How To Take Smart Notes

[@MikeGastin]

Hey gang! Looking forward to mixing it up in the comments-what do you think about this book and this approach???

[@bhaveshj4340]

Thank you so much for sharing 🙏

[@MikeGastin]

My pleasure, my friend. I'd be curious to know if you use this approach, or what you find if you try it in the near future.

[@bhaveshj4340]

@@MikeGastin I'll be starting from tomorrow morning.... Bringing words into action!!!

[@MikeGastin]

Love it-let me know what you find once you've had a chance to put it into practice for a while.

[@carllakaski1150]

The clearest explanation of this topic I've found.

[@monochromios]

I've recently read Ahrens' book. I'm a philosophical researcher and that casual book that crossed my life really changed my approach and my production. Wonderful text. Thank you for highlighting it.

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you and wishing you all the best in your work.

[@pectoralismajor1097]

I eventually ended up using Obsidian as my tool for creating a Zettelkasten when I heard about the Feynman technique. It also implies that you have to write down something you want to understand in your own words. But it takes it a step further: Write a complex idea down in a way that a 10yr old would understand it. If you can do that, you REALLY understand the concept. I use that when I turn my literature notes into permanent notes.

[@MikeGastin]

That's great. I'm an analog user, myself. I did try Obsidian for a while. I love that app and have tried to find a use for it, but in the end, I am a paper and pen guy when it comes to note taking. BTW, I just shot a video that covers my Zettelkasten tools. It should publish later this week.

[@PatapiaPapakalodouka]

I like your calm tone in an era where everyone is in rush to "consume" information!

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@nargyros]

Indeed, bless you for bringing a much-needed perspective.

[@jaybestnz]

Lol. I read this, and I was bewildered as I had forgotten most of my viewing of guides is on 2x speed... 😂

[@MikeGastin]

@@jaybestnz It's worth slowing down a bit, lol

[@bhargav7476]

I don't remember last time I watched a 10+ minutes long video without background music, you are amazing!

[@MikeGastin]

Hey! Thanks, man. I appreciate that. 👊🏼

[@markgreen4763]

I'm glad you showed how you actually use the system. Using concrete examples was extremely helpful!

[@Balefulmoon]

Great job. This is the clearest explanation I have heard of the method.

[@isaac5815]

Thank you so much for this. In academic research, we don't teach writing until it's absolutely needed at the highest level, during manuscript writing and conference abstracts. It's sad that we don't teach writing at the undergraduate level, especially in STEM research. Thank you! This book + your video has increased the productivity of my research

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks for letting me know. It's interesting how often writing is treated as separate from thinking, ins't it? All the best to you as you work through your research!

[@JaeSeveliusPhD]

Falling down the Zettelkasten rabbit hole and found this video very helpful. I too wanted more practical guidance in the book but enjoyed it overall. I'm already using EndNote for references and Scrivener for writing, so will be trying out these software packages for literature notes and permanent notes. Wish me luck!

[@MikeGastin]

Glad you found my vid helpful! I love Scrivener but never thought of it for notes. Interesting idea. I went with pen and paper cards for my system, but it is more work than a digital approach. Have you checked out Obsidian?

[@hunterkudo9832]

I'm interested in going on that journey myself, where would you suggest is a good place to start?

[@italianoin7minuti]

Mike, thanks for this book and your approach. My take home message while reading was "personally elaborate what you read and store it in an external system". Everything else is more complexity in the system. Thanks for the great summary

[@MikeGastin]

I think you're on the money here. Those were the two biggest "ah-ha" ideas for me. I am still exploring the implementation of the idea of using an emergent approach. I think there is something big there, too. But, it takes time to see that come to fruition.

[@tyronefrielinghaus3467]

@@MikeGastin Mike, like you I read A LOT. The video was great. I have the book... reading now. Also...you have a truly great voice😄.

[@CassTyson]

I'm reading this book now, on the recommendation of a friend. Not even 10 pages in, I had the same thought -- this is life changing stuff! Anyone who wants to write (or get good grades in school, or be a better knowledge worker, etc) needs to relearn how to take notes. Or, as in my case, how to take notes in the first place. Oh, how I wish I had known this in college! Next is the process of trying to make this a habit. I've installed and am learning Zotero, which is absolutely phenomenal, and now I'm trying to decide between Roam or Evernote or something else... There are so many things I've wanted to write but never did because I couldn't find or connect all my random notes and bookmarked articles. I literally had a 2-foot stack of news articles I had collected and annotated for writing project ideas, but I could never find relevant info when I needed it. I had no idea how to really use all my "research" to make my writing ideas into reality. I needed the file cabinet space so I chucked them, and now they're lost. I can only imagine how less frustrated I would have been, and how much I might have published, if I had been using smart notes all my life. Luhmann said he lamented not having more time. I can relate. Wish I could have the last 40 years back...

[@MikeGastin]

Cass, my feelings exactly. I'm guessing we're a similar age-it's a little hard to consider how much we *could* have done with this system. Even so, the value I have gotten out of it over just the last few months has blown my mind, so I am excited about the present and the future. BTW, have you looked at Obsidian? You might want to give that a twirl before you commit to something like Roam. Thanks for watching and commenting. I wish you luck and lots of productive time going forward and I hope to hear how you're making out.

[@MrFurmiture]

Great video. I feel like a lot of college students are not good note-takers because they tend to write verbatim. I've recently started to listen to what a professor said, and look at whatever non-verbal material is available, and write down my thoughts instead of what the slide/professor says. I believe this is a really good way to actually understand the content in question rather than memorize it. Even with calculations, writing things like "so", "then", "leads us to", "results in", "we know that", etc, when solving a problem is extremely valuable and makes the math less abstract.

[@MikeGastin]

Yes! This is 100% the concept of "writing is thinking" in action. Putting things in our own words forces our minds to interact with the material in a deeper/more meaningful way and results in better understanding and better retention. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@LexOnTheWeb]

Thanks for making this video! It’s nice to hear someone summarize it in a way that makes sense to me. I also felt like it was lacking more practical examples of how to use the system, but I still adhere to the general guidelines in my own PKM system.

[@MikeGastin]

Awesome! You should check out Scott P Scheper here on YT. He takes it to a whole other level. And, he’s a great guy, too.

[@kimberlyferrier1312]

I have never gotten the hang of how to take notes. I am a survivor of school. i am interested in many things but don't know much in particular about anything. this book would have changed my life forever. I have an idea for a book but was baffled about how to really take useful notes to lead to clear, coherent content that is useful and makes sense. thank you for this info for this great method.

[@MikeGastin]

Glad this video helped. You know, it's not too late to write that book!

[@russiel2837]

I finished the whole book and understand it well, then came here searching for more info. I have to say that you summarize main points very well and help understanding it better. Thanks for this review.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@masscreationbroadcasts]

I've kind of been already doing this. I've been making observations and creating concepts to explain them, across multiple topics without a clear idea of wbat I'll include by the end of the project and seeing how they'll continue. Now I'm in the process of formalizing my notes and I'll try to either in February 2024 or January 2025 to begin releasing batches of these ideas properly formalized.

[@reviveking714]

Thank you for sharing. I do plan to read the book in the very next moment, and then I realized that I should gather more information about the book. Thanks to your sharing, I got the idea of exactly what I want to explore from the book.

[@karanid4]

Among the top podcasts of the thousands that I may have watched.

[@MikeGastin]

Well that's high praise. Thank you!

[@rainerKafka]

I stumbled upon this book at just the right time, as I had just decided to start writing my study notes in Workflowy. I've always enjoyed studying while writing down what I believe to be important, but often I attempt to write everything down for fear of missing something crucial. Another downside is that for me, taking notes can often be too time-consuming, even though it rewards me with a deep understanding of the subject I'm studying. I really appreciated your video on this subject! I haven't finished the book yet, but it has made me even more eager to read on and put these ideas into practice, hopefully using my trusty Workflowy.

[@SoldByJalenIngram]

Thank you! The perfect video I was looking for

[@MikeGastin]

My pleasure! 👊🏼

[@guthrien]

This was an excellent take on the book and Zettlekasten and I've seen/read more than a few as I've tried to implement the system over the last few months. You nailed something that filled me with a bit of regret, that I've spent all these years reading and how much more I would have benefitted from having a system like this in the past. Going forward is obviously of more importance. Excellent work. Plus you were reading Christopher Lasch, which makes you cool ++

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you for your kind, and encouraging, words. 🙏🏼 Also, you're the only person to comment on Lasch-not that I was expecting anyone to notice. But, very cool that you did. Lasch was an amazing mind and a treat to read. Too bad he's gone.

[@rathorrath401]

Great video! I enjoy including my Literature notes on cards within the Zettelgasten because you can then reference back to them when exploring. I would also say that doing a journal to discover and flesh out the thoughts isn't a bad idea, but journals aren't within the Zettel, so it's not linkable and you can't really enjoy the happy surprises of exploring your cards via links when communicating with your Zettel, but I enjoyed a well thought out point of view. Thanks!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks! BTW, I'm sure it was a typo, but like "Zettelgasten". Sounds like I invented it ... lol. All the best and thanks for watching and commenting.

[@mellorider1717]

I like the mult-stage approach to note taking. I think the process of reviewing and distilling two times or on two separate occasions to match the design of the notes system is a key to converting this information into knowledge.

[@MikeGastin]

I think you're right. By doing this, you're interacting with the material and every time you do you're making it more your own. It's a wonderful system!

[@bogdanstar3058]

Great video! I currently have a small 3x5 Moleskine on me that I use for thinking/writing random thoughts/ideas. But after I fill the notebooks up I just toss it on top of my book shelf. Would be a good idea to go through and distill the better ideas into a separate notebook.

[@MikeGastin]

I used to do the same thing as you and have a big stack-15 years worth-of Moleskines that I never look at! I can't recommend this book/approach enough. Definitely check it out and if you do, let me know what you think.

[@pilarguerrero3405]

Hi Mike, I am also a pen and paper warrior and I have asked myself how do people index their notes, and I came up with my own idea in the end, I focus on how I want to retrieve the information (I add tags) and on a big general topic, which follows an alphabetical order. But I guess the fun part is to create the system on our own, as the process to try to index the information also serves as a process to develop our thinking. Two years later, your video still delivers. Thanks a lot!

[@MikeGastin]

Check out Scott Sheper. He's got a book (and KZbin channel) that goes into detail on indexing cards. I now use his approach. (No tags necessary!)

[@pilarguerrero3405]

@@MikeGastin I watched a couple of his videos, but I get dizzy with the movement of the camera. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@MikeGastin]

Haha! Yes, Scott is high energy. But, his thinking is sound. :)@@pilarguerrero3405

[@pilarguerrero3405]

@@MikeGastin Maybe I can listen to it without watching... I will give it a try, I find we think alike, so perhaps his method can be useful for me, too

[@captainnolan5062]

I am with you on using a physical Zettelkasten (I am just starting one); I am with you on reading (primarily - almost exclusively) paper books; and I am with you on wishing I knew about this about 50 years ago.

[@MikeGastin]

Better late than never, my friend.

[@Salsabil007]

Thank you very much for this summary. I knew about the zettelkasten, but your video lit the spark for me once again!

[@MikeGastin]

I love to hear it! Thanks for letting me and know and all the best. 👍🏼

[@lexparsimoniae2107]

I have seen plenty of reviews on Sönke's work. Yours is by far the best one. Thank you sir.

[@MikeGastin]

Wow-thank you, Lex! 🙏🏼

[@danielmunoz6866]

Thanks for the great explanation. I liked the idea, but did not enjoy the book that much. As you mentioned, it lacks concrete examples or more explanation on the method(s). I know there is no right way to do it, but a few examples could have helped understand it better. Also, it's what I expect from a book called "How To..." . I feel that the author explained the main idea well probably in the first third of the book, and by two thirds of the book I felt that he was repeating once and again WHY this was effective and the right thing to do and never getting to the HOW doing it. As you said, luckily the internet is a great source and you summarized the idea perfectly in less than 15 min. Keep up the great work!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Daniel. I am actually working on a vid that demonstrates how I use implement the method. I have the script written but have not filmed yet-it's going to be a bit of work. My thought is that showing how one does it might help others figure out their own approach. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@kamalaakarsh]

Great video. I have been following Zettelkasten method since 5 months. But this is such a lucid explanation. Glad I chanced upon this book review/summary. Please do more, in this style.

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you for the kind words, Kamal. I love the method very much. Have you found it to be beneficial and has it helped your thinking and productivity? Also, if I were to do more, in this style as you say, do you mean more on Zettelkasten or more more book reviews?

[@kamalaakarsh]

@@MikeGastin i am still trying to crack it. I totally resonated with the part where you said that you wished there were more examples. But nevertheless, i see the value in the process. And by more videos, i meant book reviews. The structure, duration and format of this video is perfect.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks for the feedback-very helpful. 🙏🏼

[@TerryBenzie]

I've probably seen....over a dozen videos talking about Sonhe's book (most saying it's a way to do more, faster) though you appear to be one of the few who actually finished it and understood it as being more than using notecards to make a 'commonplace book'. Very, very, very nice walk through of the main ideas - I've never seen a video from you before but subscribed based on this.

[@MikeGastin]

Wow! Thanks, Terry. Your comments mean a lot to me. I kind of feel a lot of folks see the Zettelkasten method as a way of collecting notes versus a way to develop and support one's thinking. I'm grateful for your subscription and hope you'll like the video I'm currently working on it releases soon. (Demystifying the Zettelkasten Method.) 👍🏼

[@michaljjwilk]

It is very honest review of Ahrens’ book and the zettelkasten method so I appreciate it. Thank you for your personal view on that!

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you, Michal!

[@vjazz79]

Very intriguing. Reminds me of Jonathan Edwards' miscellanies system. You summarized and distilled the information very well, thank you for sharing

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you! I am not familiar with Edward's system and will have to look it up.

[@diannad8905]

Wow, you just showed up in my feed and this is the first time watching you. Your delivery of what could be very dry content was spot on, and very concise. Thank you for what you do! Excellent information. New subbie.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks for the kind comment! You made my day. 🙏🏼

[@terrygorry]

Excellent explanation of Zettelkasten, thank you.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Terry. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@phothar93]

This is best video on the book. Awesome job man.

[@MikeGastin]

Why thank you!

[@drnirmaladeabreu140]

Wow . I too read so many books but forget most of them. This has come at the right time.. when I am writing a book

[@MikeGastin]

That's great to hear! All the best with your endeavor and I hope this vid was able to help. The book, and the Zettelkasten system, is amazing, btw!

[@seanhenriques808]

I love hearing how flexible the system is where the tools used are unimportant. I’m gonna have to read this book because it seems to supercharge one’s PKM practice

[@MikeGastin]

Check out Scott Sheper, too. He's got a great channel (and book) on analog Zettelkasten.

[@worldpeacepp]

Great summary, I read the book myself. agreed and like the part that when I sited down and started using this method for a novel I read, I felt that it was like a engine that just push me to think, my brain automatically start spinning and it was so fun. I also felt your feeling about missing the practical detail, hoped the book could give some photos/screenshot or diagram to show that part.

[@MikeGastin]

That's great, Thomas. The system is wonderful and I'm glad to hear you've had a similar experience to me.

[@robmorris3838]

By far the best review on Ahren's book and Zettelkasten!

[@MikeGastin]

Why, thank you, Rob.

[@Arian_orta]

Thank you for this review as I am studying for my boards and needed to find something to help me think and take better notes. Your review was well explained and helped me understand what the book was about . I think I found a gem. Thanks again!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks for letting me know, Arian. I can't tell you how valuable this system/approach has been to me over the last year. You may find the same as you prep for your boards. Wish you all the luck!

[@arianorta4343]

@@MikeGastin thank you for the kind words! 👊

[@simonsun02]

Great video, thank you for your detailed and careful introduction and sharing about the method!

[@MikeGastin]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marekszklarz1752]

Now I want to read this book! This is so true about writing notes and weakness of highlighting (at least for me). Great vid by the way

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks! Yes, def check this book out. I think you'll love it, especially if you're a reader. Make sure to let me know what you think if you do read it.

[@sanketss84]

Just superb , very well put together and I had a lot of takeaways here. Thank you. Obsidian is my permanent system and I just love it. I have stored the vault on my NAS and am able to access it from any networked laptop or desktop.

[@MikeGastin]

I'm glad you found my vid helpful! I have been playing with Obsidian for a few weeks. It's an amazing application but I am hesitant to use it for my Zettelkasten as I get more out of notes that I write by hand. That said, I desperately want to find a use for Obsidian because I love it.

[@sanketss84]

@@MikeGastin There is something about physically writing that connects you more with your thoughts and is a more immersive experience compared to typing keys on a keyboard to store stuff digitally however each has its advantages. I think its best to use something that makes you feel more connected.

[@sanketss84]

@@MikeGastin also you do not need force add a tool into your life just because you love it , any tool is just a means to assist you with your core journey of doing something meaningful so adopting something just because we love it is not the right approach for it. let go of it if you have a great system which is working well for you as new tools will keep emerging but pen and paper will be readily available where ever you go minus the pull of digital distractions. there are many deep thinkers in the modern world who resort to using a type writer or pen paper.

[@MikeGastin]

I agree 100% re: handwriting. I think typing, although very effective, is another level of abstraction. I'm just pressing keys, a repetitive action. Whereas with handwriting I am forming each letter and each word with various strokes and movements. This may be why writing more directly connects us to our thoughts.

[@MikeGastin]

RE: forcing a tool into one's life. Yes, of course you are correct. I am just so impressed with Obsidian and like it so much that I simply wish there was a place that it could serve. I know for a fact that place is not my Zettelkasten or in my note-taking process. I've thought maybe it could integrate into my content creation process, though, and have been experimenting with that.

[@MrSanTang]

Over the years, after realising that I had forgotten the content of so many books, I developed a personal note taking software. It is based on five pilars: Documents, Locations, People, Group of people, Events. I built a database with links between these five pilars. When I take notes from a document I keep track of all mentions of any of these five pilars. In time I could easily search my database to find out what Waldo Emerson said, in what document and page and in reference to what it was mentioned. Who was mentioned in the same page, paragraph or book; where it took place; when I read it; what were my comment on it... etc Extremely time consuming but so rich in possibilities. I could easily compile a whole timeline described in the document; a map of all locations mentioned; relations between people cited etc

[@MikeGastin]

Very interesting, André. How long ago did you build this and what platform did you use to create it?

[@leinadestebann]

There is research showing that writing by hand activates mechanisms that allow you to learn better, retain information for longer time and capture new ideas more easily. When I was studying, I used to make synoptic charts as summaries of the general idea, that is, I wrote the main points of the subject in question and that allowed me to spin ideas and memorize certain cuestions more easily. today's topic very interesting. greetings from Argentina!!

[@MikeGastin]

That’s really interesting. I have always found I retain information better when I physically interact with it, I.e. write it with pen and paper. Very cool to know that I am not alone and that research is finding the reason why this might be better. Greetings to you, too, Daniel! 👊🏼

[@bluebirdski]

Like your style. You seem to be a natural teacher.

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@devannguyen3402]

Wow, this video is underrated! The editing is amazing, bravo, new sub!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Devan! I appreciate the vote of confidence.

[@deborahwilson6970]

Just heard of Zettelkasten. I like quotes. Just started a log of books read to keep track of where I find quotes, not just the quotes themselves. Something i wish I had started years ago. Already in the habit of reading with pen and paper. Learned the importance of carrying pen and paper at all times when I had to borrow a pen and wrot a poem on the back of a borrowed envelope. The poem is published in NC Bards Against Hunger.

[@MikeGastin]

The classic back-of-the-envelope! Always a winner.

[@mohammadrayhan1490]

I just started reading this book and you just confirmed my feeling about this book. Extraordinary, phenomenal, life transforming... I totally dig the idea that we have to slow down a bit, think, write down ideas, refine notes, create your own Zettlekasten, in order to absorb information. I'm an Art Director my self and I can already feel how this book will impact the way I consume information, my thinking and the way I brainstorm ideas for my work. Can't wait to finish this masterpiece. :) Thank you, Mike, very much for your insightful review. Loved the way you distilled the sections, takeaways and your experience with the system. Great work. Great video.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks for letting me know, Mohammad! I ran an agency for many years and can see 100% how this approach might impact your work. I wish you the best. Also, thank you for your kind words regarding the vid. 🙏🏼

[@mariajosediaz8083]

I don't know you guys, but I lof this guy! Love so much this video, his vibes ! So clear, so real! I just need now to subscribe! Thanks so much Mike!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Maria! Glad you found me and hope you enjoy the newer content that I'll be posting soon.

[@FrocketGaming]

Really undervalued youtube channel, I hope you continue to grow!

[@MikeGastin]

Can't tell you how much that means-thank you! I hope it does, too. Of course, it can't grow if I don't post ... going to be fixing that soon.

[@rpacheco1951]

Excellent review. I learned some new concepts. Thank you.

[@MikeGastin]

Glad you got something from it!

[@evelynovercash1147]

Wow! I'm intrigued. I got the book and am going to try to figure this out.

[@MikeGastin]

That's awesome! I love this system. Let me know what you think.

[@minkqua]

Thanks for doing the review on this book. I'm new to the whole Smart Note Taking and when this book comes in, I look forward to reading and digesting it.

[@MikeGastin]

Make sure to let me know what you think once you’ve read it!

[@bhavanishankar8041]

Great video. I was looking for some deep insights on this book before picking too read but couldn't find anything on KZbin . later a reddit comment directed to this video. Wondering why there so less views. Loved the video. Subscribed 👍 Thanks

[@MikeGastin]

That’s fantastic! I’m glad the video helped and that you found me. Thanks for subscribing. 🙏🏼

[@stevepinckney7998]

I love your review of this book and your wonderful way of distilling this concept. But what really hooked me was the concept of your Zettlekasten being your competitive advantage. Great perspective. Thank you for this.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Steve! That’s very kind. Glad you liked the vid. Let me know what you think of the Zettlekasten method if you decide to try it out.

[@stevepinckney7998]

@@MikeGastin So I was very skeptical of this as I thought it might just be this years shiny new object. Turns out it's what I've been looking for all my professional life. I feel like I now have a place to store and link all the novel concepts I come across in books with the crazy / random brain droppings I have. After watching multiple videos and finally committing to slowly building on, something clicked a couple of days ago and now I'm seeing how this truly is a competitive advantage. I've gone from someone who hates the blank page to someone who cant...stop...writing. Indeed, it is nearly 4 am as I'm typing this. I'm so glad I stumbled across this and thanks so much for your video which gave me the final push to try it out.

[@MikeGastin]

@@stevepinckney7998 Wow! That's great, Steve. Like you, I am skeptical of the latest fads, but for me, when I saw this system was developed and used by one of sociology's most respected and prolific thinkers, I realized there was something in it. Also like you, when implementing the system I've experienced something amazing with my thinking and output. Thanks for the follow up. I wish you continued success!

[@MattJoyce01]

I have this book sitting on my desk. This was a really nice video to encourage me to read it. Also, really felt the authenticity, bravo.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Matt. Let me know what you think of the book once you give it a read!

[@ariwilsun]

Thank you for making this video Mike! I'm going to buy this book today.

[@MikeGastin]

That's great, Ari! Please let me know what you think-I am pretty sure you'll appreciate it, but understand everyone's different.

[@Lenduya]

Hi, Mike. I agree with the "not enough concrete tips" point you made. Out of curiosity, which threads or blog posts do you feel were the most helpful in this regard?

[@MikeGastin]

The forum and blog at zettelkasten.de is a great place to start.

[@RubDev]

Hey Mike, I really love your take on the book. I've felt the same way after reading: the books is called how to take smart notes, but after reading I don't have a clue about how to actually take the damn smart note. It's probably better to just figure out a system for yourself. In the end, if it gets you to produce content, it's a good system. Thanks again for your insights!

[@MikeGastin]

The system has worked out really well for me. I do know what you mean, though. For me, the "smart" part is learning to take notes in my own words while I read, forcing me to internalize the content and make it my own. Of course, it would be great to get more details on how to do the Zettelkasten, but there are a number of videos and articles on the web that can help. In fact, I'm working on a vid where I share my approach. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davidfoster4855]

@@MikeGastin Great idea Mike, pls do share your method using cards. I suspect Ahrens left out the prescription intentionally - and those using digital systems will link however their particular system handles tagging - but I'd like to fully appreciate the manual approach before going digital, and I'm not yet sure of Luhmann's layered numbering logic (your brief illustration here is the first I've found).

[@MikeGastin]

David, will do. I am hoping to release something soon. In the meantime, one thing I like about the cards is that they are less of an abstraction, which leads to me better internalizing the content. What I mean is, when I write on a physical card, I need to work and rework the content to flow, fit, and make sense. I also then need to find a physical place within my collection. The process of writing by hand and then finding a place helps me to process the information on a deeper level and commits it to the physical world. With a digital system, making a note is easier, but I am finding that easier is not better-for me. The ease of digital note taking means I don't have to spend a whole lot of time thinking through my note. I can type it quickly and even come back to it later and make it better. Also, I don't have to spend any time locating it within my system. I just tag and move on. I think a digital system provides ease and a lot more future flexibility, but my experience is that comes at the costs of missing out on a deeper grasp of the material I am trying to own. Not sure if any of that is useful to you, but thought I'd share in case it helps you on your journey. 👍🏼

[@jean-christophejasmin3272]

Thanks for the great quality content. I subscribed and bought the book through your link. Thanks.

[@MikeGastin]

Awesome, thank you! I'm glad you found it useful. Please let me know what you think once you've had a chance to read it. 👍🏼

[@2cozie]

Hi Mike, an amazing summary, found my self going down the Zettlekaesten rabbit hole and watched loads of videos to figure it out. Including summaries of this book. Yours is the best thus far. I agree more hand holding would’ve been nice. I gained added insight from your vid I had missed elsewhere on the transitioning between the types of notes and how they may give birth to unique projects, permanent notes or binned. Many thanks

[@MikeGastin]

Awesome! Glad you found my vid and that it helped. I have recorded a long vid on implementing the method, but need to edit and shoot supporting b-roll. I keep putting it off, but really need to get to that. Regardless, your comment is encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to let me know! 👊🏼

[@marcelondacosta]

Awsome review! Loved it!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Marcelo!

[@AnilKumar-mp9hk]

Your content is top notch Your review n editing style is pretty unique

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you, Anil! 🙏🏼

[@noamanali7739]

nice video and useful advises for note taking. thank you. from Afghanistan.

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you for watching and for letting me know you found it useful. I wish you all the best my friend and hope you're able to produce great work!

[@michaelkaminski]

Would love to hear your thoughts on something like Obsidian and Notion. Thanks for the review.

[@MikeGastin]

I’ve not tried Notion. Obsidian is awesome. I use it for writing. If I were going to use a digital app, it would be Obsidian. Even so, nothing beats note cards and a pen. 😉

[@michaelkaminski]

@@MikeGastin You are absolutely correct.

[@nawrastS]

I just read the hook and it's really life changing approach.

[@MikeGastin]

Is that the book by Nir Eyeal?

[@nawrastS]

@@MikeGastin I read Sönke Ahrens' Book (Take Smart Notes).

[@MikeGastin]

@@nawrastS Ah! Silly me. I thought you meant you read "Hook" but you meant you read the "book". Sorry, lol. 👍🏼

[@sea-ra9995]

I dont read books much, but I am trying to make a habit. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius really made me interested about reading It. But I was wondering how can I make notes about It. This is the best video that I have seen so far as It shows different approaches to personalize the information and create something on my own. Thank you :D

[@MikeGastin]

When you read Meditations, was there something that jumped out at you? If so, I would turn that into a note. That's how I approach note taking. I capture anything that stands out and seems important to me; anything I want to remember. However, I do not try to note the whole book. Thanks for your comment and all the best. Reading opens up a whole new world and I hope that you enjoy it!

[@bookswiper]

Thanks for this video It gave me valuable input to use the Zettelkasten Methode and I agree that the most important necessity is to use it and to invest the time to repeat and use it every day. This way you will find the details that make it work. Tips about this method of course would be great.

[@MikeGastin]

I'm working on a vid that explains how I do it ... hoping to have that out in a week or so. 🙏🏼

[@TeresaKayWilliams]

What an excellent explanation of this method! I only recently became aware of the Zettellkestan method and the existence of Mr. Ahrens book. However, I was having trouble digesting the point of the method as I have not yet read Mr. Ahrens book.. YOU made understanding the point so incredibly easy! My neurodivergent/ADHD brain is so happy! Thank you! I am buying the book through your link :-)

[@MikeGastin]

That's great! Thanks for letting me know this vid helped, Teresa-can't tell you how much that means. All the best with using the system and don't hesitate to report back in on how it's going.

[@TeresaKayWilliams]

@@MikeGastin I WILL! I also signed up for your newsletter. So glad I found you! Thank you again.

[@MikeGastin]

@@TeresaKayWilliams Excellent! Thanks, Teresa.

[@epilz1978]

Wow! Thank you so very much for this video!

[@MikeGastin]

Hey! My pleasure. Thanks for the kind comment.

[@ProductivePM]

Totally on board. Bought the book and looking to use Obsidian as my Zettlekasten. I really appreciate your video and your presentation of the material. All the best!

[@MikeGastin]

That's great, Greg! Wishing you the best with the book and Zettelkasten. Obsidian is impressive. I've messed around with it a bit, but still prefer an analog solution, i.e., 4x6 cards and a pen.

[@ProductivePM]

@@MikeGastin I do appreciate the analog approach, Mike. I once built an entire GTD analog system based on 3 X 5 cards. I think Niklas Luhmann used 4 X 6 cards and that makes sense. 3 X 5 is just too small but it is portable and Levenger makes really nice cards (including 4 X 6). After much thought, I have decided to go digital. Much easier to do the backlinking. I was even thinking of exporting just the Zettles out to 4 X 6 cards as an analog back-up.

[@MikeGastin]

Yes, I am not against digital at all. I just find that an analog system works better for me. Specifically, it seems to force me to interact with the content more and to think more about how pieces relate to one another as I am creating notes. Rather than tag notes in a digital system and then later see what's connected to what, I have to think about my existing notes and consider what should link to my new note, etc. I do not think that's very efficient, but I notice that I tend to internalize the learning more. Also, handwriting a note, and the resulting collection of notes, is less of an abstraction than a digital system. So, my mind is able to think of the notes within a physical context, which for some reason works better for me. I realize everyone's mind is not the same and would never insist my way is superior. It is certainly superior for me, but at the same time, it comes with some costs.

[@ProductivePM]

@@MikeGastin Very cool Mike. I am sure it will serve you well. And as others have mentioned, your tone is very good for teaching and KZbin. Looking forward to many more videos. Wishing you the very best!

[@MikeGastin]

That's very kind, Greg. Thank you. And yes, more to come. I need to do a better job on my publishing consistency. Am working towards making content full time, but have a few miles to go before that's a reality. It's folks like you that make it possible, though, and I am grateful. 🙏🏼

[@ideas_from_books]

Thank you..very well explained

[@MikeGastin]

My pleasure. Thanks for letting me know!

[@millionsuponmillions]

Finally easy to follow explanation of Zettelkasten! But have you tried Obsidian though ?

[@MikeGastin]

I have tried Obsidian. If I wanted to go digital, that would be my go-to app.

[@vthunder]

Very pleasant video Mike. It was nice to play yet another video about the ZK method, yet this time say...."ahhhh that makes sense!" Also it was nice to see that. you are a paper guy also. I find that when push comes to shove, whether in meetings at work or around the house, grabbing some paper is still my go-too..... Looks like you use fleeting and Lit notes that way...and then move into software on Perm notes.....but I could have missed that. I'm going to go and try to take another run at the book again by Sonke. Subscribed.

[@MikeGastin]

That's great! I appreciate you letting me know that the vid helped. Wish you good luck with the system. I love using it and have found it to be quite valuable.

[@TerryGrier]

Thank you for taking the time to do this video. It is a nice powerful summary.

[@MikeGastin]

My pleasure, Terry. Thanks for letting me know you liked it.

[@sbonventure]

The most important question 1.5 years after you posted this video: Are you still using this system? I just finished the book. I liked it. But I also really enjoyed reading the Bullet Journal book (obviously a different writing purpose). I finished grad school in 2007 and all through my college years I tried all sorts of ways to store my knowledge. I can't count how many methods I've used.

[@MikeGastin]

First, has it been that long?!? Wow. Second, I am still using it. It’s transformed my work and I’ve gone deeper and deeper into the method.

[@cesardottin2826]

Great Video Mike! Will for sure be picking this one up. Also would love to know what pen you seem to be using while taking notes in this video?

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Cesar. I think you'll love the book! RE: my pen, I am using a Ti Arto, which I love. It accepts all kinds of refills, so you can choose the ink, point size, etc. that suits you best. Here's a link: bigidesign.com/products/ti-arto-pen.

[@cesardottin2826]

@@MikeGastin Amazing, thank you Mike! 😁

[@chillyspoon]

I also discovered Zettelkasten far too late in life but now use it on a daily basis both for work and personal projects. Having test driven every note-taking application under the sun (and several not intended for note-taking as such, e.g. Papyrus Author) I eventually settled on Obsidian and found a sudden acceleration in productivity. The ZK approach works really well, and provides a "way out" for serial procrastinators such as myself!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks for the note! I have an analog system for my Zettelkasten BUT I use Obsidian as my go-to writing app... I don't think it was designed for that, but I like having all my documents in one place and with the Pandoc plugin I can export to just about any format.

[@deliberative1]

Hi Mike. I enjoyed this video. I have been wrestling with making this marvelous book part of my life. I have a simple question. You said you use 3x5 cards but it looks like 4x6 cards in the video. I want to use 3x5 cards because I have a fantasy about finding an old library card catalog someday, but I am struggling to have enough space on 3x5’s. Thx

[@MikeGastin]

Michael, good catch! You are absolutely right. I actually use 4X6 inch cards. It did not even occur to me that I said, "3X5". And, yes, I would also struggle to fit some of my thoughts on a 3X5. The 4X6 cards seem to work best for me. Sure, it would be great to have an old library card catalog chest but I can't let the aesthetic ideal keep me from finding what works best in a day-to-day setting. Even so, I can see the attraction ...

[@oiconigawo3242]

Hey Mike, I am a first time viewer of your channel. I really like your coherency and conciseness of speech. Subscribed! Best, Oico (Alias)

[@MikeGastin]

That’s great! I’m glad you found me and thank you for the kind words and subscription. 👊🏼

[@Geemeel1]

Great explained, well presented. Love and Light from Europe ✨

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you for your courage! 👊🏼

[@mevoluo8949]

Thanks For sharing. I will read the book.

[@MikeGastin]

I hope you get as much out of it as I did!

[@SaleemRanaAuthor]

Liked and subscribed, and, after writing this comment, I'm on my way to buying and reading the book. I've been waiting years to watch a video like this one, a video that offers a clue on how to organize information and originate insights.

[@MikeGastin]

Saleem, that's awesome! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Also, I'm grateful to have you aboard-thanks for subscribing. I think you're going to really love this book and the system/approach that the author shares. I have found it transformational and suspect I am not the only one. I wish you the best and hope you'll let me know what you think after reading the book. 🙏🏼👊🏼

[@SaleemRanaAuthor]

@@MikeGastin Thank you for introducing me to this book. I have begun reading it. I've just finished reading about Luhmann's remarkable life and I'm now getting into the mechanism of his effortless workflow and magical slip-box.

[@MikeGastin]

@@SaleemRanaAuthor Excellent!

[@harishp2046]

Made my Monday morning! Thank you!

[@MikeGastin]

Glad to hear it!

[@johnderecho4892]

Nice video sir, thanks!

[@MikeGastin]

Glad you liked it!

[@Joshua-sd1cb]

This is great content! Thank you. I am currently reading the book and came across your channel. New subscriber 😁

[@MikeGastin]

Aw yeah! Thanks, man. Glad to have you onboard. 👊🏼

[@bangmachiv]

If notecards are your permanent notes - how do you review them?; how and where do you build the bigger hyperlinked picture from them?

[@MikeGastin]

I review them by hand. I might be interested in a certain topic or theme and I'll go to the section of my notes that corresponds and will read through my notes. As to hyperlinking, I notate cards with links to other relevant cards. So, as I am reviewing I might follow those links, which lead me to surprising places. I don't have a need to see the whole because these notes are all my thoughts anyway and they cover so many topics that there is no benefit to seeing everything. How does one see all their digital notes in a way that is meaningful and useful? I would argue that besides being "cool" to look at, a visualization of all your notes and their links doesn't do much.

[@MarkEichin]

The comment about kindle highlights hit home... I have a big pile that I never seen to get back to. Maybe I should just do a time bounded review pass and see if any of them are worth "promoting" to cards...

[@MikeGastin]

Yeah, I've found that digital notes, highlights, and clips just fall into the proverbial sea of forgetfulness. My hunch is that they don't have any physical context, which my mind seems to perform better with. And, of course, I am not interacting with them in any way-not thinking about them, expanding on them, or putting them into my own words. Amazing what a pen a paper can do. I think your idea of doing a time-bound process is smart and bet it would help.

[@strictnonconformist7369]

I do developer support for a “small” software company where I research problems on-the-fly regularly, whether it is how to achieve certain things with the OS APIs to provide a solution for the customer, or figure out what their application and/or the OS are doing, and this tends to require deep debugging. This also requires writing large volumes of case notes detailing investigations including research, and in many ways resembles this system as I’ve seen described in more detail in other videos (this was certainly a book review, and not meant to be a full system review: I’ve seen at least one other video detail better how to do this process). I’ve also used the Apple Notes application (comes onthe iPhone, iPad and MacOS from Apple by default), though without the linking (thus far), to do so and have worked something similar, and I see the results of

[@MikeGastin]

It's great to see/hear the different ways people integrate the Zettelkasten method into their work. Thanks for the comment!

[@strictnonconformist7369]

@@MikeGastin I didn’t even read/hear about the method until the last week or two, and what I’ve been doing hasn’t fully fit the definition, but I can attest to the fact that a great method gets great results, however impure it may be.

[@MikeGastin]

@@strictnonconformist7369 Ah! Nice. I have found it amazing for helping me learn and retain more from what I read (mainly books) and for coming up with new insights, too.

[@EstherMNan]

What a wonderful review, thank you

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Esther!

[@xloox1615]

Thank you Mike!

[@MikeGastin]

🙏🏼

[@RogerGregoryMcLeod]

Dear Mike, a nice review of a great book 👍👍👍

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Prof Ballas! 🙏🏼

[@kf88743]

Wonderful video. I have been coming back to the book every couple of months. There is just so much information packed into this tiny thing. By the way. What Kind of pen/pencil is that at 3:24

[@MikeGastin]

Thank you! And, yes. My only regret is that I didn't find this system, the Zettelkasten, sooner. The pen is a Ti Arto by Big Idea Design. I love it.

[@Jusangen]

Hey there! In my exploration of this Zettelkasten method, I happened upon your video. I thought you did a great summary of Ahrens book and yes, I too have heard from multiple people now how much they wish they would have used this when they were younger. Too bad it's not a course at universities right? Keep it up and looking forward to watching more content from you!

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Aaron! Glad you found me. And, for the record, my understanding and application of the Zettelkasten method continues to evolve. Do you use a digital or analog system?

[@Jusangen]

@@MikeGastin I started two digital ones, one for my day job, which is actually working really well, and one for my personal interests - philosophy, psychology, etc. I have been playing with a Kanban system at work and it is quite fun to use the physical sticky notes, so I could see the appeal of using an analog zettelkasten, but it seems a bit tedious in how they would be numbered and linked together. Digital is just so much more straight forward. But it would be fun to see someone's modern date ZK like how Ryan Holiday has his.

[@MikeGastin]

@@Jusangen Very cool! You should check out @Scott P. Scheper if you want to see a serious analog Zettelkasten at work. :)

[@Jusangen]

@@MikeGastin Oh yes, I just saved some videos of his. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@stephensalmon3148]

Thanks Mike. Really good.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Stephen. 👍🏼

[@DrDanAllosso]

I like that you're using paper and pens. I'm doing that a bit too, although I'm also using apps.

[@MikeGastin]

I'd be curious to know how you're combining both.

[@DrDanAllosso]

@@MikeGastin It's very early days with the Permanent Notes. I have way more Reading Notes at this point. So I'm just writing my Permanent Notes as separate pages in Obsidian and on 3x5 cards, numbering both identically with the alternating number-letter scheme Luhmann used. I'll probably make a video about that later in the summer when I have more Permanent notes and connections to show off.

[@MikeGastin]

@@DrDanAllosso I love Obsidian and want badly to find a use for it. I just can't seem to do so. I'm looking forward to your vid on implementation. I've got one in the works but have been sick and lost considerable time.

[@caleb_wole]

I recently read this book, and your video was like a quick review for me. I also don't like the fact that Ahrens didn't talk more on getting started with a Zettelkasten - the hows and examples. I had to look up more information on the Zettelkasten software he recommended - Zkn3 - of which most tutorials are written in German. Also, I'm curious if the Zettelkasten can be applied in cases where there's already a topic to write about e.g. essay competitions for students. The Zettelkasten seems to favour an emergent approach to writing.

[@MikeGastin]

Thanks, Caleb. I do think it can work for less emergent projects. Not sure about an school essay just because you’d want access to your notes, but I’ll often have an idea and then dig through my Zettelkasten (which is analog) to further explore and develop the idea.

[@bobbysands5385]

Great summary for a great book.

[@MikeGastin]

Glad you think so!