1/n thoughts on Zetteling
If you treat your brain as a programmable computer, you will vastly unappreciate all the things it can do (many of which are the things that make life, life)
But if you ignore its algorithmic capacities, you will miss out on some splendid superpowers.
If you treat your brain as a programmable computer, you will vastly unappreciate all the things it can do (many of which are the things that make life, life)
But if you ignore its algorithmic capacities, you will miss out on some splendid superpowers.
2/n ... the above observation, which is, itself, a kind of [[Zettel]], arose out of discussions with other @RoamResearch Book Club members,
in which we were reflecting on the lessons of Soenke' Ahren's remarkable book "How to Take Smart Notes", in a series of weekly meetups.
in which we were reflecting on the lessons of Soenke' Ahren's remarkable book "How to Take Smart Notes", in a series of weekly meetups.
3/n What is a "Zettel"?
It's an idea. An "aha!" moment. An aphorism. A gnomon. It's the basic, atomic unit of thought. It's what knowledge is woven out of. A conclusion, belief, idea, hypothesis. Sometimes, it's even a Tweet.
It's all of the above.
It's an idea. An "aha!" moment. An aphorism. A gnomon. It's the basic, atomic unit of thought. It's what knowledge is woven out of. A conclusion, belief, idea, hypothesis. Sometimes, it's even a Tweet.
It's all of the above.
4/ And so, for six weeks, this became our project: to refine the very process of seeking such [[Zettels]], through a community created by a continent-spanning Zoom "Book club".
The group was started by @thepericulum , and this 2nd iteration was primarily led by @RaygunIcecream.
The group was started by @thepericulum , and this 2nd iteration was primarily led by @RaygunIcecream.
5/n somehow word of this project attracted the attention of the @RoamResearch "Zettelkasten"-exploring community -and 1700 people signed up!
Which I think speaks to both the power of these ideas, and also to our collective wish to understand them better.
Which I think speaks to both the power of these ideas, and also to our collective wish to understand them better.
6/n I know there are those among us who distrust the dynamic of crowds (believe me, I am one such person) + yet sometimes this dynamic happens, b/c the zeitgeist has identified something that feels powerful or important.
In this case, I do think there is a paradigm-shift afoot.
In this case, I do think there is a paradigm-shift afoot.
7/ At the heart of this paradigm-shift, I will posit, is the idea that human knowledge can, in fact, unfold in a far more continuous state of "flow" than our formal models might suggest.
Knowledge is *inherently conversational*.
Knowledge is *inherently conversational*.
8/ Knowledge is not the catalog of facts that we are sometimes presented with in school; it's not the walled garden that some knowledge disciplines have created for themselves.
It's something bigger, fluid, and more dynamic.
It's something bigger, fluid, and more dynamic.
9/ It is *fundamentally participatory* - and that participation is possible from *any* starting point.
So how does this relate back to Soenke Ahrens and his book? That's where we need to circle back to the origins of the term "Zettel".
So how does this relate back to Soenke Ahrens and his book? That's where we need to circle back to the origins of the term "Zettel".
10/ "Zettel" is just German for "slip(s)", as in, "of paper" and "kasten" is the box they are kept in.
It's short-hand for a particular kind of personal card-catalog, used famously by sociologist Niklas Luhmann, but in fact the use of such systems goes WAY back...
It's short-hand for a particular kind of personal card-catalog, used famously by sociologist Niklas Luhmann, but in fact the use of such systems goes WAY back...
15/ ... as in ... to the 16th century, or probably earlier.
Conrad Gessner is described as a "pioneer". Here is his thumbnail from Wikipedia.
Conrad Gessner is described as a "pioneer". Here is his thumbnail from Wikipedia.
16/ Luhmann tends to take the spotlight in discussions about the practicalities of Zettelkasten, but he is by no means the only example of a historical figure who relied on elaborate notebooks.
Erasmus Darwin, John Locke, perhaps even poets like Emily Dickinson had versions.
Erasmus Darwin, John Locke, perhaps even poets like Emily Dickinson had versions.
17/ Many of these historic figures were prolific and had wide-ranging interests.
You might even call them "polymaths" - certainly Luhmann cast a wide net; his life-goal was to come up with a theory that would encompass ALL of sociology, in 30 years.
You might even call them "polymaths" - certainly Luhmann cast a wide net; his life-goal was to come up with a theory that would encompass ALL of sociology, in 30 years.
18/ The truth is, if you have a divergent thinking style, are attracted by ideas in the fields that are adjacent, kitty-corner, or even on the complete other-side-of-town from yours, then a system like a Zettelkasten is a necessity.
19/ What the "Zettelkasten" (I use this term here in its broadest possible sense) offers,
is a system that allows you to explore, whilst maintaining clarity of boundaries amongst all of the spaces that you are exploring.
is a system that allows you to explore, whilst maintaining clarity of boundaries amongst all of the spaces that you are exploring.
20/ It allows us to borrow ideas from one area and apply those ideas to another.
At the same time, we can maintain the degree of rigor that we need in order to ensure that such metaphorical "leaps" are grounded in their own internal consistencies.
At the same time, we can maintain the degree of rigor that we need in order to ensure that such metaphorical "leaps" are grounded in their own internal consistencies.
21/ But it's not just about the ORGANIZATIONAL affordances of such a system. ("Great! I can have a card catalog. My own personal Wikipedia! Groovy").
That's just the BEGINNING. And this is where Soenke's book helps to clear things up.
That's just the BEGINNING. And this is where Soenke's book helps to clear things up.
22/ It's what such processes *allow* that is truly exciting.
Remember I used the word "conversation"? That's truly the key. If you want to take just ONE thing away from this thread it's this:
A good system lets you be *in conversation* with ALL THE THINGS YOU ALREADY KNOW.
Remember I used the word "conversation"? That's truly the key. If you want to take just ONE thing away from this thread it's this:
A good system lets you be *in conversation* with ALL THE THINGS YOU ALREADY KNOW.
23/In that sense, what Soenke offers us in his book "How to Take Smart Notes" is the tantalizing promise of a system of writing in which reading + writing become one fluid act -
a kind of internal AND external conversation at the same time,
in which our flow of ideas truly IS
a kind of internal AND external conversation at the same time,
in which our flow of ideas truly IS
24/ A [[Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi]]-like "flow" of engagement.
By enabling this "interweaving" of call-and-response - at an ATOMIC level - we grant ourselves the key to escaping existential traps that ALL writers are familiar with.
We recalibrate journey and destination.
By enabling this "interweaving" of call-and-response - at an ATOMIC level - we grant ourselves the key to escaping existential traps that ALL writers are familiar with.
We recalibrate journey and destination.
25/ By elevating the SEARCH for meaning to a higher level than our "destination" (whether it be the finished-product of a manuscript or any other form such "destinations" can take), we create unnecessary anxieties.
By once again focusing on the joy of exploration and discovery,
By once again focusing on the joy of exploration and discovery,
26/ We re-engage fundamental capacities within ourselves - capacities for delight, appreciation, and play.
These capacities can become our guides and often lead us to serendipitous discoveries.
At the same time, we have not abandoned rigor - we have only loosened its hold.
These capacities can become our guides and often lead us to serendipitous discoveries.
At the same time, we have not abandoned rigor - we have only loosened its hold.
27/ If you don't believe me - read the book!
There is a genuine liveliness to Soenke's prose that bears the hallmarks of the very process he used to write it!
To have a lively conversation at the heart of a book, is to write a book that readers will remember.
There is a genuine liveliness to Soenke's prose that bears the hallmarks of the very process he used to write it!
To have a lively conversation at the heart of a book, is to write a book that readers will remember.
28/ One of the things that Zettels afford is a sense of liveliness. Why?
B/c when you use the technique, you start to feel EXACTLY the engagement of lively conversation.
That part, of course, ends up being on YOU. Don't fear, tho if you don't always feel it. You can learn it.
B/c when you use the technique, you start to feel EXACTLY the engagement of lively conversation.
That part, of course, ends up being on YOU. Don't fear, tho if you don't always feel it. You can learn it.
29/ All of this leads me back to one place, which is, OK great, so what did I learn in the #Roambookclub ?
We read Soenke's book.
Had some awesome live discussions (including with Soenke himself, who came in twice.).
Shared our struggles and pain points.
Worked pretty hard.
We read Soenke's book.
Had some awesome live discussions (including with Soenke himself, who came in twice.).
Shared our struggles and pain points.
Worked pretty hard.
30/ ... and, in a very fancy and ambitious act of epistemologically pulling ourselves up by our very own semantic bootstraps,
we attempted to distill Soenke's book about Zetteling into Zettels while Zettelkasting about it in our own @RoamResearch digital note spaces.
we attempted to distill Soenke's book about Zetteling into Zettels while Zettelkasting about it in our own @RoamResearch digital note spaces.
31/ Here, without a doubt, shoutouts are necessary to @thepericulum for instigating Roam Book Clubs, to @RaygunIcecream for his skilled + capable leadership, and ofc. to @Conaw for the very concept of the paradigm-shifting platform of @RoamResearch, on which all this happened.
32/ And another shoutout to 70 or so persistent + committed souls who made it to the end of the 2nd round.
I don't want to leave any of our group out; many aren't even on Twitter.
But a particular shoutout is due to @beauhaan, whose dynamic and energizing presence added ->
I don't want to leave any of our group out; many aren't even on Twitter.
But a particular shoutout is due to @beauhaan, whose dynamic and energizing presence added ->
33/ ... so much, both to the discussions themselves, and also catalyzed some key insights for me along the way.
In short, the insights that I want to share belong to the group every bit as much as they belong to me. Thanks, all!
So what did I learn?
In short, the insights that I want to share belong to the group every bit as much as they belong to me. Thanks, all!
So what did I learn?
34/ I learned quite a few things. Here are the essentials:
#1. "A lightweight, agile, emergent taxonomy is sufficient."
If you want yr notes to start leading you, consistently, towards writing of lasting value, you need a modest taxonomy. But it needn't be fancy or elaborate.
#1. "A lightweight, agile, emergent taxonomy is sufficient."
If you want yr notes to start leading you, consistently, towards writing of lasting value, you need a modest taxonomy. But it needn't be fancy or elaborate.
35/ Here's what I settled on, after our discussion:
Four and a half "categories" of note.
I want the things that I write to be instantly "recognizable", as one of these 4.5 things.
Of those four and a half, THREE are fundamental... @beauhaan described them as the "tripod".
Four and a half "categories" of note.
I want the things that I write to be instantly "recognizable", as one of these 4.5 things.
Of those four and a half, THREE are fundamental... @beauhaan described them as the "tripod".
36/ Here's where things get just a little bit tricky.
My definitions of these three "classes" are just a little bit "fuzzy". But I ask you to indulge me for a moment, and hopefully you'll see why.
Basically, once I name them, you'll immediately have some semantic "baggage".
My definitions of these three "classes" are just a little bit "fuzzy". But I ask you to indulge me for a moment, and hopefully you'll see why.
Basically, once I name them, you'll immediately have some semantic "baggage".
37/ For that reason, I'm going to hold off on naming, and just posit that a note-taking system needs "alpha", "beta", and "gamma" notes.
+ you'll want to build "firewalls" between these categories.
(the remaining 1.5 categories are less controversial. I'll get to that, later.)
+ you'll want to build "firewalls" between these categories.
(the remaining 1.5 categories are less controversial. I'll get to that, later.)
38/ In order: "alpha" notes are sometimes called "fleeting notes".
They are the interstitial jottings of a mind that is responding, possibly the first line of response. They have a reactive, spontaneous, free flowing quality. They are what "morning pages" are usually made of.
They are the interstitial jottings of a mind that is responding, possibly the first line of response. They have a reactive, spontaneous, free flowing quality. They are what "morning pages" are usually made of.
39/ They often have an emotional content, sometimes partially recognized. They feel ephemeral and spark-like. Most notes, like most Tweets, have this quality to them.
I'm not sold on calling them "fleeting" because, paradoxically, they hint at subjects of permanent importance.
I'm not sold on calling them "fleeting" because, paradoxically, they hint at subjects of permanent importance.
40/ Second: what I'll call "beta" are sometimes called "literature" notes but I'd call "paraphrase" "comprehension" or "summary" notes.
This category occurs when you are re-framing something you just received from someone else.
In fact, the re-framing is essential.
This category occurs when you are re-framing something you just received from someone else.
In fact, the re-framing is essential.
41/ As you have no doubt heard many people saying, already, until you can put somebody else's idea in your own words, you haven't really taken ownership of that idea.
To attempt to do so, is the primary discipline of reading for comprehension.
To attempt to do so, is the primary discipline of reading for comprehension.
42/ Finally (and now we're approaching what might be the overt goal of this whole enterprise) we reach the 3rd category, my "gamma" level, the [[Zettel]].
To me, all it is, a complex idea that is more than either alpha or beta, and supported by a combination of other such ideas.
To me, all it is, a complex idea that is more than either alpha or beta, and supported by a combination of other such ideas.
43/ In practice, we tend to write lots of alpha-level "fleeting" notes; we write only the beta-level "literature notes" that we feel we have time for; + the truly original gamma-level "Zettels" are less common still, unless we are working in a sustained way on a creative project.
44/ The beautiful hypothesis of "How to Take Smart Notes", is that by being transparent about this process and engaging in it deliberately WHILE we are reading any book, we can both generate more original work while we read, and have more fun doing so.
45/ Some of the pragmatics of how these notes are structured is an exercise best left to each individual,
I WILL say tho, that the combination of @RoamResearch + Zetteling is basically the most strawberries-and-cream, mangos + sticky-rice, insert your favorite-combo-ever here.
I WILL say tho, that the combination of @RoamResearch + Zetteling is basically the most strawberries-and-cream, mangos + sticky-rice, insert your favorite-combo-ever here.
46/ However you do this, though ...
and THIS is important - that structure can be established entirely emergently, and at the level of individual notes.
There are block-level "systems" that are possible (shoutout to @beauhaan, in particular, who has prototyped this)
and THIS is important - that structure can be established entirely emergently, and at the level of individual notes.
There are block-level "systems" that are possible (shoutout to @beauhaan, in particular, who has prototyped this)
47/ And it's worth emphasizing that they're NOT in the least top-heavy, + you can start at any time.
If you define a simple relationship between note classes at the level of local hierarchies, you can start anywhere.
EVEN IF you weren't using a system like this from the start.
If you define a simple relationship between note classes at the level of local hierarchies, you can start anywhere.
EVEN IF you weren't using a system like this from the start.
48/ Part of the reason this is true, is because of "agility of convention" - a term @brandontoner coined for a superpower of @RoamResearch databases.
If you want to change your nomenclature from "fleeting note" to "ignition note"?
You just do it. Global search and replace.
If you want to change your nomenclature from "fleeting note" to "ignition note"?
You just do it. Global search and replace.
49/ A quick aside: what are the "other 1.5" classes of notes?
"Index" notes are a necessary class of note - this is a simple "table of contents", and I've come to believe that we simply need short lists sometimes to keep us organized.
and the 0.5 class - a "Reference" note -->
"Index" notes are a necessary class of note - this is a simple "table of contents", and I've come to believe that we simply need short lists sometimes to keep us organized.
and the 0.5 class - a "Reference" note -->
50/ that simply "points" in the direction of a source, in order to provide source-checking fidelity.
51/ What do you gain by embracing this agile, lightweight taxonomy?
A framework for personal knowledge that supports both learning (retention) and creation (exploration);
A system that grows with you, as you use it;
A living document, of your experience and concerns.
A framework for personal knowledge that supports both learning (retention) and creation (exploration);
A system that grows with you, as you use it;
A living document, of your experience and concerns.
52/ Most important for me are the next layer of questions:
What conventions will allow for collaboration using such systems? How will they best integrate wi real-world face-to-face communication, in support of teams of people and communities focused on investigative questions?
What conventions will allow for collaboration using such systems? How will they best integrate wi real-world face-to-face communication, in support of teams of people and communities focused on investigative questions?
53/ For now, I want to leave this set of questions open, as I think is fitting for an experiment that is still in its earliest stages.
Stay tuned, 2021 is going to bring even more attention to these techniques - we are just getting started.
Stay tuned, 2021 is going to bring even more attention to these techniques - we are just getting started.
54/ This comprehensive summary from Henry Finkelstein is a great overview of the emerging possibilities of a comprehensive Zettel system in Roam ... a.k.a. a "Roamkasten" -
thanks for writing this up, Henry!
thanks for writing this up, Henry!
https://twitter.com/ThrivingHenry/status/1343016344598372352?s=20
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