Reading
Keep a reading list you’ll actually return to, and hold on to what you read. Save the books and long articles you want to get to, take notes as you go, and let Recall connect the ideas across everything so your reading builds on itself instead of fading after the last page.
Why use Recall for reading
A book recommendation is easy to note and easy to lose. The articles you mean to read pile up in tabs, and the ones you finish leave behind a vague sense that you read something good, with none of the detail. A flat list of titles doesn’t tell you what connects them or what’s worth reading next.
Recall keeps your reading list, your notes, and the ideas worth keeping in one searchable place. Save what you want to read, capture your takeaways while they’re fresh, and Recall surfaces the threads running between what you’ve read, so a book you finished last year resurfaces next to the article you’re reading today.
What you’ll build
- A reading list of books and articles you want to get to
- A log of what you’ve read, with your own notes and takeaways
- Tags that organize your reading by status, topic, or author
- Connections that reveal the themes and ideas running across what you read
- A chat you can ask for your next read, grounded in what you’ve already valued
A workflow to build your reading library
Part 1Build your reading list
- Save a book the moment you hear about it: search Wikipedia with “Add content” and the Wiki option, or paste a link to the book’s page
- Use the Recall browser extension to save long articles in one click
- On your phone, use the share sheet to capture a recommendation the second someone mentions it
Tag new saves "Reading/To Read" so your whole list is in one place when you’re ready to pick something up.
Part 2Take notes as you read
The point of reading isn’t just to finish, it’s to keep what mattered.
- Open the Notebook on a book’s card and jot down your takeaways, favorite passages, and questions
- Click the pen icon (✎) next to Add Content to write a standalone note on an idea that spans several books
- Move a card from
"Reading/To Read"to"Reading/Read"when you finish, with a short note on what stuck
Part 3Tag and organize
A “Reading” tag is a good base. Nest from there so your library matches how you think:
- Status:
"Reading/To Read","Reading/Reading","Reading/Read" - Topic:
"Reading/History","Reading/Science","Reading/Business" - Author: a tag per author you return to
Part 4Chat with what you've read
Open the Chat tab on a single book to work with your notes, or global chat in the left panel with the AI icon to ask across everything you’ve read.
- Find your next read: “What should I read next based on the books I rated highly?”
- Refresh your memory: “Remind me of the main argument of the last book I finished.”
- Connect ideas: “What do the books I’ve saved on focus have in common?”
- Decide what to skip: “From my reading list, which book best covers behavioral economics?”
Because the answers come from your own list and notes, you get suggestions that match your taste instead of a generic bestseller list.
Part 5Connect the dots
Open the Connections tab to see the authors, themes, and ideas that recur across your reading. You might notice a thread running through five different books, or that two authors you love are circling the same question from different angles.
- Capture takeaways before you move on: the moment you finish is when you remember the most.
- Quiz yourself: click the Quiz button on a book to turn your notes into questions and make what you read stick.
- Keep the list moving: save recommendations instantly, then decide what to read next from one tidy list.
Related Recall features
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can Recall track books I've read and want to read?
Yes. Save books and long articles to Recall, tag them Reading/To Read, Reading/Reading, or Reading/Read, and keep your own notes on each card. Over time you build a searchable reading list and log of what you’ve finished, with your takeaways attached.
How do I take notes on books in Recall?
Open the Notebook on a book’s card and jot down your takeaways, favorite passages, and questions. You can also click the pen icon (✎) next to Add Content to write a standalone note on an idea that spans several books. Your notes stay connected to the source and searchable across your library.
Can Recall recommend my next book based on what I've read?
Yes. Open global chat with the AI icon in the left panel and ask across everything you’ve read, for example what to read next based on books you rated highly, or which book on your list best covers a topic. Because answers come from your own list and notes, you get suggestions that match your taste instead of a generic bestseller list.
How do I build a reading list in Recall?
Save a book the moment you hear about it with Add content and the Wiki option, use the browser extension to save long articles in one click, or use the share sheet on mobile to capture a recommendation on the go. Tag new saves Reading/To Read so your whole list is in one place when you’re ready to pick something up.
Can I remember what I read with Recall?
Yes. Click the Quiz button on a book to turn your notes into questions, add them to Recall Review, and let spaced repetition bring them back at the right time. You can also chat with what you’ve read to refresh your memory before a conversation or book club.