Ever finished a book, only to find the details slipping away like grains of sand? Taking notes helps with retaining and grabbing onto what you read. But how you take notes can make or break the time you spent on reading. And it doesn’t have to be complicated or tedious. It’s a matter of finding the right method that suits how you operate. It can even be as simple as taking note of what resonates with you, and how it fits or contrasts against your current worldview. And if you wanted to build on that, then the best note-taking methods can turn your reading experience into a treasure trove of insights, ready to spark ideas and guide you long after you’ve turned the last page. Here are some inventive ways to take notes that will bring your reading to life and keep it at your fingertips for years to come.
Write in the Blank Pages of the Book
Such an obvious thing that completely went over my head. Normally everyone writes within the margins of the text, but there’s a lot of blank pages in the front and back and in between sections of the book that can be utilized for your thoughts while reading. This man’s a genius:
Traditional Way
Read, highlight, let it sit for a couple of months, take notes the Zettlekasten way.
Elizabeth Filip’s Method
Now to note, everyone usually uses the Zettlekasten way, it allows for a lot of flexibility to create connections. Even Elizabeth’s second brain set up on Notion is a variation of it. But the book notes she writes on her site follows this format:
- 10 points on the book
- Some fav quote
I did the book notes on her book in that format, with the addition of a section of how I’m applying it to my life. So it would be:
- 10 points on the book
- Fav quotes
- Current real life applications
Using AI to Gain Better Understanding
Mailing List
Stay updated when a post on writing, finance or self-development goes up.
Green Where You Water It 
Leave a comment