Book cover: Don't Start from Zero
AI & Productivity

The problem is not a lack of prompts. It is losing what you already know with every new request.

Don't Start from Zero

Create reusable specifications and prompts to produce better materials with artificial intelligence

Turn context, rules, and examples into reusable specifications for creating better materials with AI, without starting again for every request.

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Prices checked on 30/10/2026. Shipping is set by the store.

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This book is currently available in Brazilian Portuguese.

Edition1st edition2026Length228 pages16 × 23 cmBook languagePortugueseBrazilFormatsPrint and KindleTwo editionsISBN978-65-02-40937-4Print edition
About the book

A complete view of the book.

Don't Start from Zero begins with a common frustration: an AI conversation produces good material, but on the next request, rules, sources, examples, and decisions need to be explained all over again. Instead of collecting prompts, the book proposes saving what truly matters—knowledge, context, and criteria—in specifications that can be reused and improved.

Readers follow a practical path from disposable prompts to reusable models, from Markdown to complete specifications, and from sources to NotebookLM and other tools. A cumulative task at the end of each of the 12 chapters helps them apply what they learn and build a personal library. The journey requires no prior knowledge of Markdown or experience with AI, and keeps human review as part of the work.

The challenge

Does this situation sound familiar?

When a good result is trapped in a conversation, its rules, sources, examples, and decisions need to be rebuilt for the next request. Work repeats itself, quality varies, and the knowledge produced is lost.

The book’s approach

Preserve the context that makes the next deliverable better.

Learn to turn prompts, context, rules, sources, and examples into reusable specifications. With them, you can produce consistent materials, adapt models to new goals, and build a personal knowledge library for working better with AI.

“Do not reuse prompts alone. Reuse knowledge, context, and rules.”
By the end of the book, you will be able to:
✓Identify what is worth turning into a reusable model
✓Evolve prompts into templates and Markdown specifications
✓Organize rules, sources, and examples so AI can work with context
✓Use the same specification in NotebookLM and other AI tools
✓Create different materials from one well-structured foundation
✓Build a personal library so you do not start from zero
Questions that guide the reading

Answers begin with the right questions.

Questions explored through context, criteria, and examples.

01

Why does a good answer lose value when it remains only in a conversation?

02

What is the difference between a disposable prompt and a reusable specification?

03

How can rules, sources, and examples be recorded without making the process complicated?

04

How can a useful foundation be adapted to new goals and AI tools?

Inside the book

A structured journey that helps you move forward.

Concepts and applications presented in a coherent sequence.

01

Stop starting from zero

Recognize why useful results are lost when they remain trapped in an isolated conversation.

02

From prompt to reusable model

Turn requests that work into models that preserve purpose, audience, format, and criteria.

03

Specifications in Markdown

Use Markdown simply to record instructions, rules, and the structure of a specification.

04

Sources and context

Bring together sources, examples, and references so AI has trustworthy material before you ask it to produce.

05

One specification, many results

Apply one specification to lessons, presentations, activities, assessments, reports, and other materials.

06

Personal library

Organize your models so you can reuse, adapt, and improve what you have already learned.

What makes this book different

Depth to understand. Clarity to keep moving forward.

01

Not a collection of ready-made prompts: it teaches how to preserve reusable knowledge

02

A progressive method from prompt to specifications with sources and context

03

Independent from a single AI tool

04

12 cumulative tasks, one per chapter, to build and test your own system

Who this book is for

Find your place in this book.

Teachers, professionals, and creators who produce recurring materials with the support of artificial intelligence.

✓ Teachers and instructors who create learning materials✓ Professionals who produce reports, procedures, communications, or training✓ Content creators who repeat audience, format, language, and rules✓ People without a technical background who want to use AI more consistently
Before you begin

What you need to benefit from the book

✓No programming or advanced technical knowledge is required

✓Basic familiarity with documents and files is enough; Markdown and first steps with AI are explained along the way

An informed choice

This may not be the right book if…

—Readers looking for magic formulas or prompts that eliminate revision and judgment

—Readers who only want to copy results without organizing their own knowledge

Why this author, on this subject

Experience that gives the reading context.

A teacher, developer, and researcher of practical AI applications, Régys brings together knowledge organization, authorship, and real work to show how to turn good conversations into assets that remain useful.

Beyond this book

More reading. New conversations.

Explore the free guide collection and follow the books on Instagram, at your own pace.

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A place to start reading.

142 free guides across nine pathways on rights, money, technology and public life: short reads with examples and sources to explore.

1 guide to explore this subject

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Read online or download a free PDF. Guides are in Portuguese.

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Create reusable specifications and prompts to produce better materials with artificial intelligence

Prices checked on 30/10/2026. Shipping is set by the store.

Print edition ISBN: 978-65-02-40937-4