---
title: "AI reading companion for Substack & Medium: critique essays and extract takeaways."
description: "Read long-form newsletters, technical deep dives, and macro commentary on Substack and Medium with an analytical lens. Highlight key arguments to test assumptions or capture notes."
canonical_url: "https://vezz.me/for/substack-and-medium/"
type: "pseo-for"
category: "for"
topic: "Platform Guide — Substack & Medium"
intent: "Best for avid newsletter readers, executives, and writers who read long-form essays in the browser."
---

# AI reading companion for Substack & Medium: critique essays and extract takeaways.

Read long-form newsletters, technical deep dives, and macro commentary on Substack and Medium with an analytical lens. Highlight key arguments to test assumptions or capture notes.

> **Best fit:** Best for avid newsletter readers, executives, and writers who read long-form essays in the browser.

## Step-by-step workflow

1. **Highlight the central thesis or chart takeaway**: Select the core claim in a 4,000-word Substack essay or Medium engineering post.
2. **Switch between Brief and Steelman presets**: Use the Executive 3-Bullet Brief preset when skimming, or the Counterargument Steelman preset when reading opinion pieces.
3. **Copy structured notes into your commonplace book**: Save the best insights without cluttering your browser with social highlighter widgets.

## Read persuasive writers with an independent mind

Great essayists are persuasive—which makes it easy to nod along without noticing what evidence is missing.

- Highlight a persuasive paragraph and ask: 'What is the strongest counterargument a domain expert would raise here?'
- Unpack historical references, economic models, or technical benchmarks mentioned in passing
- Keep the clean typography of Substack and Medium completely unobstructed until you press your shortcut

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Vezz me interfere with Substack's native selection quote button?

No. Because Vezz me triggers via keyboard shortcut (`Ctrl+Shift+X` or `Cmd+Shift+X` by default, customizable anytime in settings) rather than injecting a competing mouseup popup, it coexists cleanly with Substack and Medium.

## Related guides

- [Check claims & assumptions in articles](https://vezz.me/use-cases/check-claims-and-assumptions-in-articles/): Full critical-reading workflow guide.
- [Counterargument & steelman prompt](https://vezz.me/prompts/counterargument-steelman/): Download our JSON prompt preset for balanced essay critique.