My favorite founding father (Benjamin Franklin) once said “I would advise you to read with a pen in hand, and enter in a little book short hints of what you find that is curious, or that may be useful; for this will be the best method of imprinting such particulars in your memory.”

He explains a concept so well and in a relaxed manner. It also feels more conversational than most YouTubers who speak in an almost dictating way.

Sir that sweater goes hard af. Ain’t nothing commonplace about the fit 🗣️

I have a book I got from my grandmother that is from the late 1800’s that her mother had from when she was a child. It is an old hard cover (I think textbook) that my great-grandmother’s sisters made by gluing things of interest onto the pages. There are news articles, recipes, drawings and other things that really reveal their personalities and interests. I never knew there was an actual term for this! Now that I know it to be a commonplace book, it feels even more precious to me! Thank you for this video. 😊

I want to add that the tip about a smaller book rather than the 500 page journal is one I wish I'd heard before starting my first commonplace book. It makes it easier to develop or revise the way you use it without feeling like you have to finish it!

I had to learn the hard way the importance of indexing and table of contents.  I can really fill a notebook, but then to find anything in it...  Sometimes I've used the Kokuyo binders.  Other times I've used bound journals.  Number pages, date, and do all you can.  And I've also been working on some index card systems that hold a lot of promise....  Lots of ways to do it, but I'll close with the important part:

The main thing is to write it down.  As someone once said, "The faintest ink is better than the best memory."

What is missed in the digital age is the availability of spatial memory. With paper and commonplace books, your memory is aided by where something is on the page or spread. Drawing boxes, using colours and putting asterisks or exclamation marks all enhances memory and also finding the passage again quickly because you remember the place, the colour and/or the mark as well as the text.

Suggestion:  Consider a Table of Contents (TOC) that is separate from the binding of a Common Place book.  Trying to guess the number of pages that a TOC might require is challenging.  I suggest the equivalent of the "old" library check out paper pocket filled with individual sheets... glued inside the front cover of the book.  This allows for editing and additions to the TOC without the risk of running out of space.  The separate pages can always be edited and refined without having to revert to "scratching out" the original entry.

I have a notebook that’s inspired by commonplace books.  I call it “Gleanings and Rabbit Holes”, and it’s basically a commonplace book, but I will write a response or thoughts after what I’ve copied, if I feel so moved.

Seems as though you have a unique perspective in that the common place book is "conversation with yourself".
Thank you for that.

I didn't even know there was a name for this kind of book. I have had mine for a few years now and I call it my "soul book".

The most effective way to index is to start at the back of the book on the last page, and move forward. When your writing meets your index, your book is complete, no estimates or guesswork involved.

I didn’t learn what a book like this is called until about 5 yrs ago.  I have kept one all my life.  When I was going thru my Mother’s things I found many common place books which I treasure.  Lovely video.

I include little pencil drawings.  Occasionally I cut and paste into my CB…perhaps a little poetry or a recipe with a photo.  My books are quite random like dialogue from movies.  Keeps it interesting.
I have just over 100 A5 volumes.  So much fun to reread.

I use a Traveler's Company notebook with different inserts for different entries. I have lined, blank, square grid and dot grid. I have a passport size so it fits in my purse.

Journal vs. Diary vs. Notebook vs. Commonplace Book  I had not heard of the term, "Commonplace Book," and it has been around for over two-thousand years. Thank you.

HJ, if you have not already, you should read Roland Allen's new book "The Notebook".  He discusses the commonplace book.

I started my first Common Place book a week ago.  Amazing timing.

I have a tendency to lose things, so I wouldn't carry anything that personal around with me.  I carry a "memory-dump" notebook with me at all times, then - if apropos - I copy it either into my journal, common place, or planner.

I started my common place book in a book, but after the first week I think I'm going to migrate it into an A5 or A6 ring-binder.

Being able to move pages around, add pages to previous sections when new things appear I think is going to be more valuable to me in the long term.

Thank you as always.

My commonplace book is filled with brief biographies about historical figures. I write year and place they were born and died—what they were known for, where they did most of their work, significant moments in their lives, significant influences/friendships. I have European composers in there, writers, politicians, poets—all sorts of people. Just a page or two on most of the entries. I have about three pages on the Medici family, for instance—really working out who is related to whom, and who did what, and who had it out for each other. I’m always making connections between these creative people! I love flipping through it. The book itself is a bit of Nicor-branded swag that I picked up at some business meeting somewhere.

A good way to help organization is to use a regular 3 ring notebook. That way, you can simply add your writings to the appropriate section. It is not as aesthetically pleasing, but it is great for organization.