When I read, I just fold the bottom corners of the pages. Mark down what sticks out at you as you read–passages, words, anecdotes, stories, info. Shelby Foote, “I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else.” If you need book recommendations, these will help. Read about anything and everything and be open to seeing what you didn’t expect to be there–that’s how you find the best stuff. “We should hunt out the helpful pieces of teaching and the spirited and noble-minded sayings which are capable of immediate practical application–not far far-fetched or archaic expressions or extravagant metaphors and figures of speech–and learn them so well that words become works.” How to Do It (Right) Some people have gone as far as to claim that Pinterest is a modern iteration of the commonplace book.Īnd if you still need a why–I’ll let this quote from Seneca answer it (which I got from my own reading and notes): Art of Manliness recently did an amazing post about the history of pocket notebooks. Our true understanding of the Civil War, for example, is a result of the spread of cheap diaries and notebooks that soldiers could record their thoughts in. But so have common people throughout history. Not only did all these famous and great individuals do it. HL Mencken, who did so much for the English language, as his biographer put it, “methodically filled notebooks with incidents, recording straps of dialog and slang” and favorite bits from newspaper columns he liked. His earliest essays were little more than compilations of these thoughts. Montaigne, who invented the essay, kept a handwritten compilation of sayings, maxims and quotations from literature and history that he felt were important. Marcus Aurelius kept one–which more or less became the Meditations. Some of the greatest men and women in history have kept these books. The purpose of the book is to record and organize these gems for later use in your life, in your business, in your writing, speaking or whatever it is that you do. I was introduced and taught a certain version of this system Robert Greene and now I am passing along the lessons because they’ve helped me so much.Ī commonplace book is a central resource or depository for ideas, quotes, anecdotes, observations and information you come across during your life and didactic pursuits. It what ties those efforts together and makes you better at each one of them. Well, the commonplace book is a thread that runs through all those ideas. In other posts, we’ve talked about how to read more, which books to read, how to read books above your level and how to write. I wrote it down I’ll want to have it around for later reference, for potentially using it in my writing or work, or for possible inspiration at some point in the future. ” Why? Because it’s a great line and it stood out to me. When I read this, I immediately began a ritual that I have practiced for many years–and that others have done for centuries before me–I marked down the passage and later transferred it to my “commonplace book. “Strike!” Themistocles shouted back, “But listen!” Finally, the Spartan general threatened to strike Themistocles if he didn’t shut up and stop. He continued to interrupt and contradict the other generals. Themistocles was clearly in the minority with his views (but which ultimately turned out to be right and saved Western Civilization). Before the battle of Salamis, he was locked in a vigorous debate with a Spartan general about potential strategies for defeating the Persians. It was about the great Athenian general Themistocles. The other day I was reading a book and I came across a little anecdote.
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