Mini Essays: The Ultimate Learning Tool

About 8 months ago, I started using mini-essays as the core of my note-taking. I'll never turn back.
I like to take my time with books, analyse their points and take time to write about them. It's high effort, sure, but the knowledge you get in return is priceless.
Mini-essays have been my best friend in this journey. They help me understand hard books, remember big ideas and form interesting connections, all with 30 minutes of time here and there.
And that's only half the value. By writing mini-essays, I kill two birds with one stone. I'm on a journey to become a better writer, and these notes are a perfect way to practice writing and find my voice. Not bad, right?
In this video, I talk about how and why you might add mini-essays to your workflow to take learning to the next level.
Newsletter:
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Robert Henderson Article:
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00-00:40 What Are They?
00:40-1:45 How I Use Them + Example
1:45-2:40 High Effort, High Reward
2:40-6:00 How Mini-Essays Help You Learn
6:00-8:00 How to Become a Great Writer
8:00-9:06 Boost Writing Output
9:06-10:27 Make Writing Addictive
10:27-12:36 Build a Bank of Ideas
12:36-15:38 How and Where to Start
15:38-16:04 Last Note

[@Monica-lu6gb]

this is so true. Nothing has worked better for me than pretending I am preparing a topic to teach in front of someone, it truly gives you more confidence and depth on the topics that you want to learn about.

[@odysseas__]

For sure, it's the king of learning techniques

[@michaelduncan6287]

Offer presentations to local groups with like or crossover interest, kids groups, homeschooling, etc. This gives an opportunity to use and share what you've learned as well as meet new people with like interest.

[@marctestarossa]

@@odysseas__ for me it's always been direct dialogue and discussion. Explaining a topic and your viewpoint on the topic to another person, who asks all the questions that never came to your mind in the process. To me that's pure gold. It shows you where your own gaps of understanding are and shines a very bright light on every step you skipped in your chain of thoughts. Because they won't buy it if it's not conclusive. But obviously you can't argue about everything with everyone all the time ^^ I mean I try, but people sometimes don't have the same fire burning inside for the same topics. So maybe I should try mini essays. And you can publish them which is absolutely great.

[@Xvn793void]

I thought I was the only one lol

[@arakita02]

Oh this is just like what a sketchbook is for an artist.

[@odysseas__]

Nice way to put it

[@whannabi]

Let's gooo

[@kioumim]

Exactly !

[@Arrayonex]

Reminds me of how rubber duck programming works in some parts of the video.

[@i.am.me7]

This comment is what made me seriously start this practice and yeah. I'm incredibly grateful. It's so true

[@yoavjacoby8246]

Hmm. Interesting. I think I'll write a mini essay on why I should start writing mini essays.

[@JanSteele]

So funny. I had just come back to say that I had done that. My first mini essay to consolidate the learning from this video. I'm hoping it will be the first of many to help me build the habit of deep learning lasting a lifetime. :D

[@new-lviv]

Please publish that so I can write a mini essay on your mini essay about writing mini essays.

[@yoavjacoby8246]

@@new-lviv I know you said this as a joke but I am actually quite proud of that essay so here it is 🙉: docs.google.com/document/d/1k8Oj5aWeEiJs6hYLVPbNj3B3O2MfqGFYWQjNohzADso/edit?usp=drivesdk

[@yoavjacoby8246]

​@@new-lviv I know you said this as a joke but I'm genuinely proud of that mini essay so here it is: docs.google.com/document/d/1k8Oj5aWeEiJs6hYLVPbNj3B3O2MfqGFYWQjNohzADso/edit?usp=drivesdk

[@BichitaQ]

Unironically would be a great way to start if you're having trouble identifying a first topic.

[@loganratliff4162]

As someone who hyperfixates on interesting topics and want to talk about them…. I feel like this concept is a great way to use that energy

[@victorsauvage1890]

And don’t be surprised if an idea which seemed pithy and straightforward becomes difficult to pin-down as you begin to put it on paper. Do not be discouraged - Every good and reasonable idea - which any great philosopher has had - or which a High Court judge has had - has many immediate objections which may not be immediately answerable. Also there is no possibility that one may exhaustively ‘explain’ every aspect of a significant, worthwhile alternative interpretation of any question of public controversy. Sometimes it is sufficient to merely hint at what your initiative is or at what your criticism is. Read some of the great - (but initially very hum-drum-sounding) - essayists. The trick is to spend just 5-10 minutes per day or twice a day reading a few paragraphs of the great essayists. (Photocopy a couple of small pages and carry them around with you. You can still keep reading the most up-to-date writing. But find a few great paragraphs to re-read over and over again. carry them with you -

[@tamilla8484]

I have same fixation 😂 if i learned something interesting, I want to talk about, but it's difficult to find people who love such discussions 😢

[@phumelelabaskiti2134]

Me too!

[@GnosisPodcast]

Same!

[@FredMBeshears]

FYI: These two books by William Zinsser might be of interest, especially the second: 1. On Writing Well 2. Writing to Learn

[@odysseas__]

Reading the first now!

[@pratuldube]

Thank you for this!

[@timdemoss]

I have read the first but never heard of the second! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@mathiusq9128]

I am self studying philosophy and obviously some topics in philosophy are pretty hard to conceptualize. Even after reading several books, Id find I could not very well explain what I had learned to another person.Writing essays on the most interesting ideas was the solution. There is a reason why this is the prime assignment give in classroom environments.

[@odysseas__]

It's true, and now, they're totally in your hands

[@guava727]

This. As primarily an ebook reader, being able to just flip over to my notes app and scrap together a rough draft does wonders for memorizing and honing in on the key ideas of what I'm reading. Definitely recommend starting a reading journal.

[@spronga3305]

haha seems i just started on your same path. i started reading the Letters of Ethics from Seneca just today and stumbled across this video -- the timing could not have been better

[@StephenDix]

Great ideas. I tell my kids, "If it makes you frown, write it down". So capture literally everything that trips you up or you disagree with or you otherwise think twice about. Then try to write to someone about those things. Teach them through an essay they may never read. It is a remarkably effective technique to turn habitual judgement into contemplative curiosity.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, and that's a great idea too. It stops you in your tracks to truly digest what's before you.

[@selim.digital]

I’ve been writing weekly essays on my blog to help me focus my thinking. It’s worked wonders to improve my writing and my ability to be inspired. I haven’t had writers block in a year since I started writing and publishing a weekly essay!

[@odysseas__]

That's the best form this can take, good stuff

[@MistyWarden]

This concept is one of the foundational methods in Charlotte Mason’s educationally philosophy. Doing oral and written narrations of living books.

[@odysseas__]

Just checked out some books about her, seems interesting

[@Rachel_1177]

I was going to make this same comment. I homeschooled my son using Charlotte Mason and narration is the backbone of her method. It's so brilliantly simple it can be used with small children yet it grows with them as they progress to more challenging writings. The material comes directly from their living books, art, music, etc. Children are introduced to the writers, artists and composers and get to know them through this method of deep thinking. It transfers the work from the teacher to the student who truly learns. Copywork, maintaining a common place book and keeping a book of centuries nicely augments learning. Implementing Charlotte Mason's method alongside with my son was the education I never received. Good stuff!

[@scenicrouteart]

My first semester college English teacher had us read wonderful essays and then write a mini essay with a thesis statement first, on each of these essays. Changed my life! Opened my world to great writing! Changed my way of thinking! So valuable!

[@theBakinNoob]

Do you maybe have a step to step instruction guide on how to do that the right way?

[@Falcon8856]

​@theBakinNoob research the IB program and some of the Literature courses. It is a great way for high schoolers to shift their mindset into academic thinking through essays

[@prettymuch5am765]

I was scrolling back watching your older videos. I must say, the improvement is wild :00 The way you talk is a lot more engaging. It’s quite cool to see; it makes me encouraged to just start whatever it is I want to do even if it’s not perfect in the beginning.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, and I love to hear that. I thought of deleting them, but changed my mind for that exact reason. It's the reality of things.

[@ehtishamullah7534]

Please don't delete them

[@MarcDeAjong]

Wow, man, it's reminds me about my first semester in college. A lecturer in my first semester suggested me, and my friends, to make a "scrap book" (basically just a pile of stapled leftover paper). He told us to write anything that comes to our mind after we read book, journal article, and any other source. I just realized that from that scrap book a lot of ideas can come to my mind and help me to writing paper for exam (or even maybe my thesis). And theh i found this video, just today. I hope i can start writing this kind of mini essay after reading some materials. Ps: sorry my english is pretty broken because it's not my first language

[@TheNutmegStitcher]

We teach this skill to our students in our homeschool community. We start with rudimentary persuasive essays based on booksthey read, and with each novel, we add a scheme or trope, gradually increasing the complexity. By reading excellent books, they increase their vocabulary and begin to develop an ear for arguments and good writing. We use IEW and LTW. It's been incredible to watch the growth from 7th-12th grade and beyond.

[@odysseas__]

Progressive overload, but for the mind. Love the sound of it.

[@o00oio00o]

Whats is IEW and LTW?

[@bradybourgeois9819]

Personally hated iew but see it's use. Helped me write better and gain an understanding of the tools in my shed, but the assignments felt clunky. Would have enjoyed condensing ideas from books/short stories much more.

[@johnstrae7392]

I do this in my head ALL THE TIME. If I am not sure if I will be able to explain something, I go through the whole argument, explaination, idea, etc. in my head, or if I am alone, out loud until I can coherently explain it like it was a written essay. Talking to yourself is SO underrated. It also helps me realize if I actually have enough knowlegde to speak about a subject or if i am just repeating something someone else said.

[@odysseas__]

That's a great approach too

[@whannabi]

I do it too but it tends to be time consuming compared to just writing it. It's more concrete to write it imo but if it's good enough or better for you then that's fine.

[@isyx_ytb]

I'm writing a mini essay about this video

[@odysseas__]

Good! Immediate action taking

[@JayLooney]

I did the exact same thing :D

[@Vesco..]

Same!

[@obsolete9734]

can i read it?

[@makisxatzimixas2372]

I'm writing a mini essay about your comment

[@PowerGurhl]

Great idea. I keep common books where I add quotes, notes, and my thoughts about what I read. I also write a summary and what I can use in life and resonated with. Makes a difference.

[@odysseas__]

Commonplace books are also great

[@pattidoyle5102]

I use a method like this as I work my was through mammoth classics. I write a small summary after natural breaks the author made (sections, chapters, parts, etc.) I’m retaining so much more of the story as well as the historical information generally embedded in the work. It helps me remember where I left off (I’m reading Les Miserbles on Sundays only) and need to reread my last summary before I begin reading again.I know this isn’t exactly what you’re referring to as I don’t always use an essay structure, but the benefit of rethinking what I read enough to summarize really boosts my retention.

[@odysseas__]

It's a similar principle for sure, glad to see it works well

[@claudio_t3]

"Get those damn reps in." "Inaction hurts, and there's no good reason why you should suffer from it." Love it.

[@odysseas__]

Thank you, really appreciate it

[@shylanambiar4316]

This is a great idea to keep writing regularly, especially when you’re uninspired or are stuck on other work and can’t seem to proceed. This still keeps you accomplishing writing. I’ve started incorporating mini essays into my writing schedule.

[@morganeua]

Love the idea of "mini essays"! This is essentially what I use a blog for!

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, and exactly! Sooner or later, they build up to something bigger than themselves.

[@CornelPanic]

I don't know how the algorithm brought me to your channel, but I'm incredibly grateful for it. Not only did I find so many suggestions while scrolling through your videos, but I also find the form in which you deliver the content exceptionally good and understandable. Your channel is absolutely and completely undervalued, I hope you get many more followers.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, I appreciate it

[@nhungvu1079]

I jusy wrote a mini essay on why I should write mini essays after watching this video

[@fedouamansouri3318]

I have been struggling with this weird fact, you mentioned, about not being able to properly recall what you thought you had clearly grasped a moment ago. I thought that writing a small research paper about what I have just read was a potentially good idea, but I was afraid of it being too time-consuming. So, I hoped to first see if somebody tried it before. And here you come with this brilliant idea that combines the idea I had with its solution. This is absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much! You have a new subscriber 😄.

[@odysseas__]

Amazing to hear that, thank you

[@LearningandTechnology]

Metacognitive interaction with your learning experiences is absolutely proven as a way to bind concepts to memory. I like the idea of mini essays as a structured way to engage in this learning. For many years, I’ve asked students to create a “Learning Journal” to capture ideas as they interact with learning, Mini essays seem like great content for these journals. Thanks!

[@odysseas__]

That sounds fun in its own right, but I'm happy to hear it!

[@z.m.4331]

Would love to hear more details :)

[@dwayneneckles]

I would like to hear more details as well. In the meantime, i will google Metacognitive interaction with your learning experiences

[@drxyz512]

I feel really inspired by the content discussed in this video. Personally, I watch a lot of video essay on youtube and feel that writing mini essay while watching them will really help strengthen my memory and understanding. Thanks for the vid, I’ve happily subscribed to your channel.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, and that's a great use of them. Makes watching videos more active and intentional.

[@annalockwood3021]

I can vouch for the effectiveness of this. Started taking notes about videos during the pandemic once I realized I could put my notes in an inexpensive spiral notebook and create a bullet journal style index as I went to help me reference things more easily later on. Once I fill the notebook, I review things for basic clarity (helps future reference work more smoothly). Over time I realized that certain topics kept recurring, and found some colorful ways to note them ( colorful washi tape tabs on page edges, etc). I have used these notes to guide myself into some hobbies that delight me, improve my skills in a wide array of areas, and keep me from watching the same videos over and over. That can be enjoyable, but I love building on my knowledge. Be patient and diligent, you will make progress.

[@as-uj2lw]

Funnily enough, this is exactly what I’ve been doing as of late! A great way to consolidate and retain knowledge.

[@odysseas__]

Nice, glad to see them in action!

[@kd_handle]

wow, this semester i've just started turning practice labs into mini tutorials in which i describe why, for what, etc down to the smallest details. and find it actually works surprisingly well. and here's your new video with explanation why mini essays is so good as learning tool! thanks, your channel is awesome✨ p.s. btw there is Writing to Learn by William Zinsser. i haven't read it yet, but maybe it'll be interesting to someone.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, nice to see it works elsewhere.

[@imiikhan]

My motivation is peaked right now I don't know why you sound so convincing but I'll come back after one year of practice ❤ wish me luck

[@odysseas__]

Happy to see it, good luck

[@Greg_Wheeler]

Duuuuuude, seriously thank you for this. You've added a filter for me on the topic of writing to think and learn. This method feels so approachable.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks man, hope it serves you well

[@potatostarcher4472]

I've done this unintentionally through Journaling my life for a few months. Let me say this, through writing you will learn what you believe. only after that can you change your beliefs.

[@sheperdofthebrahs]

Something that immidiately comes to mind rn and Ive learnt in school, knowledge is pretty much like a language and everyone speaks one of their own. When you are taught by somebody, they present knowledge in their own words and you experience it through them, but after thats done youre left with very little actual understanding because its still in their language or at least dialect. When formulating it yourself, effort is put into the "translation" because its not simple repetition, highly effective strategy

[@michaelduncan6287]

I'm in an advanced (Journeymen/ Master) Beekeeping chat room, we pick a subject for each month, research out published lit. and do a mini essay/ review to present to the group then discuss the subject. Often I'll post five to ten papers so members can choose one to do a review and present. This gives us a chance for advanced education and a way to share it, also a way to practice presentations before teaching to our local clubs.

[@odysseas__]

That's a great idea

[@carina5633]

I just finished watching Before Sunrise and was blown away by the beauty of being able to clearly express such human and genuine ideas to someone you love in conversation. Being able to train myself to turn these complex but jumbled thoughts into writing mini-essays is definitely a great way to achieve this. Thanks for the awesome video :D

[@odysseas__]

It's the most powerful skill out there -much appreciated too!

[@MrKrtek00]

I am generally doing freewriting, but I like this is a more structured way and more productive. Thanks!

[@bee2729]

so useful, i noticed whenever i wrote about something i'd suddenly fully understand it. doing that but a mini version will be also efficient and less time consuming!

[@odysseas__]

Thanks! That's what I hope -best of luck

[@Sparkl1ngM1lk]

This is such valuable knowledge. It can be unbelievably helpful to anybody with any topic that they are trying to learn. Learning is not just a memorization process. It's a process where you should strive to connect the new knowledge to things you already know because that will make you _truly_ understand the world around you and will give you the ability to think abstractly and create new ideas, not just spit out a memorized fact. This is a great way to achieve that and force yourself to really *think* . Great advice and props to you for sharing it!

[@odysseas__]

Well put, and thanks!

[@herrschniedler4207]

I like that this guy responds to so many comments and gives so many Hearts. Cheers

[@odysseas__]

Couldn't have it any other way!

[@unique7893]

One of the most captivating videos I've watched on writing. Well done.

[@minacamoglu1419]

Absolutely amazing advice, thank you so much.

[@DrDtheMFT]

This has been really helpful. I enjoy writing but now as a mother of 3 it has been difficult to write outside of journaling. Changing the goal to a mini-essay is so much more achievable. I always coach clients to break goals down to smaller ones and it never occurred to me to make the final writing task smaller…a mini essay 🤯 I’ve written a few mini essays since watching this video. Thank you for sharing!

[@niceasta]

1. I don't know why I wasn't subscribed to this channel even if I enjoyed so many videos before 2. I was actually planning to start this habit a while ago, but didn't know exactly where to go with it - you really gave me a light to follow here. Thank you, man!

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated, and it's good to have you

[@insumoko]

Truly a inspiring video. when you said many times a "writer" spends more time talking about being a writer and talking about it then actually writing was so true. i feel like that's me too in some way or form, always dreaming or pondering about what i "will" write but never truly getting to it.

[@kimaya4503]

I love this and what makes it so special is that I have had this idea before, save the mini aspect of it. This really drives home why I should do it, but with the emphasis being on brevity and concision. Thanks so much 💃🏽

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated! And even better because they're a small(er) time investment

[@rifan_j]

i'm reading Homer's Odyssey for the first time and your video appeared on my yt homepage/rec. Great stuff, great editing and I found lots of takeaways to note. Thank you!

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, and great choice!

[@safegourd]

My favorite professor uses this concept for each reading - we have to write weekly discussion boards on one aspect of the text we discussed in class. Being forced to do it for an assignment helps because it makes me investigate areas of the text that I might otherwise skim over (my favorite was when I did a narratological analysis of "The Sandman" by ETA Hoffman, specifically the shift a few pages in when the narrator explains why they opened the story with 3 letters exchanged between the characters. I didn't take the time to fully question or understand that shift until I wrote that post, and it transformed my understanding of the story). Also love this use for Obsidian. I've been using it myself for a couple years but my vault has stagnated lately, as I've been exploring other notetaking methods. This sounds like a great way to get back into it and really utilize the links between notes! Maybe I'll write a mini essay on it ;-) Thank you for sharing this video!

[@aresaurelian]

Yes. Contain, encapsulate, focus. Each scene, a mini essay. It is good.

[@Gruso57]

This is an underrated channel. I personally use outlines for the Feynman method but am going to try mini essays. Well done sir. I hope you get the recognition you deserve on here

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, I hope it goes well for you

[@EdLeeSB]

Thanks very much. Feynman is [ 'faɪn mən ], as in “FINE man”.

[@abdullateefmuraina4602]

Really grateful for this priceless diamond that you gave to us for free. I have been thinking of how to make essay writing easy for me because of the overwhelming nature of writing a large number of words which sometimes result in procrastination for me. However, with this mini essay, you just gave me the solution to my problem. Thanks.

[@KingOfTheDeepSea]

I can't express just how grateful I am for this video. I had always had a passion for writing, and with this idea you shared, I am very excited to try this out.

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated, hope they turn out well for you

[@user-ev7wx1oz7q]

I really want a more extensive look into your obsidian vault(s), I'm so keen to have a better glance... I'd really appreciate if you could do a video on it because I believe it has the potential to inspire a lot.

[@odysseas__]

I've got some plans for more obsidian stuff

[@bibamarieva]

Now that I watched your video, you basically described how I used to keep my diaries - and I guess diaries in general serve the same very purposes.

[@pixelpondering]

I'm so glad that I clicked on this video when searching for "short video essays" because I also occasionally write articles. However, haven’t in a while because it started to feel so overwhelming. I've been wanting to become more consistent and improve my writing skills and this method is absolutely perfect. I've watched this video twice already and subscribed and already have an idea in mind for my first mini essay to get started. Day 1 of daily reps commences....

[@pixelpondering]

Also what's your mic set up? Your audio sounds flawless.

[@narrativedude]

I’m thankful today because you slipped into my feed. I’m deeply cynical about algorithms, but today almost makes me a believer. I’m older, but still taking on the Fool’s Journey. You’ve made me realize that I was following your principles for years. Now I have a narrative hook to hang this on. I’ll be diving into mini-essays as a method to improve and deepen my writing chops.

[@odysseas__]

I appreciate it, good to have you here

[@burntheboxes]

This would be a wonderful extension to my commonplace book. Thanks for the video!

[@TimDavie5]

This is the first of your videos that I have watched. I’ve been trying to find online content to help me develop a practice of writing as a way of learning. This was really great. Thank you!🎉

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated, hope it serves you well

[@brushrunner]

Feynman taught me how to think! Turning 18 and starting to backpack the world, i listened to all his books, and it provided me with tools to understand it

[@dad102]

You got this stuff dialed in nicely. I can tell. My college English prof liken the essay to the way an image forms on a clean piece of paper as you trace over it, revealing the image hidden below. Each subsequent essay is another stroke of the the pencil, or the crayon. Or the charcoal. The more essays you compose about a variety of topics, the more revealing and detailed will become the underlying image. I thought that an outstanding illustration. He was teaching about the different forms of literature. He was talking about Montaigne in particular. I heard Emily Ratajkowski say that her new book was constructed of a series of essays she spoke into her phone over a long period of time. (Her mom was an English teacher.) That is a NYT bestseller, btw. My Body. She is a beautiful creature. An essay needs to be as focused as possible. Confined in scope. In the end, the essay helps you give voice to your feelings and thoughts on any given topic. "What do I think about thus-n-such? Before you can write down what you think about a given topic, you first must clarify in your own mind. Not as easy it might sound. I posted this in another entry, but it applies here. Copy-n-paste.

[@aalimanaqvi]

You just earned a new subscriber! I wish this was actually rewarding, because this video deserves a lot more than one subscribe. This idea has offered a lot of hope to me, after I had given up on reading and writing. Thank you for sharing this valuable treasure with the rest of the world! 💚

[@odysseas__]

Thanks! Hope it serves you well

[@MoMan9]

I have been working on long form essays since the beginning of the year but this is a game changer! I am def going to implement this; thank you for your insight!

[@odysseas__]

That's real cool, and thanks so much for the tip. Should be smooth for you given your experience.

[@nosceteipsum52]

I swear google can sense my thoughts. I’m currently reading Walter issacsons bio on Benjamin Franklin and he goes into how Benjamin Franklin used to make pretty much these mini essays. Thank you for the awesome video and the sage advice.

[@odysseas__]

Wow I didn't know that, cool to see it being used by such a great man. Thanks too!

[@viniciuslira76]

Um pequeno relato sobre isso é que desde pequenos faço esses textos e só vim descobrir qual o nome recentemente (peço desculpas a vocês que falam inglês, eu até falo porém é melhor de me expressar em português/minha língua nativa) é incrível o quanto conseguimos aprender sobre si mesmo e os outros com esses textos, é incrível ver que existe toda uma comunidade com esse tema

[@crossedpolars]

I've been meaning to start writing, just as a method of clarifying my thinking, for some time. This is the push I needed to actually do it, you have made it less daunting and emphasised the benefits. Really, a fantastic video.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, and good luck

[@TheVcoder]

This is such a great video. Thank you for sharing your insight.

[@odysseas__]

Cheers, I appreciate it

[@sn0wy180]

This is insane I’ve come across this video, cause I’ve been trying to figure out how I can build a sort of, at home education system and I’ve been so overwhelmed on where to start, and I think this is probably one of the best things I can incorporate into a regular schedule that will not only educate myself but develop my reading and writing skills which are so incredibly important. Thank you!!!

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated, and yeah I hope it's a good tool for general purpose learning too, in all studies

[@adelaova9868]

This channel seems to have the answers to many of my questions, some of which I didn't even know I had. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

[@odysseas__]

Grateful to hear it, thanks

[@ModernConversations]

I really did this the other day, and this video came along to explain what was my suspicion all along.

[@user-hh9qs2of3y]

I have been thinking about this exercise for a while and could do it only occasionally. Thanks for reminding and sharing the steps, purpose and guidelines. I am going to start writing mini essays starting with this video

[@odysseas__]

Appreciate it, and good luck!

[@oknbk7593]

Essays are kind of like the mothers of writing; almost universally accepted as the first form of real writing you get to do in school, and if you know how to write a good essay, you can pretty much write anything or about anything.

[@islombekabdullaev4692]

Writing mini essays do resonate with me and I subscribed to your channel after that. Besides, your motto seems to be life long learning which is my primary principle of life. Thank you for sharing the light of knowledge with humanity!

[@odysseas__]

Thank you, good to have you!

[@henrikibsen6258]

I've been doing this on index cards since I first watched, it works brilliantly. Thanks for this technique, it's a gamechanger.

[@odysseas__]

Nice, and I appreciate it too

[@NanaViolet7]

Thank you so much for this video! I feel so inspired now to write for my thesis using this technique! I’ve always felt so overwhelmed with the writing part because I always think of the bigger picture (whole section, chapter, …), but now I feel I can do it better this way. Thanks again!

[@odysseas__]

Thanks! I used this for a dissertation and it worked a treat.

[@Kei-zx7nf]

Great video, man. Very useful advice. I'll be implementing this strategy from now on!

[@Mr_GuyG]

Thank you KZbin for showing you to me! This video is like a mind reading for what im realizing in the past few months. And you put it all into a beautiful video. Thank you!

[@EcomCarl]

Embracing the practice of writing mini essays truly sharpens the mind and refines communication skills. It's a fantastic method for distilling complex ideas into accessible, engaging content that resonates with readers. 📝

[@donutcarrotall3258]

Incredible content. I enjoy both the idea and how you've explained yourself. Going to try this out (12 months and this channel is gonna have 250k+ followers)

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, and good luck!

[@MarrieWillians]

I just stumbled upon your channel and you truly inspired me with your content. I’m extremely passionate about learning and I always struggled in how to take notes and how to keep my knowledge in one place. I like to take notes on a notebook but I struggled a lot in transferring my notes to obsidian, its a dull and boring tast since I’m just typing stuff all over again. The mini essays were honestly the perfect solution for my problem lol I just wrote my first one and I felt like I was back in high school writing a essay in summary my writing is so bad lol I’m hoping to improve that and maybe write my thoughts and studies on medium later on. Thank you very much for your video keep going

[@odysseas__]

Amazing to see you put it into practice, hope it goes well. Thanks too!

[@pedrofranca6963]

probably the most valuable video I've seen in the site, great job and thanks for the help mate

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated!

[@user-qh3iq9sr7n]

I'm getting insane value from your videos, they are just so great and really what I needed to step up my game as a person. I also use obsidian to take notes, but I am actually not that good, would love to see a vid where you show/explain what functions you personally use and how you use them. Keep up the good work!

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, real glad to hear that. Will definitely dive into obsidian more, it deserves it

[@alexaweiss2656]

i rarely comment on videos that i’ve watched but with someone that has an attention span of a goldfish aka me this is a gem. no frills and all , just write and keep it condensed and short, keep up the good work :)

[@odysseas__]

Thanks, happy to hear you found value

[@eleazarchinchilla159]

I hadn't thought about those mini essays until I saw your video, thanks for such a valuable tool

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated, hope they do well for you

[@niloufarm.n6330]

I do a similar thing for the series or movies I watch, I kinda analyse certain things in different episodes and write about it and how these things affect the person who watches them.. I love doing this and I wish there was a club or a an application where people could do this in groups and discuss and present their point of view! Love this video btw thank you :]

[@danaLikesBuidcuits]

Love your mini Essay about mini essays

[@user-do2mx8ob6i]

i really love writing i used to randomly write pages of things that kept bothering me or things i observed, i'm sure i'm gonna love this a lot

[@publicopinion3596]

Ah thanks! I've started using cognitive jigs or concept maps recently so first I'll write out & lay out the key points/concepts/figures/events & dates and put that in a narrative form a short summary (2-4 paragraphs) in my words which is a key being able to concisely and succinctly put what've you've read in your words. If you can't simplify it and complicate the work yourself you don't really understand what you've read or heard. Like an artist who does a master study, they don't just copy they break down the artwork and check what art & design principles was the artist using in their creation process. If you copy the painting passively you've only proven that you have good hand & coordination not that you have visual literacy and can apply the artistic foundation yourself. This applies outside of an artistic practice as well. When you write out your ideas out those are your mental models which is what a mini essay or any extension of your mind be it via the vehicle of art or writing is. You then can see the framework laid out in front of you like someone commented a sketch which allows you to see what is missing or what connection you haven't made and so on to then refine your models like a scientist in the lab or out in the field collecting qualitative data to then create models on that. You get to actually intimately engage with the content in your mind when you write it out and then I diagram it out to find the systematic structures. Check out Dr. Caberara he is a system thinker and breaks down diagramming and mental models very well and how one can become a better system thinker and be able to create strong frameworks to add to your existing ones (learning). Thanks for the video you've inspired me to use your approach of making mini-essays and then implementing the diagrams (cognitive jigs using DSRP) to model the framework out and then actively recall the knowledge and then put it in memory palaces that's the mnemonic device I've been using to store relevant knowledge to me.

[@BahAloooors]

Thanks for that video! I came to the same realisation 2 days ago. To read and write about things I am reading or even watching, if I dont agree with the author I can write about why i don't agree, if it made me feel a strong emotion, I can express it in some ways. The goal is really to expand the mind and to get that writing working. Anyways, thanks for the confirmation that I was indeed heading towards the right way.

[@RichardMikulskij]

You've quickly became one of my fav you tube channels for knowledge workers, this was a great vid! I do something similar which is great knowing im on the right track! Keep it up man with the content 😊

[@odysseas__]

Thanks man, really appreciate that

[@yourfavoritepessimisticexi8041]

So happy I found your channel! As someone who wants to learn as much as possible, youtube couldn't have given me a better recommendation

[@odysseas__]

Delighted to hear it, thanks

[@tamilla8484]

Waw. I love your approach in explaining things. Great structure! Thank you ❤

[@odysseas__]

Cheers!

[@adellajones9887]

You described me...the procrastinator 😮

[@odysseas__]

There's a little bit in everyone. Just a matter of pushing through.

[@thephilosophicalagnostic2177]

I really agree. Writing and thinking go together so well. Thanks for posting.

[@odysseas__]

Much appreciated!

[@improvingjenny]

I always write essays about the books im reading! Its is truly amazing because the process of writing, reflecting and discussing the book makes me reaaally remember the entire book’s content whereas if i don’t write essays - i remember very little.

[@odysseas__]

Great stuff, and I absolutely agree

[@Nasir_3.]

I will start doing that from now on, great video man Glad I found you

[@odysseas__]

Hope it serves you well, and thanks

[@mdysrx]

The second video to watch on your channel and I'm already in love with what you share> Keep going bro>>>

[@odysseas__]

Thanks man, appreciate your words

[@bertwesler1181]

Outstanding; I shall dive right in. Thank You

[@uchi2226]

"You can always a edit a bad page, but you can't edit a blank page." - Jodi Picoult. Thank you so much for this video, I cannot tell you how much I smiled throughout the video because suddenly I felt seen, and the struggle of wanting to write but can't even form a good sentence is a huge problem to me, mainly because I want it to be perfect and I care too much about what people will say; I'm overcoming that. This is invaluable.

[@odysseas__]

I feel you, had the same problem myself. Thanks too! Wishing you the best

[@JemiSchool]

what a fantastic nugget of wisdom. thank you for sharing! I'm excited to try this in my own creative endeavor :)

[@odysseas__]

Cheers! Hope it serves you well

[@cathalobrien7678]

Mate, this is seriously class.

[@odysseas__]

Thanks

[@dwayneneckles]

the most important aspect is that this forces you to slow down and really engage the material instead of the false confidence of reading many articles alone. the difference between this that is new, is the way it is called a mini essay.

[@Islaras]

This content has incredible value ❤ This speaks to my soul and current situation

[@odysseas__]

So glad to hear it, thanks

[@Layla-yr5ef]

This is excellent advice. Thank you.