This isn’t just a book for students, academics, and nonfiction book writers. It’s a book for action-takers as well. More on this in a bit. How to Take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens reinforces and expands on a note-taking technique I’ve been using with Google Docs – but now I’m using RemNote as of 2021 – for the past three years. I’ll explain a bit about why using what is called the Zettelkasten Method is the best note-taking method ever.

If you’re not taking notes using this method (or something equivalent), then you’re not taking full advantage of the books you’re reading.

The Idea Behind How to Take Smart Notes

The whole idea behind this book is to take what you read, elaborate using your own words on the specific aspects of the book that resonate with what you’re working on or writing so that you can continually expand on the ideas from your own knowledge and experience.

However, it not touch on the amazing application of smart notes for action-takers. So I have elaborated on what is called the Zettelkasten method in my online course, The 6 Principles of Lifelong Learning, with my own twist which you can use to take your smart notes.

You could learn to use a systematic goal-setting approach in addition to the adapted Zettelkasten Method from my online course which makes it much easier to achieve your goals. The fundamental Zettelkasten Method stays the same when using my method but becomes even more powerful when you add the extra ingredients of well-thought-out planning and action.

Who Does the Smart Note Method Work For?

If you’re a content creator or an entrepreneur this method can be a game-changer for you. The reason being is the use of idea synthesis. Using this method, you’re able to connect unrelated ideas together to create something completely new yet familiar at the same time. Your power will only become limited to how many smart notes you make and formulate into tangible being.

The last aspect I’d like to show you today is the use of applications such as RemNote and Roam Research. Each idea you generate can go into RemNote or Roam Research using tags in relation to the topic of your note. The features in these applications allow you to use bi-directional linking between connected and unconnected ideas. These can be things you’ve written any time in the past, and, of course, will include everything you write in the future. It’s like building a ‘second brain‘ you can dip into at any moment to retrieve automatically searchable thoughts written using your own words. Powerful!

Why you should read How to Take Smart Notes

If you apply the strategies in this book in an innovative way you’ll be able to achieve all of what you want to. Taking smart notes consistently and persistently, overtime, will reap rewards you never would have been able to imagine possible before.

I highly recommend reading How to Take Smart Notes. It will change the way you read and think about reading. And if you want to learn more about my adapted method of Zettelkasten for action-takers who want to build an idea-generating action-taking system then sign up for my course right here

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