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Template
Book Notes: [Title]
Author: [Author Name]
Date Read: [Month Year]
Category: [e.g. History / Strategy / Philosophy / Leadership]
Rating: [1–5]
One-Sentence Summary
A single sentence capturing the book's core argument or insight.
The Problem the Book Is Solving
What question is the author trying to answer? What gap, tension, or failure does the book address? Why does this book exist?
Core Argument
The book's central claim in plain language. What is the author ultimately saying? What would they want you to walk away believing?
Key Concepts
The 3–7 foundational ideas the book introduces or develops. For each:
[Concept Name]
What it is: A clear, plain-language definition.
Why it matters: What does understanding this change or unlock?
In my world: How does this connect to Belief, Vision, Philosophy, Form, Movement, Distribution, or MI's methodology?
Chapter Notes
Chapter [#]: [Title]
The problem this chapter solves: What specific question or failure is this chapter addressing?
Core argument: What does Gaddis (or the author) actually claim here?
Key figures or examples: Who or what illustrates the argument?
The lesson: One to three sentences capturing the transferable insight.
In my world: How does this connect to MI's work, clients, facilitation practice, or personal philosophy?
(Repeat for each chapter)
The Progression
How do the chapters build on each other? What is the arc of the book's argument from beginning to end?
Chapter | Core Question | Answer / Lesson |
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 |
Moments of Friction
Where did the book frustrate, confuse, or provoke disagreement? What feels incomplete, biased, or worth challenging?
Connections to My World
Philosophy & Form
How does this book's argument map onto the Philosophy / Form framework? What does it illuminate or complicate?
Belief / Vision / Story
How does the book's core argument relate to the Belief-Vision-Story architecture? Can any figures or examples be used as illustrations in client work?
Movement Institute Methodology
Does this book support, challenge, or deepen the Belief Session, Vision Session, or Story of Self Session? Any direct applications?
Adjacent Reading
What books, frameworks, or thinkers does this book point toward? What should be read next?
Quotations Worth Keeping
A small collection of lines — paraphrased or direct — that are worth returning to.
The Belief This Book Illustrates
If this book were a story, what is its moral? What belief does the arc of the argument demonstrate to be true?
[One sentence, written in the voice of a belief statement.]
Notes compiled: [Date] — Movement Institute personal library