≈ Ahrens - How to Take Smart Notes

Summary

Ahrens outlines the zettelkasten, or slip box, method of note taking. More than a note taking system, the slip box approach might be more aptly characterized as a system for knowledge generation. It involves building a database of focused notes that are interlinked with one another. This helps foster the continuous, serendipitous discovery of new ideas as the slip box grows.

Notes

• § Zettelkasten MOC

Principles

• Decontextualize ideas to make them new
• Store information where you would want to encounter it again
• Knowledge is a compounding investment
• ¶ Principle of atomicity

Note-taking

• Different kinds of zettelkasten notes
  • Fleeting notes are reminders
  • Write literature notes to inform permanent notes
  • Permanent notes develop new ideas
• Make notes in your own words
• Take notes with connection in mind
• Decontextualize ideas to make them new
• Read broadly with purpose

Systems

• Rigid systems are fragile systems
• Design environments to facilitate behaviours

Writing

• Brainstorming surfaces available ideas, not new ideas.
• Write from the bottom up
• Writing is thinking
• Knowledge work means transforming old ideas into new ones

Backlinks

No backlinks found.