Book Deep Reader
Produce teaching-quality book notes: accurate on the original, structured for quick learning, detailed enough to explain to others.
Workflow
Phase 1: Identify the Book
Given a book (title, author, ISBN, or URL), gather foundational info:
- Search for the book using
mimo_web_search— find Douban/Goodreads pages, publisher descriptions, table of contents, reviews - Fetch key pages using
web_fetch— Douban book page (ISBN lookup), publisher pages, review articles - Identify: book structure (chapters), core framework/model, key cases, author's background
- For companion/sequel books: also fetch the original book's wiki/summary to cross-reference (e.g., Reinventing Organizations Wiki for the practice guide)
- Identify the book's central question: What problem is the author trying to solve? Why does it matter?
Phase 2: Deep Research
Gather rich source material from authoritative references:
- Official wiki/community sites (if they exist) — e.g., reinventingorganizationswiki.com
- Detailed reviews and analysis articles — not just "good book!" but substantive breakdowns
- Author's talks/interviews — YouTube transcripts, keynote summaries
- Case study databases — for books with organizational/practice cases
- Academic context research — what predecessors have done on this topic
- Comparative analysis — other books on the same topic with different viewpoints
- Critical reviews — challenges, limitations, controversies
Search strategy (use mimo_web_search):
"<book title>" 目录 章节 内容(for Chinese books)"<English title>" summary chapters key concepts"author name" "<key concept>" detailed explanationsite:douban.com <ISBN>orsite:goodreads.com <title>"<book title>" 批评 局限性 争议(for critical reviews)"<book title>" 对比 同类书籍 不同观点(for comparative analysis)"<topic>" 研究进展 前人研究 学术脉络(for academic context)
Fetch at least 5-8 authoritative sources. Prioritize:
- Table of contents and chapter structure
- The book's own conceptual framework (models, diagrams, key distinctions)
- Detailed case studies with data
- Author's direct quotes and key formulations
- Academic positioning and predecessor research
- Critical reviews and challenges
- Comparative analysis with similar books
Phase 3: Knowledge Extraction (5-Layer Analysis)
Extract knowledge through 5 layers, from surface to depth:
Layer 1 — Structure: What is the book's architecture?
- Chapter outline with one-line purpose per chapter
- How chapters connect (sequential? parallel? recursive?)
- Visual map of the book's flow
Layer 2 — Core Framework: What is the book's central model/theory?
- The 1-3 core concepts that everything else builds on
- Key distinctions the author makes (e.g., X vs. Y)
- The "before and after" transformation the book describes
Layer 3 — Chapter Details: What does each chapter teach?
- Core question the chapter answers
- Key knowledge points (3-7 per chapter)
- Practical cases with concrete data
- Actionable insights ("how to do this")
Layer 4 — Depth Mechanisms: Why do these ideas work?
- Underlying assumptions (what must be true for this to work)
- Causal logic (A leads to B because...)
- Counter-arguments and how the author addresses them
- Limitations and boundary conditions
Layer 5 — Teaching Materials: How to explain this to someone else?
- Core quotes / memorable formulations
- Analogies and metaphors the author uses
- Data/evidence for responding to skepticism
- Common misunderstandings and corrections
Phase 4: Cross-Reference and Verify
Before writing the final output:
- Cross-check with original sources: Every claim must trace back to an authoritative source (the book itself, the author's wiki, verified reviews)
- Flag uncertainty: If a detail cannot be verified, note it as "based on secondary sources" or omit it
- Check for omissions: Compare against the table of contents — are all chapters covered?
- Check for consistency: Do the chapter-level details support the overall framework? Are there contradictions?
Phase 5: Generate Output
Write the output as a .md file in the workspace. Follow the structure in references/output-template.md.
Key quality standards:
- Accuracy over creativity: Never invent content. If unsure, search again or state the limitation
- Specific over general: Include concrete examples, numbers, names, quotes — not just abstract descriptions
- Structured for skimming AND deep reading: Headers, tables, and visual maps for quick scanning; detailed prose for deep understanding
- Teaching-ready: Someone should be able to read this file and explain the book to others without having read the book itself
Phase 6: Critical Evaluation (New)
After completing the 5-layer knowledge extraction, conduct a critical evaluation:
1. Core Question Identification
- What is the author's central question/problem?
- Why is this question important?
2. Academic Context Positioning
- What have predecessors achieved on this question?
- Where does this book fit in the academic conversation?
3. Innovation Assessment
- What unique, new answers does the author provide?
- What new evidence, cases, or data support these answers?
4. Comparative Analysis
- What different viewpoints exist from contemporary books on the same topic?
- How does this book's approach differ?
5. Critical Review
- Has the book's conclusions been challenged?
- What are its limitations and boundary conditions?
6. Future Directions
- What new problems and directions does the author propose?
- What remains unresolved?
7. Cross-disciplinary Insights
- What启发 can practitioners from other fields draw?
- How can these ideas be applied outside the book's domain?
8. Most Inspiring Story/Case
- Which single story or case is most memorable and impactful?
- Why does it resonate?
9. Actionable Takeaway
- What is ONE action the reader should take after reading?
- How to implement it immediately?
Output File
Save to workspace as <book-short-name>-读书笔记.md (Chinese) or <book-short-name>-notes.md (English).
Quality Checklist
Before finalizing, verify:
- All chapters covered with key points
- Core framework/model clearly articulated
- At least 3 detailed case studies with data
- Author's key quotes included
- Common misconceptions addressed
- Practical "how to start" guidance included
- Sources cited (wiki, reviews, publisher pages)
- No invented or unverified content
- Can be used to teach the book without reading it
- Critical evaluation section completed (all 9 questions answered)
- Actionable takeaway identified with implementation steps
- Cross-disciplinary insights clearly articulated