Notes for iPadHow to Take Notes From a Book
Updated 2026-09-29 · By the Notes for iPad team
Most of what we read fades within weeks unless we do something with it. Good book notes don't mean copying pages. They mean marking what matters as you read, then writing a short summary in your own words that you'll actually look at again.
Nonfiction vs fiction
You read the two differently, so your notes should differ too.
| Nonfiction | Fiction | |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Understand and remember arguments, ideas and facts; use them | Follow and appreciate the story; analyze it (for class or a book club) |
| What to note | Main claims, evidence, frameworks, examples, what you disagree with | Characters, plot turns, themes, symbols, setting, memorable lines |
| Structure | By chapter and idea | By character, theme and chapter |
| How much | Enough to explain the book to someone else | Light for leisure reading; more detailed for a class |
For leisure fiction, a line or two on what you thought and a favorite quote in a reading log is plenty. For a novel you're studying, keep a page per major character and per theme and add page references as you go.
Marking while you read
Keep marking light so you keep reading. A small, consistent set of marks works better than a rainbow of highlighters:
| vertical line in margin — important passage * key idea or main argument ? confusing or doubtful — come back to this ! surprising, or contradicts what I thought → connects to another book or idea (write which) Q quote worth keeping
Write brief margin notes in your own words: "this is the main claim", "example of loss aversion", "disagree — small sample". If you can't write in the book, keep a sheet or a notebook page beside you and note the page number with the mark.
Don't highlight whole paragraphs. If everything is marked, nothing stands out when you come back.
Notes after each chapter
At the end of each chapter, close the book and spend two or three minutes writing:
- The chapter's main point, in one or two sentences.
- The two or three ideas or events that matter most.
- Any questions, objections or connections.
Writing before you look back is a small act of active recall, and it shows what you actually took in. Then flip through your marks to fill in anything important you missed. For textbooks and dense nonfiction, the SQ3R method gives this a more structured form.
The one-page book summary
When you finish the book, write a summary that fits on one page. This is the note you'll come back to, so write it for a future you who remembers nothing.
Title / author / date finished Rating and one-line verdict The book in 3 sentences What is it about? What's the main argument or story? Key ideas (3–7) Each in one or two sentences, in your own words, with page numbers. Best quotes (2–5) Exact wording + page number. What I disagree with or doubt How I'll use this / what I'll do differently Related: other books, notes or projects
The "how I'll use this" section is the most important for nonfiction. A book that changes nothing about what you do or think has mostly been entertainment, which is fine, but worth knowing. The book notes template has these sections laid out, so you can fill it in as soon as you finish.
For fiction, replace "key ideas" with main characters and how they change, major themes, and the moments that stood out.
Quotes and an index of ideas
Quotes
Copy quotes exactly, with the page number, and add one line on why you saved it. A quote without context is hard to use later. Keep your best quotes from all books in one place, a practice sometimes called a commonplace book. Over time it becomes a personal collection of ideas you can draw on for writing and talks.
An index of ideas
Many readers keep a small index at the back of the book or the start of their notes: a list of topics with page numbers, in the order they come up. For example:
habits, starting small — 23, 41 environment design — 58–63, 110 identity-based change — 30, 212 disagree: timeline claims — 145
This is much faster than the book's own index for finding the parts that mattered to you, and making it forces you to name the ideas as you read.
Going further: a Zettelkasten
If you read a lot for writing or research, consider turning your key ideas into standalone notes linked to notes from other books. That's the idea behind a Zettelkasten: each book adds to a growing network of ideas instead of sitting in its own folder.
Reviewing so it sticks
Notes you never look at again don't help much. A light, spaced review schedule does:
- The day you finish: write the one-page summary.
- About a week later: without looking, try to list the key ideas. Then check your summary.
- About a month later: reread the summary and quotes. Cross out anything that no longer seems important.
- Whenever it's relevant: when you're facing a decision or writing about a topic, check your index of ideas.
Explaining a book's main idea to someone else is also a good test. If you can't do it in two minutes, look back at your summary.
Book notes on an iPad
An iPad lets you keep all your book notes in one notebook with a page or two per book, and a reading log at the front to track what you've read. If a book or article is available as a PDF, you can import it and highlight and write in the margins directly. For paper books, handwrite your chapter notes and summary on a template while the book is open next to you. Notes for iPad includes book notes and reading log templates, and you can export the notebook as a PDF to keep a copy. See also how to take notes on iPad.
Summary: Mark lightly with a few symbols as you read, jot a short recall note after each chapter, write a one-page summary in your own words when you finish (key ideas, quotes, how you'll use it), keep an index of ideas with page numbers, and review the summary a week and a month later.
Free book notes template → · Reading log template
Frequently asked questions
Should I take notes while reading or after?
Both, but lightly while reading. Mark passages and jot quick margin notes as you go, then write your main notes at the end of each chapter or after finishing the book. Stopping to write long notes on every page breaks your reading flow.
How do I take notes from a library book or one I can't write in?
Use a notebook or sticky notes. Write the page number and a few words for each important passage, then write your summary from those notes. On an iPad you can keep a notebook page per book and photograph short passages if you need them.
How long should book notes be?
For most books, one to two pages is enough: a short summary, the key ideas, a few quotes and how you'll use it. Textbooks and books you're studying closely can need more.
What's the best way to remember what I read?
Write a summary in your own words, test yourself on the main ideas without looking, and revisit your notes a few times over the following weeks. See our guide to active recall.