10+ Best Articles on Note Taking

When reading a book, taking notes interrupts our reading flow. There is a fine balance between taking too many notes and taking too few notes.

«Importing these ideas into my note-taking system is a way to create a dialogue between the authors whose work I have read.»

I long ago stopped reading books on note-taking. They were always too vague and boring, full of platitudes that had little to do with the world outside academia. I especially avoided “how-to” style…

There's a note-taking app for everyone. The challenge: it's hard to decide which one's the best for your use case and your note-taking style.

Note-taking is a powerful tool. But it can be hard to take notes while reading. Here's how you can maximize your ability to remember, reference and learn.

«I take notes, not so much to help me pay attention or memorize the facts, but to serve as anchors to find later if I’m looking for a quote, factoid or reference»

They aren’t a record of my thinking process. They are my thinking process. – Richard Feynman, on his notebooks (via How to Take Smart Notes) My notebook obsession laid bare I jot, doodle, scribe, and…

«They aren’t a record of my thinking process. They are my thinking process. – Richard Feynman, on his notebooks (via How to Take Smart Notes)»

The most effective way to take notes while reading is to follow this simple three step process that I've tested and honed on over one thousand books.

«I rarely listen to books but if you are listening to a book, create a new note for that book and type in notes as you are listening»

If you view knowledge for its utility, you will never fully appreciate it.

«note-taking is our attempt to transition the present moment to an imagined, future self»

Note-taking is fast, uses the original author's language, and feels easier. Note-making is slower, more involved, and uses your own language.

«To help with understanding and recall, make sure to create links between the ideas you are studying.»

Computers and phones have become the go-to note-taking method for many. But your brain benefits from an old-fashioned pen and paper.

Did you know TNW Conference has a track fully dedicated to the future of work this year? Check out the full program here. I long ago stopped reading books on note-taking. They were always too vague…

«When you truly understand something, it is anchored to a latticework of related ideas and meanings, which makes it far easier to remember.»