Hey, it's Cindy 🌱 These are the exact short "codes" I use to turn a book, a chapter, or a PDF into summaries, mind maps, flashcards, quizzes, and full study guides in seconds. 👩💻
btw the waitlist for AI System Club is now open! If you're keen on using AI to automate your content, video editing, job search, business or build AI agents, feel free to sign up (only if you want to hehe). Ps. the waitlist gets first dibs:)
read this once
How these codes actually work
ChatGPT does not have real built-in slash commands like /mindmap. There is no hidden menu. Each "code" works for one of three reasons:
Priming. Teach ChatGPT the codes once at the top of a chat, then just type the short label. Paste the priming line below, then you only ever type the short version.
A Custom GPT. Put all the code definitions in a Custom GPT's instructions once, and every code works forever without re-priming.
It is just shorthand. Even with no priming, typing "/cornell notes on this chapter" usually works, because ChatGPT reads the words, not a real command.
prime it once
For the rest of this chat, when I type a code starting with a slash, run the matching instruction on whatever text I give you. /mindmap means output a text mind map of the key topics. /flashcards means make question-and-answer cards. I'll add more codes the same way, then just type the short version.
How to use them. Paste the book text, a chapter, or a PDF into ChatGPT first (or just tell it the title and author for a well-known book), then type the code. The free tier handles every text output here. A few visual outputs (generated diagram images, and mermaid diagrams that render as pictures) need the image or Canvas features, flagged where they come up.
understand a book
1. Understand a book
/tldr Give me a 5-sentence summary of this book. → the fast gist.
/bigidea State the single central thesis in one sentence, then the 3 arguments that support it. → the core argument.
/chapters List every chapter with a one-line summary of each. → a chapter map.
/keytakeaways Give me the 10 most important takeaways as a numbered list. → the actionable points.
/themes Identify the recurring themes and note where each one appears. → a theme tracker.
/premise Explain the author's core assumption and whether they actually prove it. → a critical read.
/whoisitfor Describe the ideal reader and the problem this book solves for them. → context on the book.
/arc Trace how the main idea develops from the first page to the last. → the idea's arc.
/oneliner Summarize this book as one memorable sentence I could quote. → a shareable line.
/context Give me the historical and intellectual context this was written in. → the background.
summarize and extract
2. Summarize and extract
/summary200 Summarize this chapter in exactly 200 words. → a tight summary.
/bullets Convert this section into clean bullet points, grouped by subtopic. → skimmable notes.
/quotes Pull the 10 most important verbatim quotes, with page or location if given. → a quote bank.
/stats Extract every statistic, number, and data point, with its source in the text. → a data list.
/definitions List every key term the author defines, with the definition. → a glossary.
/examples Pull out every real-world example or case study the author uses. → an example bank.
/framework Extract any model, framework, or step-by-step method described. → a reusable framework.
/checklist Turn the advice in this chapter into an actionable checklist. → a to-do list.
/objections List the counterarguments the author raises and how they answer them. → debate prep.
/soundbites Give me 8 punchy one-line insights I could post or remember. → content-ready lines.
memorize and revise
3. Memorize and revise
/clozecards Make 15 fill-in-the-blank cloze cards from this chapter (question, then answer). → a cloze deck.
/ankicsv Output flashcards as a CSV with Front and Back columns I can import into Anki. → an Anki-ready file.
/spacedplan Build a spaced-repetition review schedule for these facts across 30 days. → a revision calendar.
/mnemonics Create a memorable mnemonic for each list or sequence in this chapter. → memory hooks.
/keywords10 Give me the 10 keywords that unlock recall of this whole chapter. → anchor words.
/quizme Ask me one question at a time about this chapter and wait for my answer before the next. → an interactive drill.
/recallgrid Make a two-column table: term on the left, a blank on the right for me to fill from memory. → a self-test grid.
/whatdidimiss I will tell you what I remember. Point out only what I left out or got wrong. → a gap check.
/minitest Write a 10-question mixed quiz (multiple choice and short answer) with the answer key at the bottom. → a practice test.
/rapidfire Give me 20 rapid question-and-answer pairs on the key facts. → a quickfire deck.
study a topic fast
4. Study a topic fast
/eli5 Explain this concept as if I am 5, using one simple analogy. → a plain explanation.
/eli15 Explain this to a smart teenager, with one concrete example. → a mid-level explanation.
/prereqs List what I need to already understand before this chapter makes sense. → a prerequisite map.
/analogy Give me 3 different analogies for this idea from everyday life. → intuition builders.
/firstprinciples Break this concept down to first principles, then rebuild it. → deep understanding.
/connectdots Show how the ideas in this chapter connect to each other. → a relationship map.
/whyitmatters Explain why this concept matters and what breaks without it. → motivation to learn it.
/commonconfusions List the 5 things people most often misunderstand about this topic. → a misconception guard.
/crashcourse Teach me this topic in a 10-minute crash course, from zero. → fast onboarding.
/compareideas Compare the two main ideas in this chapter in a table (similarities and differences). → a comparison grid.
turn it into practice
5. Turn it into practice
/exercises Create 5 practice exercises that apply this chapter, from easy to hard. → a practice set.
/scenario Give me a realistic scenario where I must use this concept, then let me solve it. → an applied problem.
/roleplay Role-play a situation where I practice this idea, and give feedback afterwards. → a simulation.
/worksheet Build a fill-in worksheet based on this chapter. → a printable worksheet.
/projectidea Suggest a small hands-on project that would prove I understand this. → a learning project.
/debate Take the opposing view to this chapter and debate me, so I learn to defend it. → argument practice.
/casestudy Give me a case study and ask me to apply the framework from this chapter. → a case drill.
/grademe I will write my answer. Grade it out of 10 and tell me exactly how to improve. → scored feedback.
/steps Turn this method into a numbered step-by-step I can follow tomorrow. → action steps.
/ifthen Write if-then rules from this chapter that I can use in real situations. → decision rules.
visual and diagram outputs
6. Visual and diagram outputs
/timeline Make a chronological timeline of the events or ideas in this chapter. → a timeline.
/flowchart Describe this process as a flowchart in mermaid syntax. → a flowchart.
/table Organize this information into a clean comparison table. → a table.
/matrix Put these ideas into a 2x2 matrix and label both axes. → a 2x2 grid.
/orgchart Show the hierarchy of these concepts as an indented text tree. → a concept tree.
/venn Describe a Venn diagram comparing these two or three things. → an overlap map.
/infographic Draft the text and layout for a one-page infographic of this chapter. → an infographic brief.
/diagramimage Generate an image of a labeled diagram explaining this concept. → an image diagram.
/processmap Map this cause-and-effect chain step by step, with arrows, in text. → a causal chain.
/conceptmap Build a concept map in mermaid showing the nodes and the links between ideas. → a concept map.
Two quick catches on the visual ones. Mermaid code (/flowchart, /conceptmap) shows as an actual picture inside Canvas or a mermaid viewer, not always inline in chat, so open it in Canvas to see the diagram. And /diagramimage needs image generation on your plan; if it is not available, ask for the labeled text version instead.
teach it to learn it
7. Teach-me and Feynman
/feynman Explain this so simply I could teach it, then flag any spot where the explanation gets vague. → a Feynman pass.
/teachback I will explain this concept to you. Correct my mistakes like a tutor. → a teach-back check.
/socratic Ask me Socratic questions about this chapter, one at a time, to make me think it through. → guided questioning.
/dumbquestions Answer the 10 dumb questions a beginner is afraid to ask about this. → beginner Q&A.
/explainlikeexpert Explain this at three levels: beginner, intermediate, and expert. → a layered explanation.
/whatif Ask me 5 what-if questions that test whether I really understand this. → a stress-test.
/translate Rewrite this dense passage in plain, everyday language. → a plain rewrite.
/steelman Give the strongest possible version of the author's argument. → a steelman.
/gaps Tell me what this chapter does not explain that I would still need to know. → a gap map.
/interrogate Pretend you are the author and let me interview you about this chapter. → an author interview.
exam and test prep
8. Exam and test prep
/studyguide Build a full study guide for this material, with sections and key points. → a study guide.
/examquestions Predict 10 likely exam questions from this chapter. → predicted questions.
/mcq Write 10 multiple-choice questions with 4 options each, plus an answer key. → an MCQ set.
/shortanswer Write 8 short-answer exam questions with model answers. → a short-answer set.
/essayprompts Give me 5 essay prompts on this material, each with a suggested outline. → essay prep.
/cheatsheet Condense this chapter into a one-page cheat sheet. → a cheat sheet.
/highyield List only the high-yield points most likely to be tested. → a priority list.
/markingguide Give me the marking criteria an examiner would use for this topic. → a rubric.
/mockexam Create a timed mock exam from this material, with instructions and answers. → a mock exam.
/weakspots Quiz me, track which questions I miss, and tell me what to review. → a weak-spot finder.
notes and organization
9. Notes and organization
/cornell Turn this chapter into Cornell notes (cues, notes, summary). → Cornell notes.
/outline Create a hierarchical outline of this chapter, with headings and subpoints. → an outline.
/markdownnotes Format these notes in clean Markdown, with headings and bullet lists. → Markdown notes.
/notion Format this as a Notion-ready page with toggles, callouts, and a summary. → a Notion layout. (You still copy and paste it into Notion yourself.)
/index Create an index of every topic in this book and where it appears. → a book index.
/tagsystem Suggest tags and categories to file these notes in a second brain. → a tagging system.
/studysheet Combine my notes and this chapter into one clean study sheet. → merged notes.
/revisioncards Turn these notes into small revision cards, one idea per card. → revision cards.
/summaryladder Summarize this at three lengths: one line, one paragraph, one page. → a nested summary.
/keyvalue Extract the key facts as a key-value list (label: value). → structured facts.
apply it
10. Apply it to your life and work
/actionplan Turn this book into a 30-day action plan I can follow. → an action plan.
/applytome I will describe my situation. Show me how to apply this chapter to it. → a personal application.
/habits Turn the advice in this book into 5 daily or weekly habits. → a habit list.
/worktemplate Turn this framework into a template I can reuse at work. → a reusable template.
/decisionrules Write decision rules from this book for real choices I face. → a decision guide.
/firstthreesteps Give me the first 3 things to do this week based on this chapter. → a quick start.
/metrics Suggest how I would measure whether I am applying this successfully. → success metrics.
/pitfalls Warn me about the mistakes people make when applying this advice. → a pitfall guard.
/reflection Give me 5 journaling prompts to reflect on this chapter. → reflection prompts.
/teachsomeone Help me plan a 5-minute lesson to teach this to a friend or my team. → a teaching plan.
save these five
5 power codes to paste in full
These are the long versions worth keeping in full. Paste your text first, then paste one of these.
/studysystem
You are my study coach. Using the text I paste, build a complete study system:
1. A one-page overview of the core idea.
2. The 10 highest-yield points, ranked by importance.
3. A glossary of every key term with a plain-language definition.
4. 15 flashcards as question and answer.
5. A 10-question practice quiz with an answer key at the end.
6. A 7-day study schedule telling me what to review each day.
Keep it clear and beginner-friendly. Ask me one clarifying question first if the material is ambiguous.
/mockexam
Act as my examiner. From the text I paste, create a timed mock exam:
Section A: 10 multiple-choice questions (4 options each).
Section B: 4 short-answer questions.
Section C: 1 essay question with a suggested outline.
Give clear instructions and a suggested time limit at the top. Put a full answer key and marking notes at the very bottom, after a line of dashes, so I can test myself first.
/socratic
Be my Socratic tutor for the text I paste. Do not lecture. Ask me one question at a time, starting simple and getting harder. After each answer I give, tell me if I am right, fill the smallest gap, then ask the next question. Track what I struggle with, and after 10 questions give me a short list of exactly what to review.
/actionplan
Turn the book I paste into a practical 30-day action plan. For each week give me: a theme, 2 or 3 specific actions I can actually do, and one way to measure progress. Base every action on the book's real advice, not generic tips. End with the single most important habit to keep after day 30.
/feynman
Teach me this concept using the Feynman technique on the text I paste. First explain it in the simplest possible language, as if to a beginner. Then point out every place the explanation is still vague or hand-wavy. Then ask me to explain it back to you in my own words, and correct me until my explanation would pass with a real beginner.
You do not need 100 apps to study smarter. One tool, a book, and the right short prompt turns any chapter into a summary, a quiz, a mind map, or a full study plan in seconds 💡 Prime ChatGPT once with the codes you like, save this, and pull it out every time you open something you actually want to remember. Follow @cindiezhu for more AI you can actually use, and grab the rest at the free guides page 🌱
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