A Simpler Way To Start The Zettelkasten Method

Search for “Zettelkasten” and you’ll drown in endless breakdowns of note types and apps. But the Zettelkasten method isn’t complicated. How to Make Notes and Write by Dan Allosso shows a simple way to adopt it. Here are five lessons I’ve learned from reading it: #1. Avoid the mere-exposure effect. Seeing a concept frequently doesn’t mean you understand it. You truly understand something when you write about it. Writing makes you think. #2. Read with a project in mind. Don’t extract everything from a book in one pass. Record what’s useful for your current project. You can always reread. #3. Focus on the process, not the tools. “What’s the best plugin for Obsidian?” “When should I use this note type?” Arrggg! Forget about tweaking fancy tools. Niklas Luhmann, the Zettelkasten godfather, didn’t even have a computer. He only used pen and paper—and a typewriter. The process is rather simple: Highlight or underline. Record data as you find it. Interpret and make it relevant for your…