Folks what are your methods for taking notes from a book. I am trying to find answers to these questions: • What does your note-taking system look like? • Do you take notes of every non-fiction book you read? • How do you ensure that the notes you have taken are helpful to you? • How often do you review those notes? What is the process for those reviews? Are those reviews purely for “information-retention” purposes? • Have you tried readwise? Is it helpful? • If and when you learn something actionable thing from a book, how do you work on incorporating those actions into every day life?

Check video by Tim Ferris

I found this helpful when thinking about the same: http://www.paulgraham.com/know.html

I export highlights from Kindle into my note taking app (Obsidian) using a Chrome extension called Roam Highlighter (Readwise also works). After that I create separate notes for some interesting ideas from the book. Occasionally, I turn some of these notes into article on my blog or go through them again – that somewhat helps in retention.

I usually don’t take notes while reading I just keep highlighting. And then I export the highlights into Evernote since it’s search is powerful and then after completing the book I summarised the book based on my understanding and if any actionable item comes from that, I move it into my todoist app.

@stocky-house-29305 can you be specific which video you are talking about?

• What does your note-taking system look like?

My system of note taking involves highlighting on Kindle or taking photos of the text through Readwise and syncing it through Readwise. Readwise then exports it to Roam Research where I can refer to them when needed.

• Do you take notes of every non-fiction book you read?

It depends if I am reading it for fun or to learn something from them. i..e, reading history is fun for me so I seldom take notes but books like “Non-violent Communication” taught me tonnes — so for books like these I take copious notes in hope to return to them routinely.

• How do you ensure that the notes you have taken are helpful to you?

To ensure that the notes that I am taking are helpful, I read this book called “How to take smart notes” and one thing that I’ve been following religiously is that the notes that I take are always in my own words. Summarising the key findings, questions of each chapter/page in my own words does wonders in making those notes helpful. While writing the notes, I discover new associations (or contradictions sometimes) that makes it interesting to have dialogue with whatever book/text I’m reading.

• How often do you review those notes? What is the process for those reviews? Are those reviews purely for “information-retention” purposes?

I often review them when I need them. Roam Research is great in surfacing related things on the page. I don’t see the point of retention without using the information in my day to day. So it’s always find when you need.

• Have you tried readwise? Is it helpful?

Readwise is super helpful. It’s like a repository of anything I’ve find useful on the web - be it a tweet, a block of text or highlights of a book.

• If and when you learn something actionable thing from a book, how do you work on incorporating those actions into every day life?

It’s work in progress. I’ve incorporated tonnes of things from books like Atomic Habits and Meditations but there’s still lots to do and learn. 🙂

What does your note-taking system look like?

I highlight, be it physical or e-books. Try to summarize the chapter(s) if the chapters are huge and too many things to keep track of, and then summarise the book as well. I picked this from Eli's Summary posts - https://eli.thegreenplace.net/2021/summary-of-reading-july-september-2021/. Through the process, I end up doing couple of re-passes. If I'm reading a technical book or watching talk, it starts with taking notes on pen-and-paper. First pass is usually just reading and highlight, the second pass is when I take notes. After a few days, move the notes to a online system summarising it further.

Do you take notes of every non-fiction book you read?

Yes. Tough habit to build, but yes trying to get better.

How do you ensure that the notes you have taken are helpful to you?

I've not been for a reading long time, but ever since I've started reading again I'm picking up books that would actually help in day-to-day life. Till now, I have not really done a re-review of notes, or re-read of the books. Let's see how this goes in the future. I intentionally do multiple passes do make sure that I don't need to return re-read soon.

How often do you review those notes? What is the process for those reviews? Are those reviews purely for “information-retention” purposes?

Not done yet, but I won't use this for information-retention but rather to see if there anything new that I can deduce from the notes. I've seen with experience, re-reads becomes more useful.

Have you tried readwise? Is it helpful?

Nope.

If and when you learn something actionable thing from a book, how do you work on incorporating those actions into every day life?

Usually the self-help books have items that can be used in day-to-day life. For others, to summarize is enough. Pick a few items, and try to incorporate them in life. I've realized that building those habits is a slow process, so I don't try to incorporate multiple things at once. In an year, I don't think you can achieve more than a few items. This is where re reading the notes in the following year comes in play. A quote that helped me approaching all the self-help book in a happier manner was, "Everything in moderation, including moderation."

Thanks @better-football-60782 and @gorgeous-truck-93614 that was a lot to unpack there. 🙌 Thanks Pratik for the link.