The Minimalist Note-Taking System for Deep Work

TLDRLearn about a low-friction note-taking system that helps you capture and remember important information without overwhelming yourself. Discover how to mark books and projects for quick reference and reconstitution of key ideas.

Key insights

✍️Taking in high-quality information is essential for cultivating a deep life.

📝There is a lot of noise surrounding important information, so it's crucial to have an efficient system to keep track of it.

📄The corner marking method is a low-friction note-taking system for books that involves marking the corner of important pages and using simple marks in the margins to highlight key lines or paragraphs.

🎨The corner marking method allows you to quickly find and reconstitute important ideas from books even years later.

For projects, keep notes separate but easily accessible through digital or physical folders.

Q&A

Why is it important to cultivate a deep life?

Cultivating a deep life involves taking in high-quality information and making your work and life more meaningful and satisfying.

Why is there a lot of noise surrounding important information?

We live in a distracted world where we are bombarded with information, making it challenging to filter out the relevant and important content.

What is the corner marking method?

The corner marking method is a low-friction note-taking system for books that involves marking the corner of important pages and using simple marks in the margins to highlight key lines or paragraphs.

How does the corner marking method help with remembering important ideas?

The corner marking method allows you to quickly find and reconstitute important ideas from books even years later by looking for marked pages and reading the highlighted lines or paragraphs.

How should I keep notes for projects?

For projects, it's recommended to keep notes separate but easily accessible through digital or physical folders to ensure organization and easy reference.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Cultivating a deep life involves taking in high-quality information that is relevant to your work, ideas, and overall life.

03:56In a distracted world, it's essential to have an efficient system to filter out the noise and keep track of important information.

07:52The corner marking method is a low-friction note-taking system for books that involves marking the corner of important pages and using simple marks in the margins.

10:57The corner marking method allows you to quickly find and reconstitute important ideas from books even years later.

12:16For projects, it's recommended to keep notes separate but easily accessible through digital or physical folders.