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Remember more of the books you read
A short summary of each book in your own words, the ideas worth keeping and a few questions to discuss, saved in one reading log.
When to use it
When you finish a book or chapter
Step by step
Jot down what you remember
Right after finishing, write five rough bullet points: what it was about, what stuck with you, and any quotes you marked.
Turn it into a reading note
Paste your bullets into your AI assistant with this prompt.
Prompt to copyI just finished [book title] by [author]. Here's what I remember: [paste notes]. Using mainly my notes, help me write a reading note with: a 3-sentence summary in plain words, the 3 ideas or moments I seem to value most, one thing I might do differently because of this book, and 3 discussion questions. Then ask me 2 questions to help me remember more. Don't invent details about the book that I haven't mentioned; if you're unsure about something, say so.Save it in your reading log
Paste the result into a Notion page, Google Doc or notes app called Reading log, one entry per book.
Review at the end of the year
Ask the AI to read your whole log and tell you the themes that come up most.
What you get
Summary: A family running a seaside guesthouse faces one last summer before selling. What stuck: the grandmother's letters, the idea that small routines hold a family together. Try: Sunday dinners without phones. Discuss: Was selling the right choice?
Tips
- Working from your own notes helps you remember far better than reading an AI summary of the book.
- AI can mix up plot details of less famous books, so trust your notes over its memory.