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How Acorn Turns Books into Quick Bullets & Audio Stories (with a Little Chaos & a Lot of Coffee☕️)

Finding time to dive into a full-length nonfiction book can be a luxury. That's where Acorn steps in. We take the most compelling ideas from a wide range of nonfiction works—whether it's history, science, politics, or memoir—and distill them into succinct bullet points. Then, we pair those insights with engaging, high-quality audio summaries. Our approach combines the discerning judgment of passionate editors with advanced text-to-speech technology, making rich insights accessible anytime, anywhere.

This time, we are talking to our rockstart editor of the month, Max, to unveil the behind-the-scene story about how Acorn episodes are created.

Meet Our Expert Editors

At the core of Acorn are our dedicated editors—true specialists in nonfiction - they are what we call A.E.T (Acorn Editors Team).

Our editors aren't simply chasing fleeting trends; they're unearthing works that spark thoughtful discussion and offer enduring value. Their selections balance contemporary relevance with timeless insights, ensuring every bullet point is a gateway to deeper understanding.

"The essence of the review process lies in tuning in with users, empathizing with their perspective, and making thoughtful adjustments to ensure a seamless and enriching experience." Max said.

Also, here's her favorite book on Acorn of the month: Cosmos by Carl Sagan

The Selection Process: Balancing Relevance and Depth

How do we decide which books make the cut? Our method blends careful analysis, reader recommendations, and spirited editorial discussions. The team assess whether a book offers fresh perspectives on enduring themes—be it innovation in science, shifts in political thought, or the evolving nature of personal narrative—and if its ideas will resonate well beyond the moment of discovery. Here's how Max explains:

"I think the most challenging aspect of the review process is to tune in with users and understand their perspective, ensuring their best possible experience with the Acorn app. This involves making thoughtful adjustments, such as refining prompts for narrative books that contain cultural nuances to produce summaries that are more accessible and relatable for the user. Additionally, when crafting podcasts, it requires careful editing of the transitions between voiceovers to create a seamless and natural flow, thereby enhancing the overall listening experience."

Condensing the Narrative: The Art of Distillation

Transforming a full-length nonfiction work into a series of crisp, insightful bullet points is both a science and an art. It begins with an in-depth reading where each editor meticulously takes notes and highlights passages that capture the work's core messages. They look for recurring themes, surprising insights, and moments of clarity that encapsulate the author's intent.

The team then gathers to discuss their findings. In this collaborative stage, lively debates ensure that only the most impactful ideas make it through. Editors carefully select key passages, draft preliminary bullet points, and refine them through peer review. This iterative process involves several stages:

Highlighting Key Passages: Annotating sections that encapsulate major themes or pivotal insights.
Brainstorming Sessions: Engaging in virtual roundtables where ideas are compared and debated.
Drafting Bullet Points: Crafting concise statements that capture the essence of the text, ensuring each word is deliberate.
Refinement and Consensus: Revisiting and polishing the summaries to maintain clarity and fidelity to the original work.

Throughout these stages, our editors utilize specialized digital tools to track changes and manage collaborative feedback, ensuring that the final bullet points capture the spirit of the work and resonate with a diverse audience.

When Editors Meet AI: The Ultimate Power Couple

Once our editors finalize each summary (a process involving multiple rounds of fine-tuning), our technical team steps in to work their own brand of magic.

Here's how it works: we use advanced text-to-speech technology to transform those distilled insights into audio. Our systems are meticulously calibrated to replicate natural speech patterns—think thoughtful pauses, conversational inflections, and even the occasional dry wit. It's not just about converting words to sound; it's about crafting an experience that feels like listening to a knowledgeable friend.

But even cutting-edge tech isn't perfect. Early on, we learned that AI occasionally veers into creative detours (imagine a summary of Sapiens suddenly channeling a pirate accent). That's why we review every audio output, and why we've built rigorous quality checks into the process.

The result? Clear, engaging audio that stays true to the heart of the content—no unexpected theatrics. And we're constantly refining our tools, blending feedback from users and editors alike. Consider us perpetual students of the craft: learning, iterating, and striving to make every listen a little better than the last.

Why We Do This

Acorn's mission is to unlock great ideas and make them available to everyone. Whether you're a busy professional in need of a quick intellectual boost or a dedicated reader eager to explore new perspectives, our carefully crafted bullet points and engaging audio episodes are designed with you in mind. We believe that nonfiction has the power to inspire and inform, and by distilling these works into accessible formats, we help ensure that their insights can be shared widely and appreciated deeply.