## Introduction to Zettelkasten - [[Zettelkasten]] is an efficient note-taking system that involves not just collecting and organizing notes, but also using them for thinking and writing [(00:00:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=10s). - The system was popularized by German sociologist [[Nicholas Lemann | Nicholas Luman]] in the 1950s, who used index cards to collect ideas and notes, storing them in a "Zettelkasten" or "slip box" [(00:00:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=18s). - Luman's system consisted of different types of cards, with "permanent notes" being the most important, which were ideas or summaries of other cards in the system [(00:01:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=72s). - Luman manually wrote on the cards, using a pen and paper, and by the time he died, his Zettelkasten contained 90,000 cards, which he collected over 50 years at a rate of about 7 cards per day [(00:01:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=95s). - Each card typically contained a single idea, and the cards were linked to other cards using a reference number system that Luman developed [(00:02:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=122s). - The reference number system allowed Luman to connect cards and create a complex network of ideas, with some cards having up to 13 or 14 levels of letters and numbers [(00:03:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=210s). - The system became increasingly complex and time-consuming to manage as the number of notes grew, but it also allowed Luman to discover new trains of thought and pathways by following the links between cards [(00:03:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=235s). - The [[Zettelkasten]] system can be replicated digitally using tools like [[Apple Inc. | Apple]] Notes, which eliminates the need for a physical indexing system [(00:03:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=217s). - [[Niklas Luhmann]], a prolific writer, credited his Zettelkasten system for his ability to connect ideas quickly and write 70 books and 400 articles throughout his career [(00:04:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=259s). - Luhmann's Zettelkasten system allowed him to resurface ideas he had stored and maybe forgotten about, presenting them back to him with new connections [(00:05:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=310s). - The system, although not perfect, worked well for Luhmann, and he accepted its limitations because it delivered what he needed [(00:06:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=365s). ## Luhmann's Zettelkasten: Literature Notes - Luhmann's [[Zettelkasten]] system consisted of two main types of notes: the link note and the literature note [(00:06:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=388s). - Literature notes were written by [[Niklas Luhmann | Luhmann]] when reading books, including the page number and a short description of what interested him about a particular subject [(00:06:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=393s). - Literature notes were stored in a specific literature box, and some notes or comments could later become permanent notes in the Zettelkasten [(00:07:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=430s). - Three key takeaways from Luhmann's literature notes are the importance of including a reference to the original content, writing short descriptions of what is interesting, and writing notes in one's own words [(00:07:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=448s). - Writing notes in one's own words is crucial, as it requires internalizing the idea and reconverting it into something personal, rather than simply copying and pasting [(00:07:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=479s). - Literature notes, also referred to as Content notes, are references to specific pieces of content with brief descriptions in one's own words, and they can be used to store and save material from various sources such as books, videos, podcasts, and documentaries [(00:08:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=516s). ## Reference Notes and System Structure - Reference notes are different types of notes that can be used to store metadata, bibliographical notes, or entry points to specific subjects, and they can be used as hubs to branch off to subtopics [(00:09:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=558s). - There are two types of reference notes: bibliographical notes and keywords index, which is a list of keywords with a few potential entry points, similar to tags [(00:10:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=624s). - The [[Zettelkasten]] system, developed by [[Niklas Luhmann | Luhmann]], had 990,000 cards, but the references only linked to a few entry points, showing that the system didn't aim for completeness, but rather for a good enough system [(00:10:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=646s). - Each card in the Zettelkasten system had at least one link to another thought, allowing the user to follow their train of thought, and this can be replicated in [[Apple Inc. | Apple]] Notes using tags [(00:11:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=692s). ## Note Types and Permanent Notes - Fleeting notes are quick ideas or thoughts that are taken without context or details, and they are meant to be discarded after a few days, unlike permanent notes [(00:11:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=714s). - Permanent notes are self-contained notes that include enough content and context to be self-standing, and they are written carefully as if for publication, meant to be kept forever [(00:12:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=760s). - The [[Zettelkasten]] method aims at creating permanent knots, or connections, between ideas, and can be replicated in Apple Notes with a simple system [(00:13:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=782s). ## Digital Zettelkasten with Apple Notes - A folder with four categories is created: fleeting notes, literature notes, permanent notes, and reference notes, with the goal of keeping the system basic and effective [(00:13:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=811s). - Literature notes contain information about a book, such as title, author, publisher, and year published, as well as notes on specific pages, written in a mono-style font [(00:13:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=826s). - Notes can also include tags, which should be decided based on individual circumstances, and can be more detailed [(00:14:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=876s). - Literature notes can also be about videos, including the link, channel name, and year, with timestamps and notes on specific points [(00:14:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=886s). - The system should have few categories, as the key ingredient is links, which allow ideas to be reused in different contexts without being pigeonholed into a single category [(00:15:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=927s). - Permanent notes are summaries of existing notes or original thoughts, and can include links to other notes, allowing for exploration of different routes and connections [(00:16:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=975s). - The use of links and a simple system allows for serendipity and the discovery of new connections between ideas, without being restricted by categories and subcategories [(00:15:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=950s). - The goal of the system is to create a network of connected ideas, where each note can be a starting point for further exploration and discovery [(00:16:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1004s). ## Linking and Fleeting Notes - The [[Zettelkasten]] method is a note-taking system that allows for discovering new thoughts and ideas, and creating links between notes is an essential part of this process [(00:17:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1027s). - In [[Apple Inc. | Apple]] Notes, creating links is easy by highlighting a word, right-clicking or tapping, and choosing "add link," then typing the first few letters of the internal note to link to [(00:17:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1050s). - The shortcut to create links is also available by typing two greater-than signs, which works especially well on [[MacOS | Mac]] [(00:18:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1092s). - Fleeting notes are random ideas, shower thoughts, or things friends tell you, which can be parked in a folder and used later in the Zettelkasten system [(00:18:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1118s). ## Reference Notes and Hubs - Reference notes include keyword indexes, which can be achieved using the tag cloud in Apple Notes, and hubs, which are curated notes that serve as entry points to multiple pathways and trains of thought [(00:19:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1162s). - Hubs can contain subtopics, and one potential way of linking content is in four directions: before, after, more detailed, or less detailed views, or to something similar [(00:20:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1240s). - The baking hub is an example of a curated note that contains various subtopics, such as basics, techniques, and popular bakers, and can be used to connect to other related notes [(00:20:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1215s). - The [[Zettelkasten]] system allows for exploring ideas and creating new permanent notes, such as creating a three-story pizza, which can be the entry point for a big exploration of the system [(00:19:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1142s). - The Zettelkasten note-taking system allows for multiple entry points, enabling users to explore different ideas and topics, and potentially leading to new discoveries and insights [(00:21:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1270s). ## Consistency, Flexibility, and Personalization - Consistency is key to the success of the Zettelkasten system, and users should aim to use it regularly over a long period, such as several years [(00:21:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1280s). - The system is flexible, and users can start with a topic, explore it, and then move on to related or unrelated ideas, creating a network of interconnected notes [(00:21:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1303s). - [[Niklas Luhmann]], the creator of the [[Zettelkasten]] system, was relaxed about not being able to follow a specific train of thought and would simply drop it and start again the next day [(00:22:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1325s). - Luhmann's approach to the Zettelkasten system was to take personal notes that were specific to his own needs and interests, rather than generic notes that could be used by anyone [(00:22:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1360s). - To get the most out of the Zettelkasten system, users need to experiment with it and adapt it to their own needs and preferences [(00:22:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1353s). - Technology, such as [[Apple Inc. | Apple]] Notes, can be used to implement the Zettelkasten system and make it more efficient and effective [(00:22:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1379s). - The Zettelkasten system can be used not only to capture information but also to do something with it, such as exploring new ideas and making connections between seemingly unrelated topics [(00:23:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag&t=1393s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UucdSGJYxag)