## intro [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=0s) - Commonplace books are intellectual tools that have been used throughout formal academic careers and personal study, and they have been gaining popularity on [[YouTube]], with many people searching for information on how to keep them, but there is a lack of clarity on what a [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] actually is [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=0s). - The concept of commonplace books has historical roots, dating back to Renaissance humanists, ancient philosophers such as [[Aristotle]] and Boethius, and Roman rhetoricians like [[Quintilian]] and [[Cicero]], and understanding these roots can help individuals use them in a way that is beneficial for their own intellectual journey [(00:00:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=41s). - There are different styles of keeping a notebook, including a pocket catchall notebook, a [[Zibaldone | zibaldone]] journal, and a commonplace book, and getting clear on the definitions and characteristics of each style can help individuals choose the one that best suits their needs [(00:01:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=81s). - The video aims to provide a clear understanding of these three styles of notebooks, including their pros and cons, and features a conversation with [[Roland Allen]], author of "The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper", who provides insight into the history of commonplace books and zibaldone journals [(00:01:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=97s). - The goal of the video is to provide a clear understanding of the different methods of keeping a notebook, so that individuals can choose the one that works best for them, and the speaker, Parker Setticase, uses all three styles of notebooks and finds them to be immensely beneficial for his own intellectual life [(00:02:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=137s). ## Pocket Catch-All Journals [(00:02:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=148s) - A pocket catch-all journal is used as a one-stop shop for all thoughts, ideas, quotes, to-do lists, and tasks, serving as a working memory to prevent mental clutter and allow for reflection throughout the day [(00:02:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=148s). - This type of journal is not the same as a [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]], but rather a catch-all notebook that captures all ideas and information, which can then be dispersed to other notebooks at a later time [(00:02:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=160s). - The pocket catch-all journal has been beneficial for keeping track of various information, including people's names, phone numbers, grocery lists, and favorite quotes, allowing for peaceful sleep and easy recall of ideas in the morning [(00:03:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=190s). - Different pocket notebook brands, such as Moleskine, Field Notes, and Leuchtturm 1917, can be used for this purpose, and the choice of brand may depend on the specific occasion or personal preference [(00:03:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=226s). - The key characteristic of a pocket catch-all journal is that it is small and portable, allowing it to be carried everywhere, and it is not necessarily a commonplace book, but rather a tool for capturing and organizing ideas and information [(00:04:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=251s). ## What is a Zibaldone Notebook? [(00:04:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=264s) - A [[Zibaldone]] Notebook is a collection of favorite quotes, sayings, poems, and thoughts, similar to a [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]], but without formal headings to categorize different entries, and is a place where everything goes in one spot [(00:04:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=264s). - The term "Zibaldone" has its roots in the Italian word for "salad", reflecting the idea that a Zibaldone is a mix of different things, like a salad, where all kinds of thoughts and ideas are collected in one place [(00:05:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=300s). - The history of the Zibaldone dates back to the meeting of paper from the East and the codex from the West in Afghanistan, which led to the development of the modern notebook, and its use in [[Florence]] for collecting favorite sayings and quotes [(00:05:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=325s). - In the past, books were expensive and rare, so people would copy down their favorite quotations in their Zibaldone, which would then be shared with family and friends, making each Zibaldone unique and dependent on the interests of its user [(00:05:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=347s). - A Zibaldone can function as an intellectual catchall, where users collect miscellaneous thoughts, quotes, outlines, poems, and aphorisms, without any specific organization or purpose, other than to inspire and stimulate the mind [(00:06:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=373s). - The contents of a Zibaldone can vary greatly, and there is no right or wrong way to keep one, as it is a personal collection of ideas and thoughts, and can be used to reflect on and share with others [(00:06:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=401s). ## What is a Commonplace Book? [(00:06:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=412s) - A [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] is a collection of quotations gathered for specific purposes, and there are at least four different ways to keep one, with the chosen method depending on the intended purpose [(00:07:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=422s). - The term "commonplace book" originates from the practice of using common headings or places to catalog and track quotations, allowing users to easily locate and reflect on specific topics, such as justice [(00:07:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=439s). - The concept of common places dates back to [[Aristotle]], who used the term "cooi tooy" to describe a compendium of logical arguments, and was later developed by Roman rhetoricians like [[Quintilian]] and [[Cicero]], who added quotations to illustrate rhetorical methods [(00:08:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=482s). - The use of commonplace books continued into Renaissance education, where it was considered the backbone of a Renaissance education, according to [[Roland Allen]], and was used by Renaissance humanists in their own education [(00:08:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=511s). - Commonplace books can be used for various purposes, such as storing quotations for public speaking, writing, or studying, and users can create their own headings or common places to organize their quotations, such as justice, and add relevant quotations as they read and encounter them [(00:07:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=450s). - Many people may unknowingly create their own version of a commonplace book, only to discover later that it is an ancient method that has been used by philosophers and humanists throughout history [(00:08:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=528s). ## How to keep a commonplace book [(00:09:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=544s) - A [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] can be categorized into different styles based on two main differentia: scope and purpose, with the scope referring to whether the book is general or specific, and the purpose referring to whether it is a treasury or manuscript type, which determines the type of content and organization of the book [(00:09:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=544s). - The scope of a commonplace book can be either general, covering a wide range of topics, or specific, focusing on a particular subject, such as artificial intelligence, philosophy of mind, or other areas of interest [(00:09:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=554s). - A treasury commonplace book is a collection of quotations organized under different common places, whereas a manuscript commonplace book includes not only quotations but also the writer's own thoughts, analysis, and comments on those quotations [(00:10:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=612s). - There are four types of commonplace books: a general treasury commonplace book, a general manuscript commonplace book, a specific treasury commonplace book, and a specific manuscript commonplace book, each serving a distinct purpose and offering a unique approach to organizing and utilizing knowledge [(00:10:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=659s). - Commonplace books can be a valuable tool for intellectual growth, wisdom, and skill development, and can be used in conjunction with other learning resources, such as online courses and tutorials, to enhance one's knowledge and abilities [(00:11:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=715s). - [[Skillshare]], an online learning community, offers a wide range of classes and courses on various topics, including commonplace books, and can be a useful resource for those looking to learn new skills and expand their knowledge [(00:12:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=725s). ## Zibaldone vs. Commonplace book (Roland Allen) [(00:13:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=802s) - A [[Zibaldone | zibaldone]] is a type of notebook that originated in Italy, where people would write down various things they wanted to keep hold of, such as poems, stories, and recipes, without any particular rhyme or reason, and this practice was especially popular in [[Florence]], a city with a high literacy rate [(00:14:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=855s). - The zibaldone was often filled with a wide range of content, including favorite quotes, prayers, and even weird cures for diseases, and people would also doodle and illustrate their own stories, demonstrating a love of reading and sharing knowledge [(00:14:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=879s). - The zibaldone is distinct from a [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]], which is a historical artifact with a more organized structure, and while many people today use the terms interchangeably, they have different origins and purposes [(00:16:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1001s). - Keeping a zibaldone or commonplace book can be a fun and rewarding hobby that helps individuals become more literate and well-read, and can even aid in remembering important quotes and sayings by writing them down by hand [(00:16:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=971s). - The practice of keeping a zibaldone or commonplace book has been enjoyed by people for centuries, and it allows individuals to collect and share their favorite pieces of writing, such as proverbs and wise sayings, and to pass them down to others [(00:15:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=942s). - Writing down quotes and sayings by hand can help to commit them to memory, and having a collection of favorite writings can make it easier to recall them and share them with others, which was a common practice in Florence where people would share their zibaldone with each other [(00:16:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=987s). - Commonplace books were kept by students, typically school boys, who would write down interesting quotations or passages from their readings under specific headings, such as justice, vengeance, or tyranny, and this practice was a crucial part of a serious European humanist education for hundreds of years [(00:17:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1021s). - The headings in commonplace books served as a way to organize and categorize the collected quotations, allowing the user to build a mini-encyclopedia of knowledge on a particular topic over time, and this process involved careful sorting and organization of the topics [(00:18:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1085s). - The practice of keeping commonplace books involved writing down the most interesting or useful bits of information from various sources, including [[Bible | the Bible]], history books, Aesop's fables, and classical works, along with the source of the information, and this helped to create a valuable repository of wisdom and thought-provoking ideas [(00:18:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1100s). - Many famous historical figures, such as [[John Milton]], kept commonplace books during their education, and these books provide valuable insights into their reading habits and influences, with some of the most fascinating examples including those of Milton and other playwrights of his time, such as Shakespeare and Marlowe [(00:19:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1183s). - Commonplace books were not only used for personal education but also as a tool for writers, who could draw upon the collected knowledge and ideas in their writing, and this is evident in the works of playwrights like Shakespeare, who likely collected influences and ideas in his [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] during his time at grammar school [(00:20:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1210s). - Despite the hard work and dedication required to maintain a commonplace book, the rewards are significant, and many people have found them to be incredibly useful tools for learning and personal growth, with the potential to become a valuable resource for a lifetime of writing and learning [(00:20:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1250s). - The concept of a commonplace book was discovered through a theology degree and the work of Meenan Luther's understudy, with the term possibly being misused over time, and this discovery was made after six years of personal studies [(00:21:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1262s). - The idea of the commonplace book was popularized by Erasmus, who was Luther's great rival, as a reaction to the sudden increase in the number of books in print during the early 1500s [(00:21:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1294s). - The explosion of print during this period led to an overwhelming number of books, making it impossible for individuals to read all of them, unlike in the past when it was possible to read all available books, and this necessitated the organization of knowledge [(00:21:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1306s). - The commonplace book served as a tool for organizing knowledge and discriminating between important and unimportant information, with historical figures such as Erasmus and Luther's understudy utilizing this method [(00:22:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1340s). - The history of the [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] is also related to the history of print, with the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg leading to a significant increase in the number of books available, and the need for a system to manage and make sense of this vast amount of information [(00:22:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1322s). ## Pros and Cons of keeping a commonplace book, zibaldone, and catch-all journal [(00:22:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1354s) - Keeping a catchall notebook is a great way to remember ideas and quotations on the go, but a major con is that it can be challenging to find specific information due to its sporadic nature [(00:22:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1361s). - To overcome this issue, it's helpful to abstract quotations and ideas from the catchall notebook and disperse them into different commonplace books or compendiums once the notebook is filled [(00:23:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1397s). - A [[Zibaldone | zibaldone]] is a type of notebook that is easy to use, with a low bar for entry, but it shares a con with catchall notebooks in that it can be difficult to retrieve information once it's been added [(00:23:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1418s). - Reflecting on the zibaldone regularly, such as daily or several times a week, can help to mitigate the difficulty of retrieving information, but this may become more challenging with multiple notebooks [(00:24:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1450s). - Keeping a [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]] has the pro of organized information, making it easier to find specific quotes or ideas, especially if the book is specific to a particular topic or category [(00:24:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1478s). - One of the cons of keeping a commonplace book is that it requires more work to maintain, but the payoff is that the information is organized and readily retrievable, making it easier to find specific quotes or ideas [(00:25:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ&t=1528s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCmv6aDYbQ?si=OQSOis2iRMvKNj9z)