The Next Chapter of Readwise: Our Own Reading App

The Next Chapter of Readwise: Our Own Reading App

In today's fast-paced world, where technology has disrupted traditional publishing and distribution models, the experience of reading remains largely unchanged. We spend hours reading books, only to forget most of what we've learned. Why doesn't software help us retain and apply the knowledge we gain from reading? This is the question that Readwise seeks to answer.

Readwise is on a mission to improve the practice of reading through software by an order of magnitude. To achieve this, they have built their own fully-integrated reading app. The decision to create their own reading app was driven by the demand from their users. They recognized that while there have been advancements in reading technology, such as Kindle and Pocket, these were primarily focused on content distribution rather than advancing the practice of reading itself.

Retention is a key focus for Readwise. They believe that if you want to get more out of reading, you first need to forget less. Their reading app is built on a local-first foundation, enabling fast and comprehensive search of your entire library of books, articles, annotations, and highlights. This means that you can easily find and reference any information you need, even offline.

Another challenge that Readwise addresses is content overload. In today's digital age, we save more things than we can actually consume. Our inboxes are overflowing, turning our digital gardens into digital graveyards. Readwise tackles this issue by emphasizing the importance of highlighting. Highlighting is a core feature of their reading app, unlike other reading apps where it is often neglected or treated as an afterthought. Readwise believes that the best way to read between the lines is to write between the lines, encouraging users to actively engage with the text and make meaningful connections.

It's worth noting that Readwise is not attempting to make reading a social activity or create an internet-scale annotation layer. Their focus is on providing a powerful reading tool for individuals, rather than building a social network around reading. By honing in on the needs of individual readers, Readwise can deliver a more tailored and effective reading experience.

The story of Readwise is complemented by the journey of Roelof Botha, one of the most powerful people in venture capital. Botha's success can be attributed to his ability to stay focused on his goals. When he started at Sequoia 19 years ago, he would write the number 109 on the corner of his notepad every week, representing his private goal of achieving $1 billion in total gains. This unwavering focus allowed him to make exceptional investments and achieve remarkable success.