NOTE: This project is still under development and is not well documented, and is tailored for my specific use-case. I hope to make it more understandable and extensible so it is easier for others to use.

A script to extract highlights and notes from kindle clippings (My Clippings.txt) and add them to a separate markdown file for each book/article. Tailored for use with Obsidian (note-taking app).

There is also a script that picks a book and clipping at random to display in the command line, although it needs to be updated.

Instapaper is a Read-It-Later app. I like to save articles that I would like to read to Instapaper, which can then automatically send a digest of articles to my kindle (I have it send a digest everyday as long as there is 1 new article since the last digest). The issue with this is that there is no distinction between articles in a digest. This program splits up the articles from each Instapaper digest and each article gets a markdown file with all highlights and notes.

Clippings (highlights and notes) are stored in a python dict with this structure

clips = {'book': {'position': 'clipping'}}

Each new My Clippings.txt will add clips to previous archive automatically.

Clips will be export to output directory, find them there.

Clone project and put My Clippings.txt to project's root. I keep the project files inside my obsidian vault.

Run kindle-to-markdown.py

$ python kindle-to-markdown.py

To get separate markdown files per article, highlight the title of an article and add the note .Title.. Make sure to also highlight the source web link, as this gets removed from the title and added to the header of the markdown file.

Example output files tree:

$ tree .
.
├── My Clippings.txt
├── README.md
├── kindle-to-obsidian.py
└── output
    ├── B-Book Title.md
    ├── A-The Frontiers Of Digital Democracy - NOEMA.md

Example output file content (as you can see some notes are duplicated - it's not perfect but gets the job done!):

#artcle
noemamag.com
Instapaper: Saturday, Feb. 6th (Instapaper)
- [ ] completed

---

The Frontiers Of Digital Democracy - NOEMA noemamag.com (27-28)

NOTE: .Title. (28)

---

I simply say that participation by citizens in such a process should be “fast, fun and fair.” Also, participation only works if there is a real effect on power. Most of the time, people agree on most of the issues around which they can reach a “rough consensus” as the basis for formulating policies that constitute and reflect the social norm. Polarization occurs on very few issues. (37-40)

NOTE: I likee the idea of participation in deliberation shouldd be fast easy and fun, and howw its only usrful if it shifts power (40)

---

should be “fast, fun and fair.” Also, participation only works if there is a real effect (38-38)

---

As a result of our practices of online deliberation, Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, has said: “Before, democracy was a showdown between two opposing values. Now, democracy is a conversation between many diverse values.” (40-42)

NOTE: I likee the idea of participation in deliberation shouldd be fast easy and fun, and howw its only usrful if it shifts power (40)

NOTE: Great quote of how online partcipatory deliberation changes the dynamics of conversations around values (42)