Summarize a textbook PDF
A heavy reading list is easier with a study partner that has read the chapter. Upload the textbook or your lecture notes, ask for a chapter summary or a definition, and get the page number back, so you know exactly where to go when you revise.
How it works
Upload your PDF
Sign in and add the textbook chapter or your notes. askPDF reads the text so you can ask about it.
Ask in plain words
Type a question the way you would ask a colleague. Answers draw on the most relevant passages of the PDF, not the whole document at once, so ask about one topic at a time.
Check the page
Every answer carries a page chip, such as p. 12. Click it and the PDF jumps to that page, so you can read the source yourself.
Questions to ask
- Summarize what the book says about this topic in a few bullet points.
- Which key terms does the book use for this topic, with a short definition of each?
- Explain the difference between these two concepts in simple words.
- What examples does the book give for this idea?
- Write practice questions about this topic from the book.
- Where does the book prove this theorem?
An example
The book defines it as the value of the next best alternative given up when a choice is made, and illustrates it with a student choosing between work and study.p. 41
An illustration of the format. In the app, the page chip opens that page of your PDF.
Questions and answers
- Can it summarize a whole book?
- Ask about one topic at a time. Answers draw on the most relevant passages of the PDF, not the whole document at once, so use the page chips to read the sections behind each answer.
- Can I use it for lecture slides and notes?
- Yes, as long as the PDF contains text. Export your slides or notes as a PDF and upload them.
- Does it help me remember what I read?
- It helps you find and review the right parts quickly. Reading the cited page is what makes it stick, so use the chip.
- Is there a free way to try it?
- Yes. There is a Free plan, so you can try it on one of your own PDFs.
Try it on your own PDF
Free to start. No credit card, no setup.
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