Interlude: Note-Taking, Excessive Words, and Practicing Reasoning
Do you take notes while reading books?
I like to take notes while reading. The process of writing things down by hand helps me remember facts and synthesize ideas.
For the past few years, I've used a note-taking method that I learned from Tim Ferriss. I've found his approach helpful for indexing details that stood out to me in a book.
But I recently learned another approach: The Blank Sheet Method. This method involves the following steps:
Before reading anything: On a blank sheet of paper, write down what you already know about the subject.
After each reading session: Use a different-color pen to add new information you learned to the sheet.
Before the next reading session: Review the sheet.
After finishing reading: Store the completed sheet in a binder for periodic review.
I think this method is a great strategy to capture the big ideas that stand out to you in the book.
But I like to be more intentional about my note-taking. I like to refer back to the text and spend time thinking about and synthesizing the ideas. So I'm going to try a more detailed approach that uses parts of both methods:
Before reading anything: On a blank sheet of paper, write down the main subject and 3–5 key things you already know about the subject.
After each reading session: Use a different-color pen to add new information you learned to the sheet. Add page numbers where relevant. On the back of the sheet, note any new ideas or ways of thinking that come to mind
Before the next reading session: Review the sheet and add any additional ideas on the back of the sheet.
After finishing reading: Scan the sheet for electronic storage and store the completed sheet in the cover of the book. Add an event to your calendar to review the sheet in 6 months.
What's your note-taking method while reading? Hit reply and let me know.
Now onto this week's round-up...
💌 Round-up
👓 Reading
Excessive use of words like ‘commendable’ and ‘meticulous’ suggests ChatGPT has been used in thousands of scientific studies
"He analyzed five million scientific studies published last year and detected a sudden rise in the use of certain words, such as meticulously (up 137%), intricate (117%), commendable (83%) and meticulous (59%). The librarian from the University College London can only find one explanation for this rise: tens of thousands of researchers are using ChatGPT — or other similar Large Language Model tools with artificial intelligence — to write their studies or at least “polish” them.”
AI Chatbots Have Thoroughly Infiltrated Scientific Publishing
"The findings suggest something has changed in the lexicon of scientific writing—a development that might be caused by the writing tics of increasingly present chatbots. 'There’s some evidence of some words changing steadily over time” as language normally evolves, Gray says. “But there’s this question of how much of this is long-term natural change of language and how much is something different.' "
🖥️ Watching
High fashion......typography?
In this reel, artist Wisdom Kaye uses his eye for creative fashion to style different fonts. I appreciate the artistic take he has on font styles.
💬 Quote
“While we naturally understand that writing is a good way to share ideas with others, we under-appreciate just how much good writing helps us think about an idea ourselves. Writing is not only a means of communication, it enables us to practice reasoning.” –Shane Parrish
✅ Action
The next time you read a book, try a note-taking method to track and synthesize ideas. Then add a reminder to your calendar to review your notes in 6 months.
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
