npx skills add https://github.com/eddiebe147/claude-settings --skill 'Reading List Manager'
Reading List Manager
The Reading List Manager skill helps you curate, track, and extract value from your reading across books, articles, essays, and research papers. Rather than letting reading materials pile up in browser tabs and forgotten bookmarks, this skill provides a structured system for managing your reading pipeline and capturing key insights.
This skill applies principles from "How to Read a Book" by Mortimer Adler, Zettelkasten note-taking methods, and spaced repetition learning to help you not just read more, but retain and apply what you read. It helps you prioritize what to read next, track progress, capture highlights, and synthesize insights across multiple sources.
The system distinguishes between different reading types—deep reading for understanding, scanning for information, and recreational reading for pleasure—and provides appropriate tracking and note-taking frameworks for each.
Core Workflows
Workflow 1: Add to Reading List
Capture new reading materials:
Source Capture
Title, author, type (book/article/paper)
Context Recording
Why you want to read this, who recommended it
Priority Assessment
How urgent/important is this?
Category Tagging
Topic area, reading type
Time Estimation
Approximate reading time
List Placement
Add to appropriate queue
Workflow 2: Choose Next Read
Smart reading queue management:
Context Check
What do you have time for?
Priority Review
What's most urgent or relevant?
Variety Balance
Mix deep/light, fiction/non-fiction
Goal Alignment
What serves your current learning goals?
Recommendation
Suggests specific next read with rationale
Workflow 3: Reading Progress Tracking
Monitor ongoing reading:
Check-In
Update page/chapter/percentage complete
Time Logging
How long are you spending?
Difficulty Assessment
Is this easier/harder than expected?
Retention Check
Can you summarize what you've read so far?
Adjust Pace
Speed up, slow down, or abandon?
Workflow 4: Reading Notes & Highlights
Capture key insights:
Highlight Capture
Note key quotes or passages
Personal Reflection
Why does this matter to you?
Connection Making
How does this relate to other reading?
Action Items
What will you do with this information?
Synthesis
Main takeaways in your own words
Workflow 5: Reading Review
Consolidate learning after finishing:
Summary
Main ideas in 3-5 bullet points
Best Insights
Top 3 takeaways
Actionable Ideas
What will you implement?
Connections
Related books, concepts, or experiences
Recommendation
Would you recommend? To whom?
Rating
How valuable was this?
Reading Frameworks
The Reading Pipeline
QUEUE
New additions, not yet started
Prioritized by urgency/relevance
Categorized by type and topic
IN PROGRESS
Currently reading
Limit work-in-progress (3-5 books max)
Mix of deep and light reading
Active note-taking
COMPLETED
Finished with notes captured
Summary and key takeaways recorded
Insights extracted and filed
Recommended or archived
ABANDONED
Started but not worth finishing
Brief note on why abandoned
No guilt—life's too short for bad books
Reading Types & Approaches
Deep Reading
(Books, long-form)
Read for comprehension and retention
Active note-taking
Multiple passes if needed
Time required: Hours to weeks
Scanning
(Articles, reports)
Read for specific information
Skim for relevant sections
Capture key facts or data
Time required: 15-30 minutes
Recreational
(Fiction, light non-fiction)
Read for enjoyment
Minimal note-taking
Focus on experience, not extraction
Time required: Hours to days
Research
(Academic papers, technical docs)
Read with specific question in mind
Critical evaluation
Detailed notes and citations
Time required: 1-3 hours per paper
Progressive Summarization Method
Layer 1: Capture
Highlight passages as you read
Layer 2: Bold
Bold the most important parts of highlights
Layer 3: Summarize
Write key ideas in your own words
Layer 4: Remix
Connect ideas across sources into original thinking
[Core argument or purpose of the book in 1-2 sentences]
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1. [First major insight]
2. [Second major insight]
3. [Third major insight]
FAVORITE QUOTES:
- "[Quote 1]" (Page X)
- "[Quote 2]" (Page Y)
ACTIONABLE IDEAS:
- [ ] [Something to do/try/implement]
- [ ] [Another action item]
CONNECTIONS:
Related to: [Other books, concepts, experiences]
Contradicts: [If applicable]
Expands on: [If applicable]
PERSONAL REFLECTION:
[How this changed your thinking, what surprised you, what you disagree with]
RECOMMENDATION:
Best for: [Type of reader who would benefit]
Skip if: [Who might not find value]
Quick Article Capture Template
TITLE: [Article Title]
SOURCE: [Publication/Website]
URL: [Link]
READ: [Date]
KEY INSIGHT: [Main point in one sentence]
USEFUL FACTS/DATA:
-
-
ACTION ITEMS:
-
SAVED FOR: [Why you saved this—project, interest area, etc.]
Weekly Reading Review
WEEK OF: [Date Range]
BOOKS IN PROGRESS:
- [Title 1] - [% complete]
- [Title 2] - [% complete]
ARTICLES READ: [Number]
Best article: [Title and why]
TOTAL READING TIME: [Hours]
BEST INSIGHT THIS WEEK:
[What idea or concept stood out most]
COMPLETED:
- [Title] - [Rating]
ADDED TO LIST:
- [New additions]
NEXT WEEK'S READING GOAL:
[What you plan to read or finish]
Best Practices
Curate ruthlessly
- Not everything deserves your time
Abandon freely
- If it's not valuable after 50 pages, move on
Read with purpose
- Know why you're reading before you start
Take notes in your own words
- Summarizing aids retention
Review highlights regularly
- Spaced repetition solidifies learning
Connect ideas across books
- The value is in the synthesis
Vary your reading
- Mix heavy and light, old and new
Schedule reading time
- It won't happen without dedicated blocks
Track completion
- Finishing builds momentum
Share insights
- Teaching others deepens your understanding
Limit work-in-progress
- Focus beats fragmentation
Use the right medium
- Physical books for deep reading, digital for scanning
Read before bed
- Better than screens for sleep
Follow your curiosity
- Reading should feel engaging, not obligatory
Build a reading habit
- Small daily reading beats sporadic binges
Reading Strategies
The Skimming Strategy
When to use: Articles, reports, books you're unsure about
Read title, subtitle, intro, conclusion
Scan headings and subheadings
Read first/last sentence of paragraphs
Look for bolded terms, lists, summaries
Decide: deep read, light read, or skip?
The Deep Reading Strategy
When to use: Important books, complex ideas
Pre-read
Scan structure, read intro/conclusion
Read actively
Highlight, annotate, question
Pause and reflect
Stop every chapter to summarize
Review highlights
Second pass to consolidate
Synthesize
Write summary in your own words
Apply
Use insights in real work/life
The Research Reading Strategy
When to use: Academic papers, technical documentation
Question first
What do you need to know?
Abstract/Summary
Does this answer your question?
Scan methodology
Is approach sound?
Results/Conclusion
What did they find?
Skim details
Read relevant sections thoroughly
Cite and file
Save with proper attribution
The Fiction Reading Strategy
When to use: Novels, narrative non-fiction
Immerse fully
Minimize distractions
Don't force notes
Mark favorite passages if you want
Reflect after
What moved you? What did you notice?
Discuss
Talk with others who've read it
Let it marinate
Insights emerge over time
Integration Points
This skill works well with:
Learning Path Creator
Align reading with learning goals
Goal Setter
Track reading-related goals
Journal Prompter
Reflect on reading insights
Idea Capturer
Capture ideas sparked by reading
Decision Helper
Use reading insights for decision-making
Example Reading List Session
User
"add to reading list"
Skill Response
:
"Let's add that to your reading queue. A few details will help us prioritize and track it.
What are you adding?
Book title & author?
Article title & publication?
Research paper?
Essay or blog post?
Give me the title and type."
User
"Atomic Habits by James Clear, book"
Skill Response
:
"Excellent choice—Atomic Habits is a highly actionable book on behavior change.
A few more questions to properly queue this:
Why are you reading this?
(Helps with prioritization)
Recommended by someone?
Relevant to current project/goal?
General interest?
How urgent is it?
Need it soon for something specific?
On your list for when you have time?
What format?
Physical book, ebook, audiobook?
(This affects when/where you can read it)
Take your time—good metadata makes your reading list actually useful."
User
"Recommended by my manager, want to improve my habits, have physical copy, not urgent but want to start soon"
Skill Response
:
"Perfect. Here's what I'm adding:
TITLE
Atomic Habits
AUTHOR
James Clear
TYPE
Book (Physical)
PRIORITY
Medium (want to start soon)
WHY
Manager recommendation, habit improvement
ESTIMATED TIME
~6-8 hours (it's ~320 pages, very readable)
CATEGORY
Personal Development / Productivity
SUGGESTED READING APPROACH
:
This is a highly practical book—I'd recommend:
Read with a notebook handy
Identify 1-2 habits to work on as you read
Apply concepts immediately rather than waiting to finish
Reading time: 30-45 min sessions work well
ADD TO QUEUE?
[Yes/No]
Want me to suggest when to start this based on your current reading progress?"