Book notes template for nonfiction, with summaries and action steps

This book notes template turns every nonfiction read into knowledge you keep. Across 32 undated pages you will find a summary spread, notes by chapter, key idea cards, a quote collection, a concept map, an action plan, an index of every book and a review page for each month of reading.

You receive US Letter and A4 PDF files as an instant download. Nothing is shipped, so you can print a set before you open your next book.

How this book notes template helps you remember what you read

Begin by choosing learning goals by topic, then size up each new title on the Before I read page. While reading, gather ideas with chapter notes, Cornell pages, key idea cards and a page of favorite quotes.

Once you reach the last page, the two-page summary asks you to retell the book in your own words, and the action steps page turns its best advice into small moves with a start date and a review date. A numbered index, a page for connecting books on one topic and a spaced review schedule keep every idea easy to find and easy to recall later. Nothing is dated, so you simply print a fresh set for each book.

Who these reading notes are for

• Lifelong learners who read nonfiction to grow and want the ideas to stick
• Students and self learners taking notes on textbooks, study guides and course readings
• Fans of business, psychology, history, science and self growth titles who want to put the ideas to work
• Book lovers who like pen and paper notes better than apps and enjoy a neat binder sorted by topic
• Anyone who closes a book and has forgotten most of it a month on

Design and printing

• Minimal, elegant pages: white with soft blush pink details that use little ink
• Generous margins so nothing is lost on a home printer
• Portrait pages sized for US Letter (8.5 x 11 in) and A4 (210 x 297 mm)
• Undated, so begin whenever you like and print a new set for every book
• Each note page carries a book number line that matches the index, so stray pages always find their book
• Use it in a binder or on a clipboard, or have a print shop spiral bind it

Inside the book notes template: 32 pages

1. 1Cover showing the contents, with spots for your name and start date
2. 2How to use your book notes: five steps to follow for each book, the supplies you need, an I read nonfiction to prompt and a tip for filing
3. 3Reading for learning: three checklists (before you start, as you go, once you finish), 8 symbols for the margins such as key idea, question, quote, link, action, agree, disagree and surprising, three ways to approach a book (deep read, skim, quick notes), space for my own symbols and the time and place I read best
4. 4Learning goals by topic: six cards, each with why the topic matters to me, the skill I want to gain and the books or resources I'll use
5. 5Books to read by topic, 22 lines to list each title and author, its subject, the reason to read it and a priority circle, plus suggestions from people I trust and what comes next
6. 6Book index of 30 numbered lines for title, author, topic, date finished and rating
7. 7Before I read: the edition and format, your reason for picking it up, how demanding it looks, the goal you have for it, prior knowledge, questions you want answered, notes from flipping through the contents, a guess at the central argument and a reading schedule
8. 8Book summary part 1: the book at a glance with a rating, the whole book in one sentence, a summary in my own words and a 9 line table that goes chapter by chapter
9. 9Book summary part 2: the top five ideas, what caught me off guard, where I push back, links to what I know, similar books, my final verdict and the single takeaway I want to hold on to a year from now
10. 10Chapter notes, three blocks per page with main points, an example or evidence and my thoughts
11. 11Cornell notes with a column for questions and cues, a notes column and a three sentence summary
12. 12Quotes worth keeping, six boxes with the page number and why each one matters
13. 13Key idea cards, six of them, each with the idea, my own wording, an example, the page and where I could apply it
14. 14Concept map: a central idea, six branches with small circles for details, links I noticed and what is still unclear
15. 15Frameworks and models, three blocks each with a dotted box for a sketch, how it works and when to use it
16. 16Sketch notes: a big dotted drawing space, labels and captions and what the drawing shows
17. 17Terms and concepts: 16 lines to define each new word or name with an example and the page it appears on, plus words to research and the people and studies the author cites
18. 18Questions and answers: 10 lines for my question, the book's answer and the page, plus what is still open and where I might find out
19. 19Action steps from this book: three ideas to act on, each with its page, the first tiny step, likely obstacles, a start date, a review date and a done box, then the one thing I will do
20. 20Putting ideas into practice: 13 lines to log when you tried an idea, how it went and whether you keep, adjust or drop it, plus the most useful idea and what you are changing
21. 21Comparing two books: the main argument and strongest point of book A and book B, where they agree and differ, what I now believe and which to recommend for which purpose
22. 22Topic synthesis: list up to 7 books on the same subject, then note where most authors agree, the debates and unanswered questions, where you stand today and what to read next to fill the gaps
23. 23Teach it back: a four step method, your explanation in simple words, sticking points, facts you double checked, an analogy that makes it click and the person you explained it to
24. 24Review and recall: a five stage review timeline, 12 lines with ticks at one day, one week, one month and three months, and a short recall test
25. 25Quick book notes, two half page entries for lighter titles: the basics (title, author, topic, rating), one line about it, three main ideas, the strongest example, one action and a box to flag it for a full summary
26. 26Monthly reading log with a line for each day from 1 to 31 to note the book, pages or minutes, and notes
27. 27Monthly reading review: books finished, the month in numbers, topics explored, the best idea, actions tried, ideas to revisit, how reading went, next month's books and a note to myself
28. 28Year of learning: a box for each month noting books completed and their subject, the year's big lessons and topics for next year
29. 29Books I've read, a drawn bookshelf with 52 spines for titles, a topic key and favorites on this shelf
30. 30Favorite ideas, an 18 line collection with book number, page and how I use each idea
31. 31Lined notes page with a book number line
32. 32Dot grid notes page with a book number line

What you download

• Nonfiction Book Notes, US Letter PDF (32 pages)
• Nonfiction Book Notes, A4 PDF (32 pages)
• Read Me First, a short printing guide (PDF)
• Suggested routine: print pages 2 to 6 a single time, print pages 7 to 19 for each book (or just the Quick book notes page for lighter titles), reprint the reading log and monthly review every month, and three-hole punch the pages for a binder with topic dividers

How to download and print

• Check out with PayPal, a debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your download page opens as soon as the payment goes through.
• We email the same private download links to you, so you can download your files again later.
• Open the PDF in a free reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and print at 100% or Actual size.
• Print only the pages you need, as often as you like, for your own personal use.

Good to know

• This is a print ready PDF and not a hyperlinked digital planner. You can still bring it into most note taking apps and write on it.
• It is a digital product. Nothing physical will be mailed.
• Colors may look slightly different printed than on screen.
• Licensed for personal use. Sharing, reselling or redistributing the files is not allowed.
• Digital files cannot be returned. If a file does not open or print correctly, email us and we will help right away.

How this was made

Designed and written by PetiteDiary. AI tools helped draft parts of the text, and some background scenes in the preview images were created with AI. Every page was designed, reviewed and checked before release.

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