Speaking of valuable knowledge, this video (and the others I've watched) is so useful. Such a deep breakdown for beginners! (And good reminders for experienced zettelkasten-ers!)
Thank you Morgan! I came across some of your videos on analog zk and I really like how you designed your note cards. Even in Obsidian, you do a great job of adding some creative flair while maintaining the core principles that make zk so valuable.
First of all, thank you very much. Can you please make part 2. I mean: * how do you write in the back of the source note. I mean are are numbers reference to the other notes in the box or reference to pages of the book. * How do you reference it to other notes (in the note box). * Where do you keep the other notes (i mean how is it organized in the box, how many boxes etc.). * how do you find those notes. A complete walkthrough and live demonstration (like this one, so that we can get started today) will be very helpful.
Tony, I’m glad to have stumbled on your channel. I’ve just started reading How To Take Smart Notes (only 40 pages in) and your vids have been very helpful. Quick question, in this case what would you do with a piece of info from the book that sticks out to you but does not necessarily fit your extraction goal? I’m not sure if this is handled in the book or not, but it came to mind watching this vid; I could see it happening to me-I sometimes cast a wide idea net when reading.
What if you have multiple goals of reading the book? For example, I am reading this book called "Models of the Mind" by Grace Lindsay which details how various fields have contributed to the mathematical/theoretical approach to neuroscience. My primary goal with this book is to understand the main concepts of neuroscience through a historical frame, but I also have higher-overview goals of wanting to understand and connect those ideas to machine learning, or novel connections to other fields. While this definitely doesn't filter as many highlights as one primary goal, it seems that selecting one goal upfront limits what I can absorb from a particular read too much. Also, while your approach of just listing the page and what to look for there I appealing, I find that I am really tempted to block out specific passages and leave notes behind that specific quote as to why that in particular resonates with me. Do you have advice for this perspective, or should I reframe how I approach it? Great video, thanks!
In summary, in the source notes, you make reference to the book (using the Chicago reference method), make clear the goal of the reading, and on the other side of the card you indicate the page and the concept you are interested in. From these references, you analyze it and create your own note (with an atomic idea) that becomes part of the permanent notes box. Is this the workflow you follow or am I missing something? To make a reference ID for the cards, do you have any advice?
How do you select what id for each new card? You increment the last used id ? you put a random one? how do you know if the id isn't already being usedc? How do you file them? incrementally? randomly? So many questions :(
Hey Tony! I came across your video today (5.19.24) researching info about Obsidian to which I'm new to. I have to say I GREATLY APPRECIATE this video. It cuts right to it with NO FLUFF. In other words, it's substantive! Some questions I have are the following: 1. Will the principles you've demonstrated work with ANY subject? My particular interest are spirituality, philosophy, personal self-development, and history (depending on subject). 2. In this knowledge worker (thank you to the late Dr. Peter Drucker and Dr. Stephen Covey) and content creator age, do you think that the market is to overly saturated for another person to join in? This is what I struggle with all the time. Does the digital world need another spiritual/philosophical teacher even though I've been speaking and teaching in these areas for 30 years? What say ye!
Hey friend, I appreciate the kind words. These principles apply to all categories of knowledge extraction. I myself work primarily with religion and philosophy as well and this has been highly effective for me to read texts that are otherwise more difficult to understand because I have a selection intent that allows me to scan for specific knowledge I'm after. As far as market saturation, I don't believe this is an issue at all. People are hungry for knowledge in the attention economy. We are saturated in entertainment and there aren't enough people filtering out the noise with valuable, meaningful content. There is no competition in the creator economy - you are a personal monopoly because nobody else has your personality and unique way of communicating ideas. “We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.” - E. O. Wilson
Thank you, great video! Question: is the list on the back of your main card the list of cards with one extracted and reformulated idea? How do you number these cards?
The list on the back of the source note is initial extracts that may or may not be made into main notes. As far as the numeric alpha system goes, I would have to make another video about that but you can simply start with something like 1.a, 1.a1, 1.b, 1.c, 2.a, etc. It is based on the notes relation to other notes.
Yes they get referenced on main notes. This way you already have the citation of the idea you are expounding upon from the original source without having to flip through the book
I do. All my note cards get copied into obsidian and linked. I add the note card catalog ID in the metadata. Makes it easier to search my analog zettelkasten. I’ll make a video on it some time.
Speaking of valuable knowledge, this video (and the others I've watched) is so useful. Such a deep breakdown for beginners! (And good reminders for experienced zettelkasten-ers!)
Thank you Morgan! I came across some of your videos on analog zk and I really like how you designed your note cards. Even in Obsidian, you do a great job of adding some creative flair while maintaining the core principles that make zk so valuable.
Step by step, clear, concise. Actions taken with an objective. Thank you.
Shout out to the Lamy fountain pen. I appreciate a good pen for my writing experience.
Great Video, I put my notes on the inside of the book, saw Alex and books do this. This way I dont have to use extra materials
I discovered your channel this week. Your content is interesting and your instruction is clear and concise. Thank you.
Great video. It is helpful your idea of showing how you take notes alive. Thank you!
First of all, thank you very much. Can you please make part 2. I mean:
* how do you write in the back of the source note. I mean are are numbers reference to the other notes in the box or reference to pages of the book.
* How do you reference it to other notes (in the note box).
* Where do you keep the other notes (i mean how is it organized in the box, how many boxes etc.).
* how do you find those notes.
A complete walkthrough and live demonstration (like this one, so that we can get started today) will be very helpful.
Absolutely. Many have asked about how the extraction process goes. I will definitely follow up. Thanks!
Tony, I’m glad to have stumbled on your channel. I’ve just started reading How To Take Smart Notes (only 40 pages in) and your vids have been very helpful.
Quick question, in this case what would you do with a piece of info from the book that sticks out to you but does not necessarily fit your extraction goal? I’m not sure if this is handled in the book or not, but it came to mind watching this vid; I could see it happening to me-I sometimes cast a wide idea net when reading.
What if you have multiple goals of reading the book? For example, I am reading this book called "Models of the Mind" by Grace Lindsay which details how various fields have contributed to the mathematical/theoretical approach to neuroscience. My primary goal with this book is to understand the main concepts of neuroscience through a historical frame, but I also have higher-overview goals of wanting to understand and connect those ideas to machine learning, or novel connections to other fields. While this definitely doesn't filter as many highlights as one primary goal, it seems that selecting one goal upfront limits what I can absorb from a particular read too much. Also, while your approach of just listing the page and what to look for there I appealing, I find that I am really tempted to block out specific passages and leave notes behind that specific quote as to why that in particular resonates with me. Do you have advice for this perspective, or should I reframe how I approach it? Great video, thanks!
In summary, in the source notes, you make reference to the book (using the Chicago reference method), make clear the goal of the reading, and on the other side of the card you indicate the page and the concept you are interested in. From these references, you analyze it and create your own note (with an atomic idea) that becomes part of the permanent notes box.
Is this the workflow you follow or am I missing something?
To make a reference ID for the cards, do you have any advice?
How do you select what id for each new card? You increment the last used id ? you put a random one? how do you know if the id isn't already being usedc? How do you file them? incrementally? randomly? So many questions :(
🤔💡
Knowledge Extraction
source note = index card || reference + goal
1 notecard per key insight (topic?)
Hey Tony! I came across your video today (5.19.24) researching info about Obsidian to which I'm new to. I have to say I GREATLY APPRECIATE this video. It cuts right to it with NO FLUFF. In other words, it's substantive! Some questions I have are the following:
1. Will the principles you've demonstrated work with ANY subject? My particular interest are spirituality, philosophy, personal self-development, and history (depending on subject).
2. In this knowledge worker (thank you to the late Dr. Peter Drucker and Dr. Stephen Covey) and content creator age, do you think that the market is to overly saturated for another person to join in? This is what I struggle with all the time. Does the digital world need another spiritual/philosophical teacher even though I've been speaking and teaching in these areas for 30 years?
What say ye!
Hey friend, I appreciate the kind words. These principles apply to all categories of knowledge extraction. I myself work primarily with religion and philosophy as well and this has been highly effective for me to read texts that are otherwise more difficult to understand because I have a selection intent that allows me to scan for specific knowledge I'm after.
As far as market saturation, I don't believe this is an issue at all. People are hungry for knowledge in the attention economy. We are saturated in entertainment and there aren't enough people filtering out the noise with valuable, meaningful content. There is no competition in the creator economy - you are a personal monopoly because nobody else has your personality and unique way of communicating ideas.
“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.” - E. O. Wilson
Great video, thanks Tony. I was wondering do you restrict yourself to just one source card per book or do you use multiple cards ir required?
Thank you, great video! Question: is the list on the back of your main card the list of cards with one extracted and reformulated idea? How do you number these cards?
The list on the back of the source note is initial extracts that may or may not be made into main notes. As far as the numeric alpha system goes, I would have to make another video about that but you can simply start with something like 1.a, 1.a1, 1.b, 1.c, 2.a, etc. It is based on the notes relation to other notes.
Obsidian is very useful
Do the page numbers and notes on the back of the source note then relate and get expanded on in another main note
Yes they get referenced on main notes. This way you already have the citation of the idea you are expounding upon from the original source without having to flip through the book
You can use obsidian for your zettelkasten
I do. All my note cards get copied into obsidian and linked. I add the note card catalog ID in the metadata. Makes it easier to search my analog zettelkasten. I’ll make a video on it some time.