![]() ![]() At the same time, don’t focus too much in any particular medium or subject – read fiction and step outside your comfort zone, the connections you find may surprise you. Inspiration can come from anywhere and often strikes in the most unlikely of places, so pay attention. Read Far & WideĬonsume information widely & profusely: read, listen, learn, observe and explore constantly. We should hunt out the helpful pieces of teaching and the spirited and noble-minded sayings which are capable of immediate practical application… and learn them so well that words become works.Īs you can tell, commonplace books have been used by readers, writers, leaders, philosophers, teachers, and scholars, and here’s how you can start keeping one too. ![]() Naturally the stoic philosopher Seneca explains the value of commonplacing in only a way he could: It’s THE original information management tool before such a thing ever existed.ĥ. The purpose of the book is to synthesize knowledge into the essential wisdom that can be later used by the creator. Here are a few characteristics of a commonplace book:ġ. Historically it has been a book or notepad, but it can be any central repository.Ģ. The book often has some sort of crude organizational system that arranges the material.ģ. Every commonplace book is unique, as it’s based on the creators interests and experiences.Ĥ. It is not a diary or a travel log of events, but an aggregation of knowledge. The commonplace book has been around for centuries, being utilized by some of the greatest minds in history including Marcus Aurelius, Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Locke, Bill Gates, and many more. You’re collecting them for future use, from research and ideas to inspiration and stories. You can think of it as a written scrapbook that contains nuggets of wisdom that have resonated with you personally. The premise is having a central repository for ideas, anecdotes, quotes, observations, facts, and information that you come across in life. In other words, it is a way to compile knowledge. Even though I’d like to take credit for this advice, the act of collecting ideas and notes in a single place isn’t a novel one and has actually been utilized throughout history, as a practice known as commonplacing.Ĭommonplacing or having a commonplace book is characterized by having a book where you write/collect information. Often tell people they should always carry a notebook on them to jot down notes and ideas whenever they strike. ![]()
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