## Introduction to Commonplace Books - A commonplace book is a collection of quotations in one spot, used for a given purpose, and can be kept digitally or analogously, with a preference for analog methods like a notebook [(00:00:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=37s). - Commonplace books have become popular lately, with a significant increase in interest on [[YouTube]], contributing to the growth of channels such as Parker Setticase's and Jared Henderson's [(00:01:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=66s). - Jared Henderson attributes the popularity of commonplace books to people seeking something that feels more real, following a previous note-taking boom and the rise of personal knowledge management systems [(00:02:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=126s). - The simplicity of the idea of commonplace books, combined with their non-digital nature, is seen as a refreshing alternative to complex systems, allowing users to simply write things down without the need for a structured system [(00:02:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=167s). - The use of commonplace books is not about efficiency or searchability, but rather about the value of a physical, non-digital repository for collecting and reflecting on quotations and ideas [(00:03:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=191s). - There are different purposes for using commonplace books, and they can be categorized into four different kinds, although these categories are not explicitly stated in this section of the video [(00:00:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=24s). - Parker Setticase has been keeping commonplace books for over 11 years and will provide examples of how he uses his commonplace books later in the video [(00:01:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=68s). - Commonplace books have gained popularity as some people prefer a non-digital, non-searchable method of note-taking and idea development, and also because they can be aesthetically pleasing with a collection of thoughts and ideas in a physical journal [(00:03:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=215s). - The appeal of commonplace books lies in their ability to provide a unique, hands-on way of working out ideas that digital databases cannot replicate [(00:03:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=226s). ## Sponsored Segment: Brilliant Learning Platform - Brilliant is a learning platform that offers interactive lessons in various subjects, including math, data analysis, programming, and AI, with a first-principles approach that helps build understanding from the ground up [(00:04:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=243s). - Brilliant's content is crafted by an award-winning team of teachers, researchers, and professionals from institutions like [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MIT]], [[California Institute of Technology | Caltech]], and [[Google]], and helps develop critical thinking skills through problem-solving [(00:04:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=269s). - The platform offers a 30-day free trial and a 20% discount on an annual premium subscription for viewers, with new content and data added regularly, including an immersive AI workshop on how [[Large language model | LLMs]] work [(00:05:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=308s). ## Four Categories of Commonplace Books - The history of commonplace books is extensive, with notable philosophers contributing to its development, but the focus is on the four categories of commonplace books developed through studying their history and philosophy [(00:05:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=336s). - The four categories of commonplace books include the scope, which can be general or topic-specific, determining the range of quotations and ideas included [(00:06:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=363s). - The purpose of a commonplace book is another category, which can vary depending on the user's goals and intentions [(00:06:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=381s). - A commonplace book can be either a treasury or a manuscript, with a treasury being a collection of quotations and a manuscript being a collection of quotations with added thoughts and analysis [(00:06:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=385s). - A treasury commonplace book is used to collect quotations that can be referenced later for various purposes such as sermons, weddings, toasts, blogs, or papers [(00:06:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=389s). - A manuscript commonplace book is used to collect quotations and add personal thoughts, context, and analysis to them [(00:06:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=406s). - There are four types of commonplace books: a general treasury commonplace book, a topic-specific treasury commonplace book, a general manuscript commonplace book, and a topic-specific manuscript commonplace book [(00:07:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=424s). - A general treasury commonplace book has an unlimited scope and collects quotations without adding personal ideas [(00:07:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=428s). - A topic-specific treasury commonplace book has a limited scope and collects quotations related to a single topic without adding personal ideas [(00:07:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=433s). - A general manuscript commonplace book has an unlimited scope and collects quotations with added personal thoughts and analysis [(00:07:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=443s). - A topic-specific manuscript commonplace book has a limited scope and collects quotations related to a single topic with added personal thoughts and analysis [(00:07:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=454s). ## Examples of Commonplace Books - A pocket Proverbs commonplace book is an example of a topic-specific treasury commonplace book that collects wise sayings and proverbs from various sources [(00:07:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=469s). - The pocket Proverbs commonplace book is used to collect sententious maxims, wise sayings, and aphorisms from different sources such as books, TV shows, and social media [(00:07:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=476s). - One method of collecting proverbs for a commonplace book is by making marginal notes in the books being read and highlighting or marking the proverbs found [(00:08:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=530s). - Using tabs or markers can help keep track of the quotes collected and ensure that they are not duplicated in the commonplace book [(00:09:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=557s). - Quotes can also be collected from movies, TV shows, or other sources and written down in a pocket notebook [(00:09:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=579s). - A catch-all commonplace book is used to collect information, which is later transferred to a specific commonplace book [(00:09:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=582s). - A specific manuscript commonplace book is used for the podcast "Proverb Pedaling", which has a Holtz leather company shrunken bison cover [(00:09:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=590s). - The manuscript commonplace book is topic-specific, limited to the podcast, and contains working notes, including full text of podcast episodes [(00:10:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=614s). - The full text of podcast episodes is also available on the [[Substack]] "Parker's Ponderings" [(00:10:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=629s). - The manuscript commonplace book is used to analyze quotations, add thoughts, provide historical context, and make connections to other ideas [(00:10:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=648s). - The book contains a quotation from Blaise Pascal's "Pon say", which is analyzed and connected to other ideas, such as Psalm 8 and James 4 [(00:11:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=661s). - Using a manuscript commonplace book helps to organize thoughts and make connections between ideas, making it easier to write and present podcast episodes [(00:11:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=692s). - The book allows for looking back at previous notes and ideas, making it easier to apply the wisdom to everyday life [(00:12:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=722s). - The manuscript commonplace book also contains quotations from other thinkers, such as Aristotle's "Nic kamakan ethics", which can be used for further analysis and connection-making [(00:13:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=794s). - A study on courage and discouragement includes antonyms and synonyms that are recorded in a manuscript commonplace book for future reference [(00:13:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=798s). - The Parker's Ponderings General Manuscript Commonplace Book is used to write [[Substack]] pieces, with no limitations on topics, and contains large block quotes and analysis [(00:13:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=808s). - This commonplace book is for personal use and may appear disorganized, but it helps with thinking and writing [(00:13:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=838s). - The book contains various pieces, including one on [[René Descartes]] and artificial intelligence, and another on [[Stoicism | Stoics]] and their view of the Divine [(00:14:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=846s). - The commonplace book also includes notes on [[C. S. Lewis | CS Lewis]] and stoicism, as well as a piece on Dune and the Butlerian Jihad [(00:14:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=868s). - The manuscript commonplace book helps with reflecting on past posts and getting in the right mindset for writing new Substack pieces [(00:14:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=899s). - The idea of using commonplace books for manuscripting came from using them to write papers in seminary and graduate school [(00:15:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=908s). - The commonplace books have been used to write journal articles, blog posts, and podcast episodes, and are considered prized possessions [(00:15:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=927s). ## Commonplace Book vs. Journal - Physical commonplace books are preferred over digital manuscripts because they are more engaging and encourage regular review [(00:15:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=952s). - A separate notebook is used for science fiction and fantasy writing, called Sages, Mages, and Wisdom Machines, which is a subsection of the [[Substack]] [(00:16:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=971s). - This notebook contains notes for short stories and a novel, which has been moved to its own notebook [(00:16:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=987s). - A commonplace book is considered a collection of quotations used for a specific purpose, whereas a journal is a collection of one's own ideas [(00:16:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1005s). - The discussed commonplace book has evolved into a journal, containing personal ideas for writing Science Fiction and Fantasy [(00:16:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1015s). - The book includes ideas inspired by Donald Davidson's triangulation argument, which was presented at two philosophy conferences and is being incorporated into a science fiction story [(00:17:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1030s). - The story, titled "[[Foxhole (video game) | Foxhole]] triangulations," aims to disseminate the triangulation argument to a broader audience through a science fiction narrative [(00:17:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1036s). - The work is part of a subsection called "Sages, Mages, and Wisdom Machines" on the author's [[Substack | substack]], Parker's Ponderings [(00:17:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1049s). ## Conclusion and Call to Action - Keeping a commonplace book has been helpful in clarifying its purpose and scope, and the author encourages viewers to share their own experiences with topic-specific commonplace books [(00:17:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1060s). - Viewers are invited to provide feedback and suggestions for topics that would be suitable for a commonplace book in the comments [(00:18:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1085s). - To support the author's work, viewers can become paid subscribers on their substack, Parker's Ponderings, which can be found through a link in the description [(00:18:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y&t=1097s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITgm5V-m_Y?si=3U-WckIyuHcbfsFi)