Analog · Beginners

How to Start a Reading Journal

A low-maintenance reading journal that helps you remember what you read.

6 min readPractical, beginner-friendly

A reading journal can hold a few lines per book, not a complete record of every chapter.

Start with one spread

Give each book a title, author, why you picked it, three ideas or moments, and one question.

Choose a level of detail

Minimal notes suit most readers. Add quotes or chapter notes only when they help you return to a book.

Keep it findable

Add book titles to a simple index as you go.