# Book to Skill

Converts books and documents into structured agent skills with frameworks and principles.

- Repository: https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill (36705 stars)
- Category: AI and agents
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-28
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add virgiliojr94/book-to-skill --skill book-to-skill -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add virgiliojr94/book-to-skill --skill book-to-skill -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add virgiliojr94/book-to-skill --skill book-to-skill -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add virgiliojr94/book-to-skill --skill book-to-skill -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Converts books and documents (PDF, EPUB, DOCX, HTML, Markdown, plain text, RTF, MOBI/AZW with Calibre) into structured agent skills, extracting frameworks, mental models, principles, techniques, and anti-patterns. Use when the user wants to study a document through GitHub Copilot CLI, Amp, Claude Code, Hermes Agent, OpenCode, or OpenClaw, apply an author's frameworks while working, or build a reusable knowledge base from a file.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

<!--
Cross-agent notes (informational; ignored by host agents):
  - Compatible skill roots: GitHub Copilot CLI (~/.copilot/skills, ~/.agents/skills,
    .github/skills, .claude/skills, .agents/skills), Amp (.agents/skills,
    ~/.config/agents/skills, ~/.config/amp/skills), Claude Code (~/.claude/skills),
    Hermes Agent ($HERMES_HOME/skills, .hermes/skills, .agents/skills),
    OpenClaw (${OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR:-~/.openclaw}/skills, .agents/skills, skills/;
    ~/.agents/skills only with the default state).
    OpenCode (~/.config/opencode/skills, ~/.claude/skills, .opencode/skills,
    ~/.agents/skills, .agents/skills).
  - `allowed-tools` is intentionally omitted to stay agent-neutral: Copilot CLI uses
    `shell`/MCP-server names, Claude uses `Bash`/`Read`/`Write`/`Glob`/`Grep`, Amp
    adds `shell_command`. The skill needs shell (to run extract.py) and file
    read/write, each host will prompt for those on first use.
  - Argument hint: <path-to-document-folder-or-glob>... [skill-name-slug]
-->

# Book-to-Skill Converter

Transform written knowledge into actionable agent skills by extracting structure, not producing summaries.

## Philosophy

Books contain crystallized expertise: frameworks, principles, and techniques that took years to develop. This skill extracts that knowledge into a format GitHub Copilot CLI, Amp, Claude Code, Hermes Agent, OpenCode, OpenClaw, or another compatible agent can leverage repeatedly.
**Extract structure, not summaries.** A skill isn't a book report. It's a toolkit of:
- Named frameworks (mental models with clear application)
- Actionable principles (rules that guide decisions)
- Techniques (step-by-step methods)
- Anti-patterns (what to avoid and why)
- Voice calibration (how the author thinks and communicates)

**Preserve the author's precision.** Frameworks often have specific names for reasons. "The 5 Whys" isn't interchangeable with "ask why multiple times." Capture the exact formulation.

The rest: https://github.com/virgiliojr94/book-to-skill/blob/HEAD//SKILL.md