A notebook for the things you don’t want to forget
Rediscover the pleasure of collecting ideas, one handwritten line at a time.
A collection without a strict system
A commonplace book is a place for thoughts, excerpts, observations, and questions you want to return to. It can be a simple notebook. Unlike a diary, it does not need a daily entry or a complete account of your life.
Start with what catches your attention
Write down a line from a conversation, an idea from a book, or a question raised by a walk. Record where quotations came from so you can find them again and give credit correctly. Add your own response; the connection you make is often the most interesting part.
Return rather than perfect
Set aside a few minutes occasionally to read older pages. Mark ideas that still interest you and connect related notes. There is no need for beautiful handwriting or a complicated index. The notebook succeeds when it helps you notice and remember.