I've learned so much - another superb post, thank you! Such a fascinating man.
I have a frustratingly large number of quotes - just short phrases, mostly, which I'd jotted down in my daily logs in the past without having noted where I'd come across the words. Overheard in the Village Stores, perhaps? A line from a film? An audiobook? Something Jim's said, maybe. Who knows? And that, of course, is a problem.
I know the feeling...I used to be like that. These days, I spend SO much time teaching my students how to cite sources and explaining why it's important, I think I've just absorbed the practice. I don't write anything down without also signaling where I got it. And I'm always retroactively thanking myself for this practice.
Maya Angelou has said many times that it's dangerous to see MLK as a saint. It makes them inaccessible. He was a flawed man too--and it's empowering to know that even flawed people can do great things.
Thanks for this. I recently learned about the Zettelkasten method of notetaking, which is what King did. Actively engaging with a book by underlining and writing in the margins and then transferring your notes to note cards and organizing them. Learned it from Ryan Holiday who has written all of his books using this system. Google Zettelkasten and you'll find lots of articles and tutorials.
Yes, I've actually written about Luhmann's original Zettelkasten method. While it's true they both used notecards, Luhmann's system is much more rigorous.
This is the most delightful kind of voyeurism: seeing how our great communicators first communicated with themselves. Thank you for all the time and care you take in sharing these.
I thoroughly enjoyed your post. I've read a few books on MLK, the latest being The Seminarian. I had no idea he maintained a notecard system. Last year, I discovered Zettelkasten and was hyped to read your revealing piece. Thank you.
I can't imagine he intentionally plagiarized, especially looking at all those note cards. Can't imagine how many thoughts raced through his mind as he took notes & composed his drafts.
Thank you for sharing this, his legacy is such a treasure.
During the Harris campaign I was struck by the same “preaching” quality in Senator Warnock’s speeches. Like Dr King, his background as a minister really informs both the content, structure and tone of his speeches and makes them absolutely unmistakable. I’d love to know what his note system might be!
I am so geekily into your work! Just subscribed, so working my way through your backlist. Thank you! Your posts are so rich and beautiful and informative and exciting. Most especially here for this: “Write in your books: Reading is a great prompt for writing. If you’re inspired by what you read, just start writing—even if it’s in the margins of a book.” In my world, this is controversial, but the books I love have, over many years and rereadings, become palimpsests.
To address the attribution question ⏤ when I was young, I did not attribute often enough, and when I go back to my early notebooks and journals I often cannot distinguish between ideas stated from my own understanding and those expressed in language I’ve cribbed. Which makes the material challenging to use. Eventually I began using quotation marks at least, even if I didn’t remember or was too disorganized or lazy to record who said the thing I was writing down. The way I and my mind work, bits of language stick and repeatedly float through (“nothing gold can stay” “things fall apart” “whatever returns from oblivion tresturns to find a voice” and on and on!).
I have a question (don’t know if you monitor these comments, I suppose I’ll find out!): have you looked at electronic notetaking apps like Obsidian? Are they of any interest to you?
I've learned so much - another superb post, thank you! Such a fascinating man.
I have a frustratingly large number of quotes - just short phrases, mostly, which I'd jotted down in my daily logs in the past without having noted where I'd come across the words. Overheard in the Village Stores, perhaps? A line from a film? An audiobook? Something Jim's said, maybe. Who knows? And that, of course, is a problem.
I take much more care these days!
I know the feeling...I used to be like that. These days, I spend SO much time teaching my students how to cite sources and explaining why it's important, I think I've just absorbed the practice. I don't write anything down without also signaling where I got it. And I'm always retroactively thanking myself for this practice.
I’m going to be doing my absolute best in this regard from this point forward! Thanks, Jillian!
It is revealing to see a man portrayed often in very hagiographic terms to have flaws as a scholar.
Maya Angelou has said many times that it's dangerous to see MLK as a saint. It makes them inaccessible. He was a flawed man too--and it's empowering to know that even flawed people can do great things.
Thanks for this. I recently learned about the Zettelkasten method of notetaking, which is what King did. Actively engaging with a book by underlining and writing in the margins and then transferring your notes to note cards and organizing them. Learned it from Ryan Holiday who has written all of his books using this system. Google Zettelkasten and you'll find lots of articles and tutorials.
Yes, I've actually written about Luhmann's original Zettelkasten method. While it's true they both used notecards, Luhmann's system is much more rigorous.
https://jillianhess.substack.com/p/noted-lab-2-niklas-luhmanns-zettelkasten?utm_source=publication-search
Ah, very interesting! Thanks.
This is what it looks like to me.
I did have a paper based system but have moved to Apple Notes mostly….still with some paper materials.
There are a few dedicated apps out there for zettelkasten.
I've been trying to use Apple notes more because I love the theme-search function!
Perhaps it was a form of zettelkasten.
A form of zettelkasten, yes. But definitely not as rigorous as Luhmann's method.
This is the most delightful kind of voyeurism: seeing how our great communicators first communicated with themselves. Thank you for all the time and care you take in sharing these.
You're so very welcome, Isabel! I love doing this kind of work.
We need him now. We need to " ingest " his words if you will. Internalize them, USE THEM in a world that seems divided almost beyond repair at times.
Yes-I love this, Daniel.
Folder #1 seems most appropriate at the moment…
Indeed!
I thoroughly enjoyed your post. I've read a few books on MLK, the latest being The Seminarian. I had no idea he maintained a notecard system. Last year, I discovered Zettelkasten and was hyped to read your revealing piece. Thank you.
Thanks, Charles!
I can't imagine he intentionally plagiarized, especially looking at all those note cards. Can't imagine how many thoughts raced through his mind as he took notes & composed his drafts.
Thank you for sharing this, his legacy is such a treasure.
It definitely gives you a sense for how easy it is to unintentionally plagiarize!
Ah, this is fascinating
Thanks, Simon!
During the Harris campaign I was struck by the same “preaching” quality in Senator Warnock’s speeches. Like Dr King, his background as a minister really informs both the content, structure and tone of his speeches and makes them absolutely unmistakable. I’d love to know what his note system might be!
Stay tuned ;)
It's called Zettelkasten.
It's actually a bit different from a true Zettelkasten--at least as Luhmann (the inventor) practiced it. https://jillianhess.substack.com/p/noted-lab-2-niklas-luhmanns-zettelkasten?utm_source=publication-search
What a brilliant article. So much to glean from here. thank you so much.
Thank you, Jordan! That means a lot to me.
Love writing in margins—now I feel justified;-)
The best thinkers do it!
Thank you.🌱🌿💚
You're so welcome!
I am so geekily into your work! Just subscribed, so working my way through your backlist. Thank you! Your posts are so rich and beautiful and informative and exciting. Most especially here for this: “Write in your books: Reading is a great prompt for writing. If you’re inspired by what you read, just start writing—even if it’s in the margins of a book.” In my world, this is controversial, but the books I love have, over many years and rereadings, become palimpsests.
To address the attribution question ⏤ when I was young, I did not attribute often enough, and when I go back to my early notebooks and journals I often cannot distinguish between ideas stated from my own understanding and those expressed in language I’ve cribbed. Which makes the material challenging to use. Eventually I began using quotation marks at least, even if I didn’t remember or was too disorganized or lazy to record who said the thing I was writing down. The way I and my mind work, bits of language stick and repeatedly float through (“nothing gold can stay” “things fall apart” “whatever returns from oblivion tresturns to find a voice” and on and on!).
I have a question (don’t know if you monitor these comments, I suppose I’ll find out!): have you looked at electronic notetaking apps like Obsidian? Are they of any interest to you?
An inspiring insight into such a great speaker.
I'm an academically-minded person, so even in my journals I attribute where my notes come from. I'm glad for the reminder though!