Create a comprehensive summary of any book with key takeaways, insights, and actionable lessons
I want a thorough summary of a book that captures the essential ideas so I can learn from it quickly or decide if I should read it in full. The book I want summarized is [BOOK_TITLE] by [AUTHOR]. This book is [BOOK_TYPE:select:non-fiction or self-help,business or professional development,biography or memoir,science or technology,history or politics,philosophy or psychology,fiction or literary]. I am looking for this summary because [PURPOSE:select:I want to learn the key concepts without reading the full book,I am deciding whether to read this book,I already read it and want to reinforce what I learned,I need to discuss this book with others,I want to apply the ideas to my own life or work]. I prefer the summary to be [LENGTH:select:brief - just the essentials in a few paragraphs,moderate - a solid overview that covers the main points,comprehensive - detailed summary with chapter or section breakdowns]. Please provide a summary that includes the main thesis or central argument, the key ideas and supporting points, practical takeaways or lessons I can apply, who would benefit most from reading this book, and any notable quotes or concepts worth remembering. If this is fiction, focus on themes, character development, and what makes the book significant. Be honest about any weaknesses or criticisms of the book as well.
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Get Early AccessYou bought a book months ago. It sits on your shelf (or buried in your Kindle library) and you keep meaning to get to it. Or maybe you read it last year and the details are fading. Either way, you want the key ideas without the 300-page commitment.
This generator produces a thorough summary based on the [BOOK_TITLE] and [AUTHOR] you provide. It captures the central thesis, key arguments, practical takeaways, and notable quotes. It works for non-fiction, business books, memoirs, science writing, and even fiction. You control the [LENGTH]: a quick overview in a few paragraphs, a solid summary of the main points, or a chapter-by-chapter breakdown.
The output is honest, too. It flags weaknesses and common criticisms alongside the highlights. That helps you decide if the full book is worth your time or if the summary covers what you need.
Pair this with the Flashcard Generator to memorize the key concepts from any book. Once you have your summary, bring it into the Dock Editor to annotate it with your own reflections or share it with your book club.
Copy this template into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or the Dock Editor to get started.
Replace [BOOK_TITLE] with the full title and [AUTHOR] with the author's name. Set [BOOK_TYPE] to match the genre. This shapes how the AI structures the summary: non-fiction gets arguments and takeaways, fiction gets themes and character analysis.
Set [PURPOSE] to match why you want the summary. 'Deciding whether to read' gives a different angle than 'apply the ideas to my work.' Pick [LENGTH] based on how much detail you need. The comprehensive option includes section-by-section breakdowns.
Read through the summary and highlight the ideas that resonate. If something surprises you, that is usually worth reading in the original. The notable quotes section gives you shareable nuggets for conversations or presentations.
Get the core ideas from business and self-help books in minutes. Set [PURPOSE] to 'apply the ideas to my own life or work' and [LENGTH] to 'moderate' for an actionable overview.
Refresh your memory before a meeting or prepare when you did not finish. Set [PURPOSE] to 'discuss this book with others' to get talking points and notable passages ready.
Supplement your reading for class. Use the comprehensive length for assigned texts to get chapter breakdowns, key arguments, and themes you can reference in papers or discussions.
Screen books before committing hours to them. Set [PURPOSE] to 'deciding whether to read this book' and get an honest assessment including strengths and weaknesses.
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