Reading has always been an integral part of my life, but honestly, my reading habits were a complete mess. I was constantly juggling seven or eight books simultaneously—half-finished business books piled on my nightstand, dozens of e-books downloaded on my phone, and a growing "read later" list on my Kindle. Worse yet, I frequently found myself wasting enormous amounts of time on the wrong books.

I ALWAYS read too many books simultaneously without knowing which ones were worth finishing. Last month: a 500-page management book that repeated one point for 300 pages, entrepreneurship guides full of tired clichés, and a personal development book wrapping simple concepts in complex jargon. Weeks of reading, zero learning.

I had to finish entire books before knowing if they were worth it. That "must-read" business book? Outdated case studies from 20 years ago. That "profound" book? Simple concepts wrapped in complex language that could've been a single article.

I ALWAYS Struggle to understand complex content. Complex books were even worse. Tried reading Nietzsche's "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"—completely lost in the first chapter. Constantly looking up "Übermensch" and "eternal recurrence" made reading painfully inefficient. Eventually gave up.

So I thought: What if I could create an AI reading companion that answers questions in real-time, explains complex concepts, and filters out valuable content?

Experimenting with "Elon musk"

I tested this with Walter Isaacson's "Elon Musk" biography—600+ pages spanning PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink. Perfect for testing AI's ability to connect themes while I learned Musk's thinking patterns.

After months of development and testing, I created a specialized AI reading assistant that completely transformed my reading experience:

1. Real-time Dialogue, Deep Insights Now, when I read about Musk's "first principles thinking," I no longer have to continue reading with only a vague understanding. I can directly ask the AI: "Can you explain with a specific example how Musk applied first principles thinking to reduce rocket costs?" This talk to books feature turns reading into an interactive conversation—exactly what I'd always wanted.

2. Intelligent Context Explanation The book frequently mentions concepts I'm unfamiliar with, like "Falcon Heavy rocket booster recovery technology" or "Neuralink's brain-computer interface principles." Previously, I'd either skip these sections or spend considerable time researching. Now, the AI automatically identifies these complex concepts and provides concise, collapsible explanation windows.

Most importantly, these explanations are personalized. Knowing I work in product management, the AI explains technical concepts from a product development perspective. When I express more interest in business strategy, it analyzes Musk's decisions from a commercial angle.

3.Essential Mode: Skip the Fluff This is my favorite feature. I can set my reading goals—like "learn Musk's innovative thinking" or "understand how to manage multiple projects." The AI automatically identifies and collapses content unrelated to my objectives, displaying only the most important parts.

For instance, when I set my goal as "learning leadership," the AI highlights sections about how Musk motivates teams and makes difficult decisions, while collapsing technical details or personal life descriptions. This allows me to focus on truly useful content without getting distracted by irrelevant information.

What were the actual results?

1. No more bad book choices: The AI tells me upfront: "This book's core ideas are actually just three points—you could master the essence in two hours" or "This book is information-dense and should be read deeply in multiple sessions." I no longer waste a week reading a book I could understand in half an hour.

2. Complex content made simple: When reading about rocket technology in "Elon Musk," the AI used analogies like "It's like shooting a basketball—the rocket needs to land precisely back on the launch pad," instantly helping me grasp the logic behind the technology. Now I actually prefer tackling seemingly "advanced" content.

3. Practical application became reality: When facing decision-making challenges at work, I ask the AI: "How would Musk think in a similar situation?" and receive specific actionable advice. Last month, when our product encountered technical difficulties, I applied Musk's "first principles" approach and ultimately found a simpler solution.

Most importantly, reading has become a conversational experience. I'm no longer passively absorbing information but actively exploring, questioning, and connecting. Every reading session feels like having an in-depth dialogue with the author and the book's protagonists.

Whether you're like me, struggling with chaotic reading habits, or you're a student preparing for exams, or simply someone who wants deeper engagement with books, AI can transform your reading experience. The key is finding the right balance—using AI to enhance your understanding, not replace your thinking. When technology serves genuine learning, that's when the magic happens.