How to Take Smart Notes
Sönke Ahrens on note-taking and writing with a Zettelkasten
Ranked 2 of 10 in best productivity and note-taking books
The most detailed note-taking method here, a Zettelkasten system for linking notes and writing from them. It takes practice and is not a task manager, so it suits writers and researchers.
Best for Zettelkasten notes and research writing
About How to Take Smart Notes
The book explains how to take literature notes, write permanent notes in your own words, and link them so that writing grows out of research. Ahrens builds on the Zettelkasten practice associated with the sociologist Niklas Luhmann. The method is designed for long-form writing and study, not for task lists or quick capture.
The author's page lists the 2022 revised and expanded second edition, and it links the appendix of that edition and the first chapter as PDF files. Ahrens also sells a course that teaches the method, so readers can compare the book with the course. The method takes practice to set up and suits academic and long-form writers. It is less useful for people who want a task manager.
Key features
- Literature and permanent notes
- Zettelkasten linking
- Writing from notes
- Revised second edition
Strengths
- Clear method for linking and writing notes
- Revised and expanded second edition from 2022
- Free first chapter and appendix PDFs
Limits
- The method takes practice to set up
- Not a task or project management tool
Where How to Take Smart Notes ranks
How How to Take Smart Notes compares
| Product | Score | Price | Formats | Level | Free to read online | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World | 91.5 | Paid | Print, Audiobook | Intermediate | No | Focused work without distraction |
#2 How to Take Smart Notes | 90.5 | Paid | Intermediate | No | Linked notes and writing from research | |
#3 Getting Things Done | 88.5 | Paid | Beginner to intermediate | No | Capturing and organizing commitments into next actions | |
#4 Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World | 87.0 | Paid | Beginner | No | Reducing personal technology use | |
#5 Building a Second Brain | 86.5 | Paid | Print, Audiobook | Beginner | No | Capturing and reusing digital notes |
The full comparison table for best productivity and note-taking books has all 10 products.
Alternatives to How to Take Smart Notes
All 9 alternatives- Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted WorldCal Newport's case for focused, distraction-free work
- Getting Things DoneDavid Allen's method for capturing and organizing commitments
- Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy WorldCal Newport's case for spending far less time on personal technology
- Building a Second BrainTiago Forte's system for capturing and reusing digital notes
Make TimeJake Knapp and John Zeratsky's daily focus framework
Atomic HabitsJames Clear's method for building good habits and breaking bad ones
Compare How to Take Smart Notes
- How to Take Smart NotesversusDeep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
- How to Take Smart NotesversusGetting Things Done
- How to Take Smart NotesversusDigital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
- How to Take Smart NotesversusBuilding a Second Brain
- How to Take Smart NotesversusMake Time
- How to Take Smart NotesversusAtomic Habits
Related rankings
Questions about How to Take Smart Notes
- Is How to Take Smart Notes free?
- How to Take Smart Notes is a paid product (paid). Print edition; free first chapter and appendix PDFs on the author's site.
- Which formats is How to Take Smart Notes available in?
- How to Take Smart Notes is offered as Print.
- What is How to Take Smart Notes best for?
- Zettelkasten notes and research writing. In our ranking of productivity and note-taking books it is number 2 of 10 with a score of 90.5.
- What are the best alternatives to How to Take Smart Notes?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, Getting Things Done, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, Building a Second Brain.
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