How to Take Smart Notes - One Simple Technique to Boost Writing Learning and Thinking - Sonke Ahrens
Summary
- A nice overview of Zettelkasten Method for taking notes. Ahrens takes the time to explain things from a high level point of view rather than a specific implememtation. If you are interested in Zettelkasten notes, this is a highly recommended read.
How I discovered it
- As part of my research and implementation of the Zettelkasten Method
How the book changed me
- Most of the methods I had already implemented, but it has reinforced my belief in Zettelkasten notetaking methods.
Details
- Single most important factor in success is not intelligence
- Studying to pass the exam vs to learn or 'planners' vs 'experts'. Smart notes are a tool for the latter
- Writing notes is important, because 1x - References/11 Notes/11.03 Ideas/Writing is thinking
- Principle of Atomicity in Notetaking
- Feedback loops critical for growth and learning
- Flexible focus better than relentless focus
- Following the rules may impede expertise
- Writing notes in your own words has power
- Rereading and underlining is useless
- Learning requires work
- Process information deeply by having a structured note system
- It is much better to learn from the experience of others than from our own
- Sudden insights often the result of long-term thinking and study
- Work on different things simultaneously
- Best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour
- Having a reservoir of ideas allows you to develop ideas over a long period of time