25 Best Masterclass Courses (2024)

In this resource, discover the 25 best Masterclass courses, what to expect from each course and what you’ll learn from them.

Finding the best Masterclass courses can be challenging since they have so much informative and entertaining content.

Masterclass is one of the best online learning platforms for acquiring new skills like creative writing, cooking, leadership, critical thinking and more. It features celebrities who’re masters of writing, filmmaking, interior design, cooking, chess, business, singing and more.

Typically each Masterclass comprises a dozen plus video lessons which range from ten to twenty minutes in length. You can expect slickly produced videos, workbooks and a community where you can interact with other students and Masterclass facilitators.

Some of these videos are step-by-step guides, while others are more high-level interviews and insights into the creative process of the instructor. Since purchasing a pass for unlimited access several years ago, I reviewed Masterclass in detail and have taken and reviewed the most popular courses. Here are the ones you must know about:

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1. Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing

Video lessons: 24

Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell is one of the world’s best-known non-fiction authors

Malcolm Gladwell is an English Canadian journalist famous for his work in the nonfiction business niche. Some of his books include Blink, The Tipping Point, and Outliers.

Gladwell includes many humor and psychological insights into his video lessons while taking you on tour through his creative process and how he generates ideas. Gladwell includes many humor and psychological insights in video lessons. He also answers questions like:

  • What books does he read?
  • How does he go about researching a new topic?
  • What’s his favorite marketing strategy?
  • Why did he start writing in the first place?

So if you’re a freelance writer looking to strengthen your weakness, maybe you struggle with writing non-fiction, this Masterclass will help you. We profile this Masterclass in more detail, in this Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing review.

2. David Lynch Teaches Creativity And Film

Video lessons: 13

David Lynch
David Lynch is known for television shows like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and the Oscar-winning film Mulholland Drive

David Lynch is a filmmaker, painter, actor, and writer known for his work in the hit television shows Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and the Oscar-winning film Mulholland Drive.

This Masterclass is unique since Lynch is such a character. He smokes and drinks coffee while teaching life-changing lessons. He manages to hook your attention for the entire Masterclass, and it never feels like you’re in a classroom.

This class reminds me of other Masterclasses by Werner Herzog and Spike Lee since it’s fun and combines moviemaking with writing and storytelling.

If you’re a writer passionate about moviemaking or looking to get a job in the industry, then this Masterclass will help you reach your goal. Here, we review this David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film Masterclass in more detail.

3. Neil Gaiman Teaches The Art Of Storytelling

Video lessons: 19

Neil Gaiman
Gaiman is one of the most well-rounded writers since he writes movies, comics, and children and adult novels

Neil Gaiman is an English author who writes short stories, novels, comic books, and films. His famous work includes a comic book series titled The Sandman and best-selling novels like Stardust, Coraline, American Gods, and The Graveyard Book.

Gaiman is one of the most well-rounded writers since he writes movies, comics, and children and adult novels.

This makes Gaiman’s Masterclass perfect if you’re an aspiring fiction writer or storyteller. You’ll get an insider view of his creative process. In addition, he talks about coming up with new ideas, which is helpful if you’re fond of going through creative ruts.

With over 40 years of writing experience, Gaiman is sure to provide life-changing writing tips and techniques. Here, we feature a Neil Gaiman Teaches Storytelling review.

4. Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Video lessons: 27

Werner Herzog
Learn from one of the best filmmakers in the world in Werner Herzog masterclass

Werner Herzog is a German director, actor, and screenwriter. He played roles in hit television shows like The Mandalorian and Rick and Morty. He also produced famous films like My Best Fiend and Grizzly Man.

If you want to know how all your favorite movies are made, then this is the Masterclass for you. The video lessons are engaging and fun. Clocking in at over six hours, it’s one of the longer Masterclass offerings. In addition, you get to learn from one of the best filmmakers in the world.

Maybe you’re looking for a filmmaking career or just interested in what it takes to make a hit television show. Either way, you’ll find these video lessons fascinating and informative. Here, we profile this Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking review.

5. James Patterson Teaches Writing

Video lessons: 22

James Patterson
James Patterson’s Masterclass is a good choice if you want to write a thriller

James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. I started reading his book Cross a few years ago, and he hooked me with his writing style. It’s engaging, and the characters are relatable. You can never predict in what way the plot will swing.

His teaching style in this Masterclass is similar. Video lessons are fun, and time seems to fly by. With this unique writing style, Patterson quickly gained popularity. Some of his famous works include:

  • Kiss The Girls
  • The 20th Victim
  • The Quickie

Patterson’s Masterclass is a practical option if you’re an aspiring thriller or genre fiction author. He reveals all his secrets and tips that allowed him to become the successful writer he is today.

He shows you how to create compelling characters, write engaging plots, and hook readers for the entire book. All these skills are essential when trying to get your book read by thousands of people. Here, feature a James Patterson Masterclass review.

6. Joyce Carol Oates Teaches The Art Of The Short Story

Video lessons: 14

Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is the master of short stories

Joyce Carol Oates is the master of short stories. Some of her well-known stories include:

  • Blonde
  • Black Water
  • The Gravedigger’s Daughter

So if you’re a fan of her work or you simply want to boost your short story writing skills, then this Masterclass is perfect. She doesn’t just cover the basics of writing, like drafting a solid outline, but goes in-depth on adapting a compelling writing style. To learn more, check out our detailed Joyce Carol Oates Teaches Storytelling review.

7. David Baldacci Teaches Mystery And Thriller Writing

Video lessons: 18

David Baldacci
David Baldacci specializes in using tension to hook readers

I’ve been a fan of David Baldacci for several years since his novels never disappoint. They take suspense to the next level, and one can’t help but keep turning the pages. 

If you’re an author struggling to build suspense, this Masterclass is a lifesaver. Baldacci uses tension to hook readers, and he walks you through his entire writing process. Everything from coming up with an idea, adding suspense, and beating writer’s block.

My favorite part of his Masterclass is where he gives insight on how to get into the writing industry while telling stories of all his failures. So, if you’re an aspiring author, this Masterclass is for you. Not only does he cover how to write a story that people will love, but he gives tips on getting into the industry and making your name known.

In this David Baldacci Masterclass review, we explain what you’ll learn and if it’s worth it.

8. Neil DeGrasse Tyson Teaches Scientific Thinking And Communication

Video lessons: 13

Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Tyson speaks about everything from God to black holes and the universe

We all watch his thought-provoking videos online. Tyson speaks about everything from God to black holes and the universe. However, in this Masterclass, he gives you a detailed explanation of how his brain works.

It’s like opening the hood of a car to see what powers it. Born in New York City, Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, planetary scientist, and communicator. You may recognize some of his bestselling books like:

  • Death by Black Hole
  • Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
  • Accessory to War

In this Masterclass, he teaches how to think for yourself and not let other people’s opinions affect your judgment. According to Tyson, the most critical moments in your life aren’t decided by what you know but by how you think.

He covers how to find objective truths and defeat cognitive biases. These skills are all critical on your path to finding truth.

One of the shorter courses on offer, the Neil de Grasse Tyson Masterclass, also contains a specific chapter on communicating your message and case studies to an audience. This is helpful for writers who struggle with getting their message across.

9. Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling And Writing

Video lessons: 19

Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie teaches how to write literary stories

Storytelling goes back to when humans first walked this Earth. It’s impossible to live without. This makes it an important skill to master. If you can grab people’s attention with storytelling, you’re on your way to becoming a well-known author.

Luckily, in these Masterclass classes, you’ll learn from Salman Rushdie, an author and essayist who received a knighthood in 2007. Before Masterclass, authors would spend thousands of dollars to learn from someone who received a knighthood. Some of his famous works include:

  • Shame
  • The Satanic Verses
  • Midnight’s Children

After reading his work, I noticed his unique style of writing. He’s good at blending Western and Eastern culture, which is hard to find in other novels. We profile this Masterclass in more detail in this Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing review.

10. Judy Blume Teaches Writing

Video lessons: 24

Judy Blume
Judy Blume is an expert at writing stories for children

Judy Blume teaches how to find exciting ideas and tell compelling children’s stories.

Judy Blume is an expert at writing stories for children. With over 60 years of writing experience, she teaches how to find exciting ideas and tell compelling children’s stories.

If you’re an author looking to start writing children’s stories or improve your writing skills in the children’s story niche, then this Masterclass is for you. To learn more, check out our Judy Blume Teaches Writing review.

11. Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Video lessons: 23

Margaret Atwood
If you’re a fan of Margaret Atwood and speculative fiction, this Masterclass is perfect

Margaret Atwood is a bestselling author with over 60 years of writing experience. If you’re a fan of Atwood’s, then this Masterclass is perfect for you. She walks you through her creative process, shows you how to generate ideas, and develop a unique writing style.

All these skills are essential when writing and publishing a book. Some of her famous works include:

  • Alias Grace
  • The Blind Assassin
  • The Handmaid’s Tale

After publishing some masterpieces throughout her career, she received a list of precious awards like the Booker Prize, Giller Prize, and Helmerich Award. In this Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing review, we explain more.

12. Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking

Video lessons: 15

Gordon Ramsay
Learn to cook like Gordon Ramsey in his Masterclass

British chef Gordon Ramsay is as famous for his cooking as for TV shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Masterchef. In one of the best-selling Masterclass courses, you’ll learn how to prepare, cook and serve 13 of his meals.

Cauliflower Steak and Olives, Crispy Duck and Red Wine Poached Egg, are all on the menu. He also teaches students how to cook grilled baby leaks, a rack of lamb and a raspberry souffle for dessert. Ramsay teaches skills like selecting vegetables and herbs and cutting meat.

“Cooking isn’t a marathon,” Ramsay says in one lesson. This three-and-a-half-hour course is good to dip in and out of and watch several times, depending on what cooking techniques you want to improve.

13. Chris Voss Teaches the Art of Negotiation

Video lessons: 18

Chriss Voss
Chris Voss can teach anyone how to negotiate with confidence

Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator turned business mediator and consultant. His Masterclass is based on his book Never Split the Difference.

It’s an excellent course to take if you want to improve your negotiation skills in a business context or the workplace. Voss provides 12 negotiation techniques for beginners, including how to use empathy, active listening and how to create the illusion of authority.

Voss often relates the principles in his Masterclass to anecdotes from his time as a negotiator. The course is typical of most Masterclass offerings in terms of structure, workbooks and lesson quality. It clocks in at eight video lessons. He’s one of the few Masterclass instructors who teaches a second course. That course is about the art of workplace negotiations.

14. Daniel Pink Teaches Sales and Persuasion

Video lessons: 16

Daniel Pink
Daniel Pink says we’re all in sales

Everybody is in sales, says author Daniel Pink. Pink, who also worked as a speechwriter for US Vice President Al Gore, says we are selling ideas, products, services and our skills. Even parents must sell the right way of acting to their children.

In his Masterclass, also based on his book To Sell is Human, Pink teaches the art of selling oneself to prospective employers and even romantic partners! He covers techniques like pitching, communicating your message across, obtaining ideal outcomes, and developing a resilient mindset.

His popular business-focused Masterclass comprises 16 video lessons. Pink is an engaging teacher who we also interviewed for the Become a Writer Today podcast. It’s an excellent compliment to the course by Chris Voss.

15. Paul Krugman Teaches Economics and Society

Video lessons: 22

Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman teaches the basics of economics

Paul Krugman is a Nobel prize-winning American economist. He’s also well known as an economics writer and commentator for the New York Times.

Krugman also works as a professor, but thanks to this Masterclass, you can learn from him for a relatively modest amount. Across 22 lessons, his Masterclass covers topics like macroeconomics, the financial crash of 2008, economic crisis and cycles and wealth inequality.

It’s a heavier Masterclass to sit through, although Krugman is an engaging teacher, and his videos are slickly produced. It’s a suitable Masterclass if you’re looking for an introduction to economics.

16. Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Video lessons: 23

Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera is one of the few Masterclass instructors to record two courses

Christina Aguilera is a Grammy award-winning artist best known for hit songs like Lady Marmalade, Beautiful and Genie in a Bottle. In this Masterclass, she explains where she finds inspiration, how to warm up, protecting your voice and range. Like many Masterclass creative courses, she also works with several lucky students and provides them with advice on how to improve their singing as part of the course.

You’ll enjoy this course if you want to learn how to sing or simply hear from a creative at the top of their game. This course proved so popular that Masterclass invited her back to record a companion course on stage presence and performance.

17. Jon Kabat-Zinn Teaches Mindfulness and Meditation

Video lessons: 20

Jon Kabat-Zinn
Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches useful life skills like mindfulness, yoga and deep breathing

Jon Kabat-Zinn is a professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society.

In his Masterclass, he teaches useful life skills like mindfulness, yoga and deep breathing. He offers some guided meditation exercises and answers beginner questions like correct posture and technique.

18. Will Wright Teaches Game Design And Theory

Video lessons: 21

Will Wright
Will Wright’s course covers the fundamentals including playtesting, iteration, visuals and sound

Will Wright is a world-renowned game designer and the creator of hit titles like The Sims. In this Masterclass, he explains how he finds ideas for good games, develops them into concepts and writes stories for them.

He covers the fundamentals including playtesting, iteration, visuals and sound. Wright’s core belief is that aspiring designers don’t need to know a lot about how games are built to create them, instead they must know how to play. I particularly enjoyed his lesson about how games are designed around a loop of failure which must balance challenge with progress for players, otherwise, they’ll lose interest.

19. Alicia Keys Teaches Song Writing and Production

Video lessons: 19

Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys gives an insight into her formation as an artist and her influences

Christina Aguilera isn’t the only hit singer on Masterclass. Alicia Keys gives an insight into her formation as an artist and her influences. She talks about her songwriting and composition process too. You can also watch Alicia perform and offer commentary about how she brings emotion with her into the singing booth. Keys also critiques the efforts of a young artist in this course.

20. Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design

Video lessons: 17

Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler’s masterclass covers topics like her source of inspiration, working with space, patterns and using color

Kelly Wearstler is well-known for designing the interior of luxurious hotels including the Santa Monica chain. She’s written five books on interior design, including Evocative Style. In this Masterclass, she covers topics like her source of inspiration, working with space, patterns and using color. Interestingly, the course includes several video lessons billed as field trips where you can watch Wearslter in action, in various well-known hotels.

21. Anna Wintour Teaches Creativity and Leadership

Video lessons: 12

Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour covers topics like editorial decision-making and the power of images

Ann Wintour is the famous editor-in-chief of Vogue Magazine. In this Masterclass, she explains how she leads the Vogue brand with vision and creativity and offers advice for aspiring creative leaders. She covers topics like editorial decision-making and the power of images.

One of the shorter Masterclass courses, Wintour also describes what Vogue has done over the past thirty years to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive market.

22. Bob Iger Teaches Business Strategy and Leadership

Video lessons: 13

Bob Iger
Bob Iger relates his teachings to his time at Disney

Bob Iger is the former CEO of Disney. His Masterclass is a useful companion course to his autobiography The Ride of a Lifetime. Although it’s a concise Masterclass, he teaches useful workplace skills like setting goals and priorities, narrowing your focus and negotiations. He relates his teachings to his time at Disney. For example, Iger’s negotiation lessons are framed around the company’s purchase of Pixar Inc.

23. Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

Video lessons: 25

Steve Martin
Steve Martin’s masterclass is a good choice if you’re interested in learning more about his career and approach to comedic writing

Steve Martin is one of America’s best-known and most loved comedians. He’s as famous for his stand-up shows as he is for hit films like The Jerk, Father of the Bride and Cheaper By The Dozen. In 2022, he received his sixth Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for Only Murders in the Building.

This Masterclass is a good choice if you’re interested in learning more about his career and approach to comedic writing. He also workshops several pieces from students of this course. If you’re taking this Masterclass, it’s a good idea to read his autobiography Born Standing Up beforehand for context.

24. David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor

Video lessons: 14

David Sedaris
David Sedaris delights the audience by writing and performing for them in this course

New York Times best-selling author David Sedaris is also a comedian, essayist, and speaker. Me Talk Pretty One Day and Calypso are two of his most famous books. His Masterclass writing course reveals his process for creating and performing his well-known essay pieces.

Sedaris delights the audience by writing and performing for them in this course. In particular, I loved Sedaris’s advice to write about experiences from daily life, like scenes in a novel. Aspiring essayists and nonfiction authors should take this course.

25. Aaron Franklin Teaches Texas-Style BBQ

Video lessons: 16

Aaron Franklin
Aaron Franklin covers how to prepare and cook brisket, fish, and other meats like pork butt

Aaron Franklin owns the world-famous Franklin’s Barbecue in Austin, Texas. He’s also the co-author of the best-selling book Franklin Barbecue. In his home cooking Masterclass, he explains the principles of a good BBQ.

He covers how to prepare and cook brisket, fish, and other meats like pork butt. This Masterclass vies with Gordon Ramsay’s for the title of best cooking Masterclass. It’s an excellent Masterclass to dip in and out of if you want to improve your BBQ skills.

Why Trust Us?

I’ve been using Masterclass.com and other online learning platforms like Skillshare for a few years now, and it has helped me become a more efficient writer and person.

For example, I’ve always struggled to stick to a sleep schedule. Some nights I’ll go to bed at 10 PM, while on others, I’m up at 3 AM working, scrolling through social media, or watching Netflix. But after taking Matthew Walker’s Masterclass on the science of sleep, I’m in bed by 11 PM at the latest. I also wake up with a lot of energy.

This is just one of the ways Masterclass changed my life. Some of my other favorite courses include:

  • The Art of Negotiation by Chris Voss
  • Ron Finley Teaches Gardening
  • Gordon Ramsey Teaches Cooking

I also liked that I can learn from celebrities like Serena Williams, Ron Howard, and Garry Kasparov. When reviewing these courses, I looked at the following criteria:

  1. Are the instructors experts at the topic they’re teaching?
  2. Is the platform affordable?
  3. Are the online classes high-quality?
  4. How well are the classes structured?

In my experience, Masterclass comfortably meets these criteria. Instructors are famous experts, the platform is affordable, video lessons are in HD, and chapters are broken down into bite-sized pieces.

How To Find the Best Masterclass

It’s possible to pick the right course on MasterClass in a few different ways. :

  • Use the web app to browse its collection of courses and try free lessons.
  • Download the mobile Masterclass app and check what’s trending on the Welcome Screen
  • Search for instructors, classes, or topics relevant to your work
  • Watch the class trailers on YouTube to get a good sense of what to expect.
  • Read our MasterClass review to learn more

Final Word On Best Masterclass Courses

Masterclass is one of the platforms for online courses on the internet. It’s been close to my heart for a few years since it taught me the fundamentals of writing, negotiating and storytelling. I’ve also picked up insights into top creatives’ work habits and mindsets.

But Masterclass is a practical option even if you’re trying to learn another skill like cooking from a Michelin chef like Gordon Ramsay, photography from Annie Leibovitz, or acting from Samuel L. Jackson.

Authors

  • Yaseen is a personal trainer turned professional writer and he’s obsessed with everything health, fitness, and business-related. If he isn’t at the gym, you can find him playing video games or spending time with friends and family.

  • Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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