The Power of Micro Learning: How to Turn any Book into Action

A few months ago, I looked at the endless list of books I would like to read and felt something between excitement and being overwhelmed. So many fascinating titles, recommended by friends, mentors, and inspiring people I follow. And yet, I knew: I’ll most probably never be able to read them all. Unless, maybe, I decide to live in a monastery or land in prison (history has shown that people who spoke their truth sometimes landed there). In either case, I hope I’d make the best out of it.

But back to reality: The life I currently chose is busy. And so I asked myself: How can I learn more in a shorter amount of time?

That’s when I started experimenting with micro learning.

Over the past ten years, I had collected countless screenshots of book recommendations. With the help of an AI chatbot, I finally sorted them into categories. This simple act gave me clarity. Now, instead of drowning in options, I choose one topic at a time. For example: when I wanted to learn more about the menstrual cycle, I picked three books on the subject.

The real magic began when I started asking for insights I could actually use.

Imagine uploading a PDF of a book into NotebookLM and asking questions like:

NotebookLM will even tell you on which page it found the answer to your question.

Suddenly, I had habits, checklists, comparisons, and prompts for reflection. Information was no longer just knowledge, it became something I could act on.

For lighter days, there is Blinkist, which condenses books into 15-20 minute audio summaries. Great while walking, commuting, cooking, or gardening. If something truly grabs me, I’ll dive into the full book. Often, though, I noticed that even some great books could be distilled into just a few pages without losing their essence.

Finally, I created my own Obsidian library of book insights. Every book I engage with gets its own document where I collect highlights, quotes, and personal reflections. Over time, this has become a treasure chest I can return to.

What I’ve learned is this: The value of a book is not in finishing it and remembering every detail. What matters is turning ideas into lived experience. Shaping them into habits, questions, and reflections that truly change you.

That’s what micro learning is for me: A way to honour my curiosity without drowning in it.