How To Take Smart Notes: 10 Principles to Revolutionize Your Note-Taking and Writing

BlogApr 21, 2026

Original excerpt

They were always too vague and boring, full of platitudes that had little to do with the world outside academia.

They would often list dozens of tips and tricks that had little to do with each other. There was never an overarching system for turning notes into concrete results.

But recently I picked up _How To Take Smart Notes_(affiliate link)by Sönke Ahrens. Ahrens is a Lecturer in Philosophy of Education at the University of Duisburg-Essen and also coaches students, academics, and professionals with a focus on time management, decision-making, and personal growth.

It is by far the most impactful and profound book I’ve ever read on the subject. I was astounded to encounter in its pages (with…

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