Exploring the Art and History of Note Taking w/ Jillian Hess
Feb 6, 2024
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English Professor and author, Jillian Hess, explores the history of notebooks and notetaking, discussing the risks of losing physical pages, the value of writing on paper, and the unique aspects of handwriting. They also explore visualization techniques and their connection to memory retention, book recommendations, and the transformative role of notebooks as companions and therapists for notable note-takers like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Octavia Butler. Additionally, they discuss Substack, a platform for newsletters and long-form essays.
Notebooks and note-taking are closely related to mnemonics in the art of organizing information.
Visual elements in notebooks, such as drawings and collages, can enhance creativity and stimulate the writing process.
Deep dives
The Fascinating History of Notebooks and Note-Taking
In this podcast episode, Jillian Hess, an English professor at City University of New York, discusses her fascination with notebooks and note-taking. She explains how she became interested in this topic and shares her personal experience of relying on notebooks to preserve quotations and organize information. Hess also explores the tradition of commonplace books, which involves collecting and organizing quotations, and the benefits of handwriting and personalizing the writing process. She mentions examples of intriguing notebooks, such as Leigh Hunt's collection of famous people's hair and chemist Humphry Davy documenting the sensation of being on nitrous oxide. Overall, the episode highlights the role of notebooks as companions, therapists, and support systems for writers and thinkers.
The Visual Delights of Notebooks and Journals
This podcast episode uncovers the visual aspect of notebooks and journals. Jillian Hess shares her discoveries of notebooks belonging to Guillermo del Toro and Sylvia Plath, which feature drawings, sketches, and collages. She discusses how visual elements in notebooks can enhance the writing process and stimulate creativity. The episode also mentions the use of memory palaces and spatial awareness in notebooks for memory techniques. It highlights the unique quality of notebooks, allowing for free expression and personalized organization of ideas on the page. Additionally, the episode explores the historical significance of handwriting and the value of physical notebooks in our increasingly digital world.
The Role of Notebooks as Personal Support Systems
In this podcast episode, the significance of notebooks as personal support systems is discussed. Jillian Hess explores how notebooks can provide comfort, inspiration, and companionship to writers and thinkers. She shares examples of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Octavia Butler, who considered their notebooks as companions during difficult times. Coleridge referred to his notebooks as his sole companions, while Butler used affirmations in her notebooks to support her writing career. The episode highlights the intimate connection between writers and their notebooks, emphasizing the therapeutic and encouraging aspects of journaling and note-taking.
Embracing Individuality in Note-Taking Methods
In this podcast episode, Jillian Hess emphasizes that there is no one right way to keep a notebook or take notes. She encourages listeners to explore different methods and find what works best for them, as everyone's mind works differently. Hess shares her own process of using separate notebooks for different projects and maintaining a personal notebook for reading enjoyment. The episode highlights the importance of personalization, individual learning styles, and finding joy in the act of writing and note-taking.
In this episode, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Jillian Hess, an English Professor and author of "How Romantics and Victorians Organized Information" published by Oxford University Press. She writes at Noted, a newsletter on Substack where she explores the fascinating history of notebooks and notetaking. What you will discover is that mnemonics and notetaking are very much related as they both deal with the art of organizing information.
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