How to Use Kindle Books in NotebookLM

This guide shows how to create personal reading-note text from a Kindle Cloud Reader book with BookHalo, then use that text in Google NotebookLM for summaries, questions, reading notes, and audio overviews.

What you need

• Desktop Google Chrome
• A Kindle book you can lawfully access in Kindle Cloud Reader / Kindle for Web
• BookHalo
• Google NotebookLM

BookHalo is a Chrome extension. It works in the browser-based Kindle reader, not in the Kindle desktop or mobile app.

1. Install BookHalo from Chrome Web Store

Install BookHalo from the Chrome Web Store. After installation, pin BookHalo to your Chrome toolbar so it is easy to start while your Kindle book is open.

2. Open your book in Kindle Cloud Reader

Open read.amazon.com or your regional Kindle Cloud Reader / Kindle for Web domain, then open the book you want to use in NotebookLM.

Important: use the browser reader. Kindle samples and preview-only pages are not supported.

3. Create TXT and PDF with BookHalo

With the book open, click the BookHalo icon and start OCR. BookHalo turns pages, captures visible pages, runs OCR, and downloads a ZIP file when processing is complete.

The ZIP usually contains:

• full_text.txt: OCR-created reading-note text
• book.pdf: reference PDF for processed pages

4. Use full_text.txt in NotebookLM

Create a new NotebookLM notebook, unzip the BookHalo result, and use full_text.txt as a personal reading-note source. Name the notebook with the book title and author so it is easy to find later.

5. Ask better first questions

Instead of asking for a generic summary, ask for a specific output shape.

Explain the three central arguments of this book.
For each one, summarize the supporting evidence from the text.

I want to apply this book at work.
Give me five practical actions I can try this week.

Why TXT is usually better than PDF for NotebookLM

NotebookLM can ingest PDFs, but for OCR output the plain text file is usually the better first source.

• It is easier to inspect and quote.
• It is easier for AI tools to parse.
• It can also be used in ChatGPT, Claude, and other tools for personal reading notes, if their terms allow it.
• The PDF remains useful for checking page layout and visual context.

Regional Kindle stores

BookHalo supports multiple Kindle Cloud Reader / Kindle for Web domains, but Kindle availability can differ by region and account. If your local Kindle for Web domain behaves differently, try the free tier first and contact us with the domain and book type.

Best-fit books

• Business books
• Technical books
• Language-learning books
• Novels you want to annotate or discuss
• Any book you want to revisit through Q&A