Notes
A collection of thoughts, fragments, and passing ideas.
Cataloging my visit to Bookstores
May 31, 2026
Independent bookstores are central to a thriving local community and are also one of the last truly democratic institutions that are free for all. -V R Ferose, ‘Shelf Aware’ I have been reading V.R. Ferose’s book titled ‘Shelf Aware’ for quite a few days now. Ferose is a bibliophile, and his book is a collection of essays on his love for books. I am astounded by the sheer number of bookstores Mr Ferose has visited. He mentions a lot of those in the book. Taking a leaf out of his book, I want to chronicle a list of all the bookstores I have been to or plan to visit in the future. I wish to record this so that someday I can look back at this and stroll down memory lane. ...
Epictetus - On Progress
May 9, 2026
Where is progress then? If there is anyone who renounces externals and attends instead to their character, cultivating and perfecting it so that it agrees with nature, making it honest and trustworthy, elevated, free, unchecked and undeterred; and if they've learned that whoever desires or avoids things outside their control cannot be free or faithful, but has to shift and fluctuate right along with them, subject to anyone with the power to furnish or deprive them of those externals; and if from the moment they get up in the morning they adhere to the ideals, eating and bathing like a person of integrity, putting their principles into practice in every situation they face - the way a runner does when he applies the principles of running, or a singer those of musicianship - that is where you will see true progress embodied, and find someone who has not wasted their time making the journey here from home. - Epictetus, Discourses
Zettlekasten Note Taking Method
Apr 22, 2026
TIL about the Zettelkasten note-taking method. It’s an effective knowledge management system developed by the German sociologist, Niklas Luhmann. Zettelkasten means box of cards in German. It’s a way to build a web of knowledge, find meaningful connections among topics and use these links to develop ideas and arguments. Another way to think about this is how do you connect something you learn with something you already know. The building block of this system is something called ‘Literature Notes’. These are the notes that one writes while consuming content. The rules of writing a literature note are - one atomic idea per note, has to be very short (3-5 sentences), has to be expressed in one’s own words (not copied), and must have a reference to track where the note came from. From literature notes, a permanent note is made which could be thought of as a thematic collection of literature notes.