Book Summary Prompt for Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
This book summary prompt for Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) works in two passes: first every chapter in a few lines with one quote worth keeping, then the book as a whole, from its central thesis to what the author takes for granted. Add the book as a source, tick only that source and paste the prompt. A single source can hold up to 500,000 words, so most books fit in one.
The book summary prompt
Summarize the book in the selected source, chapter by chapter, then as a whole.
Part 1. For each chapter:
- the chapter title
- its main argument in 2 sentences
- the best example or story it uses
- one quote worth keeping, word for word
Part 2. The whole book:
- the central thesis in one sentence
- the 5 big ideas, each with why it matters
- what the author assumes without proving
- who should read it and who can skip it
- 3 things a reader could try or test after reading
Use only the book. Keep quotes exact and mark each one with its chapter.When to use it
Use it after you finish a nonfiction book and want notes you will actually reread, or before a book club, a review or a talk that cites it. It also works as a preview: run Part 2 on its own to decide whether a book deserves a full read. For very long books, ask for Part 1 in two halves (“chapters 1 to 8”, then “chapters 9 to 16”) so no chapter gets squeezed.
What it returns
A chapter list you can skim in a few minutes, each entry with its argument, its best example and a quote with the chapter marked. Then a one-page view of the book: the thesis, the five ideas worth keeping and an honest note on what the author never proves. Check any quote you plan to reuse against the text, since a quote is only useful if it is exact.
That is a reading note for one book. Keep the prompt, and every book after it takes one click.
Turn every book you read into the same tidy notes
Kortex adds a Prompts button to Gemini Notebook: save this prompt once and insert it into the chat whenever you finish a book. The free plan keeps 10 prompts; Pro has no limit. Free on Chrome.
Variations
Fiction. Swap the argument for story.
Summarize the novel in the selected source: the plot in 6 to 8 sentences without hiding the ending, the main characters and how each one changes, the 3 central themes with a scene that shows each, and 3 quotes word for word with their chapter.One-page summary. When you only need the essentials.
Summarize the selected book on one page: the thesis in one sentence, the 5 big ideas in one line each, the strongest piece of evidence, the weakest claim, and one quote word for word with its chapter.Book club questions. For running a discussion.
Write 10 discussion questions about the selected book for a book club. Mix questions about the ideas, the evidence and readers' own experience. Under each question, cite the chapter or passage it comes from.For shorter material such as reports or articles, the summary prompt ranks the points for your goal instead of going chapter by chapter.
Keep a prompt for every kind of book
Save the nonfiction, fiction and book club prompts in one Kortex folder and pick the right one in a click. Kortex only stores and inserts the prompt; Gemini Notebook does the reading from your source.
