Exploring the Fascination with Notebooks and Note-Taking

The speaker, an English professor at CUNY, developed a deep interest in notebooks from a young age and was fascinated by the act of collecting quotations. This interest led to an exploration of the commonplace book tradition, resulting in a PhD dissertation and a book on the topic. Seeking to make academic work more accessible, the speaker started a sub-stack called noted, focusing on various authors beyond their academic field. The sub-stack has garnered a wide readership, leading to engaging discussions with individuals passionate about note-taking.