Template · Writing
Free book notes template: summary, ideas and quotes
Remember what you read: sum up the book in three sentences, list its key ideas, keep the best quotes, decide how you will use them and link related notes.
Book notes
Author:
Finished:
Rating:
The book in three sentences
Key ideas
Quotes
How I will use this
Related notes
Link other notes with [[ and the note name.
Free. Barside asks before it adds the template, then makes a new note from it. Needs Barside 1.50 or newer.
Nothing opened? Barside may not be installed yet. Download Barside, then choose Open in Barside again.
Most of a book is forgotten within weeks. A page of notes in your own words, with a plan to use one idea, keeps the best of it.
Who it is for
It is for readers who want to remember and use what they read: professionals reading for work, students, and anyone building a personal knowledge base. It fits well with Building a Second Brain and progressive summarization.
What is in the book notes template
- Author, Finished and Rating: three lines at the top.
- The book in three sentences: your summary.
- Key ideas: a numbered list.
- Quotes: a quote block for the best lines.
- How I will use this and Related notes: a checklist and [[links]] to other notes.
An example
After finishing a book about habits, Leo writes three sentences about it from memory. He lists four key ideas, copies two quotes with their pages, and adds one action: "Lay out running clothes the night before." He links the note to his habit tracker and to an older note about motivation, so the ideas connect next time he searches.
How to use the book notes template
- Choose Open in Barside above. Barside opens and asks before it adds anything.
- Pick the workspace for the note, and leave Keep it in my templates ticked to use the template again.
- Choose Create note. A new note called "Book notes" opens, ready to fill in.
- Next time, start one from New note from a template, or let Barside make it on a schedule as a repeating note.
No Barside yet? It is free for Windows, Linux and Mac: download Barside, then choose Open in Barside again.
How to take book notes you reread
- Write the three sentences without looking at the book.
- Keep quotes short, and note the page.
- Turn one idea into an action, and tick it when done.
- Link ideas to other notes with [ to grow a connected library, as in [linked notes.
Make it yours
- Add a Who should read it line.
- Keep all book notes in one workspace and list them in the reading list.
- Highlight while reading articles in Barside's Reading inbox, and bring the best lines here.
FAQ
Questions and answers
How long should book notes be?
One screen is enough for most books. The goal is to remember and use the ideas, not to rewrite the book.
Is the book notes template free?
Yes. The template and Barside are both free. Barside Plus is optional and adds cloud backup and sync between computers; templates do not need it.
Do I need an account to use it?
No. Barside runs on your computer without an account, and the notes you make from the template stay in your library on your computer.
Can I change the book notes template?
Yes. Edit the note it makes like any other note: rename columns, add rows, delete sections. To keep your version, open the note and choose Save as template in its options.