Turns out, Leonardo da Vinci lied to us.
He had a secret weapon.
The Commonplace Book:
Da Vinci, the genius we revere, known for his art, science, and inventions.
Little do we know about his secret weapon.
The Commonplace Book, a place to note down his thoughts, ideas, and discoveries.
A Commonplace Book, unlike a diary, is a collection of interesting or striking information.
It is a way to compile knowledge, usually by writing information into books. It was common during the Renaissance, a critical part of learning and remembering.
Leonardo wasn't alone.
Isaac Newton, Virginia Woolf, and Marcus Aurelius also relied on their Commonplace Books.
They filled these books with thoughts, quotations, observations, and anything that resonated with them.
So, why am I telling you this?
We live in the digital age. Information bombards us from every corner. A Commonplace Book can be our defense and our sanctuary.
A Commonplace Book serves as a personal database for your thoughts and ideas.
It's where you deposit anything that moves you—inspiring quotes, reminders, doodles, book excerpts, anything!
This process helps you internalize what you learn.
Writing down concepts, thoughts, and quotes forces you to engage with them more deeply. It aids comprehension, retention, and the development of unique insights.
In today's digital world, there are countless ways to create a Commonplace Book.
Use a physical notebook, a digital tool like Evernote or Notion, or something designed specifically for this purpose, like Roam Research.
The key is to keep it personal.
Your Commonplace Book is a mirror of your intellect, your tastes, your soul.
Make it a habit, and you'll see how it enriches your mind, your thoughts, your life.
Embrace this secret weapon.
Take a leaf out of Leonardo's book (pun intended).
Start a Commonplace Book, and witness your intellectual growth skyrocket.
Let's reclaim the art of thoughtful note-taking. It's time to make the Commonplace, extraordinary.
That's a wrap!
One last thing.
Thanks for reading. 🙌
And, if you found it helpful, I hope you'll:
1. Follow me @MehulFanawala
2. Like / RT / Bookmark / Comment the first tweet to support my content
Mehul Fanawala
@MehulFanawala
Co-founded TheClueless.Company®, postgen, TheAgencyAuditor.com with @TheWriterWoman_ | Fun fact about me: Once, I jumped off a fast-moving bike!