The German concept of “Zettelkasten” refers to a note-taking method used to efficiently organize and assimilate large amounts of information from various sources, such as blog posts, videos, podcasts, and social media posts. This approach is based on four distinct types of notes that promote the long-term reuse of content.

“Fleeting notes” involve copying and pasting or quoting key elements for quick reference. “Literary notes” involve transforming ideas into more digestible, easily digestible content. “Permanent notes” are structured summaries of individual concepts, which can be organized as mind maps or long-lasting notepads. Finally, aggregating permanent notes, often using tools like Obsidian, creates a robust and interconnected knowledge base.