How and Why to Keep a “Commonplace Book”

Metadata

• Author: Ryan Holiday
• Full Title: How and Why to Keep a “Commonplace Book”
• Category: #articles
• Summary: A commonplace book is a personal collection where you can record and organize quotes, ideas, and observations for future reference. Many famous individuals throughout history have kept these books to capture wisdom and inspiration that can be used in writing and everyday life. To create your own, read widely, take notes, and regularly transfer your findings into your commonplace book.
• URL: http://thoughtcatalog.com/ryan-holiday/2013/08/how-and-why-to-keep-a-commonplace-book/

Highlights

• Look, my commonplace book is easily justified. I write and speak about things for a living. I need this resource. But so do you. You write papers, memos, emails, notes to friends, birthday cards, give advice, have conversations at dinner, console loved ones, tell someone special how you feel about them. All these are opportunities to use the wisdom you have come across and recorded–to improve what you’re doing with knowledge passed down through history. (View Highlight)
  • Note: A commonplace book is useful for much more than just public writing.