have turned up to more of my Shakespeare classes!
You can check out the Helen Mirren Teaches Acting MasterClass here.
Full Helen Mirren MasterClass review here.
8 – James Patterson Teaches Writing MasterClass
The James Patterson MasterClass is a 6-week course that I binged in one week. And what a tremendous week it was. Actually, I’ve watched the whole thing through three times and each time I’ve managed to bang out a novel thanks to Patterson’s advice. I found that the first half of the MasterClass didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. But it did provide me a big kick up the ass.
James Patterson, as well as being a super nice, friendly, and surprisingly hilarious guy, is incredibly motivating. The second half is where the gold is and where I learned more practical advice (like James’ famous outline technique) that made the course one of the best investments in my writing career I’ve ever made.
The James Patterson MasterClass is a great course for beginners/people who haven’t written before or only written a little. Certain parts are well worth their weight in gold for intermediates (like myself). Ultimately, I’d even recommend it to people who aren’t even writers. This MasterClass is simply an insane amount of fun and one that will always be special to me.
You can check out the James Patterson Teaches Writing MasterClass here.
Full James Patterson MasterClass review here.
7 – Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking MasterClass
The Werner Herzog MasterClass was the one that made me fall in love with the entire MasterClass company. It was one of my first MasterClasses and it showed me the insane amount of consistent value this company was able to deliver. Since taking Herzog’s MasterClass, I’ve gone on to devour most of his artistic output and he easily ranks as one of my favourite filmmakers, and artists generally, of all time.
The MasterClass is exactly what you would expect from Werner Herzog – it’s filled with frenetic energy, passion abouts, fierce intellectual exercises, insane creative techniques, and is basically a work of art itself. This MasterClass is a seven-week course and in the first week alone you learn about the universal rules of storytelling, how to dissect and analyse great films (which we do alongside Herzog), how to learn storytelling through reading (e.g. You can learn how to edit from Icelandic poetry, how to condense by studying Virgil), you learn how to write a script, and even how to finance your first film. That’s just in the first week. The entire MasterClass is a joy from start to finish and easily one of my favourites.
You can check out the Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking MasterClass here.
Full Werner Herzog MasterClass review here.
6 – Ron Howard Teaches Directing MasterClass
Ron Howard is one of the best MasterClass instructors I’ve ever seen. I was trying to figure out why I love this Masterclass so much and I think it’s because… Ron Howard gets straight into the meat (diving into talking about stories and scripts rather than personal history.
He is very ‘You-focused’ – he knows his audience and he’s talking to us very personally. The substance is exciting and sparks golden insights immediately. Ron Howard knows what he’s doing and knows how to teach what he’s doing in ways that are exciting and easy to understand. I love it when the instructor is bursting with energy and passion – passion not only for their craft but for teaching us about it. It’s impossible to not be enthused within a few minutes of hearing Howard speak.
The mark of a great MasterClass = immediate positive impact on your work. I’m not a director. I’m a writer. But I still received several immediate takeaways that I was able to apply to my current work-in-progress. The value I got was from Ron Howard’s discussions on how to create a fresh story, how to use classical myths like those described by Joseph Campbell, how to identify powerful moments in narrative and effectively build towards them, and Ron’s checklist for evaluating a script (PURE GOLD). The value filmmakers will get from this course will be in the massive amounts of footage actually following and watching Ron Howard direct on set. If you’re a storyteller of any kind – and especially if you’re a director – you will get tremendous value from this MasterClass.
You can check out the Ron Howard Teaches Directing MasterClass here.
Full Ron Howard MasterClass review here.
5 – Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling MasterClass
If I had to sum up the Neil Gaiman MasterClass in one word it would be this: magical. If there was any doubt that I was going to binge this class, that doubt evaporated within the first minute. I wasn’t even halfway through Neil Gaiman’s first module, ‘Truth in Fiction’, when I realised that I’m completely hypnotised by him. His way of speaking, his gorgeous tone of voice, his deep foray into the big fundamental questions of fiction writing, all swept me away.
It feels like Neil is sprinkling magic fairy dust over you as he talks. You want to keep listening, but every sentence he says sparks a new idea, then another, then ten more, and you have to pause to jot down these ideas and sometimes these ideas turn into stories and time slips away from you. You’ll really want to make sure you’ve got some time to really enjoy this MasterClass, because it’s such a treat. Sure, it’s personal and professional development and it’s helping you enhance the craft you love so much, but it’s also fantastic ‘me-time’ and you can really get lost in the magic of it all.
Every module in the Neil Gaiman MasterClass hit it out of the park for me. Different writers will have their different favourite modules depending on how and what they like to write, where they are in their writing career at the moment, and what they want to focus on learning in regards to craft right now. For me, one of my favourite modules was the one on short fiction as I’ve been interested in writing more short stories for a while now and needed a push in the right direction and some new tools to get me there. This module was worth the price of the masterclass alone.
You can check out the Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling MasterClass here.
Full Neil Gaiman MasterClass review here.
4 – Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess MasterClass
Garry Kasparov is a rigorous, inspiring, and thoroughly gifted teacher. This MasterClass is produced so brilliantly that it feels like we’re sitting across the table from Garry as he walks us through the different aspects of the game of chess. It’s also clear that Garry put a lot of thought in exactly how to structure the masterclass so that everyone can benefit from it (beginners all the way up to advanced chess players).
The Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess MasterClass has 7+ hours of video content, making it one of the longest MasterClasses in the company’s catalogue. You also get access to the office hours where Garry answers student questions, the student hub, and an 86-page booklet filled with puzzles expanding upon Garry’s video lessons and directions for improving your game further. The Garry Kasparov Masterclass is split into theory, practical hands on demonstrations, studies (these are really fun – I particularly enjoyed Torres’ windmill), actual match analyses (both ones Gary played himself and famous ones throughout history), and it’s all broken into themes. Have your chess.com account open alongside Garry’s Masterclass.
The real joy for me was having my chess.com account fired up as I was learning from the Masterclass. This has been such a nice way for me to relax in the evenings the last few weeks. After a hard day’s work, I sink into my beanbag and I go through one Garry Kasparov chess lesson. It could be openings, it could be deflection, it could be skewers. I go through one lesson, absorb everything, and then I start putting it into focused practice and winning against other players on chess.com. It’s pretty damn fun and I look forward to it all day. This class is also a great shared experience and you could totally share it with a buddy and then put what you learned into practice against each other.
You can check out the Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess MasterClass here.
Full Garry Kasparov MasterClass review here.
3 – Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar MasterClass
If you’ve been trying to sound like Chuck Berry or Jimmy Page for decades, you need to watch this MasterClass. Tom Morello will get you finding your unique voice. Morello will make you think about the guitar in more liberating ways and give you a ton of cool thought experiments and exercises aimed at busting you out of a funk and getting you to a zone of bliss.
This MasterClass is a creative toolkit for changing the way you think about your own craft and artistry. You’ll learn everything from how to riff, what gear you should use, tones and sounds, channelling your influences, how to set up a deliberate practice schedule, how to improve, how to develop speed, how to write lyrics, how to put on a live show, and so much more. What’s really cool about this MasterClass is that you get the hands-on practical stuff, you get the inspiring stuff, you get the motivating stuff (all from Morello’s amiable and charming personality) and you also get a close to 200-page booklet crammed with assignments that will build upon the video modules and take your guitar playing to the next level.
This MasterClass is basically Rock History 101, along with teaching you how to blast some amazing tunes on the guitar. This isn’t a weekend course, but more like something that would take most people a year or so to get through and keep returning to. It might also be the best guitar course on the internet.
You can check out the Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar MasterClass here.
Full Tom Morello MasterClass review here.
2 – Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking MasterClass
In a catalogue of phenomenal learning experiences, Ken Burns has managed to take the already sky-high bar and raise it even further. In one word: wow.
This MasterClass is set up so you can delve deep into how one writes, first person voices, archives, footage, music, sound effects, sound design, and everything else that goes into making great documentaries. Ultimately, this MasterClass is there to help you liberate yourself from the “tyranny of conventional wisdom” and what you think you “should” do. It’s about hitting the reset button. One of the main things that struck me in the Ken Burns’ MasterClass was the astounding speed with which Ken speaks intellectually. He has so much great insight into work and creativity and art and the human condition that it’s hard to keep up but easy to be heart-poundingly inspired.
This was one of the most energetic masterclasses I’ve experienced and it made it incredibly bingeable, tiring in a good way, extremely valuable as a schooling (for artists of all colours and stripes), and resulted in me filling my notebook with so many notes my hand started to cramp. It also resulted in me literally crying on several occasions. This is not a class where you slack off and watch mindlessly. That’s not to say it’s not enjoyable. Because I can’t remember the last time I’ve had so much fun listening to someone talk long-form. But you really have to engage with this material because it is deep, deep stuff. I can’t even begin to convey just how amazing this MasterClass was. Emotional and educational to utmost possible degree. I defy anyone to find more soul in an educational experience of this calibre.
You can check out the Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking MasterClass here.
Full Ken Burns MasterClass review here.
1 – Dan Brown Teaches Thriller Writing MasterClass
Well, we have to rank a number one, don’t we? Trust me, this was an incredibly difficult decision. Any of the MasterClasses in the top ten could have been sat at this ranking. And other people might argue that any of the other MasterClasses could be a contender for the best. But I’ll choose the one that taught me the most about the craft of writing and the one that lit the biggest fire under my ass: the Dan Brown MasterClass.
Dan’s MasterClass gives you roadmap to turn ideas into a story – specifically targeting thrillers, but it should help writers of all genres because what makes thrillers work is at the core every single art form (not just novel writing). This masterclass is about the nuts and bolts of how you build tension, how you create characters, how you put a story together, how to write a finale and an opening, how you even decide what to write about, how to weave multiple plot-lines together in a way that your reader can follow, and so much more.
Without a doubt, this is the best writing course I’ve ever taken. It’s insanely fun, crazily practical, and offers tremendous value. I thought I’d heard all there is to hear about the writing craft, but I was so wrong. I heard so much new advice from Dan Brown and even advice I’d heard before was framed in fresh and exciting ways. I was bursting with ideas and itching to write. The amount of depth is this MasterClass is staggering. You’ll feel like you’ve been given a bunch of secret cheat codes to the game of being a writer.
You can check out the Dan Brown Teaches Thriller Writing MasterClass here.
Full Dan Brown MasterClass review here.
MasterClass Rankings: In Summary
We didn’t rank all the MasterClasses here, but 41 is a good majority of them. We’ll add to this list in the future, but it must be said that this isn’t a definitive ranking. I’ve tried my best to be impartial here, but your favourite MasterClass will undoubtedly differ from my favourite MasterClass. They’re all superb quality and ultimately I think most people wouldn’t argue too much with my rankings.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you grab the MasterClass All Access Pass here so you can get immediate access to the entire catalogue. Then you can let me know what your favourite MasterClass is and whether you agree or disagree with the order of my rankings!
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