Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organise Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential

by Tiago Forte

you have at your disposal isn’t useless. It’s incredibly important and valuable. The only problem is that you’re often consuming it at the wrong time.

It all begins with the simple act of writing things down.

Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.

taxing our mental resources and leaving us constantly anxious that we’re forgetting something.

there’s a catch: every change in how we use technology also requires a change in how we think.

Your Second Brain becomes like a mirror, teaching you about yourself

“Creative people are better at recognizing relationships, making associations and connections.”

It just means you don’t yet have enough raw material to work with.

“CODE”—Capture; Organize; Distill; Express.

Creativity depends on a creative process.

Feynman’s approach was to maintain a list of a dozen open questions.

Ask yourself, “What are the questions I’ve always been interested in?”

Don’t save entire chapters of a book—save only select passages.

Capture Criteria #1: Does It Inspire Me?

Capture Criteria #2: Is It Useful?

Capture Criteria #3: Is It Personal?

Capture Criteria #4: Is It Surprising?

Your Second Brain isn’t just a tool—it’s an environment.