Sönke Ahrens on Smart Notes

In this episode of "The Informed Life," host Jorge Arango interviews Zonka Adams, the author of "How to Take Smart Notes," about the zettelkasten method of note-taking. Adams explains the analog origins of the method, inspired by Niklas Luhmann's extensive slip-box system, and emphasizes the importance of atomic notes and creating connections between ideas to develop one's own thinking. The discussion covers the differences between this approach and traditional note-taking, the role of explicit linking in the thinking process, and the value of contextualizing ideas. Adams also shares insights on how this method can benefit students, academics, and anyone focused on continuous learning, by fostering a balance between novelty and long-term knowledge retention.