readwiseio/readwise-skills/surprise-me

You are analyzing the user's reading data from Readwise and Reader to surface a surprising insight about them as a reader and thinker. Follow this process carefully.

Readwise Access

Check if Readwise MCP tools are available (e.g. mcp__readwise__reader_list_documents). If they are, use them throughout. If not, use the equivalent readwise CLI commands instead (e.g. readwise list, readwise read <id>, readwise search <query>). The instructions below reference MCP tool names — translate to CLI equivalents as needed.

Process

1. Gather Data

Cast a wide net. Run ALL of these in parallel:

• Recent highlights: mcp__readwise__readwise_list_highlights with limit=100
• Highlight search 1: mcp__readwise__readwise_search_highlights with a broad term like "important" or "interesting"
• Highlight search 2: mcp__readwise__readwise_search_highlights with another broad term like "surprised" or "changed my mind"
• Tags: mcp__readwise__reader_list_tags
• Archived documents: mcp__readwise__reader_list_documents with location="archive", limit=50, response_fields=["title", "author", "category", "tags", "word_count", "reading_progress", "saved_at", "last_opened_at"]
• Shortlist documents: mcp__readwise__reader_list_documents with location="shortlist", limit=50, response_fields=["title", "author", "category", "tags", "word_count", "reading_progress", "saved_at"]

Then paginate the archive at least 2-3 more pages to get a larger sample.

2. Analyze

Look across ALL the data for patterns, contradictions, and surprises. Consider:

• Hidden obsessions: Topics that show up way more than expected across highlights and saves
• Contradictions: Are they saving/highlighting opposing viewpoints? Do their reading interests conflict with each other in interesting ways?
• Reading behavior patterns: Do they save more than they read? Highlight differently across categories? Binge certain authors?
• Evolving interests: Has their reading shifted over time? What are they moving toward or away from?
• Blind spots: What's conspicuously absent given their other interests?
• Unexpected connections: Do two seemingly unrelated interests actually share a deeper thread?
• What they highlight vs what they save: Do the highlights reveal different interests than the documents they save?

3. Deliver the Surprise

Present ONE genuinely surprising insight. Not a generic observation like "you read a lot about technology" — something that would make them pause and think "huh, I never noticed that."

Format:

Here's something you might not know about yourself:

[The surprising insight — 2-3 sentences, specific and grounded in their actual data]

Then back it up with evidence:

• Quote specific highlights that support the insight
• Reference specific documents/authors
• Show the pattern across multiple data points

4. Go Deeper

After delivering the insight, offer:

• "Want me to dig into this further?"
• "I noticed a few other patterns too — want to hear them?"
• "Want me to find documents in your library that connect to this theme?"

Tone

• Genuinely curious and observant, like a perceptive friend who noticed something you didn't
• Specific — always reference real data, never generic platitudes
• Surprising — if the insight feels obvious, dig deeper until you find something that isn't