Introduction

The system this manual introduces is is called Zettelkasten, a non-linear note filling system used by Niklas Luhmann, which resulted in a communication partner or so-called “second brain” of him.

While it’s very close to a personal wiki in form, but how these two are created and what they are capable of are fundamentally different. Simply put, a Zettelkasten might be implemented by a wiki, but a wiki doesn’t have to be a Zettelkasten, most of them are not.

It's so easy to be both underestimated and misunderstood, it is thus important to get a both full and correct understanding before practicing, the manual was kept as concise as possible to keep the reader’s focus.

You can achieve more by adopting the system, but it is not a magic trick that can do the things for you without your effort at all, it guarantees your efforts made are not forgot or wasted and helps you to make the most out of your previous work (no matter how long ago) with less effort which will be exponentially powerful as your knowledge accumulates.

There are parts of the system that may sounds familiar to you, but please be cautious when you do, because of the confirmation bias1 people tend to perceive things as what they are already familiar with, for example, people who know about the concept of a wiki tend to think that the essence of this system is just a wiki, which is a huge underestimation.

It is

  • Proven working by German academia
  • The culmination of years’ practice
  • Works the same way as the brain
  • Grows exponentially as you grow
  • Increases productivity
  • Generates creativity
  • A second brain
  • Lasts for a lifetime

It is NOT

  • It does NOT depend on any specific software or application
    • Most existing software (if not all) claiming to adopt this system are missing the point
  • It does NOT help you achieve more without your effort
  • It's NOT overwhelmingly complicated by any intentional manipulation

Who it is for

Knowledge workers

  • Want to accumulate knowledge as you learn?
  • Bad memory on remembering what you've learned before?

Makers of creativity

  • Finding idea sparks?
  • Trying to find or build connections between your ideas?

Lifelong learners

  • Taking notes everywhere only finds out nothing works?
  • Seeking a solution to a personal knowledge base?
  • You learn all kinds of things what are the connections among them?

Table of Contents

  • Prologue
  • Understand The System
    • What it is
      • Who is Niklas Luhman
      • Niklas Luhmann's zettelkasten
    • How it works
      • Naming the cards
      • Connecting the cards
    • Why it works
      • Linear and non-linear note-taking
      • Connections are powerful
      • Writing is thinking
  • Adopting Guide
    • Why digitalizing
      • Handwriting V.S. typing for note-taking
      • Screen is too small than the ground
    • What makes a good digital approach
      • Plain text is the key
      • Own your data
      • Visualization
    • A digital approach
      • Physical level
      • Logical level
      • Slip level
      • Auto generation
      • Bibliography
  • Workflow
    • Inputting phase
    • Drafting phase
    • Linking phase
    • Cleaning phase
  • Ending Notes
  • References