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5 Common Misconceptions About the Zettelkasten Note-Taking Method
No, not everything belongs in your slip-box
It wasn’t until I read How to Take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens that I realized almost everything I’d assumed about the Zettelkasten or “slip-box” note-taking method was WRONG.
This method gets a lot of attention for the results it gave German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. He used index cards and a unique numbering system — and for some of us, that’s all we know about it.
Now, there’s a lot of talk about creating a digital Zettelkasten with the help of text editors and apps like Roam Research, Obsidian, and Evernote… but most of us don’t know what that means. And if we want to build a “second brain” or become more prolific writers, we should know what Zettelkasten ISN’T — and, more importantly, what it IS.
So let’s expose the common misconceptions about Zettelkasten, and learn what it’s really all about (so we can implement it successfully!)…
Misconception #1: That we can take notes in exactly the same way we always have.
We mistakenly believe that Zettelkasten changes only how our notes are stored, and not how they’re created.
You’re probably familiar with Luhmann’s index cards, stored in his “slip-box” like a filing cabinet. He used a unique numbering system to order and connect his notes. We think, OK, the next time I read or watch or consume content, I can whip out some index cards and jot down a few bullet points.
Not so, my friends.
“The main misunderstanding stems from an isolated focus on the slip-box and a neglect of the actual workflow in which it is embedded.” ~ Sonke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes
So what did Luhmann’s workflow look like? There are 3 basic principles you should know about Luhmann’s note-making:
- Luhmann’s “slip-box” notes were not merely a summary of the material but an elaboration.
- Luhmann took notes in his own words, in complete sentences.
- Each index card contained just one “atomic” thought or idea. One idea per card; often only a few sentences or a paragraph at most.
Key Takeaway: The Zettelkasten method will transform the way that you consume content. Highlighting, underlining, jotting down quotes or quick bullet points — these are a means to an end, but not the “permanent” notes that belong in your slip-box. Zettelkasten notes require thoughtful elaboration.
Misconception #2: That everything belongs in the Zettelkasten.
I thought the Zettelkasten method was about keeping all my notes in one place. And I romanticized this idea because I was the kind of person who kept notes anywhere and everywhere — sticky notes, journals, my iPhone Notes app, etc.
While these ideas and scribblings serve a purpose, they do not belong in the slip-box. (They’re not meant to be held onto!)
Luhmann made distinctions between types of notes — to describe the process of creating the “permanent” notes that are worthy of the slip-box.
- “Fleeting notes” — Reminders of information (quick scribblings, bullet points, etc.)
- “Literature notes” — Building on our “fleeting” notes, we summarize the gist of a piece of content (using complete sentences, in our own words). This is not yet considered a “permanent” note because it’s still very much tied to its source, without your elaboration.
- “Permanent notes” — Unique thoughts of our own, inspired by the original source material. Written in complete sentences, in our own words.
Key Takeaway: Not all notes are meant to be saved. Luhmann’s process allowed him to build up a critical mass of meaningful notes. If we were to hold onto every single note or scribbled idea that we take on a daily basis, we’d have a cluttered mess on our hands — and these notes would not lend themselves to meaningful connection or insight.
Misconception #3: That we should use predetermined topics & categories to structure and organize our notes.
We’re so used to creating folders and hierarchies of information that we think it’s the best approach for organizing our notes.
Creating categories upfront is a “top-down” approach, and it’s counterproductive to the meaning-making process of Zettelkasten. We unintentionally tailor our reading and note-taking to fit into these predetermined categories, and it limits us.
This is a tough one to shake — especially if you’re familiar with “maps of content” or Luhmann’s “index.” It just depends on how we go about it. Luhmann took a “bottom-up” approach — he took lots and lots of notes and allowed patterns and topics to emerge organically, over time.
“In the old system, the question is: Under which topic do I store this note? In the new system, the question is: In which context will I want to stumble upon it again?” ~ Sonke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes
Key Takeaway: We can’t possibly predict where our notes will take us, or the connections that will present themselves — and that’s the fun of it!
As for Luhmann’s “index” — while it was similar to a table of contents, it did not list each individual note in his slip-box but rather gave him entry points for his most interesting note sequences. As Ahrens writes in How to Take Smart Notes, “most notes will be found through other notes.”
Misconception #4: That archival storage is the purpose of the slip-box.
Yes, we want to capture and hold onto important ideas. But Zettelkasten is not about hoarding information. The idea that “storage” is the #1 purpose of the Zettelkasten implies that we would file our notes away, never to be read again.
Rather, our purpose is to draw connections —as Ahrens writes, “to develop ideas, arguments, and discussions.” After all, this is how Luhmann became such a prolific writer, publishing more than 70 books.
“Learning would not be so much about saving information, like on a hard disk, but about building connections and bridges between pieces of information… It is about making sure the right ‘cues’ trigger the right memory, about how we can think strategically to remember the most useful information when we need it.” ~ Sonke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes
When we add new notes to the slip-box, we need to ask ourselves, “Where does this thought or idea best fit (in connection with my existing notes)?” How does it add to the conversation?
Notes in isolation are meaningless.
Archivist vs. Writer
In How to Take Smart Notes, Ahrens describes two contrasting perspectives when it comes to labeling our notes. Are you thinking like an archivist or a writer? “Archivists” are more concerned with how best to store their notes — choosing keywords by looking at a note in isolation. He recommends that we assign keywords with an eye towards the topics we’re working on or interested in.
The slip-box is a living, breathing thing. It’s not an archive.
Key Takeaway: Think connection over collection. Retrieval over storage. Luhmann numbered his notes to create trains of thought (“sequences”) that would later become the content for his published books.
Misconception #5: That it can only be done with index cards.
Let me just say that IF Luhmann’s physical note-taking method works for you — go for it. You can absolutely use index cards and create a slip-box like Luhmann’s.
But this is not the ONLY way it can be done. I’d argue that you can recreate the slip-box digitally, and there are plenty of tools to do so.
Apps like Roam Research and Obsidian allow you to use hyperlinks to make connections between notes. Better yet, when you link to another note, this note has a “backlink” to the original source — so you can navigate back and forth between them, following the train of thought like Luhmann’s numbering system allowed him to do.
Features like the “graph view” allow us to visualize the connections between our notes.
And, of course, your digital notes are easily accessible across multiple devices (so you can take them with you!).
Personally, I use Obsidian because (1) it’s free, (2) it’s intuitive and easy to use, and (3) my notes are saved to my local computer (not proprietary to a specific software). When you use a cloud-sharing software like Dropbox or iCloud, you can open your notes on other devices. Obsidian recently launched its own mobile app.
Takeaway
As a quick recap, we’ve debunked common misconceptions and revealed the following truths about the Zettelkasten note-taking method:
- The Zettelkasten method changes the way that we take notes.
- Only “permanent” notes — which elaborate on an idea in our own words — belong in the slip-box.
- It’s best to take a bottom-up approach, allowing topics and patterns to emerge organically from our notes.
- Zettelkasten is about connection, not collection.
- We can build a digital Zettelkasten by using bidirectional links to make connections and create note sequences like Luhmann’s.
Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions of all is that Zettelkasten is complicated… but it doesn’t have to be!
Yes, it takes time, because the process should be intentional.
But the concepts are simple: Luhmann consumed content, translated the information into his own words, and made connections between ideas to build up a critical mass of notes. His slip-box teaches us that it’s impossible to anticipate the unique insights we’ll make through our notes.
It’s an exciting process of discovery.
