You can now dive into topics such as parenting tips, Shakespeare’s plays, and even healthy ageing with the help of Google’s latest update to its AI-powered note-taking app, NotebookLM.
Google has partnered with authors, researchers, and major publications to introduce a new feature called Featured Notebooks. These notebooks are filled with rich information pulled from trusted sources and give you direct access to powerful AI tools that help you interactively learn more.
Whether you’re curious about longevity, inspired by Shakespeare, or looking for parenting guidance in a digital world, these notebooks offer a starting point for you to explore a subject with minimal effort.
Notebooks filled with expert knowledge
The initial launch includes eight featured notebooks. Each one is crafted using real source materials—books, articles, newsletters, or plays—and offers summaries, notes, and AI-generated audio discussions. Among the first set, you’ll find a notebook on ageing from Super Agers author Eric Topol, and another built around parenting advice from Jacqueline Nesi’s Substack newsletter, Techno Sapiens.
If you’re a fan of literature, you’ll also enjoy the notebook based on the complete works of William Shakespeare. Meanwhile, Google has partnered with prominent publications such as The Atlantic and The Economist to provide you with even more curated content.
For most users, @NotebookLM is a tool for understanding and exploring project-based information.
— Steven Johnson (@stevenbjohnson) July 14, 2025
But we also think it could be a distribution platform, amplifying expert knowledge.
Today we’re offering a preview of that vision: Featured Notebooks.
Here’s the backstory…
In a… pic.twitter.com/0MkPf3DWvn
You can ask questions directly within NotebookLM using its AI chatbot. You’ll also be able to listen to Audio Overviews—short, podcast-style segments hosted by AI voices that walk you through the key ideas in each notebook. These features make it easier than ever for you to understand complex topics, even if you’re new to the subject.
A growing library of public and shared notebooks
Google is expanding how users share and explore information through NotebookLM. Just last month, the company began allowing people to share their notebooks publicly. Since then, over 140,000 public notebooks have been shared within four weeks.
This new update builds on that by giving you access to a ready-made selection of expertly curated notebooks. According to Steven Johnson, the editorial director for NotebookLM, these featured notebooks are a glimpse into the future of learning. In a post on X, he wrote that this could eventually lead to thousands of high-quality notebooks across every subject imaginable, ready for you to add to your collection.
Each notebook is designed not just as a reference tool but as an interactive guide. Instead of creating your own from scratch, you can now explore a wide range of subjects using materials already put together by experts. Google plans to add more featured notebooks over time, with more entries from The Economist, The Atlantic, and other contributors expected in the near future.
So if you’ve ever wanted a more guided and engaging way to learn something new, this is your chance to try it with just a few clicks. Whether for school, work, or personal interest, Google’s NotebookLM is now a smarter way to dig deep into meaningful content.
