Prompts for NotebookLM: Source-Based Research and Studying

NotebookLM — now called Gemini Notebook as of July 2026 — lets you upload your own sources and ask questions that the tool answers only from those sources. The most effective prompts ask for cited summaries, direct comparisons, and gap checks rather than open-ended questions that could draw on knowledge outside your materials.

Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook; the product at notebooklm.google.com↗ (opens in a new tab) reflects the updated branding. Search interest still centers on the original name, so these prompts work with either. Tools like fenbs preserve your source links and accepted findings when the work moves beyond the notebook into a project.

What NotebookLM does that general AI tools do not

Unlike a general AI assistant, NotebookLM answers questions only from the sources you uploaded. This has two practical benefits: answers are grounded in your materials, and the tool can cite the specific passage it drew from. For academic research and studying, that citation trail matters because it lets you check the source rather than trust the summary.

The limitation is that the tool only knows what you uploaded. If a relevant source is missing from your notebook, the answer will not account for it. The gap check prompts below help surface that. A notebook that has never been checked for coverage gaps can give you a false sense of completeness.

Prompts for cited summaries

Ask explicitly for citations in your summary requests. NotebookLM can cite the source and page or section for each key point; a prompt that does not ask for citations may omit them, leaving you with a summary that reads well but cannot be traced back to a specific passage.

Summarize the key arguments in [source title or all sources]. For each main point, cite the specific source and section it comes from. If two sources agree, note both. If they disagree, flag the disagreement rather than choosing one.

Summarize [source title] in [N] bullet points. Each point must come from the text, not inferred from general knowledge. Include a citation (page, section, or passage) for each point.

After receiving a summary, open the cited passages and read them. A summary can compress a nuanced argument into a statement that sounds simpler or more definitive than the original. The citation is an invitation to verify, not a guarantee of accuracy.

Prompts for comparing sources

Comparison prompts are one of the most useful things you can do with a multi-source notebook. They surface where your sources agree, where they differ, and where one says something the other ignores. Ask for a structured comparison that names the agreement and disagreement rather than a blended synthesis that hides the distinctions.

Compare how [source A] and [source B] approach [topic]. List: (1) the points where they agree, with a citation from each, (2) the points where they disagree, with a citation from each, and (3) anything one source covers that the other does not mention.

Across all uploaded sources, how does the argument about [topic] develop? List the key positions in order, with citations. Do not blend them into one view — show the progression.

Prompts for studying and practice questions

NotebookLM generates practice questions that test comprehension of your specific materials, which is more useful for exam preparation than generic questions about a subject. A question generated from your actual textbook or course reading will reflect the framing and terminology your exam uses, not a general version of the topic.

Generate [N] exam-style questions based on [source title or all sources]. For each question, note which source and section the answer can be found in. Include one question that requires comparing two sources.

Explain [concept] using only the uploaded sources. If the sources do not fully explain it, say which part is covered and which part is not. Do not add general knowledge.

For subjects with US-specific content — law, healthcare policy, tax regulations — double-check that the sources you uploaded are current and US-focused. A general textbook may describe principles that apply differently under US law. The FERPA rules for US students, for example, differ from data protection rules in other jurisdictions.

Prompts for gap checks

A gap check tells you what your sources do not cover. This is useful before deciding whether you have enough material for a research project, or before an exam when you want to know if you have missed a key topic. Running a gap check before you think you are done is a more reliable preparation step than reviewing what you already know.

Based on the uploaded sources, what aspects of [topic] are not covered or only briefly mentioned? For each gap, suggest what type of additional source would fill it.

My exam covers these topics: [list]. Based on the uploaded sources, which topics are well-covered and which are barely mentioned? Give me the three areas where my current sources leave the most room for improvement.

When to move findings out of NotebookLM

NotebookLM is a research and study tool, not a project management tool. When you have findings you want to act on — a decision about which sources to trust, a key argument you want to build on, a gap you plan to fill — moving those out of the notebook and into a place where you track work makes them easier to pick up later. Findings that stay in a notebook can be hard to find when the notebook has grown to dozens of sources. A separate record of accepted conclusions also means the research survives if you need to restart the notebook or share the findings with someone who does not have access to it.

How to do this with fenbs

1. Create a free account and set up a project for your research or study topic.
2. After each NotebookLM session, add a context note with the key findings and their citations.
3. In Links and listings, add each primary source you confirmed is reliable, with a note on what it covers.
4. Add a task for each research gap you identified, so you have a checklist of sources still to find.
5. Connect a supported AI app from Integrations to read your project context when you are working in tools outside NotebookLM.

fenbs does not connect to NotebookLM or Gemini Notebook directly. It keeps the record of what you found and decided outside the notebook, so that knowledge is not locked inside one tool. If your work stays entirely within a single notebook session, NotebookLM alone is likely enough.

For alternatives to NotebookLM for different research needs, see NotebookLM alternatives. For how it compares to Claude Projects for similar use cases, see Claude Projects vs NotebookLM.