NotebookLM gets even more useful with new expert-curated ‘Featured Notebooks’

Google’s AI-powered research tool, NotebookLM, is an absolute favorite productivity app for many users. Its real power comes from its ability to become an expert in the specific source materials you provide it. But sometimes, the hardest part of any research project is just gathering those high-quality sources to begin with.

Google is now rolling out a new feature that solves that problem and makes it easier than ever to dive into a new topic. Meet Featured Notebooks, curated collections of information on a variety of subjects, created in partnership with respected authors, publications, and nonprofits from around the world.

What to expect from Featured Notebooks

Featured Notebooks are essentially pre-made, high-quality starter packs for exploring a new subject in NotebookLM. Instead of you having to find and upload all the source documents yourself, Google and its partners have done the work for you. The initial lineup showcases a fantastic range of topics, including:

• Longevity advice from Eric Topol, the bestselling author of “Super Agers”
• Expert analysis and predictions for 2025 from The Economist’s “The World Ahead” annual report
• A science fan’s guide to visiting Yellowstone National Park
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, for students and scholars to explore
• Science-backed parenting advice from Professor Jacqueline Nesi’s popular “Techno Sapiens” newsletter

An interactive way to learn from experts

The best part is that these aren’t just static folders of documents. Each featured notebook lets you explore the content using all of NotebookLM’s signature AI-powered features. You can ask specific questions and get answers grounded in the provided material (complete with citations), listen to pre-generated Audio Overviews of the topics, or use the Mind Maps feature to visually explore the main themes and connections within the content.

Additionally, this new feature builds beautifully on the ability to publicly share notebooks that Google introduced last month. In just the last four weeks, users have already created over 140,000 public notebooks, showing a real appetite for sharing knowledge on the platform. Featured notebooks now provide a trusted, expert-curated starting point to complement all that great community-created content.

This is a fantastic addition that lowers the barrier to entry for NotebookLM and makes it a powerful tool for exploration right from the first click. Featured Notebooks will start rolling out to users on desktop right away, so be on the lookout.