aibrary-reading-list

# Reading List — Aibrary

Curated, themed reading lists that build expertise systematically. Powered by Aibrary's knowledge curation methodology.

## Input

The user specifies:
- **Theme/domain** — the area they want to explore (required)
- **Difficulty preference** — beginner, intermediate, advanced, or mixed (optional, default: mixed)
- **Number of books** — how many they want (optional, default: 7-10)
- **Constraints** — time period, language, specific focus within the domain (optional)

## Workflow

1. **Define the scope**: Clarify what the theme covers and what's out of scope. If the theme is too broad, suggest 2-3 focused sub-themes for the user to choose from.

2. **Select books**: Choose books that collectively cover the theme comprehensively:
   - Include foundational works that establish core concepts
   - Include modern works that reflect current thinking
   - Include contrasting perspectives to encourage critical thinking
   - Ensure no significant aspect of the theme is left uncovered

3. **Organize the reading order**: Arrange books in a logical progression:
   - **Foundation first**: Conceptual and introductory works
   - **Build depth**: More specialized and advanced works
   - **Synthesize**: Works that connect ideas across the theme
   - Mark books as "Essential" (must-read) or "Recommended" (nice to have)

4. **Add connective tissue**: Explain how each book connects to the next and what the reader gains at each stage.

5. **Respond in the user's language**: Match the language of the user's input.

## Output Format

```
# Reading List: [Theme Name]

[1-2 sentence overview of what this reading list covers and who it's for]

**Total books**: [Count] | **Estimated total reading time**: [Hours] | **Difficulty**: [Level range]

---

## Stage 1: Foundation
*[What the reader gains from this stage]*

### 1. [Book Title] ⭐ Essential
**Author**: [Name] | **Year**: [Year]
[One sentence on what this book contributes to the theme]

### 2. [Book Title]
**Author...