How I Actually Use My Commonplace Books

Summary

In this insightful video, Parker, a philosopher, delves into the world of commonplace books, explaining what they are and their recent surge in popularity. With the help of his friend Jared Henderson, Parker explores the reasons behind this trend, attributing it to a desire for tangible, non-digital methods of note-taking and reflection. Parker then categorizes commonplace books into four types based on scope and purpose, demonstrating how he personally uses them through examples from his own notebooks. The video is sponsored by Brilliant, a learning platform that aligns with the video's theme of deep thinking and learning through interaction.

Takeaways

• 📚 A commonplace book is a collection of quotations gathered for a specific purpose, typically in a notebook.
• 💻 Digital commonplace books are possible, but the speaker prefers analog methods like physical notebooks.
• 🌱 Commonplace books have gained popularity recently due to a desire for simplicity and a break from digital systems.
• 🎥 YouTube content creators, including the speaker and Jared Henderson, gained traction by focusing on commonplace books.
• 📝 Jared Henderson explains that the rise of commonplace books is a reaction against overly complex digital knowledge management systems like Notion and Obsidian.
• 🧠 Commonplace books are valuable for people seeking a more tangible and thoughtful way to engage with ideas, rather than relying on efficient, digital systems.
• 📖 Commonplace books can be categorized by their scope (general or topic-specific) and their purpose (treasury or manuscript).
• 💡 A treasury commonplace book is a collection of quotations without added personal analysis, while a manuscript commonplace book involves adding one's own commentary and ideas to the quotes.
• 📜 The speaker shares examples of his commonplace books, including a 'pocket Proverbs' book (topic-specific treasury) and a 'proverb pedaling' book (topic-specific manuscript).
• ✍️ A general manuscript commonplace book is used for writing personal essays, blog posts, and reflective writings on various topics, with no specific topic limitation.
• 📓 The speaker differentiates commonplace books from journals, noting that journals contain personal ideas and thoughts, whereas commonplace books focus on external quotes and analysis.

Q & A

What is a commonplace book according to Parker?

A commonplace book is a collection of quotations gathered for a specific purpose, all in one spot. It can be kept digitally or, as Parker prefers, in an analog notebook.

Why have commonplace books become popular recently?

Commonplace books have become popular because people are seeking something more authentic and less digital. They offer a simple, non-digital method of collecting and reflecting on wisdom and ideas.

What role did commonplace books play in boosting Parker and Jared Henderson's channels?

Commonplace books single-handedly blew up both Parker and Jared Henderson's channels, likely due to their simplicity and the appeal of an analog method of knowledge collection in a digital age.

What does Jared think about the preference for commonplace books over digital note-taking systems?

Jared thinks that people are tired of doing things on screens all the time and find the non-digitized, tangible nature of commonplace books refreshing and appealing.

How does Parker categorize commonplace books?

Parker categorizes commonplace books into four types based on scope (general or topic-specific) and purpose (treasury or manuscript), resulting in general treasury, topic-specific treasury, general manuscript, and topic-specific manuscript commonplace books.

What is the difference between a treasury and a manuscript commonplace book?

A treasury commonplace book is for collecting quotations without adding personal thoughts, while a manuscript commonplace book involves adding personal analysis, thoughts, or commentary to the quotations.

How does Parker use his 'Pocket Proverbs' commonplace book?

Parker's 'Pocket Proverbs' is a topic-specific treasury commonplace book where he collects proverbs, maxims, and wise sayings from various sources.

Can you explain how Parker uses marginal notes to collect proverbs?

When Parker reads books, he marks proverbs and writes 'proverb' next to them. After finishing the book, he collects these marked proverbs and adds them to his commonplace book.

What is the purpose of Parker's 'Proverb Pedaling' manuscript commonplace book?

Parker's 'Proverb Pedaling' manuscript commonplace book is used for preparing podcast episodes. It's topic-specific and involves manuscripting out his thoughts and analyses on selected proverbs.

How does Parker's use of commonplace books differ from using a digital document for manuscripting?

Parker finds physical commonplace books more valuable than digital documents because they are tangible and he tends to revisit them more often, which aids in reflection and inspiration.

What is the difference between a journal and a commonplace book as described by Parker?

A journal contains one's own ideas, while a commonplace book is a collection of quotations for specific purposes, potentially with added personal thoughts and analyses.