Last updated:
Quick answer
Tell it what you already know and your goal. It writes chapters with quizzes and sources, in Markdown you can turn into an EPUB or PDF.
At a glance
All outcome figures are estimates from cited sources, not independent verification by us.
- What it is allowed to do
- Drafts for you
Writes drafts (emails, posts, plans, replies). You review and send. Nothing goes out without you.
- Time saved (estimate)
- Not measured yet
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Tools needed
- AI bot, Pandoc
- Typical cost
- Pandoc is a free tool that can write EPUB and PDF from a Markdown file. AI chat cost is not stated in sources.
Reviewed Oct 20, 2026
Basis (estimate): Not measured yet. Their claim; no file shared.
What does this setup do?
Gather the sources you care about and turn them into a personal course: chapters from basics to the hard parts, a short quiz after each one, then an EPUB or PDF.
Who is it for?
Anyone whose courses on a topic are either too basic or skip the part they care about, and who wants one built around what they already know and why they are learning it.
How do you set it up?
Tools
- Research bot: gathers the source material. Give it the docs, articles, or projects you want covered.
- Writer bot: turns that into chapters, from basics to the hard parts, with a short quiz after each one.
- Formatter: exports it as an EPUB for your e-reader or a PDF. Pandoc is a free tool that can write both from a Markdown file.
Steps
- Research bot: gathers the source material. Give it the docs, articles, or projects you want covered.
- Writer bot: turns that into chapters, from basics to the hard parts, with a short quiz after each one.
- Formatter: exports it as an EPUB for your e-reader or a PDF. Pandoc is a free tool that can write both from a Markdown file.
- If your bot can run commands, ask it to finish with pandoc course.md -o course.epub. PDF output needs a PDF engine such as LaTeX installed.
Example output
Illustrative. Your results will differ.
- A one-page roadmap, then chapters from basics to the hard parts
- Each chapter ends with a 5-question quiz and a sources list
- Markdown you can turn into an EPUB or a PDF
Where to paste this prompt
ChatGPT: ChatGPT → Project instructions, or ChatGPT Tasks for scheduled reminders (once a day on Free)
Copy-paste prompt
Adapt bracketed fields to your situation.
Build me a personal course on [TOPIC] as a book of about [NUMBER] pages.
About me: I already know [WHAT YOU KNOW]. I'm learning this because [YOUR GOAL].
Also cover how [TOOL OR PROJECT 1] and [TOOL OR PROJECT 2] relate to it.
Structure:
- A one-page roadmap first.
- Chapters that go from basics to the hard parts, each with examples and a 5-question quiz.
- A "sources" list at the end of every chapter. Mark anything you're not sure is true.
Write it in Markdown with clear headings so I can turn it into an EPUB or PDF.Newsletter
Get the free starter pack
Free starter pack with five beginner copy-paste prompts after you confirm, plus three sourced setups in your inbox each week. Unsubscribe anytime.
What usually goes wrong?
Where agents tend to stall on this job. More patterns in Where AI gets stuck.
- A course written by AI can state wrong things with confidence. Check each chapter's sources against the official docs, especially on technical topics.
Which chat tools work with this prompt?
Paste the prompt into any of these assistants (free or paid tiers).
- ChatGPT
- Claude
Common questions
- Can AI make a study guide for me?
- Yes. Tell it what you already know and your goal, and ask for chapters with quizzes and sources.
- How do I make an ebook with AI for free?
- Have the AI write the book in Markdown, then convert it with Pandoc, a free tool that outputs EPUB and PDF.
- Can AI create a full course on any topic?
- It can draft one. The quality depends on the sources you feed it and on you checking the facts.
- How long should a self-study course be?
- Short enough to finish. Start with 30 to 50 pages and add chapters once you're through it.
What tips make it smoother?
- Have the AI write the book in Markdown, then convert it with Pandoc, a free tool that outputs EPUB and PDF.
- If your bot can run commands, ask it to finish with pandoc course.md -o course.epub. PDF output needs a PDF engine such as LaTeX installed.
- Start with 30 to 50 pages and add chapters once you are through it.
Where do the claims come from?
Summaries use public sources linked below, not independent verification. How setups are picked.
- Read @SkrOYC’s write-up (x.com)
@SkrOYC: Says their bot made them an EPUB for studying how git works under the hood, shaped by their own goals and a few related tools they named. They say it came out to roughly 50 pages as a PDF. Their claim; no file shared.
Related setups
- Learn a new skill with an AI study plan
Turn "I want to learn X" into a week-by-week plan with daily tasks, quizzes, and beginner projects.
- Build an exam study schedule with AI quizzes
Build a certification exam study plan with AI: a schedule weighted by exam topic, active-recall quizzes, and timed practice tests before exam day.
- Practice a New Language With AI Conversation
Hold practice conversations in your target language with an AI voice partner, on your schedule.