Wonder Tools

I wrote the first Wonder Tools post in April 2020 to help journalists and educators navigate the pandemic shift to remote work. I was sick and feeling isolated. I wanted to focus on something bright in that dark moment. Five years, 265 posts, and 200,000 words later, the newsletter’s archive documents what I’ve found useful for creative productivity. My aim has been to be relentlessly practical, not theoretical, and to help people make the most of technology. Here’s a snapshot of some numbers, lessons, & highlights. By the numbers: Wonder Tools' first five years637 apps on my phone. I only use 10% of them regularly, and another 10% occasionally.219 apps on my laptop, about a third of which I use often. ~$300 monthly software subscription costs.~3,500 reader emails answered. Most of my replies are quick personal hellos to new readers who have responded to my welcome email. I also often answer questions, whether about apps for scanning a family photo album or research resources for work. ~200,000 words written, many on Sundays and then Wednesday nights, when sentences composed earlier beg for revision.~137 tools tested but not featured because they weren't worth your time. 65,000+ tech-curious people from 201 countries subscribe to Wonder Tools, growing at ~3% a month. 277 Substack newsletters recommend Wonder Tools. Half of the current readership found this newsletter through a recommendation. ~2,000+ hours spent researching, testing, writing, editing, and publishing.265 posts on AI, note-taking, productivity apps, focus tactics, and myriad other aspects of our digital lives at home and work. What I’ve learned to be true Utility beats pontificationHeadlines and hot takes are widely available elsewhere. Instead of offering musings or abstract analysis, I prioritize practical guidance about how to make the most of digital tools. The 100 to 1 rule: For every minute you spend reading a post, I spend 100 creating it. Each phase takes time: research, experimentation, interviewing, outlining, writing, rewriting, editing, proofreading, designing visuals, and publishing. Survival of the fittest: I often prep several versions of a post — or drafts on multiple topics — before settling on a publishable piece. The hardest part? Converting various notes, ideas, and experiments into a clear, concise, readable— and hopefully relevant— narrative. Confronting the cold start problem: Voice AI apps — like Letterly — have helped me overcome blank pages. I can start with unstructured oral musings, then edit my jumble into shape. Consistent publishing requires sacrificeSpending hours each week on a passion project like this requires tradeoffs. I devote less time to streaming, social media, and watching sports than before starting this. I also read fewer magazines. There’s no free lunch. Most apps fail the endurance test 📆If I don’t use a tool regularly after initially exploring it, I usually don’t write about it. Lots of services have disappeared from my workflow over time. Sustainable utility is often evident only after a few months. Readers supply lots of terrific tips 💌Ideogram, Raycast, Eagle, and other apps I now rely on came from subscriber suggestions. I also explore discovery hubs to experiment with new tools, some of which I end up writing about.I delete more words than I publish ✂️The hardest part of writing is subtracting. What’s omitted is more important than what’s included. When I’m nearly done with a post, I edit out 10%. I learned that in college from John McPhee. The next 122 tools on my radar 🔭My near-term exploration list includes 122 sites and apps I’ll try out over the next few months. My backlog includes 328 services I’m curious about. In the early days of this newsletter, I wondered when I’d run out of writing material. Now I wonder how to keep up with even a fraction of the emerging services. Wonder Tools readers are biologists, bakers, and bowling coaches 🎳 … from tech novices to legendary pros. I originally envisioned this newsletter serving journalists and educators, but the readership has broadened. Every week I hear from readers who work in all sorts of fields around the world. From top political officials to online celebrities, I’ve been surprised by who pops up on the subscriber list. When I started my journalism career in Newsweek’s letters department, I spent my days reading missives to the editor. Now the middleman is gone, and I relish the opportunity to correspond directly with readers. So email me or message me on Substack. I’d be happy to hear from you. Sitting in my New York City kitchen, it’s exciting to hear about a new book from a retired South African engineer or about a new data analysis tool from a math teacher in Iowa. I’m now keenly aware of our common global need for smart digital tools that enhance our screen-based work. Wonder Tools is reader-supported. To receive upcoming posts by email, consider a free or paid subscription to support this newsletter.3 of the most widely-read past posts👇 My hall of fame tool list 💎After five years of testing hundreds of tools, my enduring favorites are those I rely on consistently and frequently recommend. I would be sorely disappointed if any of these disappeared. * Craft is my go-to for creating visual documents and handouts. [Read more]* Perplexity delivers relevant, citation-backed responses to queries, not just links, making it my preferred search tool for gathering actionable info quickly. [Read more]* Claude has become a valuable thinking partner for brainstorming ideas, proofreading drafts, developing project plans, and creating SEO description text and alt-text for my posts. [Read more]* Letterly transformed how I overcome writer's block by letting me talk out my ideas and transform rough early thoughts into editable drafts. [Read more]* ChatGPT remains my AI Swiss Army knife. It helps with everything from generating illustrations to assisting with structuring lesson plans. [Read more]* NotebookLM helps me extract insights from my notes, documents, links, and recordings. It creates text and audio summaries, draws connections between ideas, assists with timelines, and avoids hallucination, remaining grounded in my materials and providing citations for verification. [Read more]* Google Docs remains a reliable workhorse. Its collaboration features and ease of use make it indispensable. [Read more]* Wakeout, which I use almost daily, is my favorite app for movement breaks.* Substack enabled Wonder Tools to become a sustainable project by facilitating its creation, distribution, and monetization, and by building a network for writers to recommend one another’s work. p.s. these services I wrote about are no longer around: Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

Discover a tech arsenal that powers afternoons and evenings. From mindfulness apps like Healthy Minds for quick mental breaks to Libby for free audiobooks during commutes, there's something for everyone. Plus, explore helpful restaurant reservation platforms like Resy and OpenTable. Learn about unique fitness tools, including a surprising video game for workouts. This is all about enhancing productivity, relaxation, and fun, ensuring a fulfilling end to your day!

Discover a fascinating morning routine that balances wellness and productivity! The speaker shares insights on using the Oura Ring to monitor sleep and energy levels. Enjoy breakfast games like Wordle with family as a fun alternative to news. A TickTime Cube Timer helps keep exercises short and effective, ensuring consistency. Dive into practical tips to enhance focus and creativity while managing your digital workflow from dawn till lunch.

Discover the hidden gem that is Raycast, a productivity powerhouse for Mac users. This app allows you to manage tasks, perform quick calculations, and even access your clipboard history—all without your mouse! Learn how to create text shortcuts to save time and streamline your workflow. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about reclaiming precious minutes for what truly matters, be it deep work or family time. Plus, find out about its upcoming compatibility with iOS and Windows!

OpenAI just made the most significant leap in image generation I've seen over the past year. You can now type a simple prompt using ChatGPT 4o and create a remarkable photo illustration, infographic, cartoon, or just about any other visual.What makes this special? * Versatility. Create nearly any kind of visual you can imagine. * Intelligence. The AI understands your intent based on an ongoing chat thread and its understanding of the world, rather than just focusing on prompt phrases. That means you don’t have to master technical lingo or explain common concepts.* Continuity. You can create variations on any image and use consistent characters or styles for ongoing stories, presentations, or projects. * Text. I’ve been amazed at the rendering of vast amounts of text inside images, as in the parking sign above. Other AI tools struggle with more than a few words. It’s available for all ChatGPT users, whether you’re on a free or paid plan, on any platform. Read on for how to make the most of it, limitations, and alternatives.7 ways to use ChatGPT's new image AICartoons I've always wanted to draw cartoons but never had the skill. Now I can quickly prototype visual sequences. While human cartoonists bring unique creativity that AI can't replicate, this tech allows anyone to experiment.Infographics What impressed me most as I beta tested this model in recent weeks was its extraordinary level of nuance, detail and text accuracy. I created explanatory infographics for AI learners and music appreciation students. If you've spent hours building infographics or relied on stock, this may be a turning point. Caveat: The model sometimes struggles to accurately render text in non-Latin languages. Posters Create event ads, announcements, social posts, or signage without having to rely on a template. Quickly test out visual ideas that might otherwise take hours to flesh out. Slides Generate compelling images for presentations. Create wide or tall slides with big words or numbers, stylish quotes, or clarifying flowcharts. You can now use ChatGPT for help with planning a deck and designing its slides. Determining the purpose, structure, style, approach, and delivery is still your human role. Illustrations While DALL-E 3 (ChatGPT's previous image tool) worked well for some illustrations, this new 4o image generation opens up a broader range of styles, including conceptual images (like this) for blog posts, newsletters, or videos. StoriesIf you write fiction or poetry, you can now generate consistent character images. I’m delighted to be able to experiment with illustration styles for fan fiction I’m working on with my daughters based on the "Not Quite Human" series about a robot disguised as a human teenager.Designs Create icons, logos, or micro-illustrations for your projects. You can ask for multiple versions of a design in different styles, then build on the one you prefer.How to prompt ChatGPT 4o for great images1. Iterate through conversation Unlike other image generators that require a new prompt each time, ChatGPT 4o now enables an ongoing revision dialogue. Ask it to change styles, adjust elements, or create multiple related images. Caveat: asking for a correction on one element sometimes results in unexpected changes to other parts of an image. And ChatGPT will refuse some requests on content policy grounds.2. Upload reference images The multimodal nature of the model helps it understand and incorporate elements from images you share. I uploaded an image from a well-designed invitation and used it as inspiration for a private book group visual. 3. Prompt for prompts Use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini as a thought partner to suggest effective ideas or prompts based on your goals. This meta-approach helps you broaden your ideation.4. Compare across services Even with this major advancement, it's worth testing your prompts in other services, like the ones noted below, to see how results differ and which model works best for a particular project. 5. Save winning prompts When you find a formula that works well for the kind of images you'll want to generate repeatedly, save it. A snippet manager like Raycast, Alfred, or TextBlaze makes saving and reusing these prompts easy. Once created, you can just type "\illo" — or whatever keyboard shortcut you choose — to paste in your favorite illustration prompt. This allows you to add custom details while keeping your base prompt intact.LimitationsOpenAI has acknowledged several technical limitations of the new image generation model in their surprisingly candid launch post. 1. Cropping challenges When creating wide or tall infographics or slides, the AI sometimes misjudges dimensions, resulting in cut-off text or images. You may need to prompt again to fit all content properly.2. Complex information hallucinations For complicated requests like showing all elements in the periodic table, ChatGPT may struggle to track more than 10-20 items and hallucinate imaginary elements to fill gaps.3. Precise editing difficulties When you try to edit specific parts of an image, it might struggle with precision, either failing to make the requested change or altering too much. 4. Slow I feel guilty for commenting on speed for something this magical. But it can take one to two minutes to generate images, which is 10x as slow as image generation on Ideogram or other platforms. If you’re interested in ethical considerations associated with AI image generation, watch this Ted Talk by Ed Newton Rex, founder of Fairly Trained, a non-profit that certifies generative AI companies that respect creators’ rights. Then watch a counterargument from artist Greg Lookerse. Strong alternatives* Ideogram also launched its new version (3.0) this week. It’s terrific, especially for abstract or metaphorical images, or for merging text with striking graphics like this. [See what I like about Ideogram.] Unlike ChatGPT, Ideogram has a menu for specifying an image’s dimensions and color palettes. And you can choose from four distinct image renderings. Ideogram can’t accurately produce lengthy text inside images like ChatGPT, though, and it lacks other advanced capabilities. For now I'll continue paying $8/month for Ideogram, though the calculus is quickly changing. * Adobe Firefly has a new standalone site. Its model is trained exclusively on material it obtained permission to use, making it a good choice for commercial projects. [See its ethics page]. * Reve is another great new AI image generation model that launched this week out of Silicon Valley. It renders typography well and abstract imagery like this. I like how you can modify images generated for you with a simple text prompt.What image generation tools have you been experimenting with, and how? 👇 Special offer: reader discount on Letterly until April 1I use Letterly to get past writer’s block, for journaling, and for ideation. It transcribes my rambling and reformats it into organized text. I use Letterly so much that its founders and I compiled a list of 50 ways to use the app.Letterly’s founder is offering a lifetime deal specifically for Wonder Tools readers. Instead of paying for an annual $80 Letterly subscription, you can pay $149 once for lifetime access. You can get it through this unique link. The deal will be briefly active, just until April 1st at 11:59pm PST. * Works on iPhone, Android, Mac, Web, iPad* Unlimited recordings, transcriptions, and rewrites* 90+ auto-recognized languages* Record online or offline; widget for quick captures; screen-off recording* 14-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel if it’s not useful for you. * You won't find this deal elsewhere online. * Transparency note: The link above is an affiliate link, so I get a small commission if you purchase through it to help fund Wonder Tools. I’m sharing this because I rely on Letterly and you might find it useful too. Sponsored messageUnlock 5,000+ ChatGPT Prompts & Supercharge Your Productivity with AIInstantly access 5,000+ ChatGPT prompts and quick, actionable AI productivity tips. Trusted by 120,000+ subscribers.Join Cyber Corsairs free AI productivity newsletter and boost your efficiency.Ready to increase your productivity? It's your turn to get smarter with AI.Join Free Now → Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

In this discussion, Jeremy Kaplan, an educator at CUNY and creator of the Wonder Tools newsletter, shares his insights on the transformative power of AI in professional environments. He highlights tools like Perplexity, which offers concise summaries for quick understanding, and NotebookLM, enhancing research efficiency by anchoring responses in user context. Kaplan elaborates on AI as a creativity multiplier, emphasizing its potential to boost communication and productivity, while also addressing the challenges of slow adoption in education and work.

Hundreds of AI tools emerge every week. I’ve picked five new ones worth exploring. They’re free to try, easy to use, and signal new directions for useful AI. 1. Sesame ⚡️ Talk with a surprisingly lifelike AI Of all the AI bots I’ve communicated with, this one sounds the most lifelike. Pick either Maya or Miles to talk with for free in Sesame’s conversational demo. Try one of these topics. You can download your conversation afterwards. It’s deleted from the company’s servers within 30 days to protect your privacy. I’ll keep an eye on this company: Sesame aims to build “an ever-present brilliant friend and conversationalist, keeping you informed and organized, helping you be a better version of yourself.” Another intriguing new AI conversationalist: I’m also intrigued by my experiments with Natura Umana’s “AI people.” Rather than one AI bot that covers everything, the NatureOS ecosystem hosts multiple conversational bots, each with a different focus. I’ve talked with Hector about well-being and Athena about fitness. The NatureOS interestingly includes hardware, so you can summon these lifelike AI characters with a quick tap of special earbuds. (See a video demo).2. Convergence 🎯 Assign tasks to an AI agent Ask Convergence’s AI agent to buy groceries for you, find a gift on Amazon, get you a restaurant reservation, research what people say about your company, or do any number of other tasks. This is just one of many new AI agents trained to use a Web browser for you, and none are yet fully reliable. When I tasked Convergence with making a list of LinkedIn profiles of speakers at the upcoming Perugia International Journalism festival, it got some right and many wrong. With simpler tasks your odds of success are higher. You can request up to five tasks for free per day, or pay $20/month for an unlimited number of tasks. 3. Scribe 🖋️ Transcribe super accurately. Temporarily freeUntil April 9, Scribe — a remarkably accurate new transcription model from ElevenLabs — is completely free. In my tests it got the names of websites right, — — most transcription tools get those wrong. It also captured tiny speech nuances so well that I’d recommend this over other tools for anything requiring top accuracy. It works in 99 languages. 4. Google Career Dreamer 🚀 Imagine a new job Dream up potential new directions for your career with this simple, well-designed free site. You don’t have to log in, enter your name, or share any personal info. Just type in the kind of work you do and confirm whether you have certain skills and interests. Add your education if you want. The AI immediately gives you a “career identity statement” and shows you a map of jobs that might interest you. Hover over any to learn more about them. You can even open up nearby job openings in that field. You can then jump to Gemini, Google’s alternative to ChatGPT, to work on a cover letter or continue your career ideation. Gems are now free You can now create a free Gemini “Gem,” which is an AI tool customized with your specific instructions and up to 10 documents you upload. It’s Google’s answer to ChatGPT’s Custom GPTs. Try this: Create a new “Career Gem” by uploading your resume, past cover letters, career planning docs, and any other relevant materials. Provide instructions if you have a particular style, language, or approach in mind. This new trained AI assistant you’ve customized can then help you anytime you return to it to refine a cover letter, update your resume, practice for an interview, or even brainstorm career ideas. Alternative: You can use Google’s default “Career Guide” gem without uploading anything, but it’s not personalized.5. Adobe Enhance Speech 🎙️ Improve audioAdobe recently upgraded its audio cleanup tool. Upload any audio recording with background noise and immediately get a clean version to download. There are new sliders for adjusting the enhancement and background noise. You can then use Adobe Podcast to edit the cleaned audio by trimming the transcript just as you would in a Google Doc. It now works for recordings in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English.If you’re making a podcast, you can choose from royalty-free sound collections with intros, outros, transition sounds, and background music. It’s free to try for a month and included with existing Adobe subscriptions. Catch up on recent posts 👇 Peek inside Shannon Almeida’s toolkitI love learning how creative people do the work they’re most proud of. I’m curious about the tools they rely on, so I’ve been interviewing people to discover more about their workflows. Below is an example:Meet Shannon: After growing up in Mumbai and studying finance and economics at Boston University, Shannon co-founded multiple ventures, including Benefactory and Volv, a social news app that delivers nine-second article reads.Tool Philosophy: Less is More “I'm about making the best out of the least amount of things because life is overwhelming enough. It's about how to make my life as simple as possible.”Favorite Tool: Endel Shannon says the Endel sound app’s "sorcery" has transformed her productivity. She relies on its focus sounds in 25-minute increments throughout her workday. It helps her block out external distractions.Her 4 daily tools * Apple Notes serves as Shannon’s morning “brain dump” destination for capturing thoughts and tasks before organizing them elsewhere* Apple’s iCal acts as her primary calendar, connecting to all her Google accounts* Notion functions as her "second brain," with multiple databases for learning projects, life management, and product research* Meco keeps her email inbox clean by redirecting newsletter subscriptions to a dedicated app, with customized notifications for favoritesBiggest workflow challengeSaving content across platforms. Saving screenshots and social posts is tricky, Shannon says, because these either get stuck online or pile up in her camera roll. Transferring valuable content to Notion requires 30-minute weekly sessions.Current CuriosityHow culture, design and technology shape consumer needs in the economy, particularly how brands can develop long-term identity in an era dominated by algorithmic taste-making.Shannon recommends* Newsletters: Puck Line Sheet & What I’m Hearing by Lauren Sherman, Matt Belloni and others* Books: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas, and The Politics of Aesthetics by Jacques Rancière* TV & Music: White Lotus and Doechii* Podcast: "Fashion Neurosis" with Bella Freud. The appeal? Fashion designers lying down (as if in therapy) to discuss their mindsets, not their collections.What’s in your toolkit?Share the top tools in your toolkit in a comment below, or in this short form. Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

Dive into the intriguing debate between traditional paper and modern digital note-taking. Discover the sleek reMarkable Paper Pro, a device that mimics the feel of paper while offering digital conveniences. The hosts share personal experiences on blending both methods for an ideal note-taking strategy. Learn how to navigate the paper-digital divide, enhancing your productivity with personalized solutions. The conversation reveals how to make the best of both worlds, helping you organize your thoughts effectively.

Summary: New AI models emerge weekly, but useful prompts are surprisingly stable. I’ve found nine versatile templates to be consistently useful after experimenting with hundreds. They work well even on the free versions of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot. Read on for the templates and tactics. How to benefit from this post: Adapt these prompts as foundational formulas for getting help from your AI assistant. They’re customizable recipes rather than rigid scripts. Experiment with them. Improve them. Make them your own. Each section below has a button that will take you to the full prompt template and an example. You can add comments to those prompt pages. Pick one for a current project to expand your command of AI. Iterate on it and share your results in a comment for others’ benefit.1. Interview me 🎙️Act as an experienced interviewer. Interview me thoughtfully and creatively about [topic /project /idea]…Goal: Overcome a blank pageUse this when… * You’re stuck battling writer's block* Your thoughts are scattered* You’re trying to crystallize abstract ideasTips:* Specify how you want to be interviewed (e.g., "Ask one question at a time")* Request follow-up questions that build on your previous answers* Ask for a summary of your responses at the end to clarify your thinking2. Help me edit ✍️Act as an experienced editor. Please first slowly read and analyze the following text without rewriting it: [paste or upload text]. Then provide a numbered list of concise, specific, constructive observations to help me strengthen the piece by noting any of the following issues in my writing… Goal: Polish your wordsUse this when… * You’re refining an important message* You don’t have a friend or colleague to help with editing* You want to strengthen an early draft before sharing itTips:* Request specific feedback on common weaknesses like clichés; weak verbs; passive voice; awkward or confusing phrases; redundancy; run-on sentences; or issues with grammar, spelling or punctuation. * Ask the AI not to change your text but to provide a numbered list of potential issues for you to address, along with concise explanations of the concern. That way it’s not making changes on your behalf. You remain in full control of the editing process and the language you choose. * If you find yourself overwhelmed with editing suggestions, prompt your AI assistant to proceed like a patient editing coach progressing step-by-step, noting only one issue at a time.3. Organize my rambling 🖊️Please organize the following information into a clear, structured format: [paste or upload notes/ thoughts/ transcript]. Identify the main themes or categories, group related points together, and create a logical flow…Goal: Structure messy materialsUse this when… * You have disjointed thoughts needing structure* Your meeting notes lack organization* You've brainstormed ideas and need help categorizing themTips:* Try different organizational frameworks (chronological, thematic, priority-based)* Request specific formats like bullet points, numbered lists, or sections with headers* Transform transcripts into actionable summaries with clear next steps in a format you customize 4. Push my thinking 🤔Help me explore unusual, creative, unconventional approaches to [topic/ challenge/ issue]. First, briefly summarize what conventional wisdom typically suggests in this situation. Then, provide 5-7 surprising, unexpected, or innovative alternatives…Goal: 10x your ideasUse this when… * You suspect your thinking is limited or conventional or you may have blind spots* You’re aiming for exceptional — not satisfactory— work* You’re open to new directions or radically distinct ideasTips:* Ask specifically for "surprising, unusual, unexpected, or unconventional approaches"* Request multiple options — 5-10 different possibilities to start. Then ask for even more ideas. The AI doesn’t tire, and it might be the 9th (or 17th) idea that finally resonates.* Consider how elements of multiple responses might be combined5. Help me plan 📆Act as an expert project manager. I need to plan [project/ task/ event] with these constraints: [time/resources/ team composition/ other limitations]. My goal is to [desired outcome], and my working style is [preferences]. Please draft 3 possible structured plans… Goal: Map out a day, a long-term goal, or a complex project.Use this when… * Tackling complex projects with multiple components* Feeling overwhelmed by a task or deadline* Needing an objective perspective on your approach* Coordinating work across team members with different skillsTips:* Include specific constraints (time, resources, team composition)* Mention your preferences and working style* Specify the level of detail you need in the plan* Ask for contingency options if certain approaches don't work6. Help me understand 🧠Act as a wonderful teacher and experienced explainer. I need help understanding [concept/ document/ idea] at a [beginner/ intermediate/ advanced] level. My background knowledge is [relevant context], and I need to understand this for [purpose]. Please explain this in clear, concise language… Goal: Simplify something confusing. Use this when…* Grappling with complex or technical material* Struggling with jargon, legal language, dense research, an exhausting PDF, or bureaucratic documentation* Stuck trying to grasp a confusing point* Trying to process complicated info while tired Tips:* Specify what format would help you understand (analogies, examples, summaries)* Indicate your current knowledge level on the topic* Upload any relevant files you have on hand* Mention why you need to understand this (to explain to others, make a decision, etc.) because that may impact the nature of the response* Specify a preferred explanation length or depth based on your need7. Help me clarify 💎Act as an expert in clear communication. I need to communicate about [topic] to [specific audience] through [medium: email/ presentation/ report]. Here's my current draft or thinking: [paste content or ideas]. Please help me clarify this message by identifying areas that might be confusing…Goal: Strengthen how you’re communicating.Use this when…* Crafting important communications that need precision* Struggling to articulate an idea concisely* Preparing content for presentations or public sharing* Wanting to ensure your message is clear to a specific audienceTips:* Provide details about your audience and their background* Specify the communication medium (email, presentation, website)* Indicate tone preferences (formal, casual, technical)* Ask for multiple versions to compare different approaches8. Help me make ⚡️Act as a patient, detail-oriented instructor. I want to create [project/ item/ content] and need step-by-step guidance. My skill level is [beginner/ intermediate/ advanced], and I have access to these resources: [tools/ materials/ software]…Goal: Get customized instructions for how to do something.Use this when… * Learning a new skill or process* Experimenting with unfamiliar tools or techniques* Seeking step-by-step guidance for a project* Troubleshooting challenges in creative workTips:* Use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot's voice mode if you need hands-free instructions* Try ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode with video so the AI can see what you're working on* Ask for adaptations if you don't have all the suggested materials* Be cautious and skeptical at first when exploring a new skill area with AI assistance, because hallucinations do arise. When in doubt, double-check with a familiar reference link or fact-check with alternative research tools. 9. Help me find 🔎I need to locate specific information about [topic] within [my docs/ online/ this database or field]. I'm looking for [exact details of what you're seeking] for the purpose of [how you'll use this information] …Goal: Locate something buried in a document or somewhere online.Use this when… * You’re searching for specific points within lengthy documents* You need targeted research on a particular topic* You’re looking for connections across multiple sources* You want to confirm the source of a data pointTips:* Unlike the other prompts in this post, this one works best with specialized AI tools. These include:* NotebookLM, which looks only at your uploaded materials [read more].* ChatGPT and Perplexity’s new “deep research” models, which provide citations.* Consensus (example) and Elicit (example) can help you research and better understand a complex issue drawing on academic publications, and you can use a detailed query for more precision. * Be as specific as possible about what you're looking for and why* Request citations so you can verify the information independentlyPower phrases to boost your prompts 🚀Five simple phrases can strengthen the responses you get from nearly any AI query. Think of these as special ingredients for getting exceptional results from otherwise ordinary requests.1. “Be surprising…” 😳“Be surprising, unexpected, and unconventional in your approach” This phrase pushes the AI beyond conventional thinking, helping you discover innovative solutions you might never have considered otherwise.2. “Be concise…” 😑“Use concise, specific language and avoid technical jargon” This ensures responses are accessible and immediately useful rather than filled with complicated terminology or vague suggestions.3. “Adopt my style” 💇“Analyze the examples I've provided and match that style in your response” This helps the AI adapt to your preferred tone and format, creating more consistent and personalized interactions.4. “Ask me…” 🙋“Ask clarifying questions if you need more information to give me the best possible response” This transforms the interaction from a one-way request to a collaborative conversation, leading to more tailored and relevant answers.5. “Do better…” 🤔“Try again with a more detailed, nuanced response that specifically improves the [accuracy/depth/creativity] of your answer” This encourages iterative refinement, pushing the AI to elevate its initial response and deliver progressively better results tailored to your specific needs.Bonus tip: Use ChatGPT or Claude to help you refine your prompts. As language engines, these AI tools excel at sharpening prompt wording. What’s your reaction to this piece, or one of your go-to prompts? Drop a comment below to share👇 Get full access to Wonder Tools at wondertools.substack.com/subscribe

Books offer a compelling, slower alternative to the onslaught of negative news. With terrific new free tools, it’s increasingly easy to access print, digital and audio books. Read on for an update on my favorite book sites and apps. Thanks for reading and sharing. Libby lends out free ebooks and audiobooks through libraries in 78 countries. It works for 90% of U.S. libraries. You can search for and check out nearly anything, instantly, for free, on any device.* Audiobooks Check out and listen to audiobooks at any speed. You may not need to pay for an Audible subscription. * Definitions Click on any word in an ebook you’re reading in Libby for its definition or to see where else that name or phrase appears. * Highlight Save memorable passages for your notes.* Multiple cards You can use multiple library cards within a single Libby account. That helps you check which library has the shortest waiting list for a book in high demand. (See where you can get non-resident library cards).Limitation: Libby is digital-only — you can’t use it for physical books. That requires a separate app or site, like the NYPL app in New York. Kanopy provides free access to top-notch feature films and documentaries. I log in with my library card. Watch on the Web, iOS or Android, or on a SmartTV app like Google TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire TV. Limitation: libraries limit the number of videos you can watch monthly. Hoopla is an alternative to Libby that works with 3,900 library systems in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Like Libby it hosts audiobooks and eBooks, but also bundles in comics, movies, TV shows, magazines, and music. Use Hoopla to read, watch or listen from the Web or on a mobile device. I recently discovered its free Bingepasses, which allow instant access to a collection of magazines or videos for a week.World Cat tells you which of 10,000 global libraries near you have a particular book. It works in multiple languages. Search for books in print, ebook, braille, audio, or other formats. Find your next read 📚* Most Recommended Books shows you a list of smart people. Pick an expert or celeb you like and see which books they recommend, along with brief quotes on why they like each book. Check Goodbooks.io and ReadThisTwice for more expert/celeb book picks.* Whichbook’s World Map offers a creative way to find a book about any part of the world. Select a country and see books set in that region (See gif 👇). * Where to find book recs is a nice list from a Writing About Reading post. I also like the eclectic recommendations in the NYTimes’s Read Like the Wind newsletter. * BookClubs lets you find a book group near you or organize your own. * Fable hosts book clubs & communities for sharing what you’re reading. Find free and cheap books 🔦* Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 free ebooks and audiobooks. No registration required. See the top 100 list for free reading inspiration.* The Internet Archive has searchable e-books and a free library collection.* Bookbub is handy for bargain hunters. It shows discounted and free ebooks. Availabe as a newsletter or check the site for deals. Support Independent booksellers 🪟* Alibris has 200 million titles from indy booksellers around the world. * Powell’s is the world’s largest independent bookstore. * Bookfinder lets you search online to find any book at the cheapest price.* Indiebound helps you find a nearby real-world indy bookstore. * Abebooks has great deals from independents. Check its bargain books + collections. Caveat: Amazon has owned it since 2008.* Tertulia is a well-designed online co-op bookshop owned by readers.Make your own book list ✅* Listy is free. It’s easy to look up & add books, and later export your list. (See my prior post about it).* LibraryThing is free and easy for cataloging books & tracking reading.* Free Notion book tracking template lets you customize a collection page.* Free Airtable book list template & my Airtable example: 30 authors I like. Use AI to explore and expand your taste in books 📚After making a list of books you’ve liked or learned from, prompt an AI engine (ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini) for personalized reading guidance. Read my recent post for how & why this is so useful for analyzing your own reading tendencies and discovering new gems. Sponsored MessageFast & Flawless transcripts with Scribewave: trusted by journalists, researchers and creatives for its accuracy and privacy.* 🌍 Unmatched accuracy: Powered by industry-leading language models, Scribewave guarantees the most precise results on the market in 94 languages.* 📁 For power-users: Bulk upload and download files in seconds.* 📊 Flexible pricing: Choose between usage-based pricing or subscriptions.* 🔒 Self-learning: The only speech-to-text tool that learns your language.* 🖋️ Total control: Easily refine transcripts and export to Word, Google Docs, Adobe, and more.* 🚀 Save 3 hours per hour of content with Scribewave.✨ Ready to transform your workflow? Try Scribewave for free today at scribewave.com.💡 Bonus: Get 50% off your first month with coupon code WONDERTOOLS50Not enough time to read? Get the essence of great books with Shortform summaries. (affiliate link with Wonder Tools discount)Find great children’s books 🧒* Sora is a digital library for kids. Schools make ebooks and audiobooks available on the app. It works well with graphic novels, picture books, as well as comic books and textbooks. (We also use Libby for kids books).* Epic is another popular kids ebook app. It’s fun to use, but be aware that it leans into gamification and extrinsic motivation — using points and streaks to entice kids to repeatedly open the app.* Kanopy has a great kids section with video versions of books by Eric Carle, Mo Willems and other great authors to spark an interest in reading. It also has math and science lessons. Bonus tools: Check out a well-curated list of 55 useful apps for book lovers from Bookscouter, where you can buy and sell books.📚 What reading resource do you find most useful? Add a comment 👇Newsletter recommendation ✉️The Signal delivers global perspectives on tech, science and democracy—free of ideology, twice weekly. Join curious readers seeking deeper context beyond headlines. Sign up for free today. 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