Book codes are short commands like /visualnotes and /themes that you type into ChatGPT after you give it a book. Here are the four from my video, in the order I use them, plus my full list of 40 and one prompt that teaches ChatGPT every single one at once.
What you get: The 4 codes from the video with exactly what to type, 36 more book codes sorted by what you need, one setup prompt that teaches ChatGPT every code, how to get any book into ChatGPT and quick fixes when a code doesn't land.
How Book Codes Work
The plan · 3 steps
- 1Paste the setup prompt into ChatGPT so it knows every code.
- 2Give ChatGPT the book: attach the PDF or paste in a chapter.
- 3Run the four codes from the video, then grab more from the full list.
Before you start
Your app
ChatGPT on any plan, including free. Web, desktop or the phone app.
Your book
The PDF or text of a book you own, or a free classic from Project Gutenberg. A title on its own works too, just not as well.
Your first goal
Run the four codes from the video on one book.
A code is a shortcut for a full instruction. Instead of typing "turn this whole book into short notes with headings, icons and simple diagrams," you just type /visualnotes and ChatGPT knows exactly what to do.
The four codes from my video work in any chat as they are, because ChatGPT gets what they mean from the name. To make all 40 work, and work the same way every time, you teach ChatGPT the list once with the setup prompt below. It takes ten seconds.
First, give ChatGPT the book
- Best: attach the file. Click the + in the message box, choose Add photos & files and pick the PDF of the book. Or just drag the file into the chat.
- Good: paste the text. Copy a chapter (or a few) and paste it right into the message box.
- Okay: just the title. "/visualnotes Atomic Habits" works for well-known books, but ChatGPT is going off what it already knows, so details can be off and it can't quote the book word for word.
Maverick's tip
Really long book? If ChatGPT says the file is too big, or the answers start getting vague or skipping chapters, give it one chapter at a time and run the codes on each one.
How to type them
- Book first, then the code. Attach the book and type /visualnotes in the same message.
- Stay in the same chat. Every code after that works on the same book. Just type /themes.
- Zoom in on a part. /visualnotes chapter 3. Or /simplify and paste the page that lost you.
- Stack them. /chaptermap /quotes gets you both in one go.
- Say why you're reading it. "/actionsteps, I'm trying to save more money" gets you a way better answer than the code on its own.
Teach ChatGPT Every Code
Open a new chat in ChatGPT, paste this in and send it. ChatGPT replies "Codes ready" and every code in this guide works for the rest of that chat.
The Routine: My 4 Codes, In Order
This is the exact routine from my video. Do all four in the same chat, so ChatGPT already has the book every time you type the next code.
1. /visualnotes: The whole book in short notes
Attach the book and type /visualnotes. ChatGPT turns the entire book into short visual notes: every big idea gets a heading, an icon, a couple of bullets and a simple diagram where it helps. You can scan the whole book in a few minutes and know exactly what's in it.
Try: /visualnotes with the PDF attached, or /visualnotes chapter 1 for just one part.
2. /mentalmodels: The big ideas, mapped
Type /mentalmodels. ChatGPT pulls out the book's biggest ideas and turns them into a visual map of how they all connect, so you can see how one idea leads to the next. This is the one that makes a self-help or business book actually click.
Try: /mentalmodels
3. /chaptermap: Every chapter, and how it fits
Type /chaptermap. ChatGPT breaks the book down one chapter at a time and shows you exactly how everything fits together. Run it before you read so you know where the book is going, or after so it all sticks.
Try: /chaptermap, or /chaptermap chapters 1 to 5 for a long book.
4. /themes: The deeper meaning
Finish with /themes. ChatGPT finds every major theme running throughout the book and shows you where each one shows up, so you can find its deeper meaning. This is the one for novels and anything you're reading for school.
Try: /themes
Maverick's tip
Want to keep it? Type /sketchnote for one image of the whole book you can save, or /savenotes to get everything from the chat as clean notes for your notes app.
All 40 Book Codes
Looking for one you saw in a video? Press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on a Mac) and type it in. Every code here is in the setup prompt, so once you've pasted it, they all work.
From My Video
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /visualnotes | Turns the entire book into short visual notes you can scan in minutes |
| /mentalmodels | Pulls out the book's biggest ideas and maps how they all connect |
| /chaptermap | Breaks the book down one chapter at a time and shows how it all fits together |
| /themes | Finds every major theme running through the book, so you get its deeper meaning |
Get the Gist
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /tldr | The whole book in five sentences |
| /onepager | The whole book on one page: the big idea, key points and best takeaways |
| /bigidea | The one idea the whole book is built on, and why it matters |
| /worthit | Asks what you want from it, then tells you honestly if it's worth your time |
| /skimguide | Which chapters to read closely, which to skim and which to skip |
| /beforeyouread | What to know before you start: the author, the background and what to look for, no spoilers |
Go Deeper
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /characters | Every main character: who they are, what they want and how they change |
| /timeline | Every key event in order, with the chapter it happens in |
| /symbols | The symbols and recurring images, and what each one stands for |
| /argument | The author's main argument, the evidence behind it and the weak spots |
| /keyterms | Every important term or idea in the book, in plain words |
| /simplify | Rewrites any confusing passage in plain, everyday words |
| /ending | What the ending really means, and the main ways people read it |
| /critique | The strongest criticisms of the book, and where the author might be wrong |
Remember It
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /quotes | The 10 best lines, word for word, with the chapter and what each one means |
| /flashcards | Flashcards of the key ideas, run one at a time |
| /recall | Asks what you remember first, then fills in what you missed |
| /sketchnote | The book's big ideas as one hand-drawn style image you can save |
| /savenotes | Everything from the chat as clean notes for your notes app |
Use It
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /actionsteps | A short list of things to actually do, starting this week |
| /applytome | Asks about your life and goals, then shows how the book applies to you |
| /challenge | A 30-day challenge to put the book into practice, one small task a day |
| /examples | An everyday, real-life example of each big idea |
| /asktheauthor | Answers your questions the way the author would, based only on the book |
| /advice | Bring a real problem and get advice using only this book's ideas |
Study It
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /quizme | Quizzes you one question at a time and keeps score |
| /studyguide | A full study guide: summary, characters or key ideas, themes, quotes and likely test questions |
| /essayideas | Five essay topics, each with a thesis and the evidence to back it up |
| /vocab | The hard words from a chapter, with simple meanings and example sentences |
| /sofar | A recap of everything up to the chapter you're on, with no spoilers past it |
Book Club and Beyond
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /bookclub | Ten discussion questions for a book club, from easy to deep |
| /debate | Argues the opposite side of the book's main idea with you, one point at a time |
| /compare | Compares it to another book: where they agree, where they clash and which to read first |
| /readnext | Five real books to read next based on this one, and why each fits |
For Kids
| Code | What it does |
|---|---|
| /kidsversion | Retells the book for a kid of any age, keeping the big lessons |
| /kidsquestions | Questions to ask your kid as you read it together |
How to Use Them Together
- A self-help or business book you want to actually use: /visualnotes and /mentalmodels, then /actionsteps and /applytome. A week later, come back to the same chat and type /recall.
- A novel for school: /sofar as you read, then /themes, /characters and /quotes. Before the test, /studyguide and /quizme.
- A book you don't have time for: /tldr, then /onepager. Still curious? /skimguide tells you which chapters are worth reading.
- Book club night: /beforeyouread, then /bookclub for questions and /debate to practice your take.
- Reading with your kid: /kidsversion first, then /kidsquestions as you go.
Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes
| If this happens | Try this |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT doesn't know a code | Paste the setup prompt at the top of the chat, or save it in your custom instructions so it's there every time. |
| The codes worked yesterday but not in a new chat | A pasted setup prompt only lasts for that chat. Save it under Settings > Personalization > Custom instructions. |
| A menu pops up when you type / | Ignore it and keep typing. The code still works. |
| The notes are vague or skip whole chapters | The book is probably too long for one go. Add the chapter after the code (/visualnotes chapter 6) or give it one chapter at a time. |
| The file won't upload | Paste the text of a chapter instead, or split the PDF into smaller parts. |
| It's getting details wrong | It's probably working from the title alone. Attach the book or paste the chapter, and say "stick to the text." |
| /quotes won't give exact quotes | It needs the actual text. Attach the book or paste the chapter first. |
| You don't want spoilers | Use /sofar with the chapter you're on, or add "no spoilers past chapter 8" to any code. |
| The map comes out as a plain list | Say "draw it as a diagram with arrows." |
| /quizme stops after one question | Type /quizme again or say "keep going, one question at a time." |
DO THIS TODAY
Pick one book you've been meaning to read (or one you read and already forgot). Open ChatGPT, paste the setup prompt, attach the book and type /visualnotes. Then run /mentalmodels, /chaptermap and /themes in the same chat.
Four codes, any book. Now go finally read the one on your nightstand.
Published · Checked