Exam Study Expert: ace your exams with the science of learning 199. Zettelkasten "Super" Notes: with Dr Sönke Ahrens
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Sep 14, 2025 
Dr. Sönke Ahrens, a leading educator and author of 'How to Take Smart Notes,' dives into the power of the Zettelkasten note-taking method. He explains how this nonlinear system boosts productivity, reduces procrastination, and enhances creativity. Ahrens discusses the importance of writing in one's own words to foster deeper understanding and shares insights on different types of notes: fleeting, permanent, project, and literature notes. He also contrasts digital and analog approaches, emphasizing how to get started with this efficient methodology.
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One Idea Per Slip
- Zettelkasten stores individual ideas on individual slips to support connection-making.
- Linking tiny, focused notes lets insight emerge from recombining ideas over time.
Luhmann's Prolific Slip Box
- Niklas Luhmann produced huge output by writing notes and manuscripts from his slip box.
- His colleagues struggled to keep up with the flood of publications he generated.
Write By Rewriting
- The Zettelkasten makes writing easier by turning drafting into rewriting.
- Having many prepared note fragments lowers the blank-page barrier and speeds composition.
