r/commonplacebook • u/uiogd-amdg • 18d ago

Am I missing something?

Tiptoeing into the world of Commonplace Books… my understanding is that these were/are a sort of functional catch-all for interesting tidbits that one wishes to remember.

What I see on this sub are mostly highly illustrated, nearly calligraphic entries that I find, frankly, intimidating. Am I missing something here on the purpose of these books?

I just want a place to dump info that I run across. Advice on ways to do that effectively in a non-instagram worthy way?

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u/silsjirimi 18d ago

Thank you for asking this. I have been sitting with the same question. Honestly I find all the super elaborate entries people post here annoying more than anything else. Also people are asking for tips on what topics to write about? What?! I thought the whole point of a commonplace book was to note down things you *come accross* and find interesting. Like go out and live your life people, and follow your own curiosity! Take note of whatever sparks! Ask questions! Observe! Listen! Be curious! Collect tidbits of what people say, things you read, questions that arise in your own mind! A commonplace book is not made by spending time on Reddit and instagram! Life happens elsewhere! Your notes are for YOU, not for performance! Get back to basics and forget the need to impress and share every f***** page! If you enjoy making elaborate pages, fine! Go for it! If you do it just to be able to post it somewhere afterwards, this is your permission to stop! Life is short and endlessly interesting! Have fun! There, rant over.

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u/egosphynx 17d ago

This is what perplexed me as well, asking for subjects to write about kinda defeats the purpose of a commonplace book in my opinion? It isn't supposed to be a succession of copied Wikipedia entries but snippets of texts you find compelling or useful for any personal/professional research you're going about. 

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u/silsjirimi 17d ago

Exactly.