Keeping a commonplace book
For centuries, readers have copied passages they liked into a notebook. It is a slow, simple habit that still works.
Long before apps and highlighters, readers kept commonplace books. These were notebooks where they copied out quotations, facts and ideas they wanted to keep, along with their own thoughts.
The habit was common in Europe from the Renaissance onwards. The philosopher John Locke even wrote about a method for organising such a book with an index so that entries could be found again.
What goes in#
Anything you want to remember:
- A sentence that struck you, with its source.
- A fact you were surprised by.
- A recipe, a phrase in another language, a good question.
- Your own reaction, in a line or two.
There are no rules. It is a personal collection, not a polished text.
Why copy by hand#
Copying slows you down, and that is the point. To write a passage out, you have to read it carefully and decide it is worth the effort. Highlighting is easy and often forgotten. Copying makes you choose, and the act helps the idea stick.
Add a line in your own words about why you kept it. That small step turns a quote into a thought.
How to organise it#
You have two simple options:
- In order. Write entries one after another and number the pages. Keep an index at the back with topics and page numbers.
- By topic. Reserve sections for subjects you care about. This is neater but needs you to guess in advance.
Most people find the first easier, with an index added as they go.
Make it a habit#
Keep the book near where you read. Add to it a few times a week. When you want to write or think about something, flip through it. You will find ideas you had forgotten, and sometimes two entries that suddenly belong together.
A commonplace book can be paper or digital. What matters is that it is yours and you use it.